Another Classic Michigan Model Of Stealin' - StoneCrest

https://www.stonecrestcenter.com/

Why stop at Stonecrest?

Stonecrest is a classic, textbook example of a Corporate Shape Shifter.

Why not ask the privateers who issue "Marques of Quality Care"?



As seen here, in LARA, this operation would always slap a new sign on front of the building all the time.

http://jasonfoundation.com/
https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2018/621/714/2018-621714715-10853fd6-9.pdf

I used to talk to the administration of all the shell, foreign corporations that used to set up shop at that revolving  psychiatric institution which is known in dealing with youth.
CS  34976            The Jason Foundation, Inc.

Mailing Address: The Jason Foundation, Inc.
18 Volunteer Dr.
Hendersonville, TN 37075
Phone: (615)264-2323
Email: info@jasonfoundation.com
Website: www.jasonfoundation.com

ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION

Entity Type: Corporation State Established: TN Date Created: 10/01/1997
501(c)(3): Yes EIN: 62-1714715
Purpose Statement: PROVIDE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT IN THE AID OF YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION.

FILING STATUS

Solicitation Registration Status Charitable Trust Registration Status
Registered - Expiration Date: 7/31/2020 Exempt

FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Data is taken from the organization's IRS return or, if no return
was filed, from its solicitation registration or financial statements.

Period Ending 12/31/2018
 
Total Revenue    $1,442,068.00
Total Expenses    $1,339,493.00
Revenue Less Expenses $102,575.00
Reports Filed    990/CPA Audit
 
Total Assets    $3,470,240.00
Net Assets    $3,298,092.00
 

Expense breakdown
                          % of Total
Expenses
      Charitable Programs
           Program Services $1,189,655.00 89.00 %
     
      Supporting Services      
           Mgt & General* $118,363.00 9.00 %
           Fundraising* $31,475.00 2.00 %
      Total Supporting Services $149,838.00 11.19 %    
=====================================================================

https://accreditnet2.urac.org//uracportal/Directory/CompanyView/2678

http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4807:iwo4h.2.1

Approved US Government Supplier
This information appears* to relate to
URAC Approved Supplier For
US Government Supplier 
Ref
4LWF8 (CAGE code)
This is a unique identifier, and can also be accessed using the url https://opencorporates.com/identifiers/cage/4LWF8

Source US Federal Central Contractor Registration, http://www.acquisition.gov/
RELATED DATA
Company Addresses
COMPANY ADDRESS
1220 L ST NW STE 400, WASHINGTON, DC, 200054013

https://www.urac.org/



Interestingly enough, it seems URAC just activated its CAGE#.

I also like the fact that its Purpose of Registration is for All Award$.

Your registration was activated on Oct 07, 2019. It expires on Oct 06, 2020 which is one year after you submitted it for processing.
================================================================

ID Number: 801868371  
Summary for:  BCA OF DETROIT, LLC           
The name of the FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY:   BCA OF DETROIT, LLC
   
Entity type:   FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Identification Number: 801868371 Old ID Number: B94531

Date of Qualification in Michigan:   09/11/2008

Organized under the laws of: the state of Delaware
Purpose:

Term: Perpetual
           
The name and address of the Resident Agent:
Resident Agent Name: THE CORPORATION COMPANY <=== a foreign agent not registered under FARA because everyone is stealin' the children, land and votes in Michigan and attorneys have immunity...but not for much longer.
Street Address: 40600 ANN ARBOR RD E STE 201
Apt/Suite/Other:
City: PLYMOUTH State: MI Zip Code: 48170
Registered Office Mailing address:
P.O. Box or Street Address:
Apt/Suite/Other:
City: State: Zip Code:

When a youth would file one of those Recipient Rights Complaints, it was always tossed.

I know.

I used to talk to them.

Then I would file a grievance with Michigan, strictly for documentational purposes, only, because all they did was toss, or send me a gratuitous phone call, or dismissive missive, letting me know everything was status quo.

See, there are no civil rights in child welfare because it is all privatized under foreign corporate shape shifters who like to use LLCs because it is easy to dissolve, or bankrupt, or sell, gift, trust or something, right after you get the state grants. contracts and the fake ass Medicaid cost reimbursements because, more than likely, they took out some mortgages, DLA Small Business loan, TARP, then quiet titled, then mortgaged again, or some stealin' like that.

