Plaintiff PAP

update on a past blog entry

2010-12-31T16:22:00.003-06:00

Arkansas Attorney General filed suit for consumer fraud against Adoption Advantage. http://ag.arkansas.gov/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&news_id=355no copy of the complaint online. Maybe it will be published later. Gist of the complaint, agency promised babies that didn't exist and didn't complete adoptions promised. I hope cases like this address over-recruiting by agencies. There

BTW, I do have better things to do than blog

2010-12-31T14:42:00.003-06:00

(sticks out tongue and says "SO THERE!" like I couldn't during the May 17th hearing). On May 17th I was working 18 hours a day doing home repairs so where in the hell that pot shot came from, I have not a clue.Hell, I barely have time to sit down and watch the local news so thanks to LSSI's facebook page, I was able to catch up on a local news story. Congratulations LSSI on your 1000th Facebook

Smith-Cade v. LSSI and Kim Holder Sixth Amended Complaint

2010-12-29T08:22:00.005-06:00

LSSI was ordered to answer this Sixth Amended Complaint months ago and so far, has not done so. We are still waiting for requested discovery and to reschedule two LSSI employee, depositions that were canceled in December 2009. One of the deponents was Larry Johnson, the director of LSSI for the southern region. Deposition was canceled with little notice and not even an offer to reschedule it

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois ordered to answer Sixth Amended complaint

2010-06-01T19:09:00.003-05:00

Got the news this afternoon. Have not seen the order from the judge yet but this is very good news indeed since the Sixth Amended is better written, more detailed and more informative. Now, discovery was first ordered March 25, 2008 and I'm still waiting to get a good deal of information. Let's see if we get a little cooperation from the defendants.

Flabbergasted! Guatamala reopening adoption?

2009-11-21T07:43:00.001-06:00

Guatemala reopening international adoptionsBy JUAN CARLOS LLORCA (AP) – 18 hours agoGUATEMALA CITY — Guatemalan officials on Friday announced the resumption of international adoptions after a nearly two-year suspension prompted by the discovery that some babies were being sold.Legal reforms established during the suspension will prevent problems in the future, according to the National Adoption

Lutheran Social Services of IL, Marion branch makes the news

2009-11-10T08:37:00.002-06:00

and not in a good way. Exactly what does caseworker stress matter when the primary purpose is to avoid additional stress for foster children in the termination of parental rights process? What about the stress on the foster family here? Foster Dad Calls for Changes in the System WSIL-TV-- Josh and Courtney Swain of Carbondale think of their

NRA seeks to stop adoption agencies asking about guns?

2009-11-05T09:04:00.001-06:00

"subvert privacy rights"? It's the law and it exists for a reason. Posted on Thu, Nov. 05, 2009 NRA seeks to halt adoption agencies from asking about gun ownership Marc CaputoThe Miami HeraldThe National Rifle Association is pushing legislation to ban adoption agencies from asking potential parents if they have guns and ammunition in the home.NRA

Pesky blog visitor yesterday.

2009-11-04T14:52:00.001-06:00

You'd think a busy not-for-profit would have better things to do than read every blog entry I write and do it over the course of a day. Get over your damn selves!

Here is an example of a IL DCFS approved CE course

2009-11-04T08:40:00.003-06:00

By NORTHWEST HERALD CRYSTAL LAKE – A bubbleologist, author, speaker and entertainer will give the keynote address at a child’s world conference Nov. 14 at McHenry County College.The 21st annual Practical Ideas for the Child’s World Conference takes place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at MCC, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake.Geoff Akins will provide the keynote address titled, “The Art of Wonder,” and will

DCFS client rights CFS form 496

2009-11-04T08:33:00.002-06:00

CFS 49610/2005State of IllinoisDepartment of Children and Family ServicesClient Rights and ResponsibilitiesClients have the right to:• Receive quality services in a respectful manner without discrimination;• Make an informed choice of services;• Know the qualifications of staff who provide them with services;• Receive and understand information and instructions about their service needs;• Consent

It's national adoption bewareness month!

2009-11-04T08:22:00.000-06:00

saw it termed that on another blog and I love it! Seriously, I get nauseous reading these self-glorifying, thinly disguised press releases that are not news. They are advertisements for agencies trying to drum up business and I'll have to tolerate it until December 1.

How IL DCFS compares to other states - personal observation

2009-11-04T06:39:00.002-06:00

When I had a job, part of that job was to research child welfare laws in other states besides IL. I must say that compared to my recent treatment by ILDCFS, Florida, Georgia and North Caroline is staffed with child welfare workers who have class, knowledge and who put customer service first. Iowa and Colorado, also seem invested in doing their job right and have good training.Compared to IL,

I'm not celebrating National Adoption Month

2009-11-03T16:03:00.002-06:00

I'm also joining the first mothers out there who have committed themselves to doing regular blog entries on this made up celebration event where adoption agencies will churn out press releases to drum up new business and glorify their services, run to reporters and trot out their happy clients and ignore the ugly realities of adoption. It happens every year. I googled National Adoption Month and

my life would be easier part 2

2009-11-03T11:25:00.003-06:00

Going back to the basic research skills I was taught, if something is cited in a scholarly article, it probably exists. If something is mentioned in a statute but no detail given, those details exist somewhere within a governmental agency, someone probably got paid good tax payer money for development of those details alluded to and therefore, I'm not crazy to assume some document exists

my life would be a lot easier....

