FL - Nubia Barahona, 10, slain, twin injured, West Palm Beach, 11 Feb 2011 *Arrest*

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  • #221
In many states, social workers have to have a Bachelor's Degree at a minimum. That will get you a job with the state as a case worker, I believe. Then you need a Master's Degree for anything beyond that, such as a private practice. I'm not sure about Florida, though...
 
  • #222
Here's more:

Seems the Barahona's wrote letters to Gov. Charlie Crist complaing about this case. Eight pages of letters.

Here's the link:

http://www1.wsvn.com/pdf/Barahona'sLetterstoGov.Crist.pdf


ETA: Oh, and they didn't fire the social worker - she's on administrative leave (probably with pay). Once this calms down a bit - I bet she's right back to work. Fine use for my tax dollars!
 
  • #223
Wise Old Owl said:
Here's more:

Seems the Barahona's wrote letters to Gov. Charlie Crist complaing about this case. Eight pages of letters.

Here's the link:

http://www1.wsvn.com/pdf/Barahona'sLetterstoGov.Crist.pdf


ETA: Oh, and they didn't fire the social worker - she's on administrative leave (probably with pay). Once this calms down a bit - I bet she's right back to work. Fine use for my tax dollars!
Click to expand...

So I've been trying to figure out why it was so important to adopt these children, rather than just keep fostering them. But after reading all the reports, I think that it has to do with knowing that the state would stop checking up on them. I don't believe the money situation is different (I'll keep looking into that), but once the adoption is final, the state leaves you alone. No more SW visits, etc...
 
  • #224
mysteriew said:
Not taking up for this particular caseworker or anyone attached to this case. They screwed up and they screwed up big time.

But in fairness to the caseworkers, it is their fault but it also goes higher than that. They have too many cases usually. That is true. They don't have a lot of time to spend on their neediest clients. Because they have a heavy caseload and more coming in every day. When a DCF agency gets low on funds, a hiring freeze is instituted before anything else. If that doesn't help, then layoffs follow. Home care workers and other support personnel are also in short supply, for the same reason usually.

Another problem is burnout. They see the worst things out of life, abused injured abandoned kids. But many times when they make recommendations problems arise. Sometimes it is the kids themselves. Not wanting to leave the parents they know, they may deny problems. Or they may resist entering the system. Then there are supers who haven't seen the kids, but decides not to remove them. Or the attorneys decide there isn't enough evidence. Or the court rules against them despite lots of evidence (just like in this case.) Many times they feel helpless and useless. That can lead to the apathy.

If a police officer or fire fighter comes in contact with a traumatic event, often they are given counseling. Caseworkers don't usually have that. They deal with it the best they can.

After the Rila Wilson case, IIRC they did a major study of the CPS in Florida. High caseloads, low caseworkers and support personnel were factors noted. CPS promised to correct that. Poor supervision was also a factor. They promised to correct that. Failure to visit and failure to investigate complaints were also problems. They promised to review their procedures and do what was necessary to correct that. Looks like it is time to review the review and see what and how many of those corrections were actually done.

As far as their use of English, most caseworkers rush through the paperwork because they have to budget their time between writing the reports and visiting their caseload. While they are writing they are also answering phones, filing and all the many other duties that surrounds their duties. That affects their writing.
Click to expand...

BBM

I'll give ya the "rushing through" to be able to manage the caseload BUT its educational intelligence when you type out the word "waisted" instead of "wasted". "Nubia was stealing for fun" should have been corrected. The only actual writing was the narratives in those reports. And those consisted of a paragraph or two. Everything else was just "checked off".

I just can't go with the rushed through excuse. Not with a lot of those errors. And there were a LOT of them. I got to where I was noticing the names of the sw's that wrote them. There was one that seemed somewhat educated but the majority of them were trash. It doesn't take a minute to proofread a few sentences.

These reports are serious. They hold a child's life in them. They shouldn't be taken so lightly as to submit them with such egregious errors. That goes along with pride of position and taking pride in what you do.
 
  • #225
mysteriew said:
Not taking up for this particular caseworker or anyone attached to this case. They screwed up and they screwed up big time.

