Rethinking foster care: Molly McGrath Tierney at TEDxBaltimore 2014

[@toddgab]

I'm going to bring this home further with my own quote I penned.... The number of people that will run into a burning building to save another is remarkably substantial because they see themselves as a hero by doing so but, a real hero is someone that sees the conditions and elements that could easily ignite and acts to mitigate them. No one will ever remember their act because society only measures tragedies and never the quiet act.

[@ACREEK-uv3cv]

Much respect for her acknowledging that CPS is a industry...children the commodity....and how entire organizations only survive on foster kids. Thank u ma'am.

[@jvogel431]

I have been a child welfare social worker, historian and educator for 25 years. I have never heard someone describe the reality of the very system I have been trying to change for decades with such clarity, honesty and integrity. I will find a way to show this video to as many child welfare professionals as possible. It is such a relief to know that there are other people in this "foster care industrial complex" who feel exactly like I do about it. We repeat the mantra of having to do more with less, when we really need to do something different.

[@jacobthompson6265]

J Vogel good luck. I aged out of foster care and it’s so difficult. I’m graduating next year. They don’t want to change. I’m lucky because I’m tough but a lot of people give up.

[@deb5787]

Yeah I wish the foster care system wasn't as bad as they say🙁. Thats never been my life but I'm looking into being a social worker or child welfare cuz I wanna be there for the kids and teens through those tough times❤

[@stacirobertsnastri4512]

I wish there were more like-minded people in the "industry" that realize children are not a commodity and profit should NEVER be the motive at the expense of the lives.l

[@buttercupj6208]

I grew up in foster care when I aged out I was put out on the streets of Baltimore no help nothing something needs to change .

[@catherinewanganderson9068]

Child TRAFFICKING. RICO.

[@LoopsyDoop]

Although some may think this woman isn't speaking the truth, for "some" of us who did actually grow up in a system that ultimately failed us, it resonated deeply and we are happy that someone put into words what a lot of us have been feeling since we were children. Nevermind what we wanted. The "experts" know better I guess...

[@michal-e2x]

Actions speak louder than words - talk is cheap and easy. Under her leadership and with her approval youth were defrauded by purchasing phony diplomas - read the article. But she met the goal - youth exiting care with a diploma - too bad it was phony and youth can't use it to love forward in their lives.

[@micheledupreystrong]

Jane Addams.. can you please reference the article? I haven't researched Ms. Tierney, but she makes some excellent points and some states are working hard at implementing family preservation whenever possible. It is definitely a process.. progress not perfection. If family welfare workers truly keep the children's best interests at heart, so much good will come of it.. and this often starts with real, honest discussion. Many experts and 'powers that be' are increasingly turning to the real experts for insight and advice.. the children it affects.

[@MonicaGriego22]

Very true. I went back home and so badly wanted to be adopted. It was by God's guidance that i finished high school and didnt end up pregnant.

[@zendogbreath]

@@michal-e2x are you saying this happened any more with her than anyone and anywhere else? like that isn't happening now?

[@zendogbreath]

@@michal-e2x got your reply in email and cannot find it here on yt page. what your saying is that mmt is corrupt and a demagogue, here. correct? can you reference some evidence of that? at the very least she's accurate enough in that she's recognizing a problem that experts are constantly universally denying or just blaming a few bad apples. with enough googtube censorship, the corrupt system may be able to hide it again. that's more victim blaming though and eventually folk will see through when things get bad enough. and for most of us, it's already bad enough.

[@nancywitherell4581]

Extremely impressed - perhaps the most important and accurate and thorough synopsis of the system in one 11 minute speech. Brilliant!!

[@AndrewRose]

Everyone should watch this.

[@radicaltendenciesyoga1506]

"The industry is committed to taking children from families." So very true. As a CASA, I've seen so many times when a child could go back to their families, but were kept in foster care to keep the "wrap-around" services in place to meet grant outcomes... Love this woman!

[@buttercupj6208]

TRUTH SPOKEN!! your statement is so true yet most times it's covered up and families are destroyed in the process .

[@hapstr6890]

It is the perception that aiding families we are contributing to the "welfare" system. Children in poor families should not be removed and give $ to non-family. How many families could be "saved" and the children protected if we didn't have to deal with the Welfare stigma?

[@HatRatt]

Thank you Molly! I am a child of CPS. I was enslaved as I passed to each foster home. I was once told I had to work for my keep. I had so much work that I worked 1/2 of my school classes switching to the other half the following quarter.... never had friends, never joined in school activities but had to keep working, working, working... The only praise I received was for the work I did and I kept trying to earn that praise (received occasionally). As a result I now work, work, work! After I escaped foster care I worked my way through college, went to work for the State as a computer programmer working into the night at times and looking back, I think I was looking for the praise rather than the pay. I retired from that work and now I own my own small business where I can work all night if I want (but I don't). Foster care was horrible and I so missed my own parents. Both were handicapped. My mother from polio and my father from alcoholism. The real problem at home was never treated so I and my 3 siblings never received any real help.