2009-11-03T06:56:00.004-06:00

If I didn't have to go through hundreds of pages of google hits to find a document that ought to be on the DCFS website to begin with. After a day of hunting, I finally found a document that has a basic description of a child welfare specialist's "foundation training". It barely describes the basic training of a caseworker but it's the best I can do and it's probably not up to date.I called DCFS

Orson Mozes adoption scam victims win criminal restitution

2009-10-29T18:03:00.000-05:00

http://www.thedailysound.com/PrinterFriendly/102909mozesassetsAssets from adoption scammer to go to victimsFor additional information, please see http://cribsandcrimes.blogspot.com/2009/10/queen-of-greed-christen-brown-shot-down.html. Civil suit is still in the works so what isn't paid via the criminal courts, more might be possible later. Good luck to the AIPers and congratulations. By ERIC

LSSI Lawsuit trial date set Dec. 2, 2010

2009-10-29T13:43:00.002-05:00

I know, it seems like a long time but factor in the court's backlog. Judge offered the trial date and I'm grateful to have it.We've been in discovery for 22 months almost and the judge granted out oral motion for LSSI's employee records and the clerk handed them over Monday. Some depositions are done, more scheduled. We were also granted leave to amend the complaint to expand upon the

Kalab Lay's Dad Sentenced

2009-10-29T13:41:00.001-05:00

I wish the reader's comment would quit blaming Judge Lambert for this. JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — Terry Lay, found guilty last month of killing his 3-year-old son, tearfully pleaded for mercy Tuesday, but Clark County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Moore was clear in his message as he sentenced the 42-year-old to 100 years in prison. Lay, whose trial was moved to Jeffersonville from Evansville

I'm going to comment on grass and weed again

2009-09-21T05:47:00.004-05:00

which I have been doing for nearly four and a half months since the tree service trucks ripped up our lawn. My co-plaintiff and I admit to using a WEED whacker several times in the last couple of months plus we sprayed herbicides on several areas of the lot to eliminate WEEDs. (plural)Heavens to Betsy! We've been doing battle with WEEDs (plural) since we bought this rural property. Gardening

Orson Mozes - The false Prophet of Adoption

2009-09-04T06:34:00.001-05:00

Paul WellmanOrson MozesThe False Prophet of AdoptionUsing Babies as Bait, Montecito’s Orson Mozes’s Led 17 Families on Global Goose ChasesThursday, September 3, 2009By Chris Meagher (Contact)In January 2007, Valarie and Greg Neaderbaomer were finally ready to adopt a child. After researching online and visiting various agencies, the couple decided to do their adoption through Adoption

Illinois DCFS fined for abused kids being re-abused

2009-09-02T14:34:00.002-05:00

Here's an idea. Instead of a fine, why doesn't Illinois DCFS discipline the child welfare specialist and private agency supervisers and executives responsible for allowing the re-abuse to happen? Here's another idea: Inspect these private agencies, each and every branch office and do it regularly. No five or six file audits either. Review every file and if anyone is deviating from standards,

Another action packed morning

2009-09-02T11:22:00.003-05:00

First, some updated photos of the FINISHED roof and siding. The pile of dirt you see in the lower left hand corner is being put in the deep ruts shovel by shovel so we might actually be able to ride our mower through the yard again. A construction project of this sort creates a huge mess and lots of dust and debris filters into the house when crews are tromping in and out. I walked a circuit

I'm not idling away time, thats for sure!

2009-08-31T15:22:00.004-05:00

I need to go take some newer pics since these were taken Saturday. We ended up being short two squares on the siding and it is supposed to be delivered sometime tonight or in the morning. Arranging a project of this scope takes lots of time. This was a major storm and unless someone else experiences the damage we did, they are not going to understand the work involved on my end. My insurance

roof is done, siding is a nightmare

2009-08-28T18:13:00.003-05:00

The contractor's had to take down the siding on the north side twice since it wasn't level. These were taken about 3:30 today. So much dirt has been tracked into the house that I'll probably be cleaning for two or three days straight. I already emptied the Dyson tank four times.

Help! I'm trapped inside the house!

2009-08-28T11:27:00.002-05:00

The old church facade is pretty well preserved, I'll give it that. Rotten fascia board has to be replaced but the roof is almost done and new vinyl siding is being installed as I type. Nice beige, medium brown and white scheme. Front door and garage doors will have to be painted to match.

not really much to blog about

2009-08-27T09:13:00.003-05:00

I've been so busy with paralegal work, storm repairs and other things that I really haven't been following news about adoption. The paralegal work was a disappointment, to say the least. Double sided copies that my old scanner couldn't handle so I had to shell out $315 to buy a scanner that will accommodate double sided copying. Very slow scanner, eight pages per minute, drag the paper in,

Dateline story on the Billings murder

2009-08-11T21:35:00.002-05:00

is awaiting me to find time to sit down, turn on the digital video recorder and watch it. I just couldn't keep my eyes open last night.Family emergency situation with my mother in ill health has not left a lot of time for blogging. This has required me to stay at her apartment at assisted living over the weekend, beg doctors for appointments, a trip to the emergency room and a meeting with her