But in fairness to the caseworkers, it is their fault but it also goes higher than that. They have too many cases usually. That is true. They don't have a lot of time to spend on their neediest clients. Because they have a heavy caseload and more coming in every day. When a DCF agency gets low on funds, a hiring freeze is instituted before anything else. If that doesn't help, then layoffs follow. Home care workers and other support personnel are also in short supply, for the same reason usually.

Another problem is burnout. They see the worst things out of life, abused injured abandoned kids. But many times when they make recommendations problems arise. Sometimes it is the kids themselves. Not wanting to leave the parents they know, they may deny problems. Or they may resist entering the system. Then there are supers who haven't seen the kids, but decides not to remove them. Or the attorneys decide there isn't enough evidence. Or the court rules against them despite lots of evidence (just like in this case.) Many times they feel helpless and useless. That can lead to the apathy.

If a police officer or fire fighter comes in contact with a traumatic event, often they are given counseling. Caseworkers don't usually have that. They deal with it the best they can.

After the Rila Wilson case, IIRC they did a major study of the CPS in Florida. High caseloads, low caseworkers and support personnel were factors noted. CPS promised to correct that. Poor supervision was also a factor. They promised to correct that. Failure to visit and failure to investigate complaints were also problems. They promised to review their procedures and do what was necessary to correct that. Looks like it is time to review the review and see what and how many of those corrections were actually done.

As far as their use of English, most caseworkers rush through the paperwork because they have to budget their time between writing the reports and visiting their caseload. While they are writing they are also answering phones, filing and all the many other duties that surrounds their duties. That affects their writing.
Click to expand...

Some of these statements had really bad grammar. You almost had to guess what the statement was supposed to say. "Didn't want to live..." presumably meant "didn't want to leave...," etc, etc, etc.
 
  • #226
jjenny said:
Some of these statements had really bad grammar. You almost had to guess what the statement was supposed to say. "Didn't want to live..." presumably meant "didn't want to leave...," etc, etc, etc.
Click to expand...

My grammer is bad, but I usually know how to spell.
When I was working I wrote a lot. At times I would have to go back at a later date and review what was written. Words would be mispelled, that I really knew how to spell. Grammar was bad and some sentences would have words inserted or left out. Of course this was before computers and spell check. But when rushed or tired sometimes my thoughts would go faster than my fingers could write.
 
  • #227
mysteriew said:
My grammer is bad, but I usually know how to spell.
When I was working I wrote a lot. At times I would have to go back at a later date and review what was written. Words would be mispelled, that I really knew how to spell. Grammar was bad and some sentences would have words inserted or left out. Of course this was before computers and spell check. But when rushed or tired sometimes my thoughts would go faster than my fingers could write.
Click to expand...

When it could affect the well being of a child, I'd think at least some proofreading is in order. For example, one of the sentences said "did" when presumably "did not" was supposed to have been stated. The statement was "CPI DID OBSERVE ANY BAD ODOR ON THE CHILD." Omitting the "not" changes the meaning of the whole sentence. I don't think we are supposed to be sitting here and guessing what was actually meant by these statements.
 
  • #228
State agency had many warnings during abused girl’s life
Nubia and Victor Docter were just days old when Florida’s perennially troubled child-welfare system first recorded their names.

By Carol Marbin Miller
[email protected]

Ten years later, when Nubia’s burned and decomposed body was found in the flatbed of a pickup truck, a child-abuse investigation was still open – the most recent of eight.

Though the Department of Children & Families had received four reports that Nubia was being abused and neglected by adoptive parents Jorge and Carmen Barahona — Nubia, the agency was told, was starving, bruised, dirty, unkempt, and afraid of her parents — each report was dismissed, even though the concerns were being raised by credible sources: A teacher, an assistant principal and a principal.

**more at link**

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/02/21/2078481/state-agency-had-many-warnings.html#


There is a new picture of Nubia. It is on the page with this article. I couldn't copy and paste because it is part of a slideshow.

She was such a sweet little girl.

Also, the custody hearing for TPR of the granddaughter is today. Should be news of that sometime this afternoon.
 
  • #229
After reading all these documents, sounds like the poor kid never had a chance. I wonder if they were able to determine the cause of death, since the body was in all these chemicals.
 
  • #230
Not much on the noon news.

