On 06 Oct 2008 06:08:59 GMT, neSscitur@huSshmail.com (Ronin) wrote:
>
>This picture of Martin Czirnczinsky (left) and Keith Dillinger
>comes from the illustrated story 'A Christmas Story', which
>may be read on the Niklas Comics Web site; google
>
> niklas and friends
>
>for a link.
>
>This repost corrects the internal puzzle name, which was not
>the same as the file name; the previous puzzle version was
>internally mistitled 'Sniv&Keith', but is otherwise the same.
Thanks! Just over 19 minutes!
I am enjoying these immensely -- I've done the others twice now! And I
even had fun with Joseph M & Tom! However, I took 1 look at road train
and shut it down immediately! <wbg>
I feel for Keith -- partly because of his trouble -- and the wish that
kids understood more about Social Services, but also because he loves
Martin so much -- more, I think, than he's willing to admit to
himself. And it doesn't exactly hurt that Niklas draws him with cute
blonde hair and a pouty lip!
Do you know that abusive parents often threaten their kids that Social
Services will take them away if they tell? It's so sad -- because the
last thing we really want to do is to take a kid into custody. The
plain simple truth is that most agencies frown upon because they
simply cannot afford the costs involved. The only valid reason for
removing a child from the custody of his/her parents or legal guardian
is that the child is in imminent danger. In many cases, knowing that
Social Services is looking at them is enough to protect the child, but
not always. And the first goal when Social Services removes a child
from his/her home is to return that child and reunite the family. If
that cannot be done swiftly, the next goal is to find an alternate
family setting -- by which I mean we try to find other family members
that can take the child in for a while. Social Services will often
provide some financial support in such cases -- if only in that we
will generally provide Medicaid for the child and other services that
the child may need as a result of the abuse and/or the removal. Such
can include supervised visitation with the family of origin when it is
deemed necessary by the agency and/or the Court services.
And kids should always keep in mind that any time Social Services
removes a child from his/her home, that Social Worker has to appear in
court within 72 hours to justify the action to a Family Court Judge.
We don't EVER take this lightly. If the judge decides the action was
justified, he or she may also appoint a guardian ad litem for the
child. This is really important -- the Social Services has lawyers,
the parents can get lawyers -- the child needs a lawyer, too, a lawyer
who will represent the best interests of the child -- including the
child's wishes (although those two may conflict).
And children should know that they do have rights. They have the right
to live in a safe home with proper supervision without the fear of
physical, emotional or sexual abuse; and they have the right to get
necessary medical attention. A spanking is not abuse UNLESS it becomes
abusive by use of too much force, or being done in inappropriate
places (such as the back or the face) or if it is done without reason.
A spanking hurts -- and it might leave your skin red for a few hours,
but it should never leave bruises or marks that last longer than a few
hours. And it should be done on the buttocks, not the back, not the
legs, not anywhere else.
I know I'm probably only speaking to other adults here, but just in
case there are kids here or in case any of you know kids that are in
this kind of trouble -- please don't think that Social Services is out
to take kids or punish kids. They don't even want to punish abusive
parents. They are supposed to help kids in trouble, and part of that
help is to work with parents so that they can learn ways of dealing
with kids that are not abusive. Social Services just wants to keep
kids safe -- or that's the way it is supposed to work, anyway.
-- 4s00th@hushmail.com
If you send email, I will reply to it here at asbl
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unless you ask me not to.
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