{"id":333,"date":"2025-10-06T15:59:26","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T15:59:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/?page_id=333"},"modified":"2025-10-09T20:49:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T20:49:16","slug":"chapter-summaries","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/index.php\/chapter-summaries\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter Summaries"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"333\" class=\"elementor elementor-333\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e177f8e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e177f8e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;triangle&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M500,98.9L0,6.1V0h1000v6.1L500,98.9z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c63633e\" data-id=\"c63633e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-3576a42 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3576a42\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1a926dd\" data-id=\"1a926dd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c24b0f9 elementor-absolute elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c24b0f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"53\" height=\"9\" src=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/X@2x.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-108\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01789ba elementor-absolute elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"01789ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"19\" height=\"20\" src=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Circle-Line@2x.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-109\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c086e0 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0c086e0\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cfd49a7 e-n-tabs-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-n-tabs\" data-id=\"cfd49a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;horizontal_scroll&quot;:&quot;disable&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"nested-tabs.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-tabs\" data-widget-number=\"217926055\" aria-label=\"Tabs. Open items with Enter or Space, close with Escape and navigate using the Arrow keys.\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-tabs-heading\" role=\"tablist\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260551\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"true\" data-tab-index=\"1\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260551\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 1;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tChapter One\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260552\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab-index=\"2\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260552\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 2;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tChapter Two\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260553\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab-index=\"3\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260553\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 3;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tChapter Three\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260554\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab-index=\"4\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260554\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 4;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tChapter Four\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260555\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab-index=\"5\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260555\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 5;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tChapter Five\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260556\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab-index=\"6\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260556\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 6;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tChapter Six\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260557\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab-index=\"7\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260557\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 7;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tChapter Seven\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260558\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab-index=\"8\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260558\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 8;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tChapter Eight\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260559\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab-index=\"9\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260559\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 9;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tChapter Nine\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-21792605510\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab-index=\"10\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-21792605510\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 10;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tChapter Ten\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-21792605511\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab-index=\"11\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-21792605511\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 11;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tChapter Eleven\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-21792605512\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab-index=\"12\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-21792605512\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 12;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tChapter Twelve\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-21792605513\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab-index=\"13\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-21792605513\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 13;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tChapter Thirteen\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-21792605514\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab-index=\"14\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-21792605514\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 14;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tChapter Fourteen\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-tabs-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260551\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260551\" data-tab-index=\"1\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 1;\" class=\"e-active elementor-element elementor-element-78dab89 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"78dab89\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c10a38 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6c10a38\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-346c683 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"346c683\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"701\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-444\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png 701w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-205x300.png 205w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-768x1122.png 768w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-1051x1536.png 1051w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-600x877.png 600w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41.png 1271w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f52031 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9f52031\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-417e0d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"417e0d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter One: Wrongful Taking\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82c945f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"82c945f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>his is the book\u2019s scene-setter. It gives 3 snapshots at the top and then describes two cases in detail that show how DCS wrongfully takes children from their families.<\/p><p>One of the book\u2019s main arguments is that DCS takes way too many children into custody and can\u2019t properly take care of the ones it takes. I can\u2019t imagine a more stinging indictment of the ironically-named Department of Children\u2019s Services than the death it served up to little DaCayla Green.