The TPR hearing for the granddaughter - it was reported that her father is to retain custody. It was stated that the granddaughter suffered emotional and psychological abuse from her mother - the mother threatened her not to say anything and keep it all quiet.

There was a short interview with the grandfather (the father's father). He was in court as well. He said the mother KNEW for at least 1 - 2 years of the abuse - he said she knew everything that went on that house! :furious:

Also, they said Carmen is filing for divorce from Jorge. Really? Does she think that will help? GMAB!

This report I saw came from www.wsvn.com - report should be posted soon.
 
  • #231
  • #232
Wise Old Owl said:
BBM

I'll give ya the "rushing through" to be able to manage the caseload BUT its educational intelligence when you type out the word "waisted" instead of "wasted". "Nubia was stealing for fun" should have been corrected. The only actual writing was the narratives in those reports. And those consisted of a paragraph or two. Everything else was just "checked off".

I just can't go with the rushed through excuse. Not with a lot of those errors. And there were a LOT of them. I got to where I was noticing the names of the sw's that wrote them. There was one that seemed somewhat educated but the majority of them were trash. It doesn't take a minute to proofread a few sentences.

These reports are serious. They hold a child's life in them. They shouldn't be taken so lightly as to submit them with such egregious errors. That goes along with pride of position and taking pride in what you do.
Click to expand...

Reading the reports is like reading a comment section written by young - adult ESL students - it was quite easy to pick up which reports were written by which caseworkers.

Now first impression - heavily sanitized reports we are only seeing what they want us to see.

I saw no allegations against the bio dad for abusing Nubia (except as voiced by the perps, after supervised visits). Dad was arrested for touching and kissing another minor, a minor he was not related to nor "supervising" - All the supervised reports showed a good relationship with him. His family spoke up immediately voicing desire to adopt the twins - these children never should have remained in foster care if they had relatives capable of caring for them and I read NOTHING that would indicate they wouldn't have provided a good home. (Or at least better than what they were given by the state of FL!)

Bio-dad lost custody over ALLEGATIONS! why didn't the perps?

The children at age four were doing better developmentally with a drug addict/child molester than after 2+ years with the perps when reports start saying they are extremely hyper (hyyper/hipper) active and not verbal! Gee and no one wondered why?

Why the H3LL do we have mandated reporters/GALs if CPS isn't going to listen!?!

OK, I'll stop now because it would be very easy to say too much!
 
  • #233
LCoastMom - bio dad lost custody when he went to prison for being convicted of sexual molestation on a child. Now, that UK report above says bio dad sexually molested Nubia. There were comments in the reports about Nubia having to go to court and all. I thought that strange that she would have been called to court unless she was the victim. So, I kinda think that's right. She was sexually molested by bio dad very very early on.

Yes, the bio dad's brother and his wife desperately tried to take the twins. Bio dad even offered to pay for the home study himself if it would speed the "placement" process up.

These poor children never had a chance - not a one. I truly hope V is well cared for now and in the future - he is going to need a lot of therapy and even more love.
 
  • #234
any reports on how V is recouperating?
 
  • #235
  • #236
Just now reading the docs.

I'm sorry but I found it amusing that on the 1/2/2004 visit to the home, the case worker says "the children were eating dinner" and "there was no food in the house" in the same paragraph.

Did the food they were eating not count ?
 
  • #237
Are these docs altered ?
Page 20 -- updated 3/26/2004


Date of incident 3/26/2004 V's name is blacked out but it shows Nubia Kay Docter
DOB 5/26/2000 AGE 10

Are they trying to justify taking her from her dad or was the date of incident changed on something that happened when she was 10 ?

Nubia was not 10 in 2004. Am I reading this wrong ?

http://media.miamiherald.com/smedia...Computer_Reports.source.prod_affiliate.56.pdf
 
  • #238
CHICANA said:
Are these docs altered ?
Page 20 -- updated 3/26/2004


Date of incident 3/26/2004 V's name is blacked out but it shows Nubia Kay Docter
DOB 5/26/2000 AGE 10

Are they trying to justify taking her from her dad or was the date of incident changed on something that happened when she was 10 ?

Nubia was not 10 in 2004. Am I reading this wrong ?

http://media.miamiherald.com/smedia...Computer_Reports.source.prod_affiliate.56.pdf
Click to expand...

