Blogs by Deborah K. Frontiera
Fighting CPS
12/9/2012 4:26:23 PM
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
The next post on this blog will post on Dec. 24, 2012.
Repercussions of Child’s Death Result in Texas State Official’s Resignation
On Aug. 28, 2012, police found a 22-month-old girl dead of dehydration in a Dyess Air Force Base near Abilene, TX. The child’s two sisters were barely alive after being abandoned by their mother nearly a week before. The mother has been jailed on three counts of child abuse. While all that is tragic enough, it turns out that this mother was already on CPS radar. A caseworker had, just previous to the child’s death, closed the file on the family without having a supervisor sign it and without a final visit to the family.
One might also wonder where friends and neighbors were and why somebody wasn’t checking on this mother. Had she no friends at all? Where were coworkers, officers, etc. who might have realized there were big problems going on with this woman? A later newspaper report stated that the children’s case was one of hundreds of “back logged” cases across the state. That answers some of this, sadly. (See Nov. 12, 2012, blog post)
The caseworker resigned as a result—since closing a case without a supervisor’s signature is a “firing offense.” What was going through her mind? How would I feel under similar conditions—too many cases, not enough hours in the day . . . ? And how is she doing now living with her conscience? The Houston Chronicle reported on the case Oct. 17, 2012 (pg. A-1) that in the aftermath, CPS employees were told by supervisors not to cooperate with law enforcement investigating the case! Patrick Cummins, the CPS spokesperson in that area “declined to discuss search warrants and accusations” and stated that he was cooperating with Abilene police. “The search warrant affidavit details suspicions that CPS regional administrator Bit Whitaker, program director Gretchen Denny, who has since relinquished that post and been reassigned; and CPS supervisor Barbara McDaniel, who was later reprimanded by CPS; tampered with evidence involving the Klapheke [mother’s name] investigation.” (Houston Chronicle, Oct. 17, 2012, pg. A-15) The details are beyond comprehension and common sense.
The search went on up the ladder of the Texas state agency. Nov. 9, 2012, brought news that Howard Baldwin, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services commissioner, resigned as a result of the on-going investigation. It seems that Baldwin is a San Antonio lawyer who has worked for other state agencies and was well liked. Many who knew him were surprised at his resignation. He had only been in charge of the agency since January of 2012—less than one year. John J. Specia, a retired San Antonio judge, was named the new head of Texas DFPS on Nov. 14, 2012. This writer certainly hopes his leadership will result in changes that benefit children—both those who are abused and those whose parents and caretakers are innocent.
The saddest thought is that all this is going on in just ONE state out of 50. I’m afraid of what I might find if I began to search the archives of major newspapers in 49 other states. It’s depressing enough to read the Houston Chronicle.
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