When Foster Care Fails
February 20, 2006: Corri Planck is the deputy executive director of the Family Pride Coaltion, the only national group that works exclusively on protecting LGBT families. She and her partner, Dianne Hardy-Garcia, recently suffered an unbelievable loss when a young girl to whom they had provided foster care was allegedly killed by abusive relatives. This is from the LA Times. You should click the link to read the whole story:
A Child’s Death Reveals a System’s Tragic Flaw
Crucial information from foster mothers was missed; it might have kept Sarah Chavez alive.Corri Planck and Dianne Hardy-Garcia were overjoyed when they got the call.
Driven by a hope they might someday adopt a needy child, the Los Angeles couple had spent months training to become foster parents. Now, county welfare officials were looking for a safe home for Sarah Chavez, a 2-year-old girl.
Like giddy new parents, Planck and Hardy-Garcia rushed to buy furniture, toys and a stroller for the toddler. “We felt like, wow, what an amazing gift,” Hardy-Garcia said recently.
Over the next three months, the women took Sarah to the zoo and on long walks in the neighborhood, where the little girl waved at strangers. Sometimes they would stay up at night just watching Sarah sleep.
Then it all changed. On a Monday afternoon last April, the couple was told to pack up Sarah’s clothes because a court referee had ordered the toddler returned to her aunt and uncle, even though social workers had once suspected them of abusing her.
By fall the little girl with pigtails, who liked snails and dancing to show tunes, was dead — beaten, prosecutors now allege, by the same aunt and uncle. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Sarah’s death in October marked a grim episode in a gargantuan child welfare system that struggles each year to rescue thousands from abuse or neglect while still preserving families whenever possible. Deaths like hers are not unheard of, but they are rare.
But the tragedy highlighted what many say is a widespread, if sometimes overlooked, weakness in child welfare systems nationwide: As social workers, attorneys and judges look to reunite children with their parents or relatives, they too often ignore the voices of the foster parents who have been tucking the children into bed every night.
As a foster parent myself, I can only imagine the pain Corri and Dianne are feeling. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them.
February 21st, 2006 at 8:18 pm
This is yet another tragic example of the impact of the Right-wing hate campaign against gay and lesbian Americans. It is also an example of a broken foster care system. There is a notion that it is best for abused children to be placed with their genetic kin, but clearly that is not always the case.
How sad that the “pro-life” crowd made it possible for this poor little girl to be taken away from those “evil lesbians” who were doing their level best to make a good life for her, and then to place her in a “good heterosexual” home where she was beaten to death.
We should all challenge Right-wingers when they claim to be “pro family”, because clearly they are not. Their social and fiscal policies are destructive to families and (in this case) led to the brutal treatment and death of an innocent child.
And yes, sadly, there are people who would say that it was better for her to be abused and murdered by her heterosexual relatives than to be loved, protected and wanted in a homosexual household.
February 27th, 2006 at 3:43 am
I am Sarah’s step-grandmother and felt compelled to write a response. My family has chosen to lay low during this difficult time. I am in no way related to the people that killed my precious Sarah, I am Sophia’s step-mother.
I would like to say that while Sarah was in Corri Planck and Diane Hardy Garcia’s care I attempted to get Sarah back to live with me. Although I appreciate so much the love and attention Corri and Diane gave my little Sarah, I would have fought for her. Not because they were “lesbians”, but because she was mine and my husbands granddaughter. It’s one of those stories of “I wish I knew what was going on” situation. I will live with the regret of not being more aware of what was going on with Sarah.
I need to say that I spent the first & a 1/2 with Sarah, and she was a happy sweet child, and then my daughter stopped coming around and we had no idea where she was. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that she was being harmed. Nothing could have prepared me for this nightmare.
I want people to know that in no way was this side of the family offended or mortified in anyway that Sarah was with a gay couple, we just did not have the complete story as to why she was there and we were not given the opportunity until the last minute to petition the court for custody of her. Several of us wrote letters to the judge to ask that we be considered not foster parents, but legal guardians of Sarah, to be honest, I do not believe our letters were ever received. I can assure anyone that had Sarah come to live with any of us, she would be alive and well-adjusted today. Many family members on this side of the family were deprived of Sarah’s company, but once again, you never think it will happen in your family. Unfortunately, once again, it is a guilt that will plague me until I can see her in paradise and hold her and apologize to her.
Until then, I thank Corri and Diane for their continual effort to fight to bring attention to this nightmare and not let Sarah die in vain. Maybe somewhere down the line it will save children all the way around. Either way, may my beautiful sweet Sarah rest in peace.
March 3rd, 2006 at 12:46 am
Ms Chavez,
I’m so sorry for your loss. It sounds like in her brief time here with us, Sarah was well and truly loved by so many people. She must have been a wonderful child.
I appreciate your sharing your message here, and our thought and prayers are with you.
March 11th, 2006 at 12:02 pm
I need to get in touch with Corri and Dianne. I need their attorney’s help to save my little adopted son from dcfs! It’s a long story but I am a single mom, a social worker, too, and I know what dcfs has done wrong in this situation and they are trying everything to make a case when there is none. I have doctors and a police report that say so! please help me get in touch with them! Thanks! meaone2@hotmail.com “for Spencer’s sake, please!”