Gabrial, the child mauled by a pitbull update

2009-08-05T11:41:00.003-05:00

Johnston City, Ill. -Children act up and sometimes get sent to bed early. Michelle Sweeney had no idea that when she sent her son Gabrial to bed for throwing his dinner on June 27, that would be the last time she would see him alive.Shortly after, Michelle’s fiancé David Robinson went into Gabrial’s bedroom to measure a window for a fan.“We wanted to make it safe so he couldn’t stick his little

Focus on Children aftermath

2009-08-03T07:22:00.002-05:00

http://www.3news.co.nz/Family-reunited-following-adoption-scam/tabid/417/articleID/114869/cat/61/Default.aspxFamily reunited following adoption scam 02-Aug 18:24By Jessie GurunathanA tearful reunion in Samoa has brought together two families unwittingly caught up in an adoption scam.Nine-year-old Jayden Sawyer was adopted by American Patti Sawyer, who paid $20,000 to the adoption agency Focus On

Santa Barbara News Press article on Orson Mozes

2009-07-24T10:14:00.002-05:00

Adoption scammer Mozes gets 3 years : Must pay victims $771,000, but ex-wife wants a cutANGEL PACHECO, NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITEROrson Mozes, convicted of 17 felony counts of obtaining money by false pretenses in a case that involved the duping of would-be adoptive parents, is led from a Santa Barbara courtroom Thursday by bailiffs.STEVE MALONE/NEWS-PRESSJuly 24, 2009 7:10 AMAs expected, admitted

Santa Barbara News Press article on Orson Mozes

2009-07-24T10:14:00.001-05:00

Orson Mozes sentenced but restitution hearing continued

2009-07-24T07:08:00.006-05:00

It appears that Orson's ex-wife and who served as director of this agency is filing motions to try to grab the seized funds for herself instead of paying restitution to the victims of a agency she owned and actively particpiated in operating. For crying out loud, the name of the business is Adoption International Programs. Implying that Orson didn't run this scam all by his lonesome since his ex

Countdown to Orson Mozes sentencing and restitution

2009-07-23T13:33:00.002-05:00

Adoption Stories: Fact and Fiction By CHERI RAE — July 23, 2009“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption.”—Romans 5:16It’s a big week for adoption advocates—across the nation and right here in Santa Barbara. Tomorrow afternoon, movie theatres across the country will screen the R-rated horror show, “Orphan.” It’s one of those

additional reporting on kids tasered foster kids by cops in Mt. Vernon, IL lawsuit

2009-07-22T08:18:00.007-05:00

While watching KFVS12's report on this lawsuit, a couple things stuck out for me. First, Lutheran Child and Family Services executive director Gene Svebakken was interviewed by home from the River Forest, Illinois LCFS headquarters. Secondly, LCFS's DCFS license monitor is in Chicago, not in a southern Illinois DCFS office, so that leads to the question, "how does DCFS observe a group home that

Editorial on Imagine Adoptions today

2009-07-21T08:48:00.004-05:00

I'm at a disadvantage blogging on this since admittedly, I am not trained on Canadian child welfare administrative laws and doing the necessary homework to understand it all will distract me from the work I need to do on US adoption reform. I am also not eduated about how Hague operates in Canada but I do know Ethiopia and Ghana are not Hague treaty countries. Under Hague accreditation

WSIL story on tasered foster kids

2009-07-20T12:19:00.002-05:00

DCFS makes a slightly different statement of their position as advocates for the foster children named as plaintiffs in this article and it is in red text below. Lawsuit Filed Against Jefferson County Sheriff's DepartmentMT. VERNON-- The Jefferson County Sheriff's department has recently been hit with a lawsuit. The plaintiffs claim that last summer, deputies used excessive force when they

Bethany clients react to "16 and pregnant".

2009-07-20T09:52:00.004-05:00

A lot of adoptive parents had some objections to the portrayal of the adoption process. This is the actual screen shot of Bethany's forums at http://discussion.bethany.org/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=68146. Since it is a moderated forum and the moderators may remove objectional content by Bethany's standards, I opted for doing a screen shot to preserve what is online at 9:54 AM CST. http://

Mt. Vernon IL DCFS ward tasered legal complaint

2009-07-20T08:45:00.004-05:00

I apologize for the lousy formating of this complaint but a friend of mine copied and pasted it to a word document when she did me the very gracious favor of downloading it for me from PACER. I promise to clean up the formatting later so it looks like a actual court document but in this case, it's substance over form. The info contained in the allegations of the complaint are pretty bare bones

Billings murder, elder daughter to assume custody of disabled children

2009-07-19T17:41:00.004-05:00

Ashley has a hard road ahead of her and I admire her loyalty to family and courage to step up and care for her siblings with special needs. However, this article has revealed more information about Byrd Billings and his third wife Malanie that while sensationalistic, has been obtained using Florida's Sunshine Law via Florida Department of Children and Family. I've used Florida's open records

from the Sun-Times archives, another DCFS ward tasered

2009-07-19T16:32:00.002-05:00

As part of this blog, I'll be examining group home licensure standards as it relates to these two reports of wards of the state of Illinois being tasered as a means of restraint. So you all know, I did use the DCFS webresource search engine and got no results for taser usage. Generally, if DCFS has a rule there is a corrosponding procedure manual but not so for Rule 403 or 384. I am going to

Adoption is not a spectator sport, thank you! "16 and Pregnant"

