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Voice of the People

Argus Leader

Box 5034

Sioux Falls, SD

57117-5034

Dear Editor:

I am writing in reply to “Return Children to Family” (Teri L. Heggestad, Vermillion). Sadly, this family is not alone. CPS/DSS is running amuck all across the country. A major factor is GREED. Nationally, each child removed—for whatever reason—can be worth up to $250,000 a year to the CPS and its network of cohorts. My child is worth at least $3180/mth—If I got half as much in help to care for her, we would think we were rich! Where does the money come from? Often it is in the form of block grants from local, state and federal sources, i.e. TAXPAYERS.

I have also been victimized by my local CPS office in Brookings SD. I am also trying to fight back. To this end, I founded Parents to End CPS Abuses, for local parent support as well as more “global” actions. My list group has some files Heggestads may find useful (and many of the resources I have used for my information). However, I spend most of my time in another list (FixCPS) of very dedicated and knowledgeable people. I would love to help other such victims with resources.

CPS laws need to be changed! Too many families are being harmed needlessly! Most children legally abducted are taken on allegations of “neglect.” (However, true abuse must also be better handled). “Neglect” can be defined as almost anything—or nothing—as one family learned: the CPS-documented reason their children were removed from their home? “The children were removed from their home because the children were removed from the home.” Seriously. Others have had children taken because they were poor. The list of ridiculous reasons seems never-ending. (But I have compiled one).

The out-of-home placements are often more harmful. Think of the Ted Klaudt case, to name one local current example. I get many news items DAILY telling how FOSTER placements hurt or killed the children in their care—“branding” child with a heated potato masher; suffocating babies; horrible things done to INNOCENT children! When many allegations of “neglect” could have been addressed while leaving a family intact. It has to stop!

Further, I believe that by leaving more of these children in their own homes while addressing CPS concerns can also save state and federal dollars.

I have been working on a proposal and a proclamation outlining some such changes needed. At the top are ending the “carte blanche” ability CPS has to remove children; adding to/increasing their (CPS) accountability; to make the words “reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of children…” to actually mean something; to have more incentives to keep families intact than to remove the children (as it is now); to make CPS more family-oriented. I invite all concerned to join with me.

Anyone seriously concerned and wanting such reform is welcome to contact me. It is time to reclaim parent’s rights, family rights, and to reform DHS/CPS/DSS/DFS/etc. Or YOUR family can be the next one ripped apart! Really….as many CPS workers are known to exaggerate and even falsify their reports in order to take/keep OUR children!

Contact info: Parents to End CPS Abuses

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/endCPSabuses

endCPSabuses@yahoogroups.com

P.O. Box 34 Ramona, SD 57054

Sincerely,

The DO’s and DON’T’s WHEN Falsely Accused ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The DO’s and DON’T’s
WHEN Falsely Accused
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