[@danielleriddel2927]

That is heart-wrenching and it must have been so hard to go through that. Though it sounds like you're in a good place now, you must dearly miss the moments you could have spent with your family. Hopefully this movement will succeed and other children and families won't have to go through what you have. Wishing you all the warm thoughts and nothing but the happiest moments in your future.

[@joanncoleman5619]

OMG I truly enjoyed your talk. I was at the other end of the foster care system. I became an accidental foster parent to three siblings and what a nightmare. The world needs to hear how this system fails the very children they are hired to help. Thank you for bringing this to light!

[@beautiful5132]

Glad for your honesty♡

[@achaffee4639]

JoAnn Coleman I am in the same situation. I'd love to know your story.

[@amybarclay8582]

I was very impressed. I love to listen to Molly McGrath Tierney. She knows what she is talking about. I wish more people would listen to her so more children can be helped. Listen to Molly McGrath Tierney, SHE GETS IT!

[@dianeholbrook1003]

This woman is my hero! A very incitful and objective description of the very system that she is part of. As a grandparent of the most loved 2 year old in the world and who was kidnapped into foster care 5 mos. ago, thank you. I now see both sides of the issue. I now understand and forgive the social workers that I once despised. Now the focus will be asking each of them to watch this. Thank you.

[@diabeticxennial]

As a former foster kid (1985-1988)it's sad and great to hear this being spoken about.

[@designpiggy2591]

A foster parent once told me " Of course I get paid, why else would I do this". I was forced to live on a child farm. I spent 12 hours a day working for nothing. In the end those who fostered betrayed me.

[@stephanborau9276]

Tremendous talk (one of the best I've seen on TEDx in a long time). She has explained the matter so clearly and eloquently. Incredibly well-composed and delivered. Bravo!

[@OnTiptoe02]

OMG! You brought me to tears! I have ONE hope, knowing that THIS truth is coming from someone in a position to possibly change the system! It's a big country, though with THOUSANDS of separate agencies, many of whom have NO incentives to change the status quo. Yet, still, ONE did speak out and I pray for her continued blessings and protection! Remembering Nancy Schaefer, I have concerns.

[@amandamilbrodt4423]

I LOVE THIS WOMAN RIGHT NOW!! Somebody openly speaking the truth!!!!

[@SamanthaSpellbound]

Thank you!!! This is so, SO important and you articulated it perfectly! It feels so hopeless. There are so many factors that go in to the suffering of children that I wish we could all open our eyes to!!! Thank you so much for this talk. I’m sharing it now. ❤️

[@JamesMilliganJr]

This lady is a genius. Thank you so much Molly for this very wonderful speech.

[@AncientHerbalCare]

This is very true and it feels good that someome has finally spoke the truth about the child welfare system.

[@michal-e2x]

Mmmmm....truth? Or the ego driven remarks by an ideological purist?

[@P0cketgnome]

Jane Addams As a former foster kid, I agree with this speaker a great deal.

[@WiildeCat]

honestly it feels like she is totally and completely mocking American Families, pompously never admitting that they have wrongfully removed millions of children....

[@stephanborau9276]

+JESSICA Mattox Did you actually watch and listen to her TEDTalk!?!

[@Sdm423]

The truth about how we institutionalize practices is scary. The real work is how to de-commission these structures and their interests. Thanks Molly!

[@EddieMcCullough]

Powerful video: How do you change things?

[@katrinawardlow]

Eddie McCullough Take the money out of the equation for foster care, adoption tax incentives, use the money to keep the family intacked!

[@wildersara]

Eddie McCullough we start by empowering communities to help themselves and its a soceoeconomic issue - we start looking at places and communities where its working or staring to. right now its not working -

[@the1calledv4veritas]

FANTASTIC! THIS WOMAN GETS IT! THANK YOU

[@cqrobyn]

Thanks Molly, I have just watched this again in preparation for my next research project. It is so refreshing to have my own words put so succinctly by another, in a forum where it is so obvious we are on a path for total collapse. Foster Carers in this country (Australia) are very cheap yet effective labour 24x7 168 hours per week as volunteers in order to make the welfare/out of home care corporate model sustainable. I have always believed, from my experience of 25 years as a foster carer and adoptive mother, that the 'real' observable relationship forged by the two mothers of these kids, are vital and therefore what will support this birth family the best and get that little person back to their family as soon as humanly possible. Realistically, not all kids can go home, but it has to better than it is at the moment. Once these kid get home, that relationship with them and their family does not stop, it mearely becomes one where the carer looks on from a far via say facebook and wonders at the magic that has been created for the world. I have spent the last 7 years studying in order to be taken seriously in my contentions. I will ultimately get my voice heard, hopefully it will be as fantastic as I thought yours was in this talk. Again, thank-you.

