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Washington State Senate
Sen. Pam Roach
For immediate release
January 15, 2009
For interviews contact:
Sen. Pam Roach (360) 786-7660
Senator Pam Roach to call for DSHS Accountability at February 5 Rally
10:00 AM PRESS CONFERENCE TO PRECEDE RALLY, CHERBERG BUILDING CONFERENCE ROOM ABC
Auburn…Sen. Pam Roach (R-rural Auburn) has announced her Families' First rally at the Capitol Rotunda in Olympia on February 5, 2009 at 12:00 noon.
The subject will be the need for justice and accountability within DSHS Child Protective Services.
Roach believes CPS is out of control, and she is giving voice to the thousands of children and relatives hurt by the department.
Roach led the successful 11 month effort to return the granddaughter of Doug and Anne Marie Stuth to their Enumclaw home. (Please see: KING 5 [Stuth stories at King 5]
"It is time the citizens of Washington stand up against the atrocities of this department," said Roach. "We expect hundreds, if not thousands, of people will join their voices to publicly be heard by the Legislature and Governor."
Washington Families United, Grandparent' s Rights of Washington, legislators, and citizens demanding accountability will be in attendance.
"Of the Stuths," Roach said, "we have become family after our year-long struggle. These are good people who fought and won. So many others have had their children stolen."
"Doug and AnneMarie Stuth, the Enumclaw couple recently awarded third party custody of their grandchild, will be in attendance," Roach said.
"Their horrific story shows just how intent CPS has been to separate good families from their children," said Roach. "On the other hand, they often leave children in harm's way."
"Just one month ago, between Christmas and New Year's, two infants returned to their respective homes, died by shaken baby syndrome," said Roach. "This is absolutely atrocious."
"The rally is intended to give hope to the thousands of families injured by the negligence of CPS," Roach added.
"As in other cases, the Stuths have been terribly hurt by the system," said Roach. "They deserve vindication for all the untruths told in court and should be compensated for the $50,000 they spent trying to get their granddaughter back."
"It is not a coincidence that both DSHS Secretary, Robin Arnold-Williams, and CPS Director, Cheryl Stephani, announced their departure from the department just three weeks ago, and two weeks prior to a scathing report on CPS practices they knew would be released by the State Ombudsman," Roach added. "Out of the hot seat, but not out of the fire."
"The leadership in the department has not addressed accountability within the system," Roach said.
"I will be proposing legislation to break DSHS into smaller agencies to increase accountability and efficiency," added Roach. "Another piece of legislation includes creating a Citizens Review Committee of CPS.
For more information contact Senator Pam Roach at (360) 786-7660 or via e-mail at Roach.pam@leg. wa.gov She may be reached at her home office (253) 735-4210.
PAMROACHREPORT. BLOGSPOT. COM OUTLINES THE STUTH CASE IN DETAIL
This appeal raises important questions regarding an individual's capacity to sue as a representative of minors in state foster care custody alleging violations of their civil rights.
On June 28, 2007, Mary Melvin, Kathleen J. Collins, and Gregory C. Elliott (collectively, the proposed Next Friends), filed a class action suit on behalf of foster care children who are under the legal custody of Rhode Island's Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF). The complaint sought declaratory and injunctive relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and alleged that by maintaining systemic deficiencies in Rhode Island's child welfare and foster care systems, the state has deprived plaintiffs of their rights under the United States Constitution and several federal statutes. The proposed Next Friends sought to pursue the present civil rights case on behalf of foster care children who are unable to sue for themselves due to their minority.1 The district court dismissed the complaint finding that the Next Friends lacked capacity to sue on behalf of Plaintiffs.
For the reasons stated below, we reverse the district court's order and judgment dismissing the children's complaint and remand the case with instructions to allow the Next Friends to represent the named Plaintiffs in this suit.
THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) enforces Federal laws that prohibit discrimination by health care and human service providers that receive funds from the DHHS. Such laws include Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Community Service Assurance provisions of the Hill-Burton Act.
Discrimination Is Against the Law!
This Fact Sheet explains your rights to receive services and benefits in programs and activities funded by the DHHS. There are Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in such programs and activities based on:
Race Color National Origin
Disability Age Sex
Religion
Some of the institutions, programs and service providers that may receive funds from the DHHS are:
* Hospitals
* Medicaid and Medicare
* Physicians and other health care professionals in private practice with patients assisted by Medicaid
* Family Health Centers
* Community Mental Health Centers
* Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers
* Nursing Homes
* State agencies that are responsible for administering health care
* Foster Care Homes
* Day Care Centers
* Senior Citizen Centers
* Nutrition Programs
* State and local income assistance and human service agencies
HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT OF DISCRIMINATION WITH OCR
If you believe that you have been discriminated against because of your race, color, national origin, disability, age, and in some cases sex or religion, by an entity (recipient) receiving financial assistance from the DHHS, you or your representative may file a complaint with OCR. Complaints must be filed within 180 days from the date of the alleged discriminatory act. OCR may extend the 180-day deadline if you can show "good cause." Include the following information in your written complaint, or request a Discrimination Complaint Form from OCR:
Your name, address and telephone number. You must sign your name.
If you file a complaint on someone's behalf, include your name, address, telephone number, and statement of your relationship to that person--e.g., spouse, attorney, friend, etc.
Name and address of the institution or agency you believe discriminated against you.
How, why and when you believe you were discriminated against.
Any other relevant information.
Send the complaint to the Regional Manager at the appropriate OCR Regional Office or to OCR Headquarters at the following address:
Director
Office for Civil Rights
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
H.H.H. Building, Room 509-F
Washington, D.C. 20201
For information on the addresses and telephone numbers of OCR's Regional Offices, or to obtain information of a civil rights nature, please call the following toll-free OCR hotline numbers. OCR employees will make every effort to provide prompt service.
Voice : 1-800-368-1019
TDD : 1-800-537-7697
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I live in canton ohio I have 2 kids both of my kids are in foster care Im still fighting for my 2 kids the case worker want to put my kids up for adption / sale we have to stop cps & family court Im looking for new attorneys nothing is being…
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