2009-07-18T14:28:00.008-05:00

While I left the house to do errands, I have over 200 visits to my blog to read my POV on "16 and Pregnant. Wowsers!This is a continuation of my previous exploration of Bethany, MTV and "16 and Pregnant". Please also read http://plaintiffpap.blogspot.com/2009/07/this-respects-birthmother.html and http://plaintiffpap.blogspot.com/2009/07/mtvs-16-and-pregnant-adoption-involving.html.At this rate,

Imagine Adoption Canada clients invited to bankruptcy meeting

2009-07-18T09:29:00.002-05:00

Adoption parents invited to bankruptcy meetingBy Robin Summerfield, Calgary HeraldJuly 18, 2009 8:05 AMFamilies swept up in the bankruptcy of a Canadian adoption agency working overseas will meet with the trustee at the end of July in Kitchener, Ont.The meeting is the first time creditors, including adopting parents, will face bankruptcy officials since rumours about Kids Link International and

Foster kids tasered in Lutheran Child and Family IL facility

2009-07-18T05:45:00.005-05:00

In the interest of fair and balanced journalism, I am going to post all news articles on this since there is an opposing viewpoint. Only snippets from the federal complaint are quoted in the article and the contents of IL DCFS' investigative file have not been disclosed to the public in these articles. I used red type below to highlight the statement from DCFS Office of Communications. For

Murdered adoptive parents of 13 disabled kids, secret past

2009-07-17T19:27:00.005-05:00

I'm reading all this and thinking to myself "who did the home study for these folks?". I'm pretty knowledgable about the requirements of a home study and the reasons a home study agency can refuse to recommend prospective adoptive parents to the court. One of them incidently is not mentioning "beer and chicken" to a social worker since IL DCFS Foster Parent procedures do not prohibit alcohol

with thanks to Guatadopt, First mothers go on hunger strike over kidnapped children

2009-07-17T18:43:00.004-05:00

July 15, 2009Sobrevivientes Hunger StrikeSobrevivientes has begun a hunger strike. The picture above is a flier on it. The intent is to attempt to get the courts to annul the three adoptions involving the notorious three cases of kindappings.I believe that everyone in the Guatadopt community wishes that these cases could be resolved in some fashion. And as always it is imortant to remember that

MTV's 16 and pregnant adoption involving Bethany

2009-07-17T16:34:00.006-05:00

This is a continuation of my previous exploration of Bethany, MTV and "16 and Pregnant". Please also read http://plaintiffpap.blogspot.com/2009/07/this-respects-birthmother.html See also a more recent blog entry at http://plaintiffpap.blogspot.com/2009/07/adoption-is-not-spectator-sport-thank.htmlhttp://www.examiner.com/x-1146-Seattle-Eastside-Family-Examiners~y2009m7d17-MTVs-16-

Whiff of a scandal with Imagine adoptions?

2009-07-17T13:45:00.004-05:00

I'm in the midwest and I smell a stench all the way from Canada. http://www.globalreachchildrensfund.ca/who/partners.htmlThese types of "partnerships" and umbrella relationships have surfaced in US adoptions and create a lot of problems. When adopting, knowing who you are dealing with is important. When there is a middleman in the adoption or a parter arrangement, tracing the money trail is

What's up with this newspaper deleting first mother's comments?

2009-07-17T13:10:00.004-05:00

Other bloggers have been addressing this article. One question is how can a church just take in abandoned newborns without proper licensure by the state of GA to operate as a licensed child placing facility. Secondly, what does GA's Abandoned Infant statute say is a qualified safe haven and what is not? Usually, a safe haven designation is granted to fire stations, hospitals, ambulance services

readers' comments on the Focus on Children Trust fund

2009-07-17T12:06:00.004-05:00

User comments:Defendants in Samoan adoption case must pay $100,000 to trust fund http://www.tribtowns.com/comments/read_comments.asp?ref=12852669&sec=News Reading2much: 7/16/2009 4:48:00 PM -6 The prosecuting attorneys in this case ought to be ashamed. They spent tons of taxpayer dollars and obviously the case was really left wanting as the judgements/sentences were just about nothing. Some of

Copy of Imagine Adoptions Canada bankruptcy notice

2009-07-17T11:19:00.003-05:00

http://www.imagineadoption.ca/documents/BDONotice.pdfIBDOJuly 13, 2009BOO Dunwoody UmltedFinandal Recovery ServicesNotice to Families and Other Stakeholders of Kids Link305 King Street West Suite 401Kitchener Ontario Canada N2G 189Telepho ne: 519570.4000Fax' 519.576 5227II. .... 'W udo caThe Board of Directors met on Friday July 10, 2009 to discuss the financial situation of KidsLink. It was

this respects birthmother confidentiality how??

