Milwaukee Bureau of Child “Welfare”?

I commented the other day on the requested transfer of the director of the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare (Denise Revels Robinson) along with the private Welfare agency La Causa’s handling of the Christopher Thomas Jr.  death http://finnegansright.wordpress.com/2008/12/16/quick-hit-denise-revels-robinson/  I now come to find that the case worker for that situation, who has remained nameless, is also the case worker (and her supervisor) in the Will Johnson case.   A case in which a 5 month old was drowned by her bi-polar mother.  Arkisha Johnson, who in her unmedicated state stopped up the bathtub, filled it up with 8-10 inches of water, set her FIVE MONTH OLD baby in and left him to drown.  Here’s the article: http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/36322654.html  Arkisha was sentenced yesterday and was sent to jail for five years.  Not to go to in depth on that sentence, but I deem that EXTREMELY light considering that a defenseless infant sat in a bathtub full of water, inhaled said water, and died a slow excruciating death, but what do I know? 

What I am most angry about is the fact that one case worker and that worker’s supervisor still have their jobs.  The actions taken by those two caused the torture and beating of one young girl and the death of 2 children.  I’m not a lawyer, but in my little mind, I believe that to be criminal.  It probably isn’t criminal, but it most certainly is (or should be) grounds for dismissal.  If I handled my job with that sort of recklessness I would be fired and nobody would feel bad about it.  I work in a business setting so if I were to screw up that bad, the worst that could happen is my employer loses a little money.  This person and supervisor had the responsibility to look out for the best interests of these children and not only did they NOT do that, they went one step further and placed them in a deadly situation. 

These situations are disgusting.  The aunt of Christopher Thomas and the mother of Will Johnson make me sick.  Defenseless, small children unceremoniously discarded because the adults that are supposed to care for them can’t keep their heads on straight.  There is a question/larger point I’d like to address that is pointed to La Causa, Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare, and the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families’ Division of Safety and Permanence, and that is: Why do those organizations feel the need to place children with biological family members “thinking” that is what is in the best interest of the child??  Time after time children are pulled out of bad situations, many of those situations caused by the irresponsible and disgusting actions of the parents and family members, just to be put back with those families to cause more harm, potential abuse, and sometimes DEATH.  These victims are children.  They can’t fight back, and they can’t call the police, so the responsibility falls on the case workers of these organizations AND more importantly the legal system to permanently place these children in caring, loving homes, not back into cesspools.  The first and most visible tragedy is the ineptitude of the La Causa case worker, supervisor, and anyone else that knew about each particular situation, but what I am most sickened by is this incessant desire/requirement by the laws on the books, certain people in our legislature, and anyone else who thinks that having a child raised by their biological family is in the best interest of a child.  When it has been established that a child is in danger and is pulled out of a home, they only way that any family member gets that child is if they can provide OVERWHELMING evidence that everything in that household, or the households that parent is associated with, are virtually perfect.  Hard standard to live up to, but when it comes to the life and safety of children, I believe that standard is necessary. 

My standard will never be instituted because, for whatever reason, we as a society feel biological (or as they are mistakenly called – “natural”) parents are good for the children.  I hate to do this (quote a Keanu Reaves character), but his following quote from the movie Parenthood is SO apropos:  “You know, Mrs. Buckman, you need a license to buy a dog, or drive a car. Hell, you need a license to catch a fish! But they’ll let any butt-******* a-hole be a father.”  Well said Keanu, well said.

****** I just want to clarify my position on giving children back to the natural parents.  Looking at my post I could see where someone might get the idea that I do not think natural parents are good for the child – I most certainly do.   I should have clarified my position by saying it is not ALWAYS in the best interest of the child.  It is an option, but with some of these situations (Will’s and Christopher’s being prime examples) it shouldn’t be the priority.  Hope that clarifies things a bit…..  Thanks.  ******