Families in crisis: Is the new initiative working?

New Jersey has spent nearly 950 million dollars to expand its child welfare services. With permission from the Department of Children and Families, the Star-Ledger was able to see what it was like on the front lines. The four sets of individuals seen here were followed by photographer Noah K. Murray and writer Susan Livio over a period of several months: 17-yr-old Omayra Padilla, a first-time mother being taught how to care for a child, Eric, a 39-year-old single father struggling to keep his boys together, Jason, a three-year-old placed in the care of his aunt and uncle, and Lou (Louise), 25-year-old mother cleaning herself up from drug use. (Audio slideshow by Bumper DeJesus)

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• tvjersey
• nj
• star-ledger
• DYFS
• Division
• of
• Youth
• and
• Family
• Services
• mothers
• babies
• drugs
• welfare
• autism

[TTossie]

With all the years of threat before I signed my children up in1993. I want to take your rights, anyhow, not mine, and not my childrens.

[jdouglasfisher]

Like a swat team?

WTF????????

J...

[TTossie]

Same programs FACETS just more money. When will they learn the family doesn't have the money to drive 30 miles round trip a week to go to psyciatriac counciling. I remember the dyfs supervisor saying she would make sure I would never get the children back. I never met her and she said it to the dyfs worker and they came with police and gone forever just like that from a fat hypertensive witch. They type A personality everone knows about. The children were adoped in a year with out my consent.

[TTossie]

This happened on Nov 29,1990. They were having a big welfare reform war. The judge said she wouldn't give the children back to live on the welfare when I had a job just no assistance. The police came after a year from a short recomendation to have the children taken by the kindergarten teacher and a psycologist. She doesn't disipline her children. The judge said my own mother said to take them. It was terriorism with them doing the abuse and the threats. The children were terriorized by it.

[TTossie]

The Newark Star Ledger route 887 in montague was my route and not one bit of assistance. I got 288 from aid to familys of dependant children and wic. Dyfs just endend the checks and attacked it took a whole year. It was terriorism to me and the children, we had no money and no child care and no help. Others were given child care summer camp. I was given abuse. My oldest son developed an ulser condition after the first year from the kindergarten teacher putting him down for 2 years. They ruined

[crazychick927]

Wow I'm glad the state it taking so much interest in every aspect of people's lives. Now if only there was someone to monitor THEM and make sure THEY aren't abusing their power.

[jimmyd67]

Continued: Two days after I dropped them off. DYFS spins EVERY case to come out any way they want in order for the numbers to look good. I am 41yrs old and never been arrested nor any kind of allegation EVER against me And DYFS just believes this psyco drug addict who is the most manipulative person on earth.You would think they would do their jobs and thoroughly and HONESTLY investigate. So much for THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN.They belong with their DAD in Florida.

[jimmyd67]

What a joke this video is. I just got done spending 40,000 to get custody of my 3 kids from a woman that tested positive for cocaine along with her newborn. Stuck our childrens head in the toilet according to the children,for pooping in their pants. Has a live in boy friend that has had 2 confirmed heroin overdoses etc etc.Complying with a court order I let the children go for a 2 week summer visit with mom from Florida. What a mistake.They will not becoming back due to false allegations.

[jimmyd67]

naturally you cant post comments