2009-07-17T08:11:00.008-05:00

I've intentionally not tuned into MTV to watch this sideshow for several reasons, first and foremost, because of my disgust over how this violates confidentiality rights of members of the triad. This young maternity patient is not a "birthmother" until she legally relinquishes her rights post-birth and for an agency to allow her to participate in a national TV show is a violation of the social

Focus on Children ordered to pay $100K to trust fund

2009-07-17T02:09:00.005-05:00

Defendants in Samoan adoption case must pay $100,000 to trust fundBy Pamela MansonThe Salt Lake TribuneSalt Lake TribuneUpdated:07/16/2009 10:54:34 PM MDTA federal judge in Utah has ordered five operators and employees of the now-defunct Focus on Children adoption agency to contribute $100,000 to a trust fund that would allow Samoan children adopted by U.S. parents to connect with their birth

Santa Barbara Independent blurb on Orson Mozes (adoption fraud)

2009-07-16T20:10:00.000-05:00

Law and Disorder 7-16By Indy StaffThursday, July 16, 2009•••Judge George Eskin postponed Orson Mozes’s sentencing to 7/23. Mozes, originally arrested for running a fraudulent adoption organization, pled guilty earlier this month to 17 felony counts of obtaining money by false pretenses, and another count of aggravated white-collar crime.

how cool is this? A reader translated one of my blog posts to French

2009-07-16T18:52:00.003-05:00

It still amazes me I have visitors from Europe on my blog. I've had several visits from Canada in the last few days. What really surprised me was hits from CBS News, Turner Broadcasting, the company that produces America's Most Wanted and The Office of the Illinois Supreme Court. Plus all the child welfare agencies who have been reading to get info on the budget related litigation. I had one

Text of the new IL budget bills enacted yesterday

2009-07-16T15:59:00.002-05:00

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=1292&GAID=10&GA=96&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=42358&SessionID=76&SpecSess=0 SB 1292Full text is at http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/SB/PDF/09600SB1292lv.pdfReplaces everything after the enacting clause. Provides that it is the intention of the General Assembly in enacting this legislation that, by applying $2,230,000,000 of the net proceeds of the

child care association of illinois blog entry on the new budget

2009-07-16T14:54:00.003-05:00

I'll let Marge explain it from her perspective. CCA-IL is a coalition of child welfare agencies incidentally. I've got a rotten headache today so chasing down the details on the new budget and what it means for child welfare services, I'll be truthful, I'd rather go lie down and take a nap and not do all the work. Maybe once this ibuprophen kicks in and I feel better, I'll give Marge's take on

Chicago Abandoned baby article

2009-07-16T13:04:00.001-05:00

July 15, 2009BY Reporter/drozek@suntimes.comA Wheaton woman is eager to see the infant son she allegedly abandoned immediately after giving birth, her attorney said Wednesday.Nunu Sung, 24, is in jail on charges of child endangerment and obstruction of justice. She's accused of leaving her 5-pound newborn outside her apartment building after secretly delivering him on June 12."She's definitely

yet another adoption scam story

2009-07-16T12:40:00.001-05:00

Woman indicted for adoption scamBy Leslie Bridgers Reporter - American JournalWESTBROOK (July 16): A 24-year-old Westbrook woman was indicted by a Cumberland County grand jury Friday on a charge of Class C theft, after an investigation into an adoption scam.Advertisement [0]Misty Sargent and another 27-year-old woman with Westbrook ties scammed more than $50,000 from couples who believed they

Orlando adoption scam story

2009-07-16T12:38:00.000-05:00

orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/orl-bk-mom-accused-adoption-fraud-071509,0,6582371.storyOrlandoSentinel.comMom accused of offering same baby for different adoptionsBianca PrietoSentinel Staff Writer5:21 PM EDT, July 15, 2009Pregnant and broke, an Orlando mother of four reached out to several adoption agencies to give up her unborn child in exchange for help with paying the bills.She

Erie County NY adoption scam news

2009-07-16T12:04:00.004-05:00

Veteran Erie County CPS investigator, Anthony Noble, to be sentenced today for adoption scamJuly 14, 8:03 AM · Daniel Weaver - Albany CPS and Family Court ExaminerThe Buffalo News is reporting that Anthony Noble, a former Erie County Child Protective Services investigator, will be sentenced today for his involvement in an illegal adoption.Anthony, who is the son of former Erie County Child

Illinois budget: we have one of sorts and there is room for improvement

2009-07-16T08:28:00.007-05:00

Just a synopsis of what I've read so far. the General Assembly passed a budget that is heavy on borrowing that won't raise taxes. It appears the goal is to find a short term solution to keep government running and get everyone paid and there will be further work toward a better solution later. It also appears that there is plenty of criticism from all points of the political spectrum at present

AFSCME lawsuit removed to federal court

2009-07-15T16:45:00.003-05:00

Injunction over state employee pay moved to federal court7/15/2009 3:52 PMBy Amelia FloodIllinois Human Services case worker Barb Reardon didn't want to talk politics when it came to her union's request to force the state to pay her and tens of thousands of state workers Wednesday. To her, the postponed checks were more than a political hot-potato being fought over by Governor Pat Quinn and the

Damn, another child death in the Southern Illinoisan

2009-07-15T10:33:00.002-05:00

Herrin man pleads guilty to child's manslaughterBy Tara Fasol-Chambers, The SouthernMARION - A Herrin man pleaded guilty Tuesday to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2006 death of a 23-month-old boy.Peter Kerrigan, 29, originally was charged with murder and aggravated battery after Brynden Gibson was found to be barely breathing at a West Tyler Street residence in Herrin, where he

WSIL report on AFSCME lawsuit

2009-07-15T10:10:00.004-05:00

http://www.wsiltv.com/p/videos.php?videoID=4695&newsID=7846&type=top&vidType=smMovhttp://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=7846&type=topAFSCME Sues StateILLINOIS-- The lack of a budget threatens to disrupt pay for thousands of state workers. So, the employee's union is suing. AFSCME is the largest union of state workers, representing more than 40,000 employees. That includes Department of

