I was one of those foster children who wasn't monitored. I was taken to another state and never saw anyone from children services again, while my foster parents collected the money. I met one officer at my first placement, and a different officer, at my second placement, that was it. I was able to access my file via ARC, about 12 years ago, I still haven't gone through it all, just too traumatising. I did note there was a phone call from an officer in my home state, couldn't be bothered to come out and visit! This is a very common practice whether due to understaffing or just being slack.
I was an orphan and my parents were immigrants so my situation is not like Williams. Even though, if there is abuse, it's the same, but imo, if a child knows there's a parent out there, they're harder to break in if that's the parenting style of the foster carer. This style of parenting is abhorrent whether the parent/step or foster! It's easier to lay the ground work for further types of abuse once a child's spirit is broken.
I was shocked as everyone else with the FFC's parenting style, there's no excuse for kicking, hitting and iirc, locking a earlier foster child outside. This is psychological abuse and is very common, and extremely damaging, more than the physical abuse, imo.
After saying all that, and previously following this case and the timeline, I don't believe she's responsible for his death or removal, but my main theory which I hold on to, is that she left him unattended for up to 30 minutes, while sorting out her mother's belongings as the house had been sold. Mother didn't keep watch on William, and he wandered off, either hit by a car and removed by the driver, fell into a ditch, or snatched by a person with ill intent. A child can run pretty far in a short amount of time, let alone nearly 30 minutes, and I don't listen to any parent who says a 3 year old never wanders. This is absurd, there are NO absolutes with small children, their brains are immature, they can't remember rules or keeping safe, it's a ridiculous notion that they can. It's a safety net for parents to absolve themselves being held accountable, my older daughter wandered off twice at 3 years of age, across the street into a school ground and another time at a shopping centre. She was quiet and an easy child to raise, but I learned my lesson for my next two, especially, prepared for a rambunctious, noisy son who surprisingly, never ran off! Kids will always surprise you, and that's the joy, no two are alike!
I often think of William and what might have happened to him. He didn't disappear in thin air, I can't stand that phrase, something happened, and he may or may not ever be found, which is tragic!
JMO
www.smh.com.au