Let me check right quickly.

Yippers. 

I told you so.

Wayne County Treasury Property Tax Results <===Hot mess

01 01211831.01 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT A & H PHRMACY SERVICES INC
01 01211831.02 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT BERGEN BRUNSWIG DRUG COMPANY / LEASED TO:SCCI HOSPITAL OF DETROIT
01 01211831.10 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT ST. JOHN HOSPITAL
01 01211832.00 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT SARATOGA GENERAL HOSPITAL
01 01211832.01 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT UNIVERSAL HOSPITAL SVCS INC / SCCI HOSPITAL
01 01211834.01 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT SARATOGA MGMT INC
01 01211834.10 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT SKYTEL CORPORATION / PROPERTY TAX DEPT <=== Hey, what the hell is that?

"Hey kids, do not put your lips on that!"

01 21028489. 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT BCA REAL ESTATE HOLDING LLC
01 21028489-90 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT BCA REAL ESTATE HOLDING LLC
01 21991831.01 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT A & H PHARMACY SERVICES INC
01 21991831.02 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT BERGEN BRUNSWIG DRUG COMPANY / PMB 308,LEASED TO:SCCI HOSPITAL OF DETROIT
01 21991831.03 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT ZEVEX INC
01 21991831.04 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT ABRAMSON, SAMUEL M MD PC / A/K/A ST JOHN GRATIOT CENTER
01 21991831.05 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT SARATOGA URGENT CARE PC
01 21991831.10 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT ST JOHN HOSPITAL
01 21991831.15 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT TRIUMPH HEALTH CARE,TRIUMPH HOSPITAL OF DETROIT
01 21991832.00 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT SARATOGA GENERAL HOSPITAL
01 21991832.01 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT UNIVERSAL HOSPITAL SERVICES INC
01 21991833.10 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT COMPUTER SCIENCES CORPORATION / DBA: COMPUTER SCIENCES <====Dyncorp
01 21991834.01 15000 GRATIOT DETROIT SARATOGA MGMT INC

All they ever want is to turn a profit.

How is it one can turn a profit when engaging in the healing of a child?

Medicaid Fraud in Child Welfare, of course.

Oh, there are so many fraudulent billing scams that go on in child welfare.

I used to let them take me in their offices and show me everything, including voicing their grievances that Michigan will not do a damn thing for these children.

Many of the staff should not even be in the field of human services, ever, seriously, there should be some form of ethics involved when it comes to hiring practices in human resources... when it comes to human asset management for foreign, privatized, entities.

Remember, there are no civil rights in child welfare because it is privatized, where the foreign entity comes up with its own, self-reporting, of all the wonderful things they do for kids.

Luay Haddad & The Academic Journalism Secret Society Sucks

You can run fake ass studies.

You can run human lab rat experiments.

You can run kiddy kickback ops for your buddies who like to Praise the Lord alot.

Heck, you can even help run a fake ass mortgage program in Detroit to profit off human trafficking, funded by Medicaid Fraud in Child Welfare.

Just ask Bill Clinton.

As for LARA and the Corporate Shape Shifters, well, only Bill *Smooches* Schuette can tell that tale because Mike Cox was always up to something else.

You know what, what the heck, let's bring back the entire crew!

Janet Olszewski
Marianne Udow
Steve Yager
Verlie Ruffin
Jennifer Granholm
John Engler
Pete Hoekstra
Bill Johnson
Mary Rossman
Bruce Hoffman
Teri Tekai, <===DoD and of course, the Greatest State Attorney General in the world, because he restructured the office to be the most powerful Office of Attorney General in the United States, so bow down when you say, Frank Kelly, because I do.

Please note that these are just the first names that popped up after suffering from an episode of Post Traumatic Fraud Disorder.

State didn't investigate psych patient deaths after release from Detroit hospital

Lawmakers call for more review of post-release deaths

Notification of Death Report
LANSING (WXYZ) — Since 2017, at least four patients have died within two days of being released from StoneCrest Hospital, a private inpatient psychiatric facility in Detroit. Despite being notified of each of the deaths, state officials never investigated.

