AR - Rep. Harris rehomed his adopted daughter to man who sexually abused her

[Margo/Mom]

Turner said he believes the abuse was known to Moore's boss, Cecile Blucker, the head of DCFS, prior to Judge Pierce's involvement. An anonymous source corroborated this account. Like Moore and other DCFS employees, Blucker is a mandated reporter[/color][/indent]

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I think Blucker is toast.

 

[K_Z]

I think Blucker is toast.

She may have the "opportunity to seek new challenges" soon. I hope JH will soon have the "opportunity to spend more time with his wife and children", maybe even before the Easter recess at the AR legislature.

Maybe JH could hire Blucker to be an administrator at his pre-school?

 

[shadowraiths]

When orphan care goes bad: Russell Moore on why adoption is not for everyone

Those of us who advocate on behalf of children in need of parents, whether in religious communities or advocacy groups or in government agencies, should make clear from the beginning the high stakes involved in adoption and foster care. The only thing worse than a family shirking their duty to vulnerable orphans is a family adopting when they’re not equipped to do so after being made aware of all of the risks involved. Jesus tells us, after all, that only a foolish king goes out to a war with an army he doesn’t have.

[...]

What we need are not potential parents who have checked off all the potential risks on a disclosure statement. We need instead parents who are eyes-open about what could happen, and who see that what they are adopting is not a project or a cause but a child, a child with all the complications, joyful and heartbreaking, that can come with being human in a fallen universe. This means spending as much time in the pre-adoption process as good churches do in the premarital counseling process, making sure the potential parents are ate of the vows they are making, and that they are up to keeping them.​

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[K_Z]

Thanks, shadowraiths. In our preadoption classes at a secular agency, about 1/2 of the original couples were devout fundamentalists, homeschooling, who already had a bunch of young bio children at home. Once they found out that this agency had rules about not disrupting birth order, and no simultaneous adoption of multiple unrelated children, they mysteriously disappeared from classes and did not return. There are a number of religious based agencies in the area that will do that, and that's usually where they end up going.

Of note, our very large agency has these policies precisely because long term outcome data and evidence show that adoptions within this framework have the greatest chance of long term success (using multiple objective outcome measures.)

 

[stormshine]

Churches often encourage adoption and that's great, but I think sometimes it's hard for very religious folks to accept the fact that not all children will thrive in a highly religious environment. Their belief makes them think that bringing a child into that environment can only be a good thing, and can't fathom the idea that a child suddenly thrust into a belief they weren't raised with might Be miserable. Disclaimer: This observation is based off very limited personal experience with such folks.

 

[K_Z]

Churches often encourage adoption and that's great, but I think sometimes it's hard for very religious folks to accept the fact that not all children will thrive in a highly religious environment. Their belief makes them think that bringing a child into that environment can only be a good thing, and can't fathom the idea that a child suddenly thrust into a belief they weren't raised with might Be miserable. Disclaimer: This observation is based off very limited personal experience with such folks.

Our daughter born in China was very confused by Christmas decorations of "old men in the snow looking at a baby" in people's front lawns. She was also very confused by the images of Jesus, and Santa Claus, and Colonel Sanders of KFC. She remarked several times that "God likes Santa Claus chicken." she was 7 when adopted, and not raised with any religion. A grocery store near the orphanage had a model of Santa Claus and the 12 zodiac animals on their roof. We certainly understand the issues of the mash up of religion and culture from a child's perspective!

 

[shadowraiths]

Man behaving badly

The specific legislative problem—which is not to imply even remotely that it rivals in significance the general tragedy of sexual abuse of a young girl—is that state Rep. Justin Harris of West Fork “went rogue,” as one of his colleagues put it.

Harris happened to be serving by the appointment of House Speaker Jeremy Gillam as vice chairman of the House committee dealing with issues of children. And there he stood hurling serious public charges at the state agency coordinating programs providing services to children.

[...]

The nation looks askance at us because we deserve for the nation to look askance at us.

We’re the ones with a crazily irresponsible adoption system. We’re the ones blending church and state by electing conservative religious extremists like Harris who have taken state money to run day-care centers where they operate fundamentalist religious preschools. We’re the ones electing a Legislature leading us backward.​

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[shadowraiths]

Lawmaker Whose Adopted Daughter Was Raped Wants To Restrict Abortion For Rape And Incest Victims

An Arkansas lawmaker who has recently sparked controversy for giving away his adopted daughter to a man who later sexually abused her is sponsoring legislation to make it harder for young victims to end a pregnancy resulting from abuse.