[@danielleriddel2927]

Whoo! chills! She presented that so well. Bang on- prevention and mental health support is SO key to most of our problems in society.

[@shenerawest5711]

This was simply amazing Molly told it like it is!

[@TheWritingGirl]

I am yet another foster care system statistic that didn't matter . from 1975 until 1988 Not one foster home or facility I was in, ever made me know what love, compassion, or family was. Just magnified i was a pay check and outsider

[@SarahBaird-io2tn]

As a future foster parent, I am so sorry you had to go through that. That's why I want to foster- I want to show kids and their families they are loved and that they can turn their lives around and get reunified.

[@arethasmith7951]

Thank you for sharing..... we are going thru this now. nothing but lies and stole our baby.... now the family crying over a living child like he's dead. but i will never give up 2 years later still fighting.

[@gamezswinger]

Brilliant talk. Kudos Molly! Spoken with reality--not fantasy.

[@rachellepierre4720]

She's amazing and she nailed it!! Hopefully those with the egos will listen.

[@jenniferwilson247]

BEST TED TALK EVER. This is TRUTH!

[@jojobeebop4978]

Thank you Molly for your eloquent presentation.

[@itsyolie7]

Masterful. Thank you for your courage, Molly. Your words speak to my experience in another system that continues to do exactly the same thing, expecting different results for children: the education system.

[@kyliek9931]

My friend was in foster care her parents were neglectful and she eventually got adopted and she loves her parents who adopted her and now Shes gonna be going to college A family friend of mine fostered then adopted two kids! I love the adoptees in my family (and friends) I can't say much about foster care but I do think if a child is being beat on a daily he or she shouldn't be in that home!

[@kyliek9931]

Although I love this video and she speaks so much truth

[@dditee]

Kylie K there is a difference between being beaten and walking to the park.

[@alyrau8671]

Rare and brief. True words that I wish were more mainstream.

[@brookemftw]

absolutely brilliant

[@EmmanuelleRoques]

Wonderful sincerity ! Thanks !

[@carladartis8422]

Molly, What a great talk and a courageous call to action to our country to stop, reflect and provide to parents effective and essential parenting skills and supports including housing, economic security, quality health, and child and adult-centered education. Through upstream approaches, enable Child Welfare to be a proactive and not a reactive agency in service of our country's most precious assets, our human capital. Thanks for putting it out there! Carla Dartis

[@mntleo2]

Molly I love this talk! But, as an amateur wonk who has looked at my state's budget, it would not cost as much as foster care to support families! Under the Title IV-E funding, my state's DSHS gets about $2Billion with the mandate that says, "the more kids you take the more money you will make..." In other words keep taking those kids and you can make more money, who cares what trauma you inflict upon those kids and their family...?" This mandate applies to all states receiving this funding. Then CPS goes in and takes an ADDITIONAL 33% of the family support funding such as food stamps, housing assistance, TANF, and Medicaid. According to the Casey Foundation research it actually costs 1000% LESS to support the family (not an exaggeration) , even when a parent is fighting a substance abuse issue! Why oh why can't those who are the Powers The Be get the kahunas to change that mandate from "more kids you take" to "the more kids and their families you help ...?" My 2 cents, Cat in Seattle

[@scentsenista]

I think that's exactly what she was saying. The State is making money by having kids in foster care but if we changed policies to move that money to providing interventions for families it would drastically change our response.

[@mntleo2]

I see what you are saying alright. I have been giving links to this talk and am now amazed it has gone from a few hundred to over 48,000. Keep it up, more people need to see this!

[@janenoviello5715]

I thought this TED talk was thought provoking. What a lot of those commenting may be missing--if you pay attention, she is advocating for more intervention of Child Welfare Services, not less. She advocates keeping families intact by intervening sooner and integrating supports into the family before situations reach a crisis. It is hard to argue with this concept--unless you don't like government in your business, which is exactly the beef that many have with CPS. AND how do you get access to work with families before they are in crisis? That is the real question. That would involve parents volunteering to participate in services as CPS is not going to be able to obligate families to be involved until the situation has escalated to a point where there is in fact a crisis.