Officials with LARA, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, say they’re not legally required to follow up on deaths like these, nor are they empowered to by statute. Today, in response to an investigation by 7 Action News, two state senators are calling for changes to ensure that post-release deaths are investigated.

RELATED: A Detroit psychiatric hospital released him Thursday, he took his life Friday

At 162 beds, StoneCrest is one of the largest private psychiatric facilities in the state. 7 Action News first investigated the hospital earlier this year, after one of its patients, Joe Sadlak, admitted to murder only two days after he was discharged.

He had been treated at StoneCrest for less than a week.

“You put my son on four different kinds of medication and knew his drug history,” said Pamela Rowley, Joe’s mother, “and you let him go.”

In Michigan, when a psychiatric patient dies within two days of being released from a hospital, the state requires the hospital to report it. Those reports come to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

In September 2017, StoneCrest reported that a patient came to its hospital after stating he “was not happy in his life and wanted to die.” After treatment, he was released and died shortly thereafter. StoneCrest reported the death to the state, listing the cause as “not known.”

Less than a month later, another patient came to Stonecrest after saying he wanted to “jump off a bridge.” Within 2 days of release, he was found dead in his bathtub with his throat cut. State officials from LARA didn’t investigate.

A third death would be reported the following July. A woman came to Stonecrest with a history of suicidal behavior. She was treated, released and—the next day—found dead in a river. The cause of death was listed as “unknown.” Again, state officials didn’t investigate.

Then, this past June, a 29-year-old Detroit man came to Stonecrest after displaying severe psychotic behavior. He was deemed well enough to be released, but took his life the next day.

“Did your office ask any questions about that?” asked Channel 7’s Ross Jones.

“Again, we’ve been doing our statutory requirement,” said Larry Horvath, the Director of the Bureau of Community and Health System at LARA

“Did you ask any questions about that?” Jones asked again.

“We required the report to be filled out,” Horvath said.

“And that’s it,” Jones replied.

“Yes,” Horvath said.

Officials asked no questions, according to a spokesman, because “LARA is not by law or rule required to follow up on these reported deaths,” nor—they say— does the law give them the express authority to. State watchdogs are empowered to investigate only deaths that occur in restraints, Horvath said.

The death reports are reviewed during regular inspections, but no investigations are launched. Horvath said he hopes hospitals use the reports to guide their treatment.

"If they're starting to notice a pattern with a cause of death that occurs have discharge, hopefully they're starting to work with their medical directors, their nursing staff, their social workers to put corrections in place to address it," he said.

“It’s inexcusable,” said Mark Reinstein, President and CEO of the Mental Health Association in Michigan. “To hide behind, ‘It’s not our legal responsibility.’ Well then whose is it?”

By law, LARA is required to report all psychiatric deaths reported to them to the state legislature. But they haven’t been, 7 Action News has learned, for at least the last three years. In August, prompted by our reporting, the state submitted reports for 2016, 2017 and 2018, though they did not include post-release deaths.

Following our questions, LARA changed the reporting requirements for post-release deaths—no longer requiring that deaths occurring within 48 hours of discharge be reported. Spokesman Jason Moon said changing the policy aligns LARA with state law, which doesn’t require notification of post-release deaths.

The decision stunned multiple mental health advocates, including Andrea Rizor, the Director of Advocacy for Michigan Protection and Advocacy Services,.

“It looks like they don’t want to know if it’s a suspicious death or not,” she said. "It doesn't make sense."

This week, in response to 7 Action News' findings, the Democratic leader in the state senate is calling for changes.

“Stories like these are deeply concerning, and as a state we should be doing all that we can to help stop these preventable deaths,” said Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint). “The department should have the ability to identify concerning patterns, and if it requires a legislative fix to make sure they are empowered to do so, we will write the bill.”

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Michigan Samaritas Prepares For Profiting From Trafficking Of Tiny Humans From The Border

In the spirit of fushcia...

Michigan foster organization readies for border kids taken from families

(WJBK) - Heartbreaking audio obtained by the Associated Press reveals children crying at the border after being ripped from the arms of their parents.

Welcome to foster care and adoption.

Their parents detained under the Trump Administration’s zero tolerance policy for illegal immigration. Outrage is growing - as both Democrats and some Republicans work to stop the separation of families.