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260552\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260552\" data-tab-index=\"2\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 2;\" class=\" elementor-element elementor-element-2e67853 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2e67853\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fcc44bb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fcc44bb\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-030ec42 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"030ec42\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"682\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_400-682x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-443\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_400-682x1024.png 682w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_400-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_400-768x1153.png 768w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_400-1023x1536.png 1023w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_400-600x901.png 600w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_400.png 1237w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d131d3c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d131d3c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cdc3a3d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cdc3a3d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter Two: DCS on the Inside\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e9362e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9e9362e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This chapter begins with 3 snapshots of DCS employees. One of DCS\u2019s major problems is underpaid and overworked caseworkers. Since DCS officials wouldn\u2019t talk to me, I talked to DCS caseworkers and investigators. Throughout the process of reporting about DCS I requested interviews with DCS leadership and second level officials. Never got any. My reporting played a part in ending the tenure of the previous DCS Commissioner, Jennifer Nichols. Her replacement, Margie Quin, hasn\u2019t granted me an interview either.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260553\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260553\" data-tab-index=\"3\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 3;\" class=\" elementor-element elementor-element-c10e612 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c10e612\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c01c9e3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c01c9e3\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4df3b65 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4df3b65\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"892\" src=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_3-918x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-442\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_3-918x1024.png 918w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_3-269x300.png 269w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_3-768x856.png 768w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_3-1378x1536.png 1378w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_3-600x669.png 600w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_3.png 1802w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1836451 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1836451\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e3d5df elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2e3d5df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter Three: How Children Welfare Agencies Operate\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f6cdfb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8f6cdfb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This chapter describes DCS operations. It begins with a common universal practice in child welfare cases\u2014unwarranted home searches. Then, it tells about how DCS took Wendy Hancock\u2019s children in Tennessee, how it usually takes children\u2014some people say \u201ckidnaps\u201d them, then how DCS can get you fired from your job, and how Youth &amp; Families Children\u2019s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rates DCS performance. (poorly) Then I tell the story of a Mom who gave up custody of three kids to get her baby back from DCS custody.<\/p><p>This is one of the book\u2019s longest chapters and has subheads: How Parenting Plans Break the Parent-Child Bond, then a story about a Black Father who fights for custody of his daughter, then Secrets and Lies, then an investigative story called DCS Needs a Major Overhaul<strong>.<\/strong><\/p><p>The Black Dad story has a national context<strong>.\u00a0<\/strong>It describes how much money goes to contractors who provide the bulk of foster homes, academic studies that debunk the myth of drug dependency as a disqualification for parenthood, and the sad outcomes for foster children who age-out of the system.<\/p><p>And it ends with the story of a family who loses a Black child to a white couple who are given custody by a white judge.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260554\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260554\" data-tab-index=\"4\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 4;\" class=\" elementor-element elementor-element-88299e2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"88299e2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61fe4db e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"61fe4db\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c17136a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c17136a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"313\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/313x0w.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-147\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c75f04 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1c75f04\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-902f483 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"902f483\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter Four: Where Do All Those Kids Go?\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15ab9a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"15ab9a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>They go with relatives or strangers\u2014and are eventually reunited with their birth families about half the time. Some are locked up. This chapter tells the history of the Department of Children\u2019s Services, the\u00a0<em>Brian A<\/em>\u00a0class-action lawsuit in 2001, and several audits by the state comptroller which repeatedly found that DCS failed in its mission to take care of the state\u2019s neediest residents.<\/p><p>The scene is set for the next few chapters with the story of families who came to testify at a legislative hearing but were not allowed to speak. Then the context is widened with two stories from Alabama and Florida that have similar issues.<\/p><p>\u00a0<strong>Chapter Five: Judging the Judges<\/strong><\/p><p>Chapters 5-8 deal with players who have key roles in Tennessee child welfare. Like anywhere else, they are lawyers, judges, politicians, non-profits, social workers, and family advocates.<\/p><p>Chapter Five features four judges\u2014two good, two bad. This chapter is the heart of the book. It runs 21 pages. It describes how a case moves from when children are first taken into custody through the juvenile court system, and sometimes into higher courts. Like the rest of the book, people are named, what they did is reported, sometimes what they tried to get away with but didn\u2019t, is reported, too.<\/p><p>This chapter tells the story of Family Law Attorney Connie Reguli. Reguli is a foil to both DCS and the judges because she is a family defense attorney. Her role is defending parents and getting their kids back from DCS. In her mind, all the other players are corrupted by a dysfunctional system that unfairly punishes her clients. Reguli\u2019s commentary runs throughout the book but her story comes at the end of Chapter Five because three judges were involved in having her law licens<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260555\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260555\" data-tab-index=\"5\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 5;\" class=\" elementor-element elementor-element-36ce03d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"36ce03d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9b392b0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9b392b0\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb0e408 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"bb0e408\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"511\" src=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_4-1024x654.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-448\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_4-1024x654.png 1024w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_4-300x192.png 300w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_4-768x491.png 768w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_4-1536x981.png 1536w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_4-2048x1308.png 2048w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_4-600x383.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bdd1296 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"bdd1296\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3276fef elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3276fef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter Five: Judging the Judges<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-180482f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"180482f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Chapters 5-8 deal with players who have key roles in Tennessee child welfare. Like anywhere else, they are lawyers, judges, politicians, non-profits, social workers, and family advocates.<\/p><p>Chapter Five features four judges\u2014two good, two bad. This chapter is the heart of the book. It runs 21 pages. It describes how a case moves from when children are first taken into custody through the juvenile court system, and sometimes into higher courts. Like the rest of the book, people are named, what they did is reported, sometimes what they tried to get away with but didn\u2019t, is reported, too.<\/p><p>This chapter tells the story of Family Law Attorney Connie Reguli. Reguli is a foil to both DCS and the judges because she is a family defense attorney. Her role is defending parents and getting their kids back from DCS. In her mind, all the other players are corrupted by a dysfunctional system that unfairly punishes her clients. Reguli\u2019s commentary runs throughout the book but her story comes at the end of Chapter Five because three judges were involved in having her law license revoked.