[@JoeBurnsDublin]

Wrong. She said "The Intervention IS the problem". You cant be a prosecutor of families and an advocate for children at the same time, the roles are incompatible. Social work is a failure and only compounds problem in families, in other countries they cannot remove children, only Police can AFTER a proper investigation and a crime having being committed.

[@janenoviello5715]

Joe Burns She is stating that they system needs to get involved and provide supports before the crisis is so great that removal is necessary. It is an interesting idea, but my question is how does the state insinuate itself into a position to provide help before a crisis or even know that help is needed. I'm not seeing it can't work and in fact CPS does work with families all the time with children still in the home.

[@JoeBurnsDublin]

Your question shows the problem with Social Work. You cant be a Prosecutor of Families and an Advocate at the same time. For 30 years parents have been afraid to ask for help because it invariably leads to their children being removed. Social workers in other areas of the practice have no mandate to prosecute and are the first port-of-call when they need help. That's why there are no good social workers in Child Protection, the good ones get out fast and move on to an area where they don't have to prosecute. The bad ones stay behind and that's why the turnover is so high and why the area only attracts the dregs of the industry, the recent graduates on a mission from God to protect children and the others just putting in time because they are not wanted in other areas. Good social workers are worth their weight in gold but there are no good ones in CPS.

[@wildersara]

jane noviello The state is the wrong entity to do that work

[@JoeBurnsDublin]

gumroad.com/l/aObkp

[@attachfamiliesinc]

Amen! We 100% agree with you. It is time to shut down this corrupt, too powerful, retaliatory, agency. 💚💚💚

[@purrl-adeaf-initelyspecial5509]

Molly McGrath Tierney is my hero.

[@JoeBurnsDublin]

"Awful things happen to kids in foster care. Short term? their Outcomes for important things like health care and education are abysmal and long term? it just gets worse. Kids that grow up in foster care? overwhelmingly destined for the penitentiary, the morgue or the child welfare system when their own kids come into foster care."

[@meskuegrey]

WOW. ❤❤❤❤ YOU ARE AMAZING. THANK YOU FOR THIS INSIGHT.

[@janetsenatore2456]

Great talk. As a former foster parent, this was spot on. We got screwed by the system several years ago. We had four children placed with us, three of them siblings. "Great kids! If we were fostering (this from the social worker) I'd love to have them!" The only one they gave us any background history on was the single child. This was the one supposed to be "troubled". We never, every had a problem with this child. We didn't have a problem really with the two older siblings, both teenagers. One of the older siblings told us that the youngest had tried to commit suicide and had been in an institution for help. This child was nine. Don't you think this information would have been important to tell us? This child knew how to play the system and told the social worker that my husband had been drinking and driving and had an accident with them in the car. Obviously, not true.Our home was closed. Something needs to be done to protect the foster parents as well as the children. We'd love to do it again, but now, years later, we don't know if it's even possible. Also, watch out for those "faith based" agencies. Bunch of hypocrites.

[@beboplady1542]

Philadelphia Catholic Charities in the 1940's,1950s and 1960's placed children in foster homes and orphanages where much abuse occurred. They used Nuns as social workers who rarely visited some of the foster homes where abuse occurred,.Things only seemed to get better in the late 1960's onward when they started to use layperson social workers ,usually optimistic ,caring young people right out of college. Many foster parents from working class families saw fostering as a way to add to their income or a means of getting free help.

[@micheledupreystrong]

I've watched this talk several times and each time I am literally screaming in my head 'yes! yes!' because it's a value absorbed deep in my heart through learning and real education from research and mentors who 'get it' (in my own personal opinion.. and Ms. Tierney's). I only disagree with one point in this talk.. perpetuating foster care because of our egos. In Michigan, we have a very very successful family preservation program called Families First. It has a 95+% success rate of keeping children of high risk cases in their homes. For me, personally (I am still just a student at this point), it seems, and I believe, being successful at helping families to be successful would have SO much more potential to build the egos of everyone involved in helping those families SO much more than the feeling that you 'saved' a child through destroying their family. As Ms. Tierney says, yes, some children do need to be removed from unsafe homes.. seriously unsafe homes, but if there's a chance that, with the right help, they can be successful as a family and we can be a key to this success.. imagine the egos it would build!

[@BagOfEyebrows]

flawless.

[@joycecatalano6664]

THIS IS THE BEST TED TALK EVER!!!!!!

[@LoveLetBe]

The same applies to #ParentalAlienation: The family court system takes a child from a loving parent & does not enforce court ordered visitation -- only that the parent (many are moms, yes) pay the alienating, abusive parent child support, etc. It's all about $$, not kids or families.

[@rodgersgirl1980]

The only part that bothered me is she does not acknowledge the fact that children are often taken needlessly from loving parents who have not and never would abuse and neglect their children. Also die to so much false reporting the children who are in the greatest need for intervention are often ignored.