Day care licensing in IL news story

2009-07-15T09:55:00.002-05:00

Was Valley View board's closed meeting legal?}July 15, 2009By CATHERINE ANN VELASCO cvelasco@scn1.comROMEOVILLE -- The issue of whether it is a conflict of interest for a Valley View School board member to run before- and after-school programs within the district's five schools was discussed behind closed doors Monday night.In doing so, the board may have violated the Open Meetings Act, according

Canadian adoption agency declares bankruptcy, strands adoptive families

2009-07-15T09:16:00.003-05:00

Families hit by agency's collapseBy KATE DUBINSKIShannon and Matthew Warren of Ingersoll have spent close to $20,000, invested more from their hearts and are now left with a feeling of utter loss and hopelessness after the adoption agency they were dealing with declared bankruptcy. (KRISTA SEGGEWISS Sun Media)Shannon Warren's voice breaks as she tries to explain why she and her husband want to

Orson Mozes sentencing continued to July 23rd (adoption fraud)

2009-07-15T08:41:00.005-05:00

One of the AIP clients who suffered due to this agency posted on her blog about the situation and the reason for the delay at this link. http://cribsandcrimes.blogspot.com/2009/07/christen-brown-is-greedy-piranha.htmlI have limited information on this matter but it appears that the co-owner and president of this adoption agency who is also Orson's ex-wife is making a bid for the assets impounded

More info on the AFSCME lawsuit

2009-07-14T18:37:00.002-05:00

You can read the complaint at this link: http://thecapitolfaxblog.com/FLSA_7-13-090001.pdfAFSCME Sues State Over Member Payby Adam Doster on July 14, 2009 - 12:04pmBack in June, Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law president John Bouman warned us about the potential deluge of lawsuits that the state could face if lawmakers implemented the human services cuts included in the so-called "

AFSCME Sues for Paychecks (Illinois Budget)

2009-07-14T16:15:00.002-05:00

AFSCME Sues for Paychecks7/14/09 @ 2:57:49 pm(Springfield, IL) -- The union for thousands of government workers in Illinois has asked a judge to order the state to send out checks this payday. AFSCME wants a judge in St. Clair County to order Governor Pat Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes to pay state workers, even if there isn't a state budget. Illinois has been without a spending plan since July

Orson Mozes sentencing is at 1:30 PST (adoption fraud)

2009-07-14T12:46:00.003-05:00

There is plenty of info on Orson Mozes online so google if you want more details. I'm in awe of the adoptive parents who networked with each other via their blogs to expose this fraud and put their hearts and souls into obtaining justice. This energy of theirs is going to result in some big changes in how international adoption agencies operate eventually. The District Attorneys office in

a social service organization believes in client confidentiality

2009-07-14T11:31:00.004-05:00

Belleville Salvation Army to close over ordinanceBY THE ASSOCIATED PRESSBELLEVILLE — The Salvation Army says it is closing its Belleville homeless shelter because a new city ordinance leaves it unable to guarantee the confidentiality of whoever stays there.Part of the ordinance passed unanimously by Belleville's City Council in January requires the Salvation Army to turn over to the city or

a very good description of what HB174 will do to the average tax payer (Illinois budget news)

2009-07-14T01:26:00.002-05:00

Kim Clarke Maisch: Service tax would put squeeze on small businessesTHE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTERPosted Jul 14, 2009 @ 12:06 AMRecall the last time you dropped off your dry cleaning or rented a video? Your bill didn’t include sales tax. Now ask yourself this question: How would you like to pay an additional 6.25 percent tax on those costs and hundreds of others like using the Laundromat, getting

Union Protest "send off to Springfield" before next session on IL budget cuts

2009-07-14T00:12:00.004-05:00

Send-Off To SpringfieldSOUTHERN ILLINOIS-- Protests outside the offices of local legislators. State union workers rallied, calling on lawmakers to raise revenue, and stop cutting programs and jobs.Advocates are calling the rallies a: "Send-Off to Springfield." They say they want to make sure lawmakers hear their message before returning to the Capitol for more budget talks on Tuesday. There were

an all too familiar trend with IL DCFS

2009-07-13T23:46:00.003-05:00

Back to web versionMonday, Jul 13, 2009Posted on Mon, Jul. 13, 2009Collinsville dad shut out after DCFS takes daughter from motherBY BETH HUNDSDORFERNews-DemocratCarl Evans isn't accused of abusing his 4-year-old daughter.But he's been fighting for more than a month to get her back from foster care after her mother and her mother's boyfriend were found by the Illinois Department of Children and

New blog entry from the Child Care Association of Illinois today

2009-07-13T20:22:00.004-05:00

Child Care Association IL News WeblogMore than 40 Years Fighting for Abused and Neglected Children in Illinois…« Court Order Prompts Governor Pat Quinn to Reverse DCFS Illinois Doomsday Budget CutsQuinn Contract Cuts Bite: 17,000 Kids Lose 24-Hour Crisis Intervention for Runaways, Mental Health Care, Homeless Shelters,(Springfield, IL) – An initial survey of Illinois child welfare agencies

new article on IL DCFS BH consent decree and funding

2009-07-11T08:42:00.002-05:00

http://www.galesburg.com/news/news_state/x135748884/DCFS-budget-cuts-limited-by-18-year-old-consent-decree?view=printDCFS budget cuts limited by 18-year-old consent decreeBy DEAN OLSENTHE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTERPosted Jul 10, 2009 @ 09:11 PMIt’s unclear how Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration plans to cut $16 million from the budget of a state agency designed to protect Illinois children from abuse