The only thing the Trump Administration did was to enforce U.S. Child Welfare Law.

Over the last six weeks - more than 2,000 children have been separated from their parents and are now being held at detention centers at the southern border.

At least they are provided some form of food and shelter, unlike foster care.

"It is very scary," said Lena Wilson. "And the fact that we're not sure what due process is being done, it's pretty scary right now."

Again, welcome to foster care.

Lena Wilson the vice president of Child and Family at Samaritas, Michigan's largest private foster organization, recently agreed to help find homes for 60 children being held at the border.

Let us take a moment and look at Samaritas.

In 2016, the net assets of Samaritas were $41,242,622.

They own $94,755,003.

They have $21,602,020 in publicly traded securities.

Why?

2016 IRS Tax Returns of Samaritas by Beverly Tran on Scribd

Wilson says this is new territory.

No, it is not.

Verlie Ruffin, former Ombudsman for the Michigan Office of Children Ombudsman came from Lutheran Social Services, the non-profit of the non-profit of Samaritas.

This is its mission statement:

Serving people as an expression of the love of Christ

That is scary considering they are about to face.

I shall assume "an expression of the love of Christ" means the trafficking of tiny humans based upon the residuals of the peculiar institution.

Will U.S. Senate Probe Non-Profit Child Welfare Orgs, Too?

Learn more: BEVERLY TRAN: Will U.S. Senate Probe Non-Profit Child Welfare Orgs, Too? http://beverlytran.blogspot.com/2015/06/will-us-senate-probe-non-profit-child.html#ixzz5IwDVl0CV
Stop Medicaid Fraud in Child Welfare 

"It wouldn't be often in the United States that you would see a large congregate facility for children in which you see them housed now," she said. "In fact there is federal legislation that talked about the best place for children is with their families.

ROFLMAO!!!

"We're not sure how this is going to work. There is so many things at play that are not usually in play.

That is because you never had your dirty laundry thrown on the front lawn before.

When the parents have an English barrier and the child has an English barrier, the real concern is making sure that we can communicate with them. Making sure we have interpreters and making sure the parents know where their kids are and that they don't get lost."

Children can be removed from parents and taken into custody for not being able to speak English.  They call it child neglect.

That is the biggest fear right now - undocumented parents are working through the criminal system while their kids are being placed in foster care.

Welcome to the U.S. Child Welfare System.

Some children are so young they aren't able to reveal basic information about themselves or their parents. The big question now is who is keeping track of these children?

Like that ever mattered, before.

"For those that I guess we can locate the parents and figure a safe way to make sure they are reunited perhaps," said Wilson. "If not, they would remain here so their legal jurisdiction would be in question."

According to U.S. Law, there is this thing called "concurrent planning" where they fast track Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) for adoption from the 90 dispositional cycle.

Oh, you do not know what TPR is?  It is chattel law for property seizure when you hail from the population of "The Poors" (always said with clinched teeth).  For a better understanding, just look at lis pendens,  or rather the quiet title actions the Detroit Land Bank Authority is using the snatch properties.  Same thing.  You have defaulted on your legal standing through eminent domain laws.

So, each time the media or one of the "Elected Ones" tells you there is not law, they should be looked upon as being unqualified to hold office, because there is law.

CAPTA.

Wilson says they expect the displaced children to arrive in Metro Detroit by the end of the summer.

They will first be housed at the Wellspring facility in Farmington Hills and eventually foster care.

Wellspring is another one of those Lutheran Social Services for trafficking tiny humans.

The Samaritas organization is quickly working to get more foster parents, mentors and interpreters to make sure support is in place for the kids likely traumatized by being taken from their parents.

$$$$

"No matter how nice a congregate facility is, it is still a congregate facility," Wilson said. "It is a very sterile environment, there is not a lot of structure caring hugging a child needs from parent.

I prefer to call it warehousing.  You cannot touch the tiny humans because it is illegal.  Now, think about living in a deprivation system like this and what eventually happens with tiny humans longing for human touch of compassion, a recipe for child trafficking.

"There are a lot of things that can happen and a lot of long range impacts for this. And that is what's scary."

There is no law dictating children must be separated from their parents who have been caught crossing into the country illegally. However, there are laws against entering the US illegally.