[@TheYasmineFlower]

+candace casey But the point of the speech was not "The system is good, we just often take kids that don't need to be taken". The point of the speech was "We should not take kids at all, it does not help them".

[@lydiahubbell6278]

Except in extreme cases when there is real abuse.

[@emogirl6056]

Abused kids are better off running away. You'll just get returned to your abuser because they're related to you. My advice, RUN. Run and hide somewhere until you're eighteen. And tell no one that you're running if you get sent to foster care. If you believe your friend could betray you to the cops, run away from them too. Trust no one and never stop moving. A foster kid is better off alone.

[@lydiahubbell6278]

Well, that isn't a universal truth. Most kids who run away end up worse off. There adults who care and there are safe places for children. Children need to speak out and tell their stories, not run.

[@christineam597]

All the money that go's into foster care, non profit organizations should be also spend for helping these parents on drugs to get off and reform them into better parents and maybe the fostering system would have lower rate of fostering children..just saying..

[@meadowrae1491]

As a foster parent I really agree with this. I would love it if my state (WV) did something more to address the pills that were pumped into our pharmacies ten years ago than having children sleeping in DHS offices now. I would love to get fewer calls. I would love to see kids go home happy with mom and dad. I would love for the pregnant moms to get help rather than babies being taken at the hospital, drug addicted and scared. It makes me so damn angry and I have no clue what to do.

[@SarahBaird-io2tn]

@@meadowrae1491 Keep doing what you're doing with a focus on reunification. That's my personal advice.

[@kaizenexcellens]

Good to see someone working in the system speak the truth. Child ‘protective’ services is an uninformed and malicious group of domestic terrorists who torture families beyond belief. Ms Tierney makes some extremely valid points. Removals should only be done by police using the same probable cause and standards of proof as those used in criminal investigations. A criminal court with a Jury should decide. Unregistered social workers are a scourge.

[@familypreservationfoundati7365]

These facts and topics are as true today, as when she first gave this TEDx. The shocking thing about this, is that nothing has change. In fact, I believe things have gotten worse. At least they have in Minnesota. The shocking part is that the Governor and Legislature know CPS is taking more children out of the home than ever before and are doing nothing about it.

[@jewelrycooker7271]

Thank u

[@sabreenadeeba1523]

Don't stop now, we are just getting started.

[@bereketdesta2593]

Molly! thankyou..

[@veolagreen3676]

Powerful- resonates with a truth that is bone deep

[@Grooveriff]

My daughter was killed by CPS in 2010 because I didn't want to have her vaccinated at birth. Thank You for being honest about the nature of CPS. "The Foster Care Industrial Complex" is the most accurate term I've heard anyone ever use. Thanks again.

[@mikebe41]

did you win a wrongful death lawsuit

[@reginasimsalston5025]

I absolutely love TED and have shared many of its presentations with others through social media. However to day it was with great sadness and anger I shared this presentation. The few aspects of system reform attempted by this presenter was completely overshadowed by the distorted truth and misrepresentation. It was necessary to post with to FB with this DISCLAIMER: DISCLAIMER: Sharing this link is not to be interpreted in any form or fashion as an agreement with the words spoken in this presentation. It does reveal a lack of diligence in true vetting the validity of this Ted speaker, it is my hope this was one who slipped through a tiny crack. All systems are flawed, forward thinking and acting leaders are employed to initiate sustainable reform, based and supported by multiple sources. This is an inaccurate and insulting presentation of the values, principles and skills of thousands of Social Workers and other human service providers working tirelessly to protect and serve individuals, families and communities. This presentation is tainted with a distain for professionals who do not subscribe to bullish, disrespectful and unprofessional behavior and practice exhibited publicly and privately for seven years by the FORMER Director of Baltimore City Department of Social Services. Though it was not conveyed, please accept my respect, love and admiration for those fulfilling the hardest and too often undervalued public service. Let us all exhale and advocate for a higher standard of accountability, compassion, evidence based practice implementation from leadership to replace and rectify what has been endured. Happy Social Work Month!!!!

[@michal-e2x]

Thanks for speaking the truth. It's tragic that this sort of leadership is viewed as exemplary, when in reality it's damaging and dangerous. Claims of 'reform' are grandiose and based on window dressing.

