So the dude poisons Flint and then kidnaps two twins who said they were being abused in their foster home. The guy is a serious piece of shit.
Written by Felicity Lee
I am writing this article as a personal reflection on what I learned about the ‘system’ during my teen years and continuing through research that I have conducted during my adult life. This article is difficult for me to write. I have never spoken about what happened to me as a teen for fear of repercussions – fear that is not relevant to now, but that remains a remnant of many years ago when I was not heard or believed, but further punished for speaking out. As an adult survivor, I have learned one thing; my childhood/teen experiences are not at all exclusive. Survivors will recognize my story, and others who are just becoming aware of injustices, need to finally listen and help children/teens caught in corrupt systems by speaking out.
Let’s review a few terms before starting:
Human Trafficking: “The United Nations defines human trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons by improper means (such as force, abduction, fraud, or coercion) for an improper purpose.”
Child Abuse: The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) (42 U.S.C.A. § 5106g), as amended by the CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010, defines child abuse and neglect as, at minimum:
“Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation”; or
“An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.”
Child Protective Services (CPS) Responsibility:
Under the Child Protection Law, the DHS is required to file a petition with the court. MCL 722.628d(1)(e) requires DHS to file a petition if DHS determines that there is evidence of child abuse and neglect and there is a violation, involving the child, of a crime listed or described in MCL 722.628a(1)(b), (c), (d) or (f) or of child abuse in the first or second degree as prescribed in the Michigan Penal Code, MCL 750.136b.
Foster Care Provisions:
New federal legislation, Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act of 2014 (H.R. 4980), now requires state child welfare agencies to:
Develop a reasonable and prudent parenting standard for foster parents to make parental decisions to maintain the health and safety of foster youth and also make decisions about the youth’s participation in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural and social activities.
Ensure that children in foster care age 14 or older participate in the development of, or revision to, his or her case plan which must describe the foster child’s rights.
Provide children aging out of foster care with a birth certificate, a social security card, health insurance information, medical records and a driver’s license or state identification.
Standards for Juvenile Detention Facilities:
The state or local jurisdiction is usually responsible for providing education, recreation, health, assessment, counseling and other intervention services with the intent of maintaining a youth’s well-being during his or her stay in custody.[Juvenile Detention Laws. laws.com. 10 October 2011.]
Okay, so the terms are now defined. The laws are in place and have been since the 1950’s. So, we can all assume that they are being enforced. We can move through our lives believing ‘authorities’ and disbelieving teens and children’s reports of abuse and trafficking within these systems. After all, children and teens never had a voice until TODAY.
My story:
(read with caution – be in a safe place)
I will begin with the first time that I was taken from my home by CPS. I was about 13 and ‘was’ being abused. I thought that CPS was ‘saving me’ from the abuse. I was put into a foster home where I was repeatedly raped by ‘workers’ there. The home housed some 30 children from the age of 10-16 years old. After several days, I was put in a room with several other ‘inmates’, drugged and told to undress. We were made to have sex with each other as the ‘caretakers’ filmed the interaction. Other children, whom had been there longer than I, were terrified to tell anyone or make any attempt to escape and warned me what would happen. Social worker came through and questioned us and to check on how we were doing. No one told. Often, we were taken to other places where the ‘workers’ accepted money in exchange for us having sex with many men and woman. It wasn’t the treatment that was so terrifying, but the fear of what would happen if we told.
One day, I simply walked away without anyone trying to stop me. I went to the police and told them what was happening. They didn’t believe me, but instead arrested me for being what they called ‘uncontrollable’. I was taken to the juvenile detention center by two police officers. On the way there, we made a quick stop at the nearby river where they raped me for hours, laughing and mocking me for being so stupid.
When we arrived at the juvenile hall, I was told to undress for a strip-search. Three men, who worked at the detention center did the search while the rest of the staff watched. I was then taken to a shower area where I was lathered with soap, told to stand there and wait. The boys from the other side of the center were brought over, lined up and told, to rape me while two of the saff filmed. I was then sprayed with a hose until I passed out. I was then taken to a cell and given one bed out of four in the cell. I spent the night hearing other children crying and screaming.
The detention center housed about 40-50 children – boys and girls – aged 12-17 years old. In time, I came to know most of the girls there. Their stories were not just similar to mine, but identical! Some were runaways and taken from the street to the hall, others taken by CPS from their home. The pain in the eyes of those children haunts me to this day. I began to realize that once ‘caught’ in this system, there was no escape. Many stopped eating – refusing food. Others did succeed in suicide or died from ‘accidents’. Several of the female teens became pregnant – the babies aborted by nearby doctors brought in to the hall during ‘medical examinations’.
I caused ‘trouble’. I protected the younger children, flooded toilets, and told any adult, who walked through the facility, what was happening. I taught the other children how to keep themselves safe as best I could.
Finally, I had a court date. I was charged and given two years in juvenile hall for my ‘crimes’. Realizing that the judge was also corrupt, I wrote to the governor. He actually visited me in juvenile hall. He mocked me and told me that ‘throw away kids’ have no rights. I attempted suicide and nearly dying, they transported me to the hospital where I escaped and ran for my life. I spent the next two years hiding on the streets in a far away town – safe. When I returned home, I discovered that they had taken my younger sister into custody. She was not as able as me to handle it all and was institutionalized in a mental hospital. When I visited her, I warned her not to talk – not to tell. She didn’t listen. She died of ‘unknown’ causes several months later.
What we experienced was clearly child abuse and human trafficking within a corrupt legal system.
I recently read in the local newspaper of that same town – a girl was found dead at the detention center after attempting to deliver her own baby. I now feel like I abandoned those children/teens. I never told until now. I did put together a video in honor of my sister a few years ago:
Thank you for watching – that is how I felt when ‘my’ sister was gone.
For the past 45 years, I have watched as CPS, has taken children from homes for no reason – if they even really were CPS. Parents can’t get information from CPS, don’t know their rights, and their children are just ‘gone’. Parents are told lies, children and teens are left to their fate with corrupt systems and NOWHERE to reach out, NO ONE who listens or cares, and if they live, they are damaged beyond human comprehension.
Triggering or not, that is my story – and, how many others have the similar stories? How many survivors/victims are out there – scared to tell, unable to even accept their past, trying to heal from it?
How many advocate groups and caring individuals are out there – knowing this can’t go on. We, as a society, can not continue thinking this doesn’t happen – it does and has for decades. It HAS to be stopped – NOW. We have to let our children know that they are not alone – society must protect them. For the first time in history, we actually have the means – advocate groups, social media, the media, attorneys willing to give their time to make things better, etc.
Here is another teens story – currently happening – please read:
Here is a video she put out asking for help:
one in the very few teens reaching out for help – something that I have never seen before – all by herself. I admire her courage and know the danger she is putting herself in. She needs to be protected and heard. And, now gag orders? – let’s get serious – no one put a gag-order on me or anyone else – we can share her story for her. There are links in the article where to follow and help.
If this is ignored, soon, she will be silenced and – her sister – what will happen to her?
She needs to be heard – and, EVERYONE needs to step forward and help. If not for her, for every other child out there in similar situations.
Please – I am reaching out for your help – also. I just want to know that people do care – as much as I do. Okay?
Think – what can you do to help her – a click of a like button, a sharing of her video or the story – if nothing else.