Congratulations to you, Eve, on a well done documentary. The staff and now young adults (who were raised in the group homes) emphasize in a very articulate way why Group Homes are needed and the fact that there are children who need longer stays to allow them the therapy and trained staff to work with them. it is a shame that the state legislators do not recognized that one size does not fit all. Dorothy Fried June 5, 2018
To be honest, when I was in foster care, the group homes were a hell of a lot better than private families. They need to stop treating kids like prisoners or criminals though. Some of my best friends were in those group homes. The tragedy binds us like superglue.
Will they be able to experience normalcy-attend sleepovers, have a cell phone, attend a public school-which is non-existent in group homes? It looks like this home segregated these kids. How are they supposed to integrate into society once they age out if they won’t let them practice independence?
Finally! Let's get organized and voice to California DSS the tragedy that has been invoked by their fiscal twist on reform. Continuum of Care Reform is basically the SAME laws as it has always been. Cases and case plans were and remain presented to the Judge every six months for review of appropriate placement, education and services. There is nothing written that says the child HAS to be in and out in six months. That was sold to the counties by State DSS to start a mudslide of closures in the group home system. And it worked! Now try and find an appropriate therapeutic treatment program for Dependent OR Delinquent kids. Especially try and find one near the community they are from. This State mantra has and is causing a huge amount of problems for our most high needs children. Placing a child in a group home and then walking away saying "done" has never been acceptable. Unfortunately that was the norm. Now we have swung the pendulum the other direction. Please let's settle in the middle by understanding that kids are not "one size fits all". There are kids that flourish in a group setting, some that excel in foster care and some that can return to families, guardianship or adoption. I am stating this out of experience. I am the Case Manager for CASA of Mendocino and Lake Counties, a current Family Resource (Foster) home, adoptive single parent of two (now adults) and biological parent. Good job Sonoma County JJC!
Thanks for the edification Eve. I hope lawmakers and the folks in charge see this.
Congratulations to you, Eve, on a well done documentary. The staff and now young adults (who were raised in the group homes) emphasize in a very articulate way why Group Homes are needed and the fact that there are children who need longer stays to allow them the therapy and trained staff to work with them. it is a shame that the state legislators do not recognized that one size does not fit all. Dorothy Fried June 5, 2018
To be honest, when I was in foster care, the group homes were a hell of a lot better than private families. They need to stop treating kids like prisoners or criminals though. Some of my best friends were in those group homes. The tragedy binds us like superglue.
Brava, Eve. An important documentary, well done.
Will they be able to experience normalcy-attend sleepovers, have a cell phone, attend a public school-which is non-existent in group homes? It looks like this home segregated these kids. How are they supposed to integrate into society once they age out if they won’t let them practice independence?
Finally! Let's get organized and voice to California DSS the tragedy that has been invoked by their fiscal twist on reform. Continuum of Care Reform is basically the SAME laws as it has always been. Cases and case plans were and remain presented to the Judge every six months for review of appropriate placement, education and services. There is nothing written that says the child HAS to be in and out in six months. That was sold to the counties by State DSS to start a mudslide of closures in the group home system. And it worked! Now try and find an appropriate therapeutic treatment program for Dependent OR Delinquent kids. Especially try and find one near the community they are from. This State mantra has and is causing a huge amount of problems for our most high needs children. Placing a child in a group home and then walking away saying "done" has never been acceptable. Unfortunately that was the norm. Now we have swung the pendulum the other direction. Please let's settle in the middle by understanding that kids are not "one size fits all". There are kids that flourish in a group setting, some that excel in foster care and some that can return to families, guardianship or adoption. I am stating this out of experience. I am the Case Manager for CASA of Mendocino and Lake Counties, a current Family Resource (Foster) home, adoptive single parent of two (now adults) and biological parent. Good job Sonoma County JJC!