More lawsuits fly in Chlidren's Aid Society + foster-mom sex abuse case

I wonder what the law suits do to the budgets of these incompetent child protection agencies who are whining to the Provincial Government about not having enough money.MJM.

By Sarah Sacheli, 

Windsor Star

April 30, 2010



Photo of Windsor Superior Court

  ^{The Windsor-Essex Children's Aid Society has been slapped with yet another lawsuit related to allegations that a foster mother had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy placed in her care.}

WINDSOR, Ont. — The Windsor-Essex Children's Aid Society has been slapped with yet another lawsuit related to allegations that a foster mother had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy placed in her care.

The boy's biological father is suing both the society and the foster parents for $150,000, plus any "punitive and aggravated damages" the court deems just.

His lawsuit, yet to be served on the defendants Friday, comes after criminal charges against the foster mother and a civil suit by the boy's biological mother were made public by the Windsor Star.

In his statement of claim, the man says he has lost the "opportunity to experience a normal father and son relationship" because of the "reprehensible" conduct of the foster parents and the CAS.

According to the nearly identical statements of claim filed earlier by the boy's biological mother, the boy was placed with the CAS in 2008 following the suicide of his sister. The boy's mother said she was in a "fragile" emotional state at the time and CAS staff convinced her it would be in her son's best interest to go into foster care. She signed a temporary care agreement voluntarily giving custody of her son to the CAS.

The biological father, in his statement of claim, says he was in a similarly fragile state at the time, having been severely injured in a car crash.

The biological parents had been common-law spouses but were no longer together at the time. The father had joint custody of the boy and maintained a "close relationship with the child," said his lawyer, Enzo DiGioia.

The parents cannot be named to protect the boy's identity.

The foster mother, 46, is before the criminal courts charged with sexual assault and sexual interference. According to a statement of defence filed by her husband, she was having sex with the 14-year-old boy placed in their home in October 2008. The husband said he was unaware of this until he caught his wife and the boy in a sexual act in February 2009. He said he took immediate steps to keep his wife and the boy apart and turned in his wife to authorities.

It appears from court documents that the foster parents are no longer living together.

The foster father is being sued on the basis that he ought to have known his wife was sexually abusing the boy.

The biological father's lawsuit repeats the allegation that the foster parents introduced his son to drugs, a claim the foster father denies in his statement of defence to the biological mother's suit.

The biological father also repeats the claim that, while his son was in foster care, he voiced concerns to the CAS but its workers failed to act.

The biological mother is suing for $450,000. She is suing on her son's behalf, claiming $250,000 for the boy, $150,000 for herself and $50,000 for the boy's sibling.

No court dates have been set in the civil lawsuits. A preliminary hearing for the foster mother is set for June.

© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Second+suit+filed+foster+assault+case/2974018/story.html

The Death of Manliness at the University of Wyoming

This article is an excellent example of the hypocrisy evident in Universities. Not just the University of Wyoming but pretty much all of them.  The feminist mythology of women as still a minority and victim still prevails.MJM

February 03, 2010 By Ashley Thorne

Wyoming is one of only five states in America with more men than women. Apparently, however, the University of Wyoming is biased against men.

 

As a student at Monterey Peninsula College, Marine Lance Corporal Aaron Graham took a course called “Literature By and About Men,” taught by English professor and NAS member David Clemens. The course, on “depictions of maleness, manhood, and masculinity in essays, films, short stories, and poetry either by men or about men,” focused on a variety of topics, such as “theories of sex or gender difference, the nature of boyhood, the experience of fatherhood and the experience of sons, men and war, male codes, misandry and machismo, competition and teamwork, the man of letters, love and marriage, and manly aging, manly death.” 