I just told you about Child Welfare Law, so let me tell you about the other law that allows the separation of children from families. CAPTA.

Anti Immigration Poster by Beverly Tran on Scribd

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Michigan Audit of Children's Ombudsman Politically Problematic.

The Michigan Auditor General released its findings on the investigative operations of the Office of Children's Ombudsman.  The general tone of the report was that the Ombudsman's investigations were partially effective due to the lack of technological access to the Department of Human Services databases and files.

Due to the fact that the Auditor General has locked all reports since I started publishing them for general accessibility, I have been reduced, for lack of resources, to posting a personally created, direct link to the final report.  Here it is.

There are other reasons why the Ombudsman investigations into abuses of children under the auspices of the state are, in my words, perfunctory.  It is because of:

(1) a lack of necessary resources and staff; and,

(2) a status quo culture.

A lack of necessary resources and staff:
The office has about 13 investigators to take on the entire State of Michigan child welfare system, far more than 39,000 children and youth.  That equates to a responsibility of investigation of about 3,000 children per staff.   The child welfare system includes cps, foster care, its child placing agencies, adoption services, juvenile justice, and mental/medical health, and education.

Typically, on any given day, there is only one person to man the phones for intake.  Within a few minutes of the conversation with the concernedly distraught person, the "screener" can determine if there is a violation by, and I quote directly from a House Hearing a few years back when a representative from the office testified that she screened by, "thinking fast on my feet".

"Think fast on her feet" caused one kid to be murdered and a few others to be raped and tortured.

Out of about 1,000 calls a year, there are less than 10% that are investigated.  Out of that number, many are designated into the category of "Valid, not open".  This means that violations of law and policy were found but the office will not act upon it.

Acting upon a valid violation would mean that there is mandate for referral to the counties prosecutor or Attorney General for further investigation and prosecution but the office does not have the authoritative resources for this because the Ombudsman, Verlie Ruffin, takes the helm as the perfunctory prissy lil missy who has successfully made sure that the public and elected officials have no idea of who she is or what she does or what she has been doing throughout her tenure.

I am not one for scurrilous attacks, I just present the facts.  Not one single referral has been made the counties prosecutors or Attorney General for violations of law or policy.  See reference statute below:

Per the Children's Ombudsman Act 204 of 1994, MCL 722.927 §7(4) in relevant part:

If the ombudsman finds in the course of an investigation that an individual's action is in violation of state or federal criminal law, the ombudsman shall immediately report that fact to the county prosecutor or the attorney general.  If the complaint is against a child placing agency the ombudsman shall refer the matter to the department for further action with respect to licensing.

Michigan Peremptory Mandamus Petition by Beverly Tran

A status quo culture:

The Office of Children's Ombudsman, under the failed leadership of Verlie Ruffin, has powers beyond getting hair and nails done once a week.  The ombudsman has the blessing of Michigan's greatest Attorney General Frank Kelley, to investigate the Michigan Children's Institute (MCI).  Not only has the ombudsman denied authority to investigate MCI, to date, it has never done so.

Attorney General Opinion of Authority for Office of Children's Ombudsman to Investigate Decisions of Michig... by Beverly Tran

It is my opinion, therefore in answer to your second question, that the Children's Ombudsman Act gives children's ombudsman the authority to investigate adoption decisions of the Michigan Children's Institute and to obtain adoption records of the Michigan Children's Institute.

Michigan Attorney General Frank Kelley, 1996 

The reason I mention MCI is not because the Auditor General has never, ever audited this secret operation which warehouses the guardianship for more than 7,000 children of the state under the legal authority of one, omnipotent Superintendent, Bill Johnson, it has never been investigated for the deaths, abuses and neglects of children who were subject to a class action settlement agreement.  Not one time during the course of the entire lawsuit was MCI ever mentioned.

The status quo of OCO is to remain inconspicuous and do nothing to change operations.  The more people know about the duties of the office, the more work must be done but in a culture of administrative stagnation in child welfare, the longer the administrative keystone cops can ride out a paycheck until they can safely retire, the greater the job security.