[@katrinawardlow]

You sound like a social worker in the Adoption Industry. What's the matter afraid of loosing your job, because the public has finally figured it out. ADOPTION = HUMAN TRAFFICING! PLAIN AND SIMPLE! As long as money is involved foster care and DSS are corrupt! They will continue their Nazi ways of oppression over our children as long as money is a factor. Case workers make false accusations, & do not have to prove them in a court of law. Their word is law! Social workers twist the facts to what they want to happen. Manipulate children giving them False Memory Syndrome which effects them the rest of their lives.. Come to the door with a cop and demand to be let in without a warrant, if you do not comply, they manipulate the officer to detain you. The almighty quote of "I can only help you if you are open and honest with me, you want your kids back don't you?" So you open up and that is used to stab you in the back. or if you are truly innocent and deny the accusations DSS then goes to the judge and says they are not cooperating they are in denial and refuse to admit what DSS accuses. You are told either you admit that we are correct and this happened or you will never see your child again.Then service plans are put into place either a parent signs it voluntarily or DSS gets a court order and that don't look good to a judge, as you are not cooperating then. Plans are set up for parents to fail no matter what, or how they try, or even comply perfectly. The process is drawn out by the attorneys, DSS and others benefiting from the Adoption Industry funding, until the child has been in care to the limit (usually 15-22 months) set by the government. Visits are cut from two 4 hour visits a week to 1 or even an hour. Judges are then told they are not bonded with the child any longer. Rights are then terminated and the child adopted. Families are ripped apart, entire families! Not just the parents! The after effects to both the first parent and child are LIFE LONG, the damage is horrendous! Yet this is in the best interest of the child?? One in five children are put into foster care, of those children, 75% never return home. Nearly 38% of children taken are 0-22 months old, of those babies as high as 80% are placed for adoption.

[@katrinawardlow]

Katrina Wardlow One last thing think about this.......... The Trafficking Protocol defines human trafficking as: [...] the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs; the removal of children from rightful parents through coercive tactics, lying, stealing, manipulation and/or modifying and falsifying paperwork/documents/birth certificates for adoption purposes. IS NOT ADOPTION HUMAN TRAFFICING?????

[@wildersara]

I have been doing foster care for 35 years and every word she speaks is a great truth. I'm sorry but the truth sometimes hurts.

[@ChucksNPearls]

See everybody back in January 2024!!🙏🏾

[@babetteanandagoldstein972]

Wow, she is brilliant.

[@Bill0102]

The substantial impact of this content is unmistakable. A book with like messages revolutionized my perspective. "A Life Unplugged: Reclaiming Reality in a Digital Age" by Theodore Blaze

[@RebDalmas]

It is an inherent structural violence hidden behind good sounding words. The solution is a basic income, a living income guarantee. It is economic equality. Human rights before profit, as a human being, a state of physical beingness, must have stable shelter, clean water, nutrient dense food, and a stable education that builds a dynamic and vibrant critical and creative thinking skill leading to a presence of self AND this world. This would be a correct use of the imagination. Every child is a genius. A stable existence filled with opportunity leads that inherent potential to live a productive life that by design would benefit each and everyone of us!

[@SondraEisenman]

personally I have issues with a caseworker SUING me in civil court based on potential abuse or neglect when she even testified that my home was safe, clean, my children are fed and clothed and not abused. No this agency cannot be fixed, it set up for exactly what she said. Throwing my in jail just because I would not got to their psychiatrist??? Give me break. I have hard time trusting a single person in the industry at all, while I kind of agree with certain things she is talking about and she grabs your attention by stating the she believes it has turned itself in to supply and demand industry of children... I believe she absolutely right about that, however I also believe that she is also still trying to save her pointless job of that invokes the thoughts of parent police monitoring my family for potential abuse... anyone ever seen the movie Minority Report? Yep this is exactly what she is talking about... she wants to prevent a crime that has not yet technically happened but they have some special intuitive clues that it might??? I do not agree that child abuse or neglect is a touchy feely civil grey area that is handle in civil court, at all, if you are abusing neglecting your children then you either are or you not abusing neglecting your children, but there is a fine line when it comes to the definitions of this and most states have it their codes. Sorry, if a person is beating the crap out their kids of starving them on purpose then by al means remove those children, but if a person is struggling with poverty or drug addiction, being poor and having a mental health issue is NOT child abuse or neglect. Yes people need help and resources, but suing them in civil court by underlying threat of taking their children is counterproductive, domestic violence... is a tricky one, I hear of them removing children from a domestic violence situations and charging the mother in civil court whom is also a victim for neglect, and never once do these so called protecting INTERVENE and prosecute the abuser them selves, the man goes free. There is salot more to this system that needs to be address before I will ever advocate the need for it any longer. In Texas, The DFPS states it responsibilities are intervening this civil child abuse and neglect and that it has an alternative response program that deals with "less serious child abuse and neglect" and that it wishes to privatize by working with corporation for the foster care system. looks like to me they still want to sue you for you children, targeting specific types of people that are low income and struggle through hardships, take their kids to profit off a foster care business. Meanwhile, a 16 year drives a truck into four people killing them high on valium and drunk, getting off this murder charge by claiming a psychological defense called "affluenza" which my definition of this is that the boy got off of murder because his parents were wealthy and neglectful. Yet no one knocked on their door, no one asked them to take parenting classes or drug tests or psychological evals, to make their family stronger and healthier or prevent " potential future abuse"