June 7th, 2006 at 4:22 pm
I just think that both Armando and Frances (the killers) should be locked up for a while and get executed. Them people do not deserve to live. I can’t belive how they can do all of that to a helpless smart little girl. Frances especially should be paying the price, she calls herself Sarah’s godmother… I think NOT. How do people like that get kids anyway. I know that it is hard to get custody of kids even if they are from your own family I have been there, all the investigations, fingerprint , background, home visits. what is wrong with these people giving Sarah to those Monsters. I personally know all of them and I think just their background alone should of let you know the kind of demons that family is. I still don’t understand how that little angel got put in those hands, Even if she was not with a family member 100 times preffered for her to be with Corri Planck and Dianne Hardy-Garcia. I know that atleast little Sarah would be alive right now. Well I am so disappointed in that family and if all the family would pay the price that would be even better Frances mother should of known what kind of daughter she has. and the attitude toward her son and Sarah well I guess I can go on but I will stop now, I am getting mad just writting about them sick perverts!!!!
January 27th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
-Victims of Child Welfare Memorial Day-
Government agencies, Social workers, judges they all make decisions on what is in the BEST Interest of Children … decisions which often determine their destiny.
Sadly, when the wrong decisions are made - Children are murdered!
They are beaten, tortured, sexually assaulted and murdered.
Who is responsible ?
The One making the decisions!
WE are asking for justice … for Help!
Help never came for Angellika Nicole Arndt , Isaac Lethbridge,Daniel Jack Matthews, Ricky Holland, Christopher Michael, Sirita Sotelo, Nicholas Contreras, Sarah Angelina Chavez, Martin Lee Anderson,Ebony Smith,Kayla Allen,Candice Raynor…… and sadly many, many more but perhaps one day justice will come for them all. For these children, it’s too late to turn back the hands of time. May the spirits of those lost rest in peace and may we never forget or ignore what happened to them. http://suncanaa.com/in_memory_
In The Name of Those Children
We are asking For:
-Victims of Child Welfare Memorial Day-
to remember those who have died as a result of Child Welfare in their lives. -
Take Action Send Citizen Request To: The White House
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/986173347
“When will justice come? When those who are not injured become as indignant as those who are.” -Leon Tolstoy
It is very sad to know there are children like these suffering today. This must stop before is too late, don’t wait for new name on this page. http://suncanaa.com/in_memory_
Please Remember Us
http://protected-to-death-by-cps.memory-of.com/
March 9th, 2007 at 2:40 am
First let me say how tragic Sarah’s story is. I came here to share a similar story of another little girl Kelsey Briggs from Meeker Oklahoma. Kelsey died at the age of two on the same day as Sarah did, October 11, 2005. Kelsey was beaten to death while in the care of her biological mother and her step-father, while in the state of Oklahoma’s custody. Kelsey’s biological father was away serving our country in the US Army. He never got to say goodbye to his little Kelsey. For nine months leading up to her death DHS was supposed to be monitoring Kelsey. They failed her miserably, like California failed Sarah.
Please join us at www.kelseyspurpose.org to stomp out not only child abuse, but children who are protected to DEATH by CPS, DFS, DHS or whatever ever it is they are calling themselves. The fact is they are overworked and underpaid and our children are dying because of their neglect. I urge you all to join us now so this inhumane neglect of our children stops. I did not get the pleasure of knowing Sarah or Kelsey, but I believe we can make a difference in their names and so their deaths will not be in vain. Thank you and I look forward to seeing all of you at Kelsey’s Purpose
April 17th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Why does it have to come down to the same sarcastic remarks of “it’s because we’re gay” The stupid courts will ALWAYS rule on the side of family first. I know, I was in 27 homes before I was out including going back with my folks. 27 moves I count them all. I was taken at 1year. I was shuffled so much, I feel like a deck of cards. Don’t jump on me, I’m not judging, it’s just that I get so much sarcasm from the gay/lesbian groups, I don’t even try anymore. I can’t have a foster kid or adopt because I’m sick. I’m sick from all the abuse. How’s that for irony. I typed “poor little foster girl” into the search engine because that’s how I’m feeling. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t indulge in self-pity, but sometimes a girl just feels that way, and one of the first things to pop up is this horrible sarcasm. I’m trying, and working within my community to bring about love for all humankind. For humans, not black and white, but for all. I’m afraid to walk the streets because I hear gunshots every night. I’m used to that, but I turn on the TV today because I wake up crying this morning, and another madman has tried to outdo the last rampaging through innocent children at a University. These are children merging into adulthood trying to be leaders. I live right here, I was on lockdown during Columbine. Tell me why is there sarcasm, sadness grief, acceptable. Why are the Freedom Writers still in their corner? Why hasn’t every single school, every teacher taken this to heart? Why aren’t prisons actually REHABILITATING? How can a judge set a time on a crime without knowing how a prisoner will respond? Who are we really answering to if not ourselves? I am not berating you for what any person does in their bedroom. It’s my personal business what I do. I’m saying lose the sarcasm. Stop being comfortable. You’re on this site. That’s a start, but it’s not a voice. We all need to raise our voices, not for what we do sexually, but for who we are as humans as Americans. That should be our proud statement, but our children are attempting ethnic cleansing with gangs. OH NO! That’s going a bit far. What would you call it then? If I had known, I would have stepped out with you, with signs demanding that baby back you poor mothers. I’m weeping now. I so wish I could’ve been adopted the first time, but they FREELY gave me back because they didn’t want to hurt my mother even though my father backhanded my brother at lunch in front of them when they came for us. How’s that for the wrong kind of tolerance. Yes, I’m preaching, and I have a right to. I don’t have to be gay to have a right to preach to gay people. I can speak my words anywhere. Besides, I’m really only trying to light a fire under everyone’s butts. Thank Goodness you are doing something, but get more and more and more. Don’t ever stop, even if you get another child. Everyone must start being accountable. and Oh, I am so very sorry. I would trade places with her in a second. You could have her back and I would know no more pain.