To prove my point that the Director, Verlie Ruffin has not done shit for the office, here is the direct link to the site.  http://www.michigan.gov/oco

• The site has not been updated, revamped, edited since it was originally built.  
• There are no social networks.  
• There are no community networks.  
• There is no history of the office.
• There is no referral policy for public or private agencies to give out its contact information. 
• There is no appeal process when denied, in that quick on your feet telephone interview.  
• There is no legislative action to ask for more funding and resources. 
• There is no initiative to even privately subcontract.  
• There is no complaint process against an investigation.  
• There are no press releases on current statewide activities.  
• There are no public speaking engagements.  
• There are no guest appearances.  
• There is no annual agenda of priorities.  
• There is not even a logical explanation why only a selected few are granted a limited investigation.  
• There is no reason why there are no referrals for criminal activities to the counties prosecutors or attorney general.  
• There is not even a picture of Verlie Ruffin, the Ombudsman.  
• Hell, the ombudsman is not even gender neutral considering the ombudsman is a woman.   
• There are no community partnerships.  
• There are no public awareness campaigns.  
• There is no recordkeeping for suicides in foster care.
• There is no recordkeeping for sexual assaults in foster care.
• There is no recordkeeping for drug ovedoses in foster care (prescription or street)
• Five will get you ten there is no letter of appointment of the Governor, with advice and consent of the Senate, on file with the office of the Great Seal of the State Department.

I want to see a public database of the number of referrals, and other more detailed variables of investigative findings.  It can be done on an excel spreadsheet by some interns without compromising confidential information.  I even know where to find funding for these initiatives.

I want an audit of MCI and a separate division for investigations of complaints.

I know for a fact that DHS has refused to respond to investigative inquiries of the office since 2005.  It is now 2013 and Ruffin has not done a damn thing to ensure her staff has full access to the databases and files of DHS.  She knew about it and made sure to sweep the problem under the rug, just like she did over at Luthern Family Services.

All in all, the investigative staff of the OCO are wonderful people who engage in grueling work under pressure, in a politically constrained environment with limited resources.  The ombudsman is lazy and refuses to participate in change.  She lets people get away with murder and condones the filing of millions in false claims by these contracted child placing agencies.  She covers up for her cronies like Steve Yager and Bill Johnson.

She needs to resign, yesterday.  Bitch needs to go, now.  I dare someone to challenge me on this.


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State taking your kids... Too much power?

WXYZ) - All parents make mistakes. But in Michigan, one mistake could cost you your child…and critics say it’s happening all too often because we have one of the worst laws in the country when it comes to how and when the state can take your children.

“It was an unbelievable nightmare! Far worse than the death of my first child,” said Claire Zimmerman. Zimmerman’s son was taken from her for only three days – but it was a harrowing experience her family will never forget.

It started as a night out with dad at a Tiger’s game… and ended with their 7-year old boy in foster care.

“I felt totally helpless, I felt desperate,” Zimmerman told Action News Investigator Heather Catallo.

Zimmerman won’t allow current pictures of Leo to be publicized – but she and her husband, Christopher Ratte, want everyone to know what happened.

At the ball park Christopher bought Leo a lemonade. Turns out, the University of Michigan archeology professor accidentally bought Mike’s Hard Lemonade, which has alcohol in it.

“It was just a mistake,” said Zimmerman.

Now, the couple is suing the state for taking their son because of what appears by all accounts to have been an honest mistake.

So exactly how did little Leo end up in foster care? At the end of the ballgame, security alerted Detroit police and from there Zimmerman says everything spiraled out of control.

According to the lawsuit – even before getting the hospital test results that showed no alcohol in Leo’s blood, a Detroit police officer turned the boy over to the state Department of Human Services… and the next day DHS put Leo in foster care.

“It’s terrifying, it makes you understand what it’s like to live in a totalitarian regime or something, where you have to fear for your own safety, and where the government doesn’t provide you protection, it actually threatens you,” said Zimmerman.

Michigan ACLU legal director Michael J. Steinberg says Michigan law is unconstitutional because it allows a child to be taken from his parents without having to prove the child is in immediate danger.

“Courts across the country have said, if you’re going to take a kid without a hearing, there has to be a finding, or a showing that the child is in harm,” said Steinberg.

Steinberg and other lawyers say there’s another major flaw with the system: the state fails to place children with family even though Michigan law requires DHS to try to do that. In Leo’s case, Steinberg says DHS refused to release him to his aunts and even his own mom, who had nothing to do with what happened at the ballpark.