“Manly” is a lonely word on college campuses today. Although recovering the lost art of manliness is gaining interest in the nation at large, colleges and universities do their best to stifle it. Most institutions offer degrees in women’s studies but not men’s studies, and they have women’s centers but not men’s centers. The University of Wyoming is an example. Its women’s center website answers a frequently asked question, “Why isn’t there a men’s center?”: 

Few schools have men's centers because it's generally recognized that men already have full access to educational and employment opportunities as required by law. A large body of research exists which clearly documents gender-based discrimination against women. Traditionally, American and world history have focused primarily on the achievements and contributions of men and have largely excluded those of women. 

The argument is that the men have had their day and it’s now the women’s turn to dominate. But the phrase “men already have full access to educational and employment opportunities as required by law” is disingenuous. Women do not yet have full access to education and employment as required by law? Really? Last year, women comprised 46.5% of the workforce and 57.2% of higher education enrollment in the United States. 

Colleges seem to want to keep women back, to make them retain victim and minority status when they are no longer a minority. Ironically, in doing so, they victimize and invite discrimination against men. This idea appears to have been the reason behind one category of U Wyoming’s required courses for English majors. Students pursuing an English degree must earn three credit hours in “Emerging fields and approaches” courses. These courses include “Non-Western Women Writers,” “Gender: Humanities Focus,” “African American Novel,” “American Indian Literature,” Studies in Chicano Folklore,” “Studies in Ethnic Literature,” and “Women’s Studies.”  

When Aaron Graham, an English major, transferred to the University of Wyoming this year, he requested to transfer credit from the “Literature By and About Men” course at Monterey Peninsula College to fulfill the English department requirement. A few days later he received the petition back. The faculty committee representative, Leslie Rush, denied the request. In the space given for her to provide a reason, she wrote simply, “List II courses should be on literature by and about women, not men” (see refused petition). 

The common procedure for such requests is that colleges with degree requirements bend them to suit the spirit of the requirement, not the exact letter. UW wanted English students to take a gender-focused literature course, and that was just what Graham had to offer. It hoped to empower minorities facing discrimination, but by making this closed-minded, set-in-its-ways decision, UW ended up positioning men as a minority facing discrimination. Graham is currently planning to appeal the rejection. 

Back in 2004, the University of California rejected the transferability of the same course, saying that it had a “narrow focus” and that there was “no comparable course in lower division” at any of the University of California’s campuses. At the time, Professor Clemens noted on the NAS online forum: 

While I don't question U.C.'s woeful admission that not even one campus offers a course in literature by and about men, U.C. does accept, for lower division transfer from community colleges, such English courses as "Images of Women in Western Literature" from Saddleback...and "Literature By and About Women" from Shasta, among dozens of other clearly gender specific literature surveys. 

By what process can U.C. analysts find "Literature By and About Men" not comparable to "Literature By and About Women"? Apparently, U.C. sees comparability as defined only by gender, not by level or type of course, thereby applying a standard of gender discrimination that produces an inequitable, politicized curriculum and differential treatment based solely on sex. 

Clemens’ appeals to the UC administration were ignored, but after NAS and NoIndoctrination.org drew blogosphere attention to the situation, the university voluntarily reversed its decision. Clemens’ course was then and may still be the only one in California higher education to focus on literature by and about men.  

When held up to the light of common sense, the University of California couldn’t justify its biased rejection of the course. Let’s help the University of Wyoming to reach the same conclusion. After all, if you can’t find manliness in Wyoming, where can you find it? 
* * *
Correction: This article originally stated in error that Leslie Rush is the University of Wyoming English Department Chair. Professor Rush is in fact a Professor of English Education Adolescent Literacy.

http://www.nas.org/polArticles.cfm?Doc_Id=1161

Ireland establishes Parental Alienation Group

 

 

 

Group in call to aid family harmony

 

 A new support group for parents and children alienated from each other has called for 100 mothers or fathers affected by the problem to come forward.

PAS Ireland said it wants to carry out world leading research into the damage done by manipulative parents who abuse children by turning them against current or ex-partners.

The group, which will be addressed on Monday by family lawyer and Government child protection tsar Geoffrey Shannon, claimed children are severely damaged by the tactic.