Honestly, I think it's just another error from the social workers/case workers.
 
  • #239
belimom said:
Honestly, I think it's just another error from the social workers/case workers.
Click to expand...

I think it is an auto update of the childs age in the computer.
 
  • #240
3/26/04 - Child Intake Initial -

The father was arrested today for sexual battery against a minor. The father was not a caretaker for this minor - the father kissed and fondled the minor. The father got custody of ______ and Nubia six months ago.

______ inactive value - sexual abuse - other child

Nubia inactive value - sexual abuse - other child

03/26/04

(Paraphrased) The police arrested the father of N & V for sexual assault of a minor - the police asked the landlord to keep the kids - landlord only available for 1 day siting lack of space. Children taken into custody.

Wouldn't the children have been immediately taken into custody for medical care if there was possible sexual abuse, rather than being dumped on the father's landlord?


4/24/04 investigation closed.

The father was arrested today for sexual battery against a minor. The father was not a caretaker for this minor - the father kissed and fondled the minor. The father got custody of ______ and Nubia six months ago.

______ - sexual abuse - other child

Nubia - sexual abuse - other child

Mr ____ was charged with sexual battery against a minor. He was also charged with aggravated assault. Mr____'s criminal record does pose a risk to his children.

01/26/05

Children seen for psycho-sexual evaluation. ...The children seen by Dr C. The doctor stated that the child,ubia stated that the foster parent Mr B tickles her in front of everyone. The dr stated he doesn't think there is a problem with the child. He went on to state that he had to report what the child had said, because he is required to do so.

01/27/05

In the past the FF has (unknown) tickled Nubia's private area (vagina) with his fingers. This happened more than once. And the incidents happened in front of other adults in the home. It is unknown when the incidents occurred and it is unknown if anything such thing has been done to ______. There are also other children in the home but it is unknown if those children are also foster children or biological children of the parents.

______ - sexual abuse - other child

Nubia - sexual molestation -

The FA has visitation. Because of priors and current allegations the court has ordered therapeutic visitation between FA and children. The children remain in shelter care. *Caseworker and court made aware of allegations and current concerns as to Bio FA.

2/10/05

Snipped - court notified - no further concerns as to shelter parents!

3/18/05

She (CB) stated that the father has court for the allegations that brought the children into care on 4/18/05.... This counselor explained to the FP that the courts ordered a psycho-sexual on the father and the Psychologists recommendations were that the father's risk to the children is low. The courts then deemed that he should have visitation with his children.

Please tell me the state would not order visitation, supervised or otherwise, if there was possible sexual abuse of the children by the parent!

12/07/06

Nubia Docter

...she was also pick up to see the doctor for ability to testify in a comming trial against their biological father.

12/07/06

__________

The case manager pick the child up for doctor appointment which is ability to testify in a trial.

3/20/2007 - 4/12/07

Paraphrased - during investigation of foster parents; Nubia - unkept, hungry, bruised, unclean, fearful of FP, etc - all allegations against them are unfounded, every time!

priors:
2006 - bruises, welts - unfounded
2005 - Sexual molestation FF - unfounded
**Sexual Abuse (Nubia) by bio-father - verified

*The children had been in FC for 9 months before any concerns re the bio dad and children was mentioned - after Nubia fingered Jorge!

**How is it that abuse allegations that started 9 mos after leaving bio-father was able to be verified all this time later, yet the child was unable to convince the specialist that she was currently being abused by FPs?

From what I have read thus far I am not convinced the bio father did anything sexual to Nubia - I believe it is possible his charges came after inappropriate contact with a teenager - while such contact is just as wrong legally, it is a far cry from molesting a toddler!

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not sticking up for the bio-dad - he is not a good guy and he justly lost custody of his kids, because of his bad behavior - which in turn put them in this house of horrors. I just find it hard to believe that there was no mention of sexual abuse (of Nubia or V) by him until after the allegation of Jorge B. and the claims of their behavior changing (after supervised contact with bio-father) came from Carmen B.

These poor kids were born into a nightmare and the state of FL made their lives much worse when they allowed these children to be tortured and abused!

It appears after reading the reports that the CPI's were writing fairy tales! I just can't understand why!?
 
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