[@tracyfrye7888]

I feel yes taking children from their parents should be last resort but in some cases the children are better off going into foster care so they have a chance in life. Parents have to want to change (stop doing drugs, abusing their children or neglecting them etc.) and if they are not willing then there is no help for them. The children pay for it when they stay in those homes.

[@matthewgibson1953]

Bravo

[@lisabishop301]

I wonder how of the people who disagree went through that system. People love giving opinions on things they've never experienced and this is why there can't be reform . Look at the statistics on the outcome of these children. You took them to protect them. Yet they end up molested, homeless, in jail, abused, mistreated and broken 😔 but that just me talking ........... a person who walked through that system

[@micheledupreystrong]

lisa bishop *hugs* a lot of people are commenting that actions are louder than words.. and they are.. but we have to start somewhere. Dialogue and advocating for change is where we start.. and hopefully continue..

[@goddessofkratos]

No harm no crime no hearing no warrant That's where we are now Modern and last form of slavery

[@lucysprague-vg9fi]

Truth Abolish child foster care upEND Movement

[@purrl-adeaf-initelyspecial5509]

Here is an idea. Let's place the children with their Fathers. How many times is there a perfectly safe placement available with the biological Father, but Social Services, CASA, CPS and CWS never even consider this because of one reason only, he is Male. Instead, untold resources are spent to put children into Foster Care and/or reunify the children with an abusive Mother. The system needs to be gender-blind.

[@stacirobertsnastri4512]

What about when the father's are the ones making the ridiculous allegations in the first place but don't dare want to disrupt their new lives to be a placement when the kids are illegally taken from a very fit home to start with??

[@malayaanderson8222]

I’ve seen plenty of dads get custody if the mom lost custody. If the dad doesn’t get custody, then yes something is wrong with him or his environment.

[@freddieverzosa2224]

please Ms. Molly, see our story on Facebook "7 ANGELES story "need your advice and direction, your an amazing women, blessing to you.

[@Kathleen67.]

Excellent.

[@AprilWatters]

The issues of Child Abuse is the SAME as Environmental destruction. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[@SarahBaird-io2tn]

I'm not sure if I want to foster or not. I'd be fostering purely to help the kids and their families reunify, but don't wan't to support the corrupt industry.

[@leondragneel3082]

Can I say this I'm a Dhs kid and I don't trust anything that comes from any member of Dhs and I'm 17 and their a lot of lying going on about my situation and life in Dhs u said u fixed it whell I've been in this system for 14 going on 15 years and I've got a lot against. Dhs and foster family and group and everywhere els that's all I'm saying but last can u fix what was taking from us and the scares and scares of our memorys that u guys did no u can't

[@opheliawinters2623]

I totally disagree. As a social worker I know I play a part in savings vulnerable kids’ lives everyday.

[@stacirobertsnastri4512]

@Ophelia winter can you say the same about ALL of your co-workers and EVERY person you've met that works in the same position?

[@MonicaGriego22]

I'd like to see what a Hispanic woman would say. She sounds like she has heart and her mind in the right place but she doesnt mention kids like me and my brothers. Both brothers in prison and me im fighting my own CYFD case. I feel like I've been hung on a cross for wanting services for my daughters and fighting hard for an attorney that would work for me, not work for CPS. Because everyone in the system will gaslight you to death until you defend yourself and make them stop their falseness. You know what your saying is true because your living it every day and every year. 2.5 years and my girls arent home.

[@noaaronovits2372]

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

[@arethasmith7951]

Amen

[@stevenpai8865]

Going back to your biological parents is not an exact correlation with happy child, happy family. Be careful being so focused on statistics.

[@2011blueman]

Idealistic but not realistic.

[@jenniferyork7804]

I agree that foster care is a mess, but I disagree that we need to ensure that children as young as 4 need to be in school. Homeschooling families all around the world raise amazing, well rounded kids who grow up to be very productive members of society. Yes, early detection of abuse and neglect is important, but whether or not a child is in school by age 4, is not a good indicator.

[@Devfullfaithandcredit]

I’m just another county baby... I have two beautiful children a good job , own my own house , paid off . I thought I was one of the lucky ones. A statistical anomaly . That that life was behind me. until i ended up in family court. My X used it against me in court and the judge doesn’t look at me the same . Oppression is right. I love this women speaker.