Donnacha Murphy, PAS Ireland organiser, said it can happen within marriages as well as between separated or divorced couples.

"It is a psychological state that children suffer from when one parent is the target and manipulated," he said.

"Unless the syndrome is dealt with it becomes part of the child's lifestyle it manifests in their own life and they tend to treat their own children the same way.

"Children find it hard to trust, express themselves and stay in relationships. They tend to live in two different worlds."

The group, which is being formally launched on Monday, claims children end up psychologically damaged by one parent manipulating them and turning them against the other parent.

It is estimated children affected by the tactic on average miss out on 12 years of a relationship with a parent.

A US study also claimed the syndrome is passed on from one generation to the next.

A conference to mark the launch of the PAS Ireland society is being held in the Red Cow Inn in Dublin on Monday and also to mark international parental alienation awareness day.

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/group-in-call-to-aid-family-harmony-2151576.html

PARENTAL ALIENATION AWARENESS DAY: Proclamation City of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS Parents could cause children to suffer from Parental Alienation;
and
 

WHEREAS Some of the behaviours of Parental Alienation interfere with
parental communication and time together; and
 

WHEREAS These behaviours can interfere with a loving parent and child bond,
depriving children of their right to love and be loved by both
parents; and
 

WHEREAS Awareness, education and understanding, play an important role in
preventing the effects of Parental Alienation:
 

NOW THEREFORE, I, John Rowswell, by virtue of the power vested in me as
Mayor of the City of Sault Ste. Marie, do hereby proclaim and pronounce April
25, 2010 "PARENTAL ALIENATION AWARENESS DAY" in the City of Sault
Ste. Marie.  

Signed,

John Rowswell, MAYOR

5th Annual Parental Alienation Awareness Day

Friday, April 23, 2010

Press Statement

5^th Annual Parental Alienation Awareness Day

Sunday, April 25^th marks the 5^th Anniversary of Parental Alienation Awareness Day. This day is marked on calendars around the globe to educate and bring awareness to the terrible abuse children suffer when they are alienated from a parent.

As an affiliate of the Parental Alienation Awareness Organization (PAAO), the Canadian Equal Parenting Council (CEPC) marks this day as a time to measure progress, socially and politically. The CEPC is a coalition of 42 family rights organizations with the common mission to secure every child's right to be equally parented when the relationship between the father and the mother breaks down.

While PAAO promotes awareness and support, the Canadian Equal Parenting Council lobbies for political change in how the laws deal with families in turmoil. A Joint press conference was held by the two organizations on Friday, April 23^rd at 10:00am at Queen's Park, Ontario with special guests Jill Egizii, author of The Look of Love, a novel about parental alienation and federal MP Jim Karygiannis.

"Education is key, but it must be backed up by action. There have been some very note worthy events in the past year and some public figures deserve credit for what they are doing right," says Kris Titus, Co-President of the Canadian Equal Parenting Council.

In Ontario, 130 family court judges and many mental health providers were trained and educated in how to recognize and deal with parental alienation.

The province also introduced their annual Family Day to reflect the benefits to society of healthy children and healthy families, and the Office of the Children's Lawyer has participated in coordinating workshops and conferences about dealing with high conflict divorce including parental alienation in whole or in part.

Federally, the Canadian Equal Parenting Council recognizes MP Jim Karygiannis for the introduction of motion M-267 in the House of Commons that reads as follows: "That, in the opinion of the House, the government should recognize Parental Alienation Awareness Day and designate April 25 as National Parental Alienation Awareness Day in order to raise awareness of the magnitude of this problem and its devastating effect on children."

