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GUEST COLUMN
(5/24/2007)
Identified Flaws in the System Left Klaudt Foster Children Vulnerable
By Gwen Caldwell Voices of Women As a family rights advocate and Founder of Voice of Women, the recent arrest of former South Dakota lawmaker Ted Klaudt is of special interest to me. I applaud these young women for having the courage to come forward and report this inappropriate behavior. The affidavit is a heart-wrenching read. We are aware that this is not an isolated problem, especially where Native American children are concerned. I encourage anyone that has been abused or witnessed abuse of any child in foster care to report it to authorities immediately. You do not have to be victimized by your caregivers no matter who they are. You have the right to be safe and protected in your living environment. Anyone wishing to talk to an advocate for resources or more information may call (605) 279-2309. Numerous clients, along with myself and other very credible advocates had been working with Klaudt in his official capacity as the highly esteemed Chairman of the Government Operations and Audit Committee. The relationship with former Rep. Klaudt was to resolve issues that he ensured us he had the “constitutional authority” (and obligation) to take action on, including allegations of sexual, physical and emotional abuse of children in South Dakota’s foster care system. The allegations against Klaudt coincide with the very time frame when we were testifying, providing documentation, and actively seeking solutions to the very charges of which he’s now accused. I am concerned that the Department of Social Services would drop an investigation because the alleged victim recanted her statement, as this is a very common problem and well known to most professionals that deal with such domestic abuses. It also appears that the Department violated their own policies, procedures and protocols; this was another complaint we brought to the table during hearings. I find it particularly alarming that their investigation would be dropped when the issue of sexual abuse allegations in foster care was being presented for that very Department to be investigated by the Committee that Klaudt chaired and had influence over. Is this a coincidence? Is Ted Klaudt innocent? I know better than most how charges are exaggerated and at times invented against parents who are accused of abuse. However, in this case only the children are innocent. Ted Klaudt had knowledge of the problems, as did all members of his Committee, Secretary Bowman, Child Protection Administrator Virginia Weisler, Attorney General Larry Long, Juvenile Corrections Monitor John Ellis and Governor Mike Rounds. The failure in their official capacities to address these issues makes them all guilty of putting children in the system at risk in my opinion. Our complaints were minimized, our testimony interrupted, our documentation disregarded. Our requests for an ombudsman or an oversight committee to insure the safety of children and the legal rights of parents, for the passage of a State Indian Child Welfare Act, amending the South Dakota Adoption and Safe Families Act and child protection laws to clarify definitions and to redirect available funds into family preservation were all disregarded. Our requests were legitimate and, had they been taken seriously and responded to, would have gone a long way toward showing good faith on the part of the state to protect our children and ensure their safety. If there is any opportunity in this very embarrassing development, then perhaps in this case, it will be taken to revisit some of our initial complaints and immediate action taken to resolve the systemic problems that have long existed in South Dakota surrounding the foster care and child protection industry. It is disappointing to know that years of effort on our parts have done little if anything to ensure the safety of our children. I submit to you that many of these children would have been far safer in the home of their parents (or extended family)--homes the state deemed as “unsafe”. I question, based on what standard were these homes deemed unsafe? Especially when in the case of Indian children this would be in compliance with the federal mandates of the Indian Child Welfare Act. Rep. Deb Peters stated during GOAC hearings, “These children deserve to know what it’s like to live in a functional family.” I can’t help but wonder if Ted Klaudt’s foster children who have made these allegations think that they deserved this functional family? The notion that only professional (foster/adoptive) parents and the state know what’s best for our children is ridiculous. That only they can protect our children, keep them safe and love them is a lie. Historically, statistics throughout the United States indicate children are always at a much higher risk of sexual abuse and death at the hands of their professional parents than in the homes of their natural families. The biggest lie is that this isn’t about the money! The federally subsidized child abuse machinery is run by under qualified, over zealous, incentive based non-governmental agencies and contracted care providers at the expense of American families and the safety of children, with no oversight. More information is available at www.freewebs.com/voiceofwomen or voiceofwomen@hotmail.com. The Lakota Peoples Law Project is currently investigating abuses in the foster care system in South Dakota and may be reached at (605) 745-4275. Gwen Caldwell is the founder of Voices of Women.
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