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260556\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260556\" data-tab-index=\"6\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 6;\" class=\" elementor-element elementor-element-f497125 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f497125\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3770ebf e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3770ebf\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d451b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1d451b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"701\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-444\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png 701w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-205x300.png 205w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-768x1122.png 768w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-1051x1536.png 1051w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-600x877.png 600w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41.png 1271w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9bdb467 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9bdb467\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-90010e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"90010e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter Six: Lawmakers and Officials<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ac4704 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2ac4704\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This chapter is about lawmakers, politics, and welfare officials. It starts with a description of two kinds of Christians and a typical meeting of the House Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee. Then there is a story about the failure to reform the troubled agency.<\/p><p>Then we hear about Gov. Bill Lee, DCS Commissioner Margie Quin, Tennessee Safe Baby Courts and the Strongwell Contract. We hear from Representative Justin Lafferty, a Republican conservative, who says even if DCS had an unlimited amount of cash to spend, it could never substitute for a \u201cloving mother and father in a home to take care of a child\u201d.<\/p><p>Chapter Six ends with a picture of state politics as the 113<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0General Assembly session concludes in May 2023. Three Democrats took over the microphone, leading to the expulsion of two of them by the Republican supermajority. The incident made national headlines and President Biden met with the \u201cTennessee Three\u201d at the White House.<\/p><p>This melodrama was about the Lege\u2019s failure to enact gun safety laws and overshadowed the failure of a bill to put a 20-case limit on DCS caseworkers\u2014something that was first proposed in 2017. As one of the renegade representatives noted, their protest was really about how hyper partisanship has prevented their participation in making laws because Republicans simply won\u2019t work with the other side.<\/p><p>I asked the Senate Pro Tempore, Republican Ferrell Haile, if it would be better to even out the number of members from both parties on legislative committees. He shook his head \u201cNo\u201d and remarked that there was a long period when Southern Democrats controlled Tennessee and now \u201cthey have it coming\u201d.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260557\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260557\" data-tab-index=\"7\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 7;\" class=\" elementor-element elementor-element-f21d208 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f21d208\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e12f2d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1e12f2d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4617115 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4617115\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"701\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-444\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png 701w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-205x300.png 205w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-768x1122.png 768w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-1051x1536.png 1051w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-600x877.png 600w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41.png 1271w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80cb93b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"80cb93b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c582900 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c582900\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter Seven: CASA and the Role of NGOs\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e13961 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e13961\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Court Appointed Special Advocates<\/em>\u00a0(CASA) is a well-known national non-profit that represents children in custody cases. Judges rely on CASA attorneys\/advocates to bird dog cases and advise them because they couldn\u2019t possibly do the research for all the families that come into their court.<\/p><p>CASA, like DCS, is seriously conflicted about its mission. Does it represent the child or serve the judge? This chapter has a story that illustrates a common problem when a GAL becomes a tool of the department: neither the child\u2019s best interest nor the court\u2019s impartiality is well-served.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260558\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260558\" data-tab-index=\"8\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 8;\" class=\" elementor-element elementor-element-5f90efc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5f90efc\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fdcab87 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fdcab87\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26dd790 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"26dd790\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"701\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-444\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png 701w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-205x300.png 205w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-768x1122.png 768w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-1051x1536.png 1051w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-600x877.png 600w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41.png 1271w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd07660 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"dd07660\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b60f8c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b60f8c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter Eight: Lawyers, Litigators, and How Money Flows through the System\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac6d858 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ac6d858\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We hear from Jessica Ramsey, a Guardian ad Litem, and Connie Reguli, who we have already met. Reguli is an attorney and family defense activist. Ramsey has her complaints about DCS. In general, she thinks DCS doesn\u2019t act quickly enough to protect children who are at risk. She explains how parents, DCS, the judge, and attorneys each play their parts in a custody case. And she explains about kids who are kept in higher confinement than necessary in order to make more money off of their care.<\/p><p>Reguli tells about her courtroom experiences which led her into advocating for parents and families at a national level. She\u2019s been to Washington at least a dozen times lobbying for changes in federal laws. She talks about her political work, about court-appointed lawyers who push for plea deals instead of fighting for family reunification.<\/p><p>This chapter also includes a critique of for-profit service providers based on a report by the Private Equity Stakeholder Project called\u00a0<em>The Kids Are Not Alright.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"e-n-tab-content-2179260559\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-2179260559\" data-tab-index=\"9\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 9;\" class=\" elementor-element elementor-element-395739b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"395739b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a713855 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a713855\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bcb1c84 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"bcb1c84\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"701\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-444\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png 701w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-205x300.png 205w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-768x1122.png 768w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-1051x1536.png 1051w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-600x877.png 600w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41.png 1271w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b817c34 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b817c34\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7943d6f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7943d6f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter Nine: Family Defense and Parental Advocates\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-278291c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"278291c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I decided to add this chapter even though we don\u2019t have these things in Tennessee. In child welfare cases here, parents are guilty until proven innocent. That\u2019s just the way it is. New York, Washington, Colorado, and a few other states get better outcomes because they support parents, families, and children in a less adversarial way. Poor outcomes in Tennessee are due to a number of things. Some of it is politics, some of it is law, some of it is prejudice, some of it is organizational dysfunction, and some of it is rank corruption\u2014but all of it together makes for a dysfunctional child welfare system. Taking a different approach that has proven to work well, suggests that states like Tennessee should adopt it. Child welfare in Tennessee could have a more hopeful future than the dreadful picture I have painted in this book. A brighter future for child welfare in Tennessee is possible but a lot of things would have to change before that happens.