There are over 22,000 children in out-of-home care across Florida. Foster care was intended to be temporary, but many children remain in care for years.
Clearwater, United States - November 30, 2021 /PressCable/ —
The Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) is hosting a complimentary online event on December 11th. The event, Foster Kids & The Baker Act, is being held to bring attention to the flaws in the foster care system and how many of these children end up being sent for involuntary psychiatric examinations, called a Baker Act. [1]
The featured speaker for the event is Mari Frankel, the director and producer of the documentary “Foster Shock”. As a Guardian ad Litem and mother of three, Ms. Frankel produced the powerful film to expose the privatized child welfare system. The documentary gives viewers a close-up look at Florida’s foster care system through the eyes of traumatized children who’ve depended on it, only to suffer more abuse, neglect and pain. [2]
CCHR renewed their call for an investigation into the drugging of children in the foster care system following the recent launching of a criminal investigation into Eckerd Connects, the former provider for foster care services in Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco Counties, for alleged child abuse and neglect. During a press conference, Sheriff Gualtieri announced his agency’s criminal investigation into Eckerd Connects, the company that was hired to provide foster care services throughout Florida, stating that, “the investigation stems from the sheriff’s office finding out last week that Eckerd was having kids live at their administrative offices in Largo.” [3]
“Having children sleeping under desks is just the tip of the iceberg,” according to the President for CCHR in Florida, Diane Stein. “The foster care system in Florida has been plagued with reports of abuse, deaths, suicides and heavy psychiatric drugging.”
At the event, attendees will learn about what foster children experience when they are thrown into the system and how this relates to the parents, guardians and caregivers. The event will also cover basic rights which are impacted by the foster care system as well as how the Baker Act is applied to foster kids and what steps can be taken to better protect these children from abuse. [4]
“There is unacceptable and then there’s disgraceful,” said Mari Frankel. “We need to change the system to protect these children from being hurt over and over again.” [5]
The complimentary virtual event is being held on Saturday, December 11th from 1:00-2:30pm and anyone wishing to register may do so by calling (727) 442-8820.
About CCHR: Initially established by the Church of Scientology and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz in 1969, CCHR’s mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections. L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology, first brought psychiatric imprisonment to wide public notice: “Thousands and thousands are seized without process of law, every week, over the ‘free world’ tortured, castrated, killed. All in the name of ‘mental health,’” he wrote in March 1969.
Sources:
[1] Moved 17 times in one year and involuntarily committed 40 times: The systems that failed a Florida teen news-press.com/story/news/special-reports/2020/01/09/mental-health-foster-care-system-florida-teen-anber/2837628001/
[2] ‘Foster Shock’ documentary takes Florida’s privatized child welfare system to task floridapolitics.com/archives/233792-foster-shock-documentary-takes-floridas-privatized-child-welfare-system-task
[3] Foster kids lived in ‘disgusting and deplorable’ conditions at Eckerd offices, sheriff says wfla.com/8-on-your-side/eckerd-connects-pinellas-sheriff-to-announce-criminal-investigation-into-foster-care-services-company/
[4] Foster Kids & The Baker Act
eventbrite.com/e/foster-kids-the-baker-act-tickets-219386219087?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
[5] Foster Shock reveals human cost of Florida’s foster care system prweb.com/releases/fostershock/reveals/prweb13300062.htm
[6] Children & Young Adults in Out-of-Home Care – Statewide myflfamilies.com/programs/childwelfare/dashboard/c-in-ooh.shtml
[7] Florida Adoption Facts childwelfaresparc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Florida-ADOPTION-FACTS.pdf
[8] Girl in Facebook Live hanging was prescribed drug with suicide warning
miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article140244853.html
[9] Report finds Florida foster kids put on psychotropic drugs without following proper procedures orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2015/09/22/report-finds-florida-foster-kids-put-on-psychotropic-drugs-without-following-proper-procedures
[10] Foster Kids Given Psychiatric Drugs At Higher Rates npr.org/sections/health-shots/2011/12/01/143017520/foster-kids-even-infants-more-likely-to-be-given-psychotropic-drugs
Contact Info:
Name: Diane Stein
Email: Send Email
Organization: Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Florida
Address: 109 North Fort Harrison Avenue, Clearwater, Florida 33755, United States
Phone: +1-727-442-8820
Website: http://www.cchrflorida.org/
Source: PressCable
Release ID: 89055076