“What’s happening in Michigan is a pattern of kids being taken away from parents against whom no allegations are made, simply based on the other parents conduct,” said University of Michigan Law Professor Vivek Sankran. Sankran challenges DHS decisions in the court daily, and he’s alarmed by what he calls the “guilt by association” problem. Sankran says both DHS and the courts are equally to blame for perfectly “fit” parents losing their children.

“We are one of two states in the country that have this type of doctrine. Most states have clear case law that unless you make allegations against a parent, that parent gets their kids back immediately,” said Sankran.

Sankran points to another troubling case. Bryson Stone’s mom abused drugs, and she willingly gave up the baby to his biological father, Milton Stone, right after Bryson was born.

“They said I would be able to take him home, and I was there at his birth,” said Stone.

Instead of allowing Milton to take his own son home, Wayne County DHS workers had Bryson put in foster care – even though Milton was never accused of abuse or neglect.

“These teddy bears represent all the foster kids I had with me,” said Stone pointing to a row of stuffed animals.

And get this—Milton is currently the foster parent to his cousin Antonio. So Michigan DHS approved Milton to foster parent his cousin, but refuses to let him parent his own son.

“This is a clear violation of this father’s fundamental right to parent. It’s one of the most closely guarded rights we have under the U.S. Constitution, and its being completely trampled on,” said Stone’s attorney, Tracy Green. She says DHS should have never brought this case before a judge.

DHS officials tell Action News that “safety comes first” – so the child is often placed in foster care until it can be determined if the other parent is complicit in the danger.

But experts say a child’s time in foster care is often prolonged because DHS requires the parents -- who are not even accused of abuse or neglect -- to comply with something called a “service plan” or “service agreement.” It’s a list of requirements that can include psychological evaluations and parenting classes, which often conflict with parents work hours.

If you fail to follow the plan to a T – you may not get your kids back. DHS blames the courts for this -- even though they create the service plans the judges approve.

“If a parent decides not to work with the court, if they decide to disregard the court’s orders, then that case is going to move forward in all likelihood towards termination of parental rights,” said Steve Yager, Deputy Director of the DHS Children’s Services Administration.

Steve Yager is a lying sack of shit.  I normally do not use such profanity as it diminishes my credibility but I have been doing these analyses of the child welfare industry, particularly in the State of Michigan, for almost 10 years, and I can say, personally, as an original source, Steve Yager needs to be federally investigated by the Department of Justice for participating in the filing of false claims, civil rights violations, mail fraud...oh, hell, just initiate a damn RICO on Michigan's entire child welfare system.


To bring forth a RICO one must only have 3 parties, but one would benefit to bring 4 for the rule-outs.


Let's name the top 4 RICO defendants of Michigan's Child Welfare System:


1. Maura "Cash-Cow" Corrigan, DHS Director;
2. William, "Bill" Johnson, Michigan Children's Institute Superintendent and Child Placing Agency contract overseer;
3. Steve "Cover-up" Yager, Children's Services Administrator;
4. Verlie "Won't-report-violations-of-law-to-the-Attorney-General" Ruffin, Michigan Children's Ombudsman.

“But why does a parent who’s not accused of abuse have to follow one of your service plans? They’re not accused of the abuse! Why should they have to jump through your hoops? It’s their child,” asked Catallo. 
“Again, the court has jurisdiction over the entire family,” said Yager.

DHS officials insist their workers have no greater authority in the courtroom than the parents’ lawyers or the child’s representatives. But many legal experts tell Action News, in many cases, the state and the court have no business stepping in, in the first place.

“We cannot take for granted the idea that the state is going to protect our rights. It’s not true,” said Claire Zimmerman.

DHS officials say they cannot comment on specific cases – but they insist the safety of children is their number one priority. 
The case against Leo Ratte’s father was quickly dismissed – and Leo’s family is working hard to change the child seizure law. They want a requirement that the state will have to show that a child is in immediate danger of serious harm before he or she can be taken from a parent. They’re hoping to call it Leo’s Law. If you would like more information about that, and we have posted a copy of the proposed legislation below.

Will Snyder Stop Medicaid Fraud In Michigan?

