Save the Children

On December 19, 2007, I filed a complaint with the US District Court of Northern District of Illinois against the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and their representative.  The nature of the suit was violation of Other Civil Rights 440.  Here’s the story.

On or about August 22, 1996, I took in four foster children who also happened to be my nieces and nephews.  In March of 2005 the oldest girl ran away from home.  DCFS was notified and the only thing that they did was discontinue guardianship payments that I had been receiving for her.  In March 2007, I received notification that I had been “indicated” for suspected child abuse and/or neglect regarding this child.  I fought them and won, the case was then deemed “unfounded” and the child were able to return.  Before that happened, I sat down with this child and made sure that she understood the rules in my home were law and they were unbreakable.  She agreed to place herself back under my custody and after making quite sure she understood what was expected of her, I agreed to her return.  August of 2007, I notified DCFS of our decision and asked them to try and get her back so that she does not miss any part of the up-coming school year.  School started in September but they did not return her until October.  Even though she had missed 30 days of school already, I was sure that I could get her caught back up.  November 2007, we lost our home and I had to place them with family until I could secure residence for all of us.  December 2007, a new residence was found but DCFS refused to remove themselves from the picture and made attempts to block this child from returning.   In the end the child was returned before the judge had a chance to render his decision.

I say all of that to say this.  At what time will we, as adult human beings, began to stand up for children.  Not just our children but all children.  A little girl lost her life in North Carolina because her mother sold her and as large as that town was no one had a clue about what was going on?  No adult near this mother thought anything about the conditions in which this child was being raised.  At no point did any adult call the 800 number for DCFS to warn of this child’s plight?  How is that possible?   Many say that they don’t want to get involved because they do not want someone telling them what to do with their children and in their home.  I can agree with that but when it comes to saving the life of child, all that crap is just that, crap.  For a neighbor to sit back and watch as the person who lives next to them, house burns down is as wrong.  We owe each other the courtesy of nothing more than to call the fire department at least.  Charge into a burning building and rescue someone and you are called a hero but where were the hero for this child sold in North Carolina or how about the children kidnapped and sold all over this nation.  Where are the heroes for them?

Now don’t misunderstand, I am not asking for government intervention but I am asking for mobilization of neighborhoods to become again neighborhoods.  Where adults watch over children whether they live in your home or down the street.   If you see someone lying on the sidewalk, don’t cross the street or step over them, pick up the phone and call for help for that person.   I’m not saying run over there and  save them with your healing touch but if we all just cared a little more, some of these children may have been saved.  There will be others and it could be yours.  Wouldn’t you want someone to just pick up a phone if it was yours?  We sit in the comfort of our homes and condemn the mother and anyone else that happens to be mentioned in the news story but how many times have we turned our heads or justified our inactions when there was an opportunity for us to do something?  Children are not born with the wealth of knowledge that adults are suppose to possess, so the least that we can do is stand up for them until they can stand up for themselves.