Thursday, May 23, 2013
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Allegations of Child Abuse Spur Questions of Adopted Services OversightChild services officials say the licensed foster care mom accused of abusing her six adopted children passed all of the checks and balances that were required by the state.Related Content
The head of the State of Alaska Office of Children’s Services says it’s too early to tell if the system failed six children whose adoptive mom is now charged with their abuse. Anya James was a foster mom for more then ten years and state officials say she passed every check and balance required to keep children in her care.
After James finalized the adoption of her sixth child, the state says they had no legal reason to keep tabs on the family.
“At that point it’s as if the children are biologically theirs,” says OCS Director Christy Lawton, “and we have no more right to intervene in their family then we would have in the average person's family.”
But Lawton’s agency is charged with protecting children and also to respond to reports of suspected abuse, and they got them.
Lawton says in the last two years they received several complaints from neighbors, which she says they didn’t hesitate to check out.
“We did receive calls and we did go out and do a number of assessments and I can tell you in general terms that if we had allegations of malnutrition or that a child had suffered sexual abuse or physical abuse then it would be a routine part of our evaluations to get some medical evaluations,” says Lawton. “ And we would also look for some medical recommendations as to whether it really was abuse causing what we were seeing or not.”
Lawton says she’s not at liberty to talk about specifics in the case but that the details will come out in court. Until then she says it’s clear that the children suffered harm but whether the system was at fault is still to be decided.
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Ex-foster Mom- in Indiana said on Thursday, Jun 2 at 4:40 PM
I agree many kids are taken that do not deserve to be. But I will say in my own home no child-foster or natural-was ever abused only loved and loved some more.
68178439Whatever said on Tuesday, May 24 at 12:13 PM
Anya deserves to be hung. Instead of her spending money on the attorney maybe they should try and sell the property and get the children the counseling they need. One of the children involved never came from an abusive home just that her mother died at the age of three.
67655708Sun said on Saturday, May 21 at 2:28 PM
There are two sides to every story.
67482103Sunshine said on Saturday, May 21 at 2:07 PM
Those kids traveled to places like Maui, New York City, Seattle, New Hampshire, Florida, Nova Scotia. You need to hear the whole story from all the kids. Don’t forget that each of the kids were saved from broken homes and abusive situations. When you work with kids with special needs you will understand that normal rules do not apply. When a child has been diagnosed with arson tendency it is not in anyone's best interest that they roam the house at night at will. This is a clear example of the police covering their butts and fabricating a case. The whole truth will come out.
67481366Leya said on Friday, May 20 at 2:50 PM
This is happening right under everyone's noses and no one in power cares as long as they get their money. Biological families (including children and adults) are harmed by the system that we have. Their motto is take the children even if there is no proof of neglect or abuse. The more children taken, the more money they make. That is putting it simply. Ever since Clinton's "It takes a village..." even more damage has been done by the government to our children. If you are rich, they leave you alone but if you are low-income, you are an easy target and your children are zeroed in on their sites. If you are rich, you can afford an attorney to fight for you and you will win but you can never win with a court-appointed attorney in court against social workers, their attorneys and a biased (in their favor) judge. I know from experience.
67433622AKchic said on Friday, May 20 at 10:44 AM
I was a foster kid, and then, thanks to my 1st husband, during my divorce, he would call "anonymously" to OCS claiming I was allowing men to sexually abuse my kids and that I was starving them, etc. I had a biased case worker (divorced male) who absolutely hated women. 3 investigations in 6 months. 3 times my kids taken from me, 1 with an actual charge that was proven false by the judge. The last time I had it called in was because my ex wanted WIC checks for himself and he found out I took him off the WIC checks (he called me, violating the restraining order I had against him, and threatened to call OCS on me again if I didn't buy him food and turn over the checks to him immediately). Sure enough, within an hour of hanging up on him and calling the cops to report his violation, I had OCS at my door with another abuse complaint and the same CW at my door. If you live in a nice home it takes months to investigate. If you live in an apartment in a poor neighborhood, they take kids first.
67419372AK MOM said on Friday, May 20 at 1:42 AM
I HATE THE SYSTYM IT IT ULTIMATE CHILD ABUSE, ANYONE CAN PASS MOST ANYTHING. ITS CHECKING ON THEM AND REALLY CARING ABOUT THE CHILDREN (POOR HELPLESS, VULNERABLE CHILDREN) THAT IS WHAT THE SYSTEM NEEDS TO DO. SHE BETTER GO TO JAIL AND THE SYSTEM NEEDS TO START DOING RANDOM HOUSE CHECKS AND REALLY ASK CHILDREN IF THEY ARE OK. THEY ARE PROBABLY BRIBED, BEGGED AND THREATEND NOT TO SPEAK OF THIS. SHAME ON OUR GOVERNMENT AND STATE, AND ALL OF YOU CRIMINALS INVOLVED. YOU FEEL YOU DON'T GET PAID ENOUGH?? WHAT IS IT? THESE CHILDREN ARE PRICLESS, AND AT YOUR EXPENCE ARE SUFFERING. EVERYWHERE. THIS IN THE MEDIA PROBABLY OTHER ABUSERS OUT THERE FINDING SICKER WAYS TO GET AWAY WITH IT.
67386637Old Lady said on Thursday, May 19 at 11:18 PM
OCS should be investigated for thousands of cases of failure to protect children in the foster care system. But that will never happen. Anybody ever hear of the state policing itself? And the mute media is the enabler that ignores the tragedies. For shame.
67384294Old Lady said on Thursday, May 19 at 11:06 PM
OCS has always been corrupt. Ask any of the Kelley kids. Or why not interview ALL foster children and hear the heartbreaking stories of neglect and abuse that fall on deaf ears @ OCS. Because, I have been told, one is not allowed to talk against the "State".
67384147cynthia said on Thursday, May 19 at 10:28 PM
ocs doesnt care,its all a #'s game 2 them.dump&grab & a massive bill 2 the taxpayer.i was a foster kid...been there & seen it first hand.
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