Michigan is not a child-friendly state for kids like Isaac Lethbridge who was murdered while being part of the state's foster care system.
There has been a steady line-up of very young kids in Michigan who have been murdered by their parents or their care providers. They have all been under watch of the state's child welfare system in some manner. And, along the way something was missed and their lives were taken.
Read this package of stories and the editorial from the Detroit Free Press which deserves the Pulitizer prize for its role in shining light on our state's child welfare system and showing the holes in the safety-net where these kids fall to their death.
Then if you're bothered and you feel there needs to be some answers . . .
Technorati Tags: Andy Dillon, child abuse and neglect, Detroit Free Press, Isaac Lethbridge, Jennifer Granholm, Michigan, Mike Bishop, MI House of Representatives, MI Senate
call or e-mail the two main leaders in the Michigan Legislature. They are House Speaker Andy Dillon and Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop. Committee chairs seem to lack the motivation necessary to provide oversight needed to fix the system. Political heat needs to be placed on the leaders.
Bloggers need to step to the front on this one. Politicians need to have their feet held to the fire.
Ask that their house of the legislature hold hearings where answers are sought about what went wrong and that a report be made to the public. That's part of the role of the legislature. They need to stop making excuses and just do it.
Perhaps, it's time for the U.S. Department of Justice to step in. Maybe a U.S. Federal Judge needs to run Michigan's child welfare system.
Bottom line, these kids need to be protected and we need to find out why they are not.
