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child welfare

FOIA Bombshell Reveals Child Sex Trafficking Fears

    A Freedom of Information Act bombshell has rocked Illinois. FOIA documents obtained by State House candidate Bailey Templeton reveal 166 foster children vanished from DCFS custody in 2024—a 935% spike from prior years. Templeton says the state’s child welfare agency is “cooking the books” to hide a disaster that may conceal a child sex trafficking ring. Law enforcement sources told The Family Court Circus the figures are “highly suspect” and “it would be shocking if a trafficking ring wasn’t operating under DCFS’s nose.” Meanwhile, Governor Pritzker and DCFS officials remain silent.

    Maryland Admits Nearly 1,000 Foster Children Missing Since 2020 — Most Are Teenage Girls

      In a letter released on October 22, 2025, Maryland’s Department of Human Services (DHS) confirmed what advocates had long suspected but could never prove: 990 children in state foster care have been reported missing between January 1, 2020, and August 17, 2025. The data, disclosed through an MPIA request filed by survivor-advocates Jennifer Guskin and Bailey Templeton, offers the first detailed look at how many children disappear while under Maryland’s supervision—and how quietly the system has been redefining what “missing” means. “Let that sink in—nearly 1,000 children under state supervision have gone missing in just five years,” Guskin said. “Most are teenage girls, and even toddlers are being labeled as… Read More »Maryland Admits Nearly 1,000 Foster Children Missing Since 2020 — Most Are Teenage Girls

      The Moral Economy of Neglect: How Maryland’s “Compassionate Governance” Betrays Its Foster Children

        This investigation is part of MDBayNews’ coverage of child-welfare oversight in Maryland. All claims are sourced to primary documents or peer-reviewed research and independently verified where possible. No public funds, government contracts, or advocacy-group sponsorships influenced this reporting. As of October 15, 2025 — New developments have deepened Maryland’s foster-care scandal. DHS has formally suspended Fenwick Behavioral Services—the contractor supervising Kanaiyah Ward at the time of her death—pending an internal review. A legislative workgroup tasked with recommending reforms missed its October 10 deadline, drawing bipartisan criticism. Meanwhile, “Kanaiyah’s Law” is gaining co-sponsors across party lines, with hearings expected later this fall even as the state continues to house children in… Read More »The Moral Economy of Neglect: How Maryland’s “Compassionate Governance” Betrays Its Foster Children

        Fake Family Justice Act: Families duped by nonexistent Family Justice & Accountability Act. No bill, no lawmakers — just false hope.

        Fake Family Justice Act: Rep. Moore, Sen. Grassley Say No Congressional Hearing or Bill Exists

          Families from across America traveled to Washington, D.C., believing they’d testify before Congress about family court reform. Instead, they found themselves in a library, not a hearing room. Despite claims that Rep. Barry Moore and Sen. Chuck Grassley sponsored the “Family Justice & Accountability Act,” congressional staff confirm no such bill exists. The event — promoted by advocate Francesca Amato — was a private meeting, not a government hearing. Attendees say they were misled, calling the experience “devastating.” The controversy exposes a growing pattern of misinformation that threatens to undermine legitimate reform efforts nationwide.

          Brain Scans Reveal Abuse: Oregon DHS ignores scientific evidence, punishing protective mother Martina Flanigan while endangering her children.

          Brain Scans Reveal Abuse—Oregon DHS Turns Blind Eye

            What may be a flashpoint case has gripped Oregon. The Amen Clinic’s SPECT imaging revealed traumatic brain injuries in Martina Flanigan’s children—evidence pointing to severe abuse. Despite this, Oregon’s Department of Human Services (DHS) and Family Court have dismissed the scientific findings, targeting Flanigan for her advocacy. Protective mothers and their families face retaliation, while abusers remain shielded. This case underscores a systemic failure where science is sidelined, and children’s safety is compromised. The question remains: when will Oregon prioritize the well-being of its most vulnerable over bureaucratic denial and institutional inertia?