MP Maurice Vellacott is honored for his Private Member Bill C-422 to amend the Divorce Act to protect parent/child relationships through presumptive equal parenting. The bill also encourages judges to take into consideration if there is manipulation or influence on the child when making custody decisions and encourages dispute resolution instead of ongoing conflict in family law cases.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact: Kris Titus, Co-President – Email: Co-President_K_Titus@canadianepc.com, 905-987-5777
     Brian Ludmer, VP Legislative Affairs – Email: brian@ludmerlaw.ca, 416-781-0334

 

Déclaration à la presse
5e édition de la Journée de sensibilisation à l'aliénation parentale

Dimanche 25 avril marque le 5e anniversaire de la Journée de sensibilisation à l'aliénation parentale. Cette journée est marquée sur les calendriers du monde entier pour éduquer et sensibiliser la population sur les terribles abus dont souffrent les enfants quand ils sont aliénés d'un parent.

En tant que société affiliée de l'Organisation de sensibilisation à l'aliénation parentale (PAAO), le Conseil de l'égalité parentale du Canada (CEPC) marque ce jour pour évaluer les progrès accomplis, socialement et politiquement. Le CEPC est une coalition de 42 organisations oeuvrant pour les droits de la famille avec la mission d'assurer le droit à tout enfant d'être élevé également par ses deux parents lorsque la relation entre le père et la mère éclate.

Bien que PAAO encourage la sensibilisation et le soutien, le Conseil de l'égalité parentale du Canada intervient pour un changement politique dans la manière dont les lois traitent les familles dans la tourmente. Une conférence de presse conjointe a été tenue par les deux organisations, le vendredi 23 avril à 10h00 à Queen's Park, en Ontario, avec des invités spéciaux Jill Egizii, auteur de « The Look of Love », un roman sur l'aliénation parentale et le député fédéral Jim Karygiannis.

"L'éducation est essentielle, mais elle doit être soutenue par action. Il y a eu quelques événements dignes de mention dans l'année écoulée et des personnalités publiques méritent d'être saluées pour ce qu'ils sont en train de faire », dit Kris Titus, Co-présidente du Conseil de l'égalité parentale du Canada.

En Ontario, 130 juges des tribunaux de la famille et de nombreux dispensateurs de soins en santé mentale ont été formés et instruits dans la façon de reconnaître et de faire face à l'aliénation parentale.

La province a également présenté la Journée de la famille, un événement annuel pour promouvoir les avantages pour la société d'avoir des enfants et des familles en bonne santé, et l' « Office of the Children's Lawyer » a participé à la coordination des ateliers et des conférences sur la conduite à tenir lorsque les gens sont aux prises avec un divorce très conflictuel, y compris l'aliénation parentale, en tout ou en partie.

Au fédéral, le Conseil de l'égalité parentale du Canada reconnaît l'initiative du député Jim Karygiannis pour la présentation de la motion M-267 à la Chambre des communes qui se lit comme suit: «Que, de l'avis de la Chambre, le gouvernement devrait reconnaître la Journée de sensibilisation d'aliénation parentale et désigner Avril 25 comme Journée nationale de sensibilisation à l'aliénation parentale afin d'accroître la conscience sur l'ampleur de ce problème et ses effets dévastateurs sur les enfants. "

Le député Maurice Vellacott est honoré pour son projet de loi privé C-422 modifiant la Loi sur le divorce afin de protéger les relations parent / enfant grâce à la présomption égalité parentale. Le projet de loi encourage également les juges à prendre en considération s'il y a manipulation ou d'influence sur l'enfant lors de décisions sur la garde et encourage le règlement hors-cour des différends au lieu de recourir aux tribunaux en droit de la famille.

-------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
Contact: Titus Kris, Co-Président - Email: Co-President_K_Titus@canadianepc.com, 905-987-5777
Brian Ludmer, vice-président des affaires législatives - Email: brian@ludmerlaw.ca, 416-781-0334

PARENTAL ALIENATION AWARENESS DAY: 'It's a sad situation when your children are turned against you in family court'

Very good work by Sharon and Paulette. Congratulations! Tomorrow is the 1st anniversary of Paulette's climb to the top of the Cookstown Mall Tower to bring greater awareness of Parental Alienation.

