State panel implicates foster care workers in South Florida 7-year-old’s suicide
By Kris Hundley, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Friday, August 21, 2009
Foster care workers at all levels routinely ignored policies designed to protect children in their care from being given psychotropic drugs without proper consent or monitoring.
That was the conclusion of a panel looking into the April suicide of Gabriel Myers, a 7-year-old foster child who killed himself in Margate, South Florida, while taking two psychotropic medications.
The 26-page report, released Thursday, highlighted a lack of communication, inadequate supervision and inaccurate information in the Department of Children and Families’ handling of Myers’ case. About 15 percent of foster children in out of home care are on at least one psychotropic medication.
DCF Secretary George Sheldon said he looks forward to hearing the work group’s recommendations. Among the options: a second-party review of all foster children on psychotropic drugs regardless of the diagnosis.
2 Comments
You know, only the stupid ass states have to get a “panel” to decide what is right and wrong here. Common sense should have told these fools NOT to give these children those types of medications. I can’t believe what they did. It’s a national shame!
Wow, lawdoll, I LOVE the new look. I’d love to change the template on my blog. If I do, do I lose what I’ve already done? I want a new look too!
This drugging has got to stop. Really, how many children have to die before Americans wake the fuck up and realize that foster care and CPS is NOT the answer to our problems. I’ve got some really good ideas on how to stop them but need help getting the word out to the general population. It takes $$$ and that’s not something I have a lot of right now. Thanks for keeping us updated on Gabriel. I hope to God his death is not in vain and that Florida forces CPS to change the way they do business!!!