Social service agencies resorting to nasty attack TV ads now

2009-07-09T17:28:00.002-05:00

I was lying down, trying to get some relief from my back pain and watching food network when a commercial came on villifying Mike Bost for not voting for a tax increase that the social service coalition is wanting. Here is a link to the ad video and a list of political targets.http://progressillinois.com/2009/7/9/citizen-action-adsQuestion: how much do these TV commercials cost and gee, isn't

This adoption agency PR release made me frown

2009-07-08T08:34:00.004-05:00

Paternity Questions About Michael Jackson's Kids Shine Light On Embryo Donation/Adoption06 Jul 2009 Entangled in all the controversial drama surrounding the sudden death of Pop-Icon Michael Jackson is the issue of his three children's paternity. With conflicting facts out there, many people are talking about the possibility that his children may have been born through embryo donation and

Illinois woman charged with chld abuse after dead animals found in home

2009-07-07T09:08:00.002-05:00

Illinois woman charged with chld abuse after dead animals found in homeBy Associated Press Posted: Monday, July 6, 2009 5:50 pm ABINGDON, Ill. -- Aggravated battery, child neglect and child abuse charges have been filed against an Abingdon woman in whose home police found eight dead animals, feces and flea infestations.Abingdon Police Chief Fred Andrews says police entered the residence on

Out of state company to handle payment cards for child care providers

2009-07-07T09:03:00.004-05:00

ACS Wins IDHS Contract By Amara Channell at 6 July, 2009, 3:31 pmAffiliated Computer Services Inc (ACS) has won a contract to provide an electronic payment card system for the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). The program is designed to facilitate the distribution of state payments to child care providers as well as personal assistants to people who have disabilities.Under the

IL DCFS budget cuts but how much federal funding?

2009-07-07T08:33:00.003-05:00

There is a cool search engine to find out about federal funds received.CHASI, here's the search results. http://harvester.census.gov/sac/dissem/asp/finalPrintPages2008.asp?ID=483192008Childserv is at http://harvester.census.gov/sac/dissem/asp/finalPrintPages2008.asp?ID=484692008Babyfold is at http://harvester.census.gov/sac/dissem/asp/finalPrintPages2008.asp?ID=532982008Lutheran Social Services

Illinois child welfare agency on budget cuts 07-07-09

2009-07-07T07:57:00.004-05:00

The Baby Fold, Healthy Start adjusting programs after cutsBy Paul Swiech swiech@pantagraph.com Posted: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 12:00 amBLOOMINGTON -- The bell tolled for more human service programs on Monday as programs to reduce incidents of child abuse and neglect and to assist youth before they're sentenced to juvenile jail were among those reduced or eliminated as a result of state budget cuts.

Child Care Association of IL blog/DCFS memo

2009-07-05T18:29:00.003-05:00

Child Care Association IL News WeblogMore than 40 Years Fighting for Abused and Neglected Children in Illinois…--------------------------------------------------------------------------------« Illinois Doomsday Budget Edges Toward Illinois Doomsday Budget-LiteCourt Order Prompts Governor Pat Quinn to Reverse DCFS Illinois Doomsday Budget CutsMemorandumTO: CCAI CEOs/EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS/POLICY

Scrutiny increases for non-profits

2009-07-05T17:51:00.001-05:00

Back to web version Sunday, Jul 5, 2009 Posted on Sun, Jul. 05, 2009 Scrutiny increases for non-profitsBy Cheryl Trumanctruman@herald-leader.com How did one Illinois non-profit organization become a national model of transparency with a board so involved that one board member reads the organization's newsletter aloud to her husband?Julie Tye, president of The Cradle adoption agency in Evanston,

Illinois Department of Children & Family Services reinstates contracts (July 5, 2009)

2009-07-05T17:41:00.003-05:00

Posted Online: Jul 05, 2009 02:48PM Illinois Department of Children & Family Services reinstates contractsComment on this storyPress release submitted by Katie Nelson, communications coordinator, Bethany for Children & Families.MOLINE -- Bethany for Children & Families received notification today that all contracts with The Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) have been

Okay, this is strange, related to Botox Bandit story

2009-07-03T11:02:00.003-05:00

I checked Hillsborough County FL court records for Heart of Adoptions in Tampa and I found numerous breach of contract and small claims cases where Heart of Adoptions is the Plaintiff. Various women are named as defendants. I haven't gone through all of the listings to see if this is the agency suing pregnant women who decided against placing a child for adoption or what. It's pretty odd to me.