State Rep. Justin Harris (R) is spearheading HB 1424, which seeks to strengthen his state’s parental consent requirements for minors seeking an abortion. It’s one of a slew of anti-choice restrictions that the Arkansas legislature is currently considering.​

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[mom2six]

It is clear he abused his power for personal gain, a pattern of behavior that can be documented in a variety of situations. He has now damaged his credibility and is unsuitable for continued leadership. On that basis, he should be removed by the people he represents. You should not be able to abuse your seat like this and continue on your merry way.

 

[shadowraiths]

Harris therapy controversial
But DHS site recommends it.

On Tuesday, Goldsborough said she had been contacted by state police regarding a child maltreatment investigation. When we asked the Department of Human Services last week whether locking a child in a room for extended periods of time would constitute abuse or maltreatment, spokesperson Amy Webb said, "That situation would likely result in a call being placed to the child abuse hotline for possible investigation. It would then be up to the hotline to determine whether an investigation would be pursued. The outcome of such an investigation would be dependent on what the circumstances were surrounding that situation. Context is critical in child maltreatment investigations."

[...]

The diagnosis and therapy have come under fire from the APA's Division on Child, Youth and Family Services and child psychologists as not based in science and potentially harmful to children

Jean Mercer of the Institute for Science in Medicine, a retired professor who earned her doctorate from Brandeis University, says the practitioners of "Attachment Therapy" label young children as potential psychopaths, a diagnosis that mental health professionals say cannot be made in children.

[...]

In its 2006 report, the APA task force writes that Thomas' definition of RAD behavior — that all RAD children have deeply suppressed anger, have no conscience and will become psychopaths if untreated — is unsupported by "most" attachment researchers.​

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[Margo/Mom]

When orphan care goes bad: Russell Moore on why adoption is not for everyone

Those of us who advocate on behalf of children in need of parents, whether in religious communities or advocacy groups or in government agencies, should make clear from the beginning the high stakes involved in adoption and foster care. The only thing worse than a family shirking their duty to vulnerable orphans is a family adopting when they’re not equipped to do so after being made aware of all of the risks involved. Jesus tells us, after all, that only a foolish king goes out to a war with an army he doesn’t have.

[...]

What we need are not potential parents who have checked off all the potential risks on a disclosure statement. We need instead parents who are eyes-open about what could happen, and who see that what they are adopting is not a project or a cause but a child, a child with all the complications, joyful and heartbreaking, that can come with being human in a fallen universe. This means spending as much time in the pre-adoption process as good churches do in the premarital counseling process, making sure the potential parents are ate of the vows they are making, and that they are up to keeping them.​

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As an adoptive parent, I don't disagree with upfront efforts--and there usually is plenty of time to carry them out, since there is always a lot of waiting in adoption.

I would suggest, however, that no amount of preparation can be adequate for the realities that some face down the road.

Further, I understand how the adoption process can so be intrusive, and at times even seem accusatory, that most of us, on finalizing just cannot wait to get clear of the "help" from our agency.

What I do think that we need to focus on that would be helpful would be to use that pre-adoption training time to foster some supportive relationships--some with agency personnel and some with other veteran adoptive families. Sometimes the most helpful thing in the world is just to sit down next to someone you don't need to make any explanations to.

One of the county agencies in my state used to be able to sponsor a families retreat annually. They had some speakers and workshops, but the best part was that they had some really well-trained child care providers and excellent concurrent children's program. And they even planned one dinner for the adults to eat separately from the children. It was heaven. But, it was also amusing to be able to laugh a bit at ourselves in our isolation. We all had these reflexes. If the door should open during a session and someone from the child care walk in, you could see the room freeze, and parents across the room start gathering up their things in anticipation of being called to an emergency. Then followed the sigh that crossed the room and we all found out that this time it was someone else's kid.

Funding for that program dried up, which was really too bad.

But the lesson is, not just to warn people about what faces them, but to be able to continue to meet their needs, without judgment, down the road when they are actually in the middle of facing it.

 

[Margo/Mom]

Lawmaker Whose Adopted Daughter Was Raped Wants To Restrict Abortion For Rape And Incest Victims

An Arkansas lawmaker who has recently sparked controversy for giving away his adopted daughter to a man who later sexually abused her is sponsoring legislation to make it harder for young victims to end a pregnancy resulting from abuse.

State Rep. Justin Harris (R) is spearheading HB 1424, which seeks to strengthen his state’s parental consent requirements for minors seeking an abortion. It’s one of a slew of anti-choice restrictions that the Arkansas legislature is currently considering.​

link

Yes, the man needs prayer.