Hey Rick, 


Congrats on the election but I send my condolences to you, in advance, for the inherited mess of DHS for which you are about to receive.  This wonkette is here for you.


Here is a list of administrators you need to immediately boot:

Bill Johnson, Michigan Children's Institute Superintendent


Bruce Hoffman, Michigan Children's Institute Assistant Superintendent


Mary Rossman, Michigan Children's Institute Assistant.... who knows her title.


Shut down Michigan Children's Institute (Supreme Court has been playing the hiding game on this one.)


Kate Hanley,  Her title keeps changing on the micro-org charts, she is adoption czar

and, last, on my top ten list of the status quo keepers of Michigan's Dark Secret...

Verlie Ruffin,  Ombudsman of Michigan's Children

Deal averts request for fed control of Mich. child welfare system

Catherine Jun / The Detroit News

  Detroit — A child advocacy group backed away from plans to seek a federal takeover of Michigan's child welfare system after a federal judge said she received assurances from Gov.-elect Rick Snyder that his incoming administration will make fixing the Department of Human Services a top priority.

Children's Rights, a New York-based agency, had announced earlier today that it planned to file a motion of contempt Wednesday in federal court in Detroit and ask the judge to appoint a receiver for Human Services, the agency that oversees foster care and adoption. The agency cited a progress report publicized today that showed the state was failing to comply with court-mandated reforms.

Instead, after a meeting in chambers this afternoon with U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Edmunds, attorneys for Children's Rights agreed to meet again with DHS officials in late January — after Snyder takes office — to devise a plan to get reforms on track.

"We have every confidence that they see how urgent this is," said Sara Bartosz, senior staff attorney for Children's Rights. She added, though, that she has not ruled out seeking federal intervention in the future, if necessary. "That option is out there if the system doesn't improve."

This is the latest development in the department's court-ordered overhaul of its foster care system. The department has been under court watch since the settlement of a lawsuit in July 2008 filed by the New York group, which alleged the state's system was endangering the lives of children.

Before the scheduled 2 p.m. court hearing, the New York agency had issued a statement saying it planned to seek receivership for the department, citing a court-appointed monitor's report that showed the department failed to adequately reduce high caseloads for caseworkers as well as recruit and retain enough foster homes.

The 200-page report, covering Oct. 1, 2009, to March 31, 2010, charges that DHS failed to: Ensure that new caseworkers were adequately trained before they became responsible for children and families.

Ensure that adequate staff was assigned to conduct timely and thorough child abuse and neglect investigations.

Recruit, retain and license enough foster homes and those of relative care providers.

Court-appointed monitor Kevin Ryan, of the New Jersey-based Public Catalyst Group, submitted the report to Judge Edmunds at the hearing.

According to the report, Ryan also found data-keeping and mathematical errors in state records, including how the state counts the number of children in its care. The state delayed the recording of adoption finalizations in some cases by as much as 225 days.

"Child welfare managers and staff across Michigan, in both the private and public sector, are working very hard, but their best efforts are often undone by poor planning and a lack of adequate coordination," the report stated.

This is the third update since the settlement, and comes 1½ years after reforms began. The settlement contained a five-year plan the state agreed to enact.

This is the final report before Rick Snyder takes over as governor next month. It's possible that new management will be tapped at DHS.

Anticipating the court hearing, the Michigan Department of Human Services issued a news release this morning highlighting what it says are improvements within the department.

More children have been adopted from foster care, are receiving better mental health services and have better outcomes overall, DHS Director Ismael Ahmed said in a written statement.

"DHS, in partnership with private agencies and the courts, have made significant strides in the past two years to ensure we're doing our part to help children find safe, loving and stable homes," Ahmed said.

In fact, 3,030 children were adopted from foster care in 2009, more than in any other year, he said.

Other accomplishments include reducing the number of children in foster care and expanding a program that provides in-home services and support to families with children who have serious emotional problems.

The previous report issued in March showed the state was missing significant targets, like sufficiently reducing the number of children aging out of foster care and documenting adequate responses to allegations of abuse or neglect of foster children.

At the time, the human services department was placed on a 30-day watch to get reforms on track.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20101207/METRO/12070385/Deal-averts-request-for-fed-control-of-Mich.-child-welfare-system#ixzz17T4XMO3Z