Botox Bandit and an adoption lawsuit

2009-07-03T10:51:00.002-05:00

Return of the Botox BanditBy Justin George, Times Staff Writer Published Thursday, July 2, 2009 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------TAMPA — The woman came in looking to peel off her past.Blond hair, blue eyes, gym shorts. Like the girl next door, thought the manager of Skin NV, a med spa that opened in May.The client said her 10-year high school reunion

PEAR's Adoptive Parents Bill of Rights

2009-07-03T10:33:00.002-05:00

Wednesday, July 1, 2009Prospective Adoptive Parent Bill of Rights Competent Providers: Prospective adoptive parents have the right to an adoption service provider with appropriate high-quality adoption services. Prospective adoptive parents have the right to receive a complete list of qualifications of all providers of adoption-related services. Qualifications include both adoption-related

announcement that VN will remain closed to adoption

2009-07-03T10:07:00.001-05:00

http://adoption.state.gov/news/vietnam.htmlJune 2009U.S. citizens cannot register a new adoption in Vietnam at this time. TheGovernment of Vietnam has stated its intention to introduce new adoptionlegislation and to institute reforms in the adoption process, and hasindicated that the anticipated new legislation and implementing regulationsmay take

IL DCFS budget cuts Integrated Assessment at SIU

2009-07-03T09:52:00.003-05:00

Graduate assistants threatened with cutsBarton LorimorPublished: Thursday, July 30, 2009Updated: Tuesday, June 30, 2009Elizabeth Winkler, a graduate student in social work from North Pole, Alaska, works at her assistantship for the Integrated Assessment Program. Winkler is one of the graduate students whose position is threatened by potential cuts to state social services. Genna Ord Daily

Orson Mozes compared to pregnancy scammers

2009-07-03T09:13:00.003-05:00

I was discussing this with a fellow blogger on adoption issues this morning. My friend is right, there is a huge disparity in Orson's sentence when compared to women who scam adoptive parents directly stating they are pregnant and looking to place for adoption. The women with either real or fake pregnancies get longer sentences and have fewer victims than the Orson Mozes case. They also

Equip for Equality lawsuit concerning state budget

2009-07-03T08:32:00.004-05:00

Human service agencies begin layoffsBy Robert McCoppin Daily Herald StaffPublished: 7/1/2009 12:00 AMOn the last day before the state budget expired, one Aurora social services agency laid off 80 workers and told 1,100 clients with developmental and mental health disabilities that they would lose services.Other agencies also were moving ahead with cutbacks.Workers and families alike cried upon

another ACLU lawsuit against the state of IL over disabled people's housing rights

2009-07-03T08:26:00.003-05:00

Mentally disabled in housing fightJuly 1, 2009 10:16 PM No CommentsSamuel Golden admits he wants to keep his 53-year-old daughter, who functions at the level of a 2-year-old, in what some critics would label a large "institution." Her life, he said, would deteriorate if she were forced to move into a smaller group home that couldn't provide adequate therapy and daily activities.But Stanley

Adoption Scammer Pleads Guilty (Orson Mozes)

2009-07-03T07:20:00.003-05:00

Adoption scammer pleads guiltyBy COLBY FRAZIER — July 3, 2009A former Montecito businessman who swindled $800,000 from 59 hopeful parents through his adoption business, pleaded guilty in Superior Court yesterday to 17 felonies and a white-collar crime enhancement.Wearing a light-blue shirt, dark pants and a tie, with shackles around his hands and feet, the defendant, Orson Mozes, said plainly

Video for Orson Mozes Guilty Plea

2009-07-03T00:15:00.001-05:00

http://www.keyt.com/news/local/49770797.html?video=YHI&t=a

Ringleader Of Local Adoption Scam Is Headed To Prison

2009-07-02T20:20:00.003-05:00

Ringleader Of Local Adoption Scam Is Headed To PrisonSanta Barbara, CA-- A convicted con man who ran a worldwide adoption scam from his Montecito estate is headed to prison.Orson Mozes pleaded guilty Thursday afternoon to 17 of the 59 felony counts filed against him.Prosecutors say he preyed on couples who desperately wanted to adopt a child. They would pay Mozes up to $11,000 but, he would never

Orson Mozes pleads guilty to criminal charges

2009-07-02T20:09:00.004-05:00

From Cribs, Crime and Corruption: http://cribsandcrimes.blogspot.com/2009/07/justice-orson-pleads-guilty.htmlThursday, July 2, 2009JUSTICE: Orson Pleads GUILTY!The following e-mail came from the Santa Barbara DA today:Today around 2:30pm, Orson Mozes plead "guilty" to 17 counts of violating Penal Code section 532(a), felony obtaining money by false pretenses. He also admitted the truth of the

furloughs as part of budget cuts

2009-07-02T17:47:00.004-05:00

I found this article about budget cuts in Hawaii resulting in a lawsuit. Just speculating here but maybe the reported nine lawsuits filed in IL are copy-cat lawsuits. Another wild hair guess of mine is some of these private agencies that contracted with the state are owed millions of dollars already because the state is tardy with past due invoices. That might have triggered one of the lawsuits.

China babies "sold for adoption" from the BBC

2009-07-02T17:01:00.002-05:00

China babies 'sold for adoption'Dozens of baby girls in southern China have reportedly been taken from parents who broke family-planning laws, and then sold for adoption overseas.An investigation by the state-owned Southern Metropolis News found that about 80 girls in one county had been sold for $3,000 (£1,800).The babies were taken when the parents could not pay the steep fines imposed for

still trying to find out about these lawsuits arising from the budget problems

2009-07-02T16:34:00.004-05:00

The articles are all identical on Google news. I have no idea if the Governor's office, the Department of Human Services or Department of Children and Family services (who has already been in litigation with the ACLU and a lawsuit filed last week) were named defendants.With all the private agencies rendering social services, I could be typing my fingers raw in search engines trying to figure out