Group targets divorce fallout PARENTAL ALIENATION AWARENESS DAY: 'It's a sad situation when your children are turned against you in family court' Posted 7 hours ago Sharon Mawhinney hates to see her children upset. Unfortunately, as a result of her divorce, that's exactly what has happened.  But the Barrie mother of four said her children aren't the only ones hurting. The process and the mud-slinging have been hard on her, too.   "I'm a victim of parental alienation, and two of my children have been alienated," said Mawhinney, a member of Parental Alienation Awareness Ontario.   "My stage of alienation is severe and it's a sad situation when your children are turned against you in family court."   Mawhinney's personal experiences within family court motivated her to create an awareness event --  Parental Alienation Awareness Day (PAAD) -- to speak out against parental alienation and the emotional strain divorce puts on children.   The city's first PAAD event takes place Sunday at Centennial Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.   "A lot of people don't take the high road in family court, and the children get caught in the middle," she said.  "This event is about creating a public awareness about stopping this alienation of parents and kids. I'm fighting for parents' and childrens' rights.   "We're also encouraging people to speak up when they hear a parent bad-mouthing their ex-partner in front of their children," Mawhinney said. "Parents shouldn't be putting their hatred and their attitudes about each other on the kids."   Dr. Ken Marek couldn't agree more. The Barrie clinical psychologist said often when families split up, children will be affected on some level.   "There's often an incredible amount of emotion that comes with divorce and the kids do get caught up in it all or they become collateral damage," said Marek, who specializes in individual, couple and family counselling.   "The reality is, as much as divorcing parents attempt to make it an easy transition, it's always going to affect the kids somehow.   "Children often blame themselves for their parents splitting up, or try to think of ways to get them back together, or they'll start acting up," he added. "The more communication and civilized action there is between the parents, the children will adjust faster."   Mawhinney said she received approval from Barrie Mayor Dave Aspden to proclaim Sunday as Parental Alienation Awareness Day in Barrie.   The event is open to parents, children, grandparents and friends affected by alienation through divorce.   An information table will be set up with relevant books for sale, and children will be invited to blow 'bubbles of love' at noon during the event.   The bubbles symbolize a child's freedom to love both divorced parents, without feeling like they must chose a side, she said.   A similar event will be held in Alliston on Sunday, at 11:30 a.m. at Riverdale Park, near Stevenson Memorial Hospital.   Organizer Paulette MacDonald has been promoting the day for the past five years, and this year's event will include testimonials, singing and those same 'bubbles of love', which will be blown at noon all across Ontario and the world at these events.   "Those bubbles signify the ever rising love of our children and you can't contain the bubbles, just like they can't contain their love for their family," MacDonald said. "We're letting children know it's OK to love both parents." MacDonald said even through her own divorce, that was the message she gave her children.  "I'm a divorced parent, and we decided to put our children first and didn't set foot inside a family court room," she said. "I just assumed that's the way all parents did it, to keep their children from getting caught up in everything."   After meeting her current partner in 2005, MacDonald was introduced to the more common way of divorce settlements.   "My partner's ex-wife began dragging them, and myself and my children, through the whole process," she said. "That's when we were all introduced to parental alienation and the emotional impact it has on children.   "Parental alienation usually occurs when there's an ugly divorce," MacDonald added.  MacDonald felt so strongly about this issue last year, that she scaled the water tower of the Cookstown Outlet Mall, dressed in a Batman costume, and hung a flying banner promoting parental alienation awareness.   "I also held a pre-event last year, before April 25 and we had a bunch of people come out to celebrate," she said.   The goal of both MacDonald and Mawhinney is to end this type of alienation among families, and have family court laws changed to prevent this from happening.   "The biggest problem is not enough people know this is happening in their own communities," she said. "It's going to take us years to get family laws changed, but we have to start somewhere." MacDonald said character lessons at Simcoe County schools are helping prevent this problem.   "The school boards are doing a great job with character education," she said. "I want to see that bumped up."   http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2548713 ncruickshank @ thebarrieexaminer.com

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