Reminds me of the lines from Fiddler on the Roof. "Rabbi, is there a proper blessing for the Tsar?" "The Tsar? Yes, may God bless and keep the Tsar--far away from us!"

 

[MyBelle]

Churches often encourage adoption and that's great, but I think sometimes it's hard for very religious folks to accept the fact that not all children will thrive in a highly religious environment. Their belief makes them think that bringing a child into that environment can only be a good thing, and can't fathom the idea that a child suddenly thrust into a belief they weren't raised with might Be miserable. Disclaimer: This observation is based off very limited personal experience with such folks.

evangelical fundamentalist Christians were encouraged to adopt but for the wrong reason. It wasn't because of humanitarian or altruistic reasons, it was to alter public opinion about their utter hypocrisy in rejecting abortion, demanding cuts in funding for food stamps and medicaid programs to help needy children and their families. Harris is an incredible hypocrite because he exploited the children he adopted, threw them to the wolves when done and he exploited the taxpayer programs to personally profit.

JMO

 

[MyBelle]

When orphan care goes bad: Russell Moore on why adoption is not for everyone

Those of us who advocate on behalf of children in need of parents, whether in religious communities or advocacy groups or in government agencies, should make clear from the beginning the high stakes involved in adoption and foster care. The only thing worse than a family shirking their duty to vulnerable orphans is a family adopting when they’re not equipped to do so after being made aware of all of the risks involved. Jesus tells us, after all, that only a foolish king goes out to a war with an army he doesn’t have.

[...]

What we need are not potential parents who have checked off all the potential risks on a disclosure statement. We need instead parents who are eyes-open about what could happen, and who see that what they are adopting is not a project or a cause but a child, a child with all the complications, joyful and heartbreaking, that can come with being human in a fallen universe. This means spending as much time in the pre-adoption process as good churches do in the premarital counseling process, making sure the potential parents are ate of the vows they are making, and that they are up to keeping them.​

link

It isn't just adoption that isn't for everyone, it is parenthood that isn't for everyone. Far too many children are being raised in homes that have been not just broken by divorce but scarred by it. The parents become bitter, selfish jerks and their kids pay a dear price. They can have just as many behavioral and emotional issues as adopted children.

JMO

 

[SStarr33]

Well-said, MyBelle. Makes me so angry -- the notion of "multiple spigots" makes me want to take a pipe wrench to the faucet-grubbing fingers of those who would abuse systems in place to aid those most in need.

"To rehome" here seems a synonym for "to deprive of" and "to exploit." I wouldn't trust Harris to rehome rocks in a quarry.

How can any political party in a democracy continue to lend its name to these sorts of people? Expel them; have some pride.

Are you kidding? Look at Bill Clinton--the most popular Democrat in the land. There is no shame in politics.

 

[Margo/Mom]

evangelical fundamentalist Christians were encouraged to adopt but for the wrong reason. It wasn't because of humanitarian or altruistic reasons, it was to alter public opinion about their utter hypocrisy in rejecting abortion, demanding cuts in funding for food stamps and medicaid programs to help needy children and their families. Harris is an incredible hypocrite because he exploited the children he adopted, threw them to the wolves when done and he exploited the taxpayer programs to personally profit.

JMO

Agreed. There are also some sects who have seen adoption as means by which to raise up an army for the Lord. Of these folk, a number have chosen international adoption, and frequently from countries in which it is easy to adopt multiple children at once with few administrative hurdles. I would imagine that some of these international adoptions have resulted in "re-homing," but there are also documented cases in which the application of "Biblical" child-rearing practices (a la Michael Pearl) have led to abuse and death of the children.

 

[wfgodot]

Are you kidding? Look at Bill Clinton--the most popular Democrat in the land. There is no shame in politics.

?? Could have sworn we were talking about the Republican Party's Justin Hunt, alleged child abuser and welfare pimp.

 

[tlcya]

Abuse of Power is unacceptable no matter the party affiliation. JMO. Plenty of fodder here with the allegations without the need to break it down to the accused party's politics.

 

[MyBelle]

?? Could have sworn we were talking about the Republican Party's Justin Hunt, alleged child abuser and welfare pimp.

Has the Republican Party come out and distanced itself from the creep? Arkansas voters historically have distanced themselves from politicians who screw up. Bill Clinton was voted out of office as governor.

 

[SStarr33]

?? Could have sworn we were talking about the Republican Party's Justin Hunt, alleged child abuser and welfare pimp.

We were and I was agreeing with you that political parties continue to support creeps and showed another example of what you were talking about. They all disgust me.