rob@saffwein.com
215-695-3000

Children’s Rights – Foster Care Abuse

Children's Rights - Foster Care Abuse

Robert Maizel is a Expert Foster Care Abuse Attorney with Million Dollar Verdicts.

Robert believes that every victim deserves expert representation to fight those who victimized children, and secure those victims with compensation.  We employ a former FBI Investigator to assist in our investigations and to bring persons who abuse children in Foster Care to Justice.

Foster Care Abuse – Foster Care Injuries

Children who are placed in the care of Foster Parents run the high risk of suffering Foster Care Abuse, Foster Care Neglect, Foster Care Injuries, Foster Care Maltreatment, and Foster Care Sexual Assault. Studies show that approximately one third (1/3) of all children placed in a Foster Care setting have suffered some form of neglect, abuse or assault from the Foster Parent. These figures don’t take into account abuse, neglect or assault by a Foster Sibling. In fact, some studies have shown that the Department of Human Services (DHS) can’t even guarantee the safety of children in Foster Care.

What is important is that children placed in Foster Care don’t report this Foster Care Abuse, and lawmakers cannot protect children placed with Foster Parents. It is out job to champion the rights of the unrepresented Foster Child and seek the justice that the Foster Child deserves.

How Do You Become a Foster Parent in Pennsylvania?

There are minimum requirements that must be met by all Foster Parent applicants in Pennsylvania:

  • Be at least 21 years of age.
  • Pass a medical examination that states the individual is physically able to care for children and is free from communicable disease.
  • Pass screening requirements related to child abuse and criminal history clearances.

DHS also considers other factors such as how a person relates to their own children; can the applicant meet the needs of children placed in the Foster Home; the number of children in the Foster Home; and all requirements codified in Title 55 Pa. Code 3700. With approximately 15,000 children in temporary Foster Care in Pennsylvania, there is a growing need for Foster Parents in Pennsylvania.   You can find more information at the Pennsylvania DHS Website, The Federal DHS Website, The National Foster Parent Association and www.pcya.org.

Foster Children / Foster Care

Children generally don’t want to be placed into Foster Care. In most cases, a child is removed from his home by a Judge at the behest of either DHS or another governmental agency. After being removed from the home, the child is placed into Foster Care.

The goal for more than half (55%) of children in Foster Care in 2016 was to reunify the child with their parent; Adoption was the second most popular goal at 26%.

Of the children in Foster Care, the number and rate of victims have fluctuated during the past 5 years. Comparing the national number of victims from 2012 to the national estimate of victims in 2016 there has been an increase of 3.0 percent across the board. Three-quarters (74.8%) of victims were neglected, 18.2 percent were physically abused, and 8.5 percent were sexually abused.

Foster Parents are supposed to be trained by the state on how to care for different types of children in Foster Care by DHS or other agencies or private groups, but this often is not the case. In Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, DHS has retained the services of many private groups to train Foster Parents. Also, children in Foster Care are supposed to be subjected to regular and random checks by the State. Now, in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, this job has been contracted out to several private groups or private agencies.

The Foster Care system is severely flawed. Many children are being neglected, abused and sexually assaulted while in Foster Care. Sometimes, this happens because a case worker fails to properly perform their job, and properly investigate the Foster Homes; and sometimes, it is a result of DHS or an agency failing to properly supervise and regulate what is going on in the Foster Care system.

Taking Action for Foster Care Neglect, Foster Care Abuse, Foster Care Injuries and Foster Care Sexual Assault

Regardless of why children are being subjected to Foster Care Abuse, Foster Care Neglect, or Foster Care Sexual Assault, the child or the parent of the child must come forward and speak to an attorney who can help them immediately.

There are statutes of limitations and other restrictions in place to prevent prosecution of perpetrators or state agencies too long after-the-fact. In Pennsylvania “…the statute of limitations in most civil assault cases is two years from the date of the injury. If the injured victim is under the age of eighteen (18), the victim must file suit before they reach the age of twenty (20). There are sometimes ways around these restrictions. One exception to the statute of limitations for sexual abuse and molestation in Pennsylvania surrounds what is known as the common law ‘discovery rule.’ The application of this rule allows victims to file suit within two years of the time: (1) they discover the injury; and (2) they discover the source of the injury. However, it is important to note that Pennsylvania, unlike many other states, has rejected the repressed memory theory as a tool to apply the discovery rule.

It is our passion to help children who have suffered from Foster Care Neglect, Injuries, Abuse and/or Sexual Assault. Our caring, compassionate and effective team can and will achieve justice for you or your loved one. 

How Can Robert Maizel Help You?

I am an experience trail lawyer at Saffren & Weinberg who regularly handles sexual abuse cases.  Our team investigates your claim to secure all of the information to help obtain a positive resolution to your case.  We employ a former FBI Investigator to assist in our investigations. We know the law and we understand your needs; we handle you and your case with the caring and compassion that you deserve.  No matter what your question, please feel free to call me at 215-695-3000 to discuss your case.  All consultations are free of charge.

Robert Maizel, Esquire

Robert Maizel is an Experienced Trial Attorney in Philadelphia with over fifteen years of trial experience.

You will speak to an attorney about your case!

Saffern & Weinberg has offices located in both Center City Philadelphia and Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.  Attorney Robert Maizel is a Partner with the Law Offices of Saffren & Weinberg.

Robert Maizel is associated with, and is Special Counsel with the Law Firm of Saffren & Weinberg. Robert Maizel is not a Law Firm, and rather Robert Maizel is affiliated with the Law Firm of Saffren & Weinberg.  All clients shall formulate an agreement with the Law Firm of Saffren & Weinberg, with the option of hiring Robert Maizel as lead counsel on your case to be heard in the State Courts of Pennsylvania, and Marc Weinberg as the lead counsel in cases to be heard in the Federal Courts of Pennsylvania.  Mr. Maizel handles all actions in the Administrative Courts of Pennsylvania including the EEOC and PaHRC.

Call Robert Maizel at 215-695-3000 to schedule your free consultation.

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