Blogs by Deborah K. Frontiera
Fighting CPS
1/23/2012 7:04:59 AM
Jan. 23, 2012
The purpose of this blog is to provide updates on some of the cases I reported in my book (Fighting CPS: Guilty Until Proven Innocent of Child Protective Services Charges ISBN 9-780-9800061-6-2) that had not been resolved when the book went to press, and to report other cases where CPS is not working up to par. I’d also like to hear about cases in which Child Protective Services did the right thing so those cases can serve as examples of what should be done. Occasionally, I will report helpful tips and web sites with advice on fighting CPS.
To comment on this blog, or to tell your story, email Deborah Frontiera at frontiera.fightingcps.deborah.gmail.com
On Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, Christmas Day, the Houston Chronicle ran an upbeat article titled “Workers Know CPS from Inside”. (Houston Chronicle, Dec. 25, 2011, B-1 and 3) Readers can probably find the entire article archived on the Houston Chronicle web site: www.chron.com
It’s refreshing to read a little “good news” and a few true success stories about Child Protective Services. The first young woman described told how she had spent most of her teen years in foster care and then “aged out”. When a child in foster care turns eighteen, since young adults are considered legally adults, they are no longer eligible for services. According to this caseworker, now twenty-seven, she was not well prepared to live on her own. Somehow she managed to continue her education and began working for CPS in Harris County, Texas as a youth specialist, mentoring teens like herself to prepare them to cope with independent life after years in foster care. She now uses her personal experiences to help others.
A second young woman is also a caseworker as an adult. She stated that she does what she does because of what happened to her. She credits her very life to the second caseworker she remembers coming to visit her home who removed her and her sister from their parents at age seven. Her memories of that caseworker, who took the time to get to know her and her sister, also affects the way she works with her own cases. She also tries to take the time to get to know her young clients and get real feeling for what is going on in the home and how the agency can best help. She said her own experiences also help her not to remove a child from their parents too quickly. (I wish this young woman had been one of our caseworkers!)
The third young woman mentioned in the article admitted she did not start out wanting to work for CPS because she had negative feelings about the agency from her life experiences. She entered foster care at fourteen because her parents were drug addicts. She struggled through several foster homes before finding a “good match” with a foster family. When she graduated from college, she filled out many job applications, but CPS happened to be the only place to call her back and request an interview. She figured her job there would be a stepping stone to a better job, but ended up loving it, and feeling “destined” to be there. Her job is now preparing people to be foster or adoptive parents. Perhaps she feels she can help other children, and their foster or adoptive parents, avoid some of the pain she went through.
The stories of these three young women, all “successes” in the system, reminded me of what Ms. 246 had said about getting it right on pages 234-237 of Fighting CPS. The system can work and can be improved. Ms. 246 and these young women are living proof of that. If only every county’s agency could use Ms. 245’s ideas and the model of these young women to reshape their agencies!
Post a Comment
More Blogs by Deborah K. Frontiera
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Saturday, September 5, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, August 4, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, July 6, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, June 2, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, May 5, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, April 6, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 2, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 2, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, February 2, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, January 5, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, December 8, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, October 6, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, September 8, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 4, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 4, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, July 7, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, June 2, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, May 6, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, April 1, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, February 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, January 6, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, December 2, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 4, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Saturday, October 5, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, September 2, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 5, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 5, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, July 1, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Friday, June 7, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, May 7, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, April 2, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 4, 2024
• One Writers Random Thoughts - Monday, February 5, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, January 4, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, December 4, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 6, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, October 5, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, September 4, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 7, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, July 11, 2023
• One Writers Random Thoughts - Tuesday, June 6, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, May 8, 2023
• One Writer's Random thoughts - Tuesday, April 11, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 6, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, February 7, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Friday, January 6, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, December 5, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Saturday, November 12, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, October 6, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, September 6, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, August 4, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, July 7, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, June 6, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, May 5, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, April 4, 2022
• One Writers Random Thoughts - Monday, March 7, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, February 8, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Wednesday, January 5, 2022
• One Writers Random Thoughts - Monday, December 6, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, November 2, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, October 18, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, October 5, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, September 21, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, September 7, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 16, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 2, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, July 12, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, June 28, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, June 15, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, May 10, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, April 19, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, April 6, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Sunday, March 21, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Friday, March 5, 2021
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 7, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Friday, November 6, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, September 8, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Monday, August 10, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, July 7, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, June 10, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, May 9, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, April 18, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, March 10, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, February 5, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, January 8, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Friday, December 6, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, November 5, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, October 8, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, August 8, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, July 9, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Monday, June 10, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, May 8, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, April 16, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, March 6, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, February 7, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, January 8, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 10, 2018
• Foghting CPS - Monday, November 12, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, October 10, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Monday, August 13, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, June 26, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, May 8, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, April 5, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Monday, March 5, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 29, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, December 6, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, October 4, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, August 10, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, July 15, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, May 10, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Monday, April 10, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, March 8, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, February 8, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, January 11, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, December 6, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, November 9, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, October 12, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 19, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 5, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Monday, August 22, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, August 10, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, July 13, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, June 21, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, June 4, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, May 10, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Friday, April 29, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, April 5, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Friday, March 11, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, February 24, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, February 4, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, January 24, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, January 6, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 6, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 9, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, October 13, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, September 12, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, August 14, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, July 17, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, June 24, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, June 3, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, May 20, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, May 8, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Monday, April 20, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, April 7, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Monday, March 9, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Monday, February 16, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, February 10, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, January 13, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, January 2, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, December 19, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 8, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 17, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, October 30, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 21, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 7, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 24, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 10, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Monday, July 28, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, July 13, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, June 22, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, June 7, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, May 25, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, May 10, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, April 27, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, April 13, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, March 23, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, March 9, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, February 23, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, February 9, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, January 26, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, January 12, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 29, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 15, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, November 24, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, November 10, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, October 27, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, October 13, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 22, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 8, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Monday, August 26, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 11, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, July 21, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Monday, July 8, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, June 23, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, June 9, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, May 26, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, May 12, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, April 21, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, April 7, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, March 24, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, March 10, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, February 24, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, February 10, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, January 27, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 14, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 23, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 9, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, November 25, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, November 11, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, October 28, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 17, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 9, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 26, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 12, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 12, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, July 23, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, July 8, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, June 24, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, June 11, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, May 21, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, May 6, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, April 23, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, April 9, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, March 26, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, March 12, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, February 27, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, February 13, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, February 1, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 23, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 16, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 9, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 19, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 12, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 5, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 28, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 21, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 14, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 7, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 31, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 24, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 17, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 10, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 3, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 26, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 19, 2011
|
