Senator Val Stevens
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Stevens’ calls case of little girl being ripped from stable
foster home ‘a travesty’
‘This is a classic case of caseworker bias
– the very thing that got Zy’Nia Nobles killed.’
May 7, 2009
OLYMPIA…Sen.
Val Stevens, R-Arlington and Republican leader of the Senate
Human Services and Corrections Committee, today denounced the
removal of a 4-year-old foster child nicknamed “Poca” from her
foster parents – the only stable home she’s ever known.
The child was removed at the request of the birth mother, after
the foster parents repeatedly pointed out signs of physical
abuse whenever Poca went to visit her biological family.
Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Anita Farris agreed to
move the child to the home of a friend of the birth mother after
testimony from a Child Protective Services social worker who was
determined to reunite the family. Because of chronic drug
addiction and alcohol abuse, the birth mother has lost another
child to foster care and three children to death. After four
years on state drug and behavioral treatment, she has made
almost no attempt to reunite with her children.
“This case is too reminiscent of other cases of social worker
bias, such as with Zy’Nia Nobles,” Stevens said. “The 3-year-old
Tacoma toddler was beaten to death in 2000 by her birth mother
after a caseworker pushed to have Zy’Nia returned to the
drug-abusing mother for reunification. I was on the fatality
review panel, and it was heartbreaking.
“Poca’s case is similar.
Due to a complicated birth, this delicate, fragile child is now
bonded to the only family she knows – her foster family. State
law requires that we attempt to reunite children with biological
parents. However, after countless state services it has become
apparent that Poca’s biological family remains dominated by drug
addiction. This is an unsafe environment for any child, let
alone a fragile child.
“It is abysmal judgment to continue parental rights after four
years of no progress. The law requires that permanency be
established after 15 months of foster care. The foster family
who came to love this child is willing to adopt and give the
child the permanency she needs. Instead, we give her emotional
upheaval.
“The Legislature wants to help families become reunited with
their birth children, but not at the risk of the health of the
child. In this case, the system has lost sight of the balance
between safety, reunification and the best interests of the
child. The Legislature has given social workers the tools to
‘get it right.’ There is no excuse for this egregious abuse of
the law. I'm calling for a full investigation of this case.”- 30 -
Sen. Stevens represents the 39th
Legislative District,
which includes part of rural King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom
counties.
For more information contact Pat Albright
at (360) 786-7519 or
albright.pat@leg.wa.gov.
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