Foster children are being sent back to abusive homes every day. Some will live their entire childhood being abused while others end up dead. Is this protecting children? The truth is that people get so caught up with trying to save a family instead of saving the children. I am not saying that some families do not deserve the right to a reunified family, but not all. Do parents that continually abuse their children have the right to be parents with the right to continue the abuse?

Philadelphia, Child Welfare failed to protect a 9 month -old baby boy. This mother was no stranger to DHS, she had been reported a dozen times for allegedly abusing or neglecting her children. In 1999, she threatened to throw her other infant 6 month- old son out an apartment window. She lost custody of this son before she permanently harmed him.

The nine month old baby was taking a bath with two small brothers unattended while mom checked her email and searched the internet. She lost a second child by death; he drowned in the bath tub.

DHS had asked a private agency to look in on this mother and to check the welfare of the children. The mother refused to allow the social worker into her house or have access to the children. DHS was made aware of this on a number of occasions by emails and calling by the private agency.

In an interview this week, September Tiller (the mother) said she was a good mother who cared for her children. She said it was unusual for her to leave the children unattended.

WHAT??? She threatened to throw one infant out an apartment window and killed another baby.

How many children need to die before society demands change and protection for abused or neglected children? The time has come to stop talking about the injustices and working towards a resolution. The truth is that the government is not going to make radical changes to foster care unless we force them to care about it. How many children need to die before we decide it is enough?

If you know about any laws, bills or other changes to foster care in your area please email me (fostercareblogger@adoptionmail.com) the information or links to the webpage. Let’s work together for change by making it known to lawmakers that we care about the foster care system, and the children in it by flooding their emails with letters supporting or demanding change. These children cannot protect themselves so someone has to stand up for them. You do not have to be a foster parent to help protect our foster children.

I look forward to hearing for you.

More reading:

How Many Second Chances?

Delaware Toddler Abandoned in Parking Lot

Sex-offender Parental Rights?