[@nasj7704]

I am not sure if anyone's kid is gonna go to foster care that easily. usually, any effort and different ways would be considered to keep the child with a family.

[@iridescentalchemyst]

😢👏👏👏

[@sewfullovecreations]

its 2023 and they have failed the children more now then ever it has not gotten better.

[@terrancestewart5355]

Wow, this lady is wacked. Taking a kid out of an abusive "family" harms a child because they won't learn "who to trust and how to love."

[@JoeBurnsDublin]

Terrance you obviously need to do a bit of research on "Care". For a start I would suggest Prof Joseph Doyle of MIT who did a scientific study into the Outcomes of 15,000 children in "Care" over a 12 year period. You could also study why PTSD is twice as likely to occur in foster kids at a rate 4 times more severe than troops returning from Afghanistan, or why the suicide rate is 10 times the national average, why 50% of the prostitutes on the streets were in "Care", over 50% of the prison population, etc, etc, etc.....

[@terrancestewart5355]

Joe Burns Thanks for your condescension, maybe you should re-read my comment before trying to go all Mensa on me. Of course kids who are abused end up with PTSD and become prostitutes and prisoners. But leaving them in an abusive home because the foster system is faulty is not the answer.

[@amymlc]

Terrance Stewart I don't think anyone is advocating leaving a child in an abusive home. A great deal of children are removed from their homes for reasons other than abuse.

[@terrancestewart5355]

Campbell Amy Brown I am sorry about your foster care experience. That should never happen, but I know it does. I find it difficult to believe that a child would fare better in an abusive home than in an appropriate foster home. If you have a link to a study suggesting such I would like to read it.

[@JoeBurnsDublin]

Terrance Stewart I already gave you the research. But you seem to have all the answers you need and didn't listen to what Molly was saying. www.mit.edu/~jjdoyle/doyle_fosterlt_march07_aer.pdf

[@aldentaylor9056]

interesting

[@amybowman4942]

I am so sorry but this woman is wrong, to leave children in abusive homes is WRONG! The system is failing, in so many ways, but allowing people who abuse to procreate over and over again, by allowing people who use their children to collect profits from them. I'm sorry this is such a wrong picture!!

[@smearedspoon4647]

Yes this woman's view is so bizarre it sounds as though she doesn't really understand it all

[@mikebe41]

are you nuts, innocent families are destroyed every dsy

[@StellaPlayss]

I don’t think that’s the big picture. She’s advocating for earlier intervention to intervene before a crisis happens and before children need to be removed. It’s idealistic to think that all these situations can be remedied from early intervention, but still a valid point

[@mcailyn]

It's sad that people have such an ugly view of social workers when all they're trying to do is help others.

[@livinsloher]

+mcailyn keffer we know that there are good social workers however many more abuse their power as well as its all about the money the federal funding and its much higher corruption even social workers who want to do the right thing can be over ridden by their superiors to keep the children for the federal funding! children are more abused and traumatized by the system

[@TheYasmineFlower]

+mcailyn keffer You're a prime example for somebody who complains in the comment section without having watched the video. The foster system, as it is now, is a system of child abuse and destruction of families. The few decent people that work in it can not excuse the horrible abuse the rest of them wreak on children and their families. See, it's not important if you try to help. That alone won't guarantee you applause and you can kindly shove it up your ass. What they need to do is ACTUALLY help. Constructively help. Ripping families apart and abusing children is not helping.

[@HatRatt]

I have heard that myself. That being that there are social workers trying to help others. But in all my years in foster care I have never met one who was trying to help anyone but themselves to keep a good squeaky clean professional view of themselves. I think the good ones get fired or they just can't bear to see what is really happening to the children.

[@dhiller66]

Amen.

[@rodgersgirl1980]

Due not die

[@Cok76]

You sound like you trying to discourage people from becoming foster parents.

[@iodinekaida2]

Greedy people need to stop being foster parents.

[@dhiller66]

Better birth control will solve the whole thing.

[@robinleslie7742]

This is just 100%. You don’t know the hurt of hearing your grandkids begging you to get them home and not having the money to get a lawyer to do it. Why take kids away from the one person that loves them more then they love them self’s. It’s the cruelest thing I’ve ever had to experience. So sad that my gkids are just a paycheck to some. 🥹

[@dianeholbrook1003]

This woman is my hero! A very incitful and objective description of the very system that she is part of. As a grandparent of the most loved 2 year old in the world and who was kidnapped into foster care 5 mos. ago, thank you. I now see both sides of the issue. I now understand and forgive the social workers that I once despised. Now the focus will be asking each of them to watch this. Thank you.