Is Florida DCF drugging children without evaluation?

[madfloridian]

Just another Florida day in the sunshine. Just another outrage in Jeb Country.

DCF hinders records access

SNIP...."TALLAHASSEE -- A watchdog group created by the Legislature to help disabled and vulnerable Floridians claims the state Department of Children & Families is retaliating for its report on drugged foster children.

The Statewide Advocacy Council issued an analysis of DCF records this month indicating that more than half of the state's emotionally disturbed foster children were prescribed mind-altering medication, and nearly half of them had no medical evaluation. Seventeen were 5 or younger......"

SNIP....""Someone is trying to hide the facts," said state Sen. Walter G. "Skip" Campbell, a Tamarac Democrat who has tried twice to curb the use of psychiatric drugs among children in state care. "They don't want us to know what is actually happening to kids in foster care."

[madfloridian]

1. Mind drugs given to hundreds in Fla. foster care

This are many links, some even more horrible than this.
Mind drugs given without evaluation in DCF

SNIP..."In a review of the files of 1,180 children, most in therapeutic foster homes, the advocacy council found 652 were on at least one psychotropic medication. About 44 percent of those receiving medications had no record of a medical examination in the file. In many cases, there was no evidence that doctors had the consent of a parent or guardian to prescribe the drugs. Many of the drugs were prescribed by primary care physicians, not psychiatrists who specialize in emotional and mental disorders.

And in two-thirds of the cases, there was no evidence anybody checked for the side effects that can range from irregular heartbeats, permanent shakes and tics and worsening of the very symptoms the same drugs are supposed to improve.

The discovery of preschoolers on psychotropic drugs was especially disturbing to the researchers, who included doctors, mental health experts and social workers....."

[JanMichael]

2. If you can't teach, and care for, children rationally, drug them.

Sad isn't it?

[salin]

3. geeeeeez

haven't read yet - but how does the timing of the story jibe with the timing of the new (fundie) DCF head. Did this go on long before - or start after his arrival (or is there any indication at all?) (Will read and probably answer my own questions.)

[madfloridian]

4. Not sure, looking now.

I think it really got started with Regier.

[Noordam]

5. Force a 9 yo Girl to take Paxil to deal with her Alcoholic mother

I fought over this case for three years, until DCF moved her to a relative in WV.

The Tampa police removed the child from the mother after she locked the child out four times. DCF never would.

This was in 97 before a lot of the shit that has come out on DCF. What is simpler for a DCF caseworker to do.

a) Do an nightime check or weekend check on the family OR
b) Never show up on weekends or after 5pm at night and force the child to take Paxil and tell her that her mother is not an alcoholic.

I could go on and on about DCF in Florida and one case I fought.

On the other hand I am the software eng in this article http://www.sptimes.com/News/101201/TampaBay/Donations_for_abused_.shtml

[JanMichael]

6. Good god what a horrific story...

Hell I got enraged just reading it:mad:

Thank you for helping the child out...

[salin]

10. How awful

of a story both the case you described, and even more so the sptimes story.

However you played a wonderful part in it. :thumbsup:

[madfloridian]

7. What a sad webpage from a mother! Child given Clonidine in foster care.

There is no end to the hits on this topic. I am stunned!

http://www.cryforchildren.org/cfdocs/15storypage.cfm?idno=6

SNIP...."IS DCF MOVING TOWARDS TPR(TAKE AWAY MY PARENTAL RIGHTS TO MY CHILDREN) because DCF, GAL and the Judge have done to me and my children. IS IT BECAUSE WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE BEING ABUSED IN FOSTER CARE I REPORTED IT TO THE 180096ABUSE LINE AND FILED A REPORT WITH THE SHERIFFS OFFICE? IS IT BECAUSE ALYSSA WAS ILLEGALLY DRUGGED WITH CLONIDINE TO MAKE HER MORE COMPLIANT IN FOSTER CARE IN A HOME THAT DCF INVESTIGATOR REALIZED WAS OVER THE STATE LIMIT FOR FOSTER CHILDREN IN ONE HOME? IS IT BECAUSE I DID NOT GIVE UP THE FIGHT TO GET MY CHILDREN BACK HOME? IS IT BECAUSE DCF, GAL, AND THE JUDGE ARE SHOCKED THAT I DID EVERYTHING THEY ASKED ME TO DO AND I DID MORE? IS IT BECAUSE WHEN ALL THIS IS OVER AND MY CHILDREN ARE HOME, THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE WONT BE OVER? IS IT BECAUSE NOW THIS IS MY LIFE LONG DREAM, TO MAKE SURE DCF AND GAL DOESNT PUT ANOTHER CHILD INTO HARMS WAY AGAIN. I JUST WONDER SOMETIMES WHY THIS HAPPENED TO US. AND OF COURSE I WONDER HOW DCF CAN GET AWAY WITH THEIR LIES, DECEIT, AND DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER-LIBEL AND SLANDER. Sherie Heidemann 386-453-1502 386-255-7510 www.join-hands.com/forum/messages/1295.html www.orlandoweekly.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000267.html www.socialworklicense.com/wwwboard/messages/361.html

[dmr]

8. This is cruel and abusive!

- snip -

The Statewide Advocacy Council issued an analysis of DCF records this month indicating that more than half of the state's emotionally disturbed foster children were prescribed mind-altering medication, and nearly half of them had no medical evaluation. Seventeen were 5 or younger.

If they have had no medical evaluation, how in the hell can they label them emotionally disturbed? This is abuse. No other word for it. We entrust the state with our children that are in crisis, and they drug them? Drugging them helps their caregivers, not the kids. How about helping them through their fears and pain.

Florida = Right to Life? = Leave No Children Behind? = Compassionate Conservatism? = How about We Don't Fuckin' Care! And, those who advocate for the kids meet retaliation, which again only helps and protects the caregivers. It's heartbreaking.

[Noordam]

9. There is more to this than what meets the eye.

From the 9 yo girl case from above.

The state has more than enough "mental health professional" that can write prescriptions for drugs like Paxil. And if DCF wants a child drugged,,,, these "professionals" will write the scrip and bill mediaid.