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"e-n-tab-content-21792605510\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-21792605510\" data-tab-index=\"10\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 10;\" class=\" elementor-element elementor-element-f634766 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f634766\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fcbc41c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fcbc41c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f54364 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2f54364\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"701\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-444\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png 701w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-205x300.png 205w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-768x1122.png 768w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-1051x1536.png 1051w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-600x877.png 600w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41.png 1271w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ef5133 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4ef5133\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-341ad2a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"341ad2a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter Ten: Activists and Abolitionists\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-798ad60 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"798ad60\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Community organizers, some academics, and people working inside child welfare agencies are pushing back against the system. They employ different strategies and have begun to move the needle but not very far. The good news is that they know about each other and are calling for fundamental change. It\u2019s too early to say if they will succeed but there has been a call to start organizing a radically different approach to child welfare.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"e-n-tab-content-21792605511\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-21792605511\" data-tab-index=\"11\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 11;\" class=\" elementor-element elementor-element-022eaf5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"022eaf5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ea21a34 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ea21a34\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07b0fbd elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"07b0fbd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"701\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-444\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png 701w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-205x300.png 205w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-768x1122.png 768w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-1051x1536.png 1051w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-600x877.png 600w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41.png 1271w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7019d13 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7019d13\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22ec5ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"22ec5ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter Eleven: Treating People Like Criminals by Keeping Them in the Dark\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e107256 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e107256\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This chapter is about the lack of transparency in DCS operations, a very expensive computer system that can\u2019t walk and chew gum at the same time, the unwillingness of successive DCS commissioners to engage reporters, and a comparison between Tennessee and Alabama regarding poverty stats, foster care numbers, removal and placement rates, spending, and where both states fit in the national rankings. This is\u00a0 my most wonky chapter but comes to a simple conclusion: namely, Alabama beats Tennessee at more than just football.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"e-n-tab-content-21792605512\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-21792605512\" data-tab-index=\"12\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 12;\" class=\" elementor-element elementor-element-ed211c6 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ed211c6\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56d89da e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"56d89da\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c26966 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8c26966\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"701\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-444\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png 701w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-205x300.png 205w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-768x1122.png 768w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-1051x1536.png 1051w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-600x877.png 600w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41.png 1271w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5075a1 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d5075a1\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c15c82 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4c15c82\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter Twelve: War on Drugs and DCS\u2019s Dirty Little Drug War\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d99182 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8d99182\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Drug use and dependency are much exaggerated by DCS investigators and DCS attorneys. They consider exposure to drugs\u2014even prescribed ones\u2013 extreme abuse and most Tennessee judges are convinced that it is. Four stories in\u00a0<em>Children in Custody<\/em>\u00a0are about DCS falsely accusing parents of drug abuse in order to take their kids. A story in Obion County tells about a family whose kids were wrongfully taken, ostensibly for drugs, but the role of a landlord who called DCS on them while they were being evicted, was not disclosed in court.\u00a0<\/p><p>This chapter has stories about the fentanyl crisis, racial disparity in marijuana arrests, fighting discrimination and drug hysteria, and civil forfeiture. These stories are in stark contrast to how DCS whips up anti-drug hysteria and they support a major premise of this book: child removals are really about punishing parents because they are poor.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"e-n-tab-content-21792605513\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-21792605513\" data-tab-index=\"13\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 13;\" class=\" elementor-element elementor-element-4fb9ab7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4fb9ab7\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ceb4df6 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ceb4df6\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79dd19f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"79dd19f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"701\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-444\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png 701w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-205x300.png 205w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-768x1122.png 768w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-1051x1536.png 1051w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-600x877.png 600w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41.png 1271w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a869143 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a869143\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d77c2c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d77c2c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter Thirteen: Solutions\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa97210 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fa97210\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This final chapter talks about what Tennessee is doing wrong and what some other states are doing right regarding Child Welfare. And it talks about how too much federal money goes towards foster care and not enough into family support and prevention to keep kids from getting taken. We hear from Richard Wexler, an expert on Child Welfare, who is Executive Director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform. Wexler has been the nation\u2019s leading watchdog on child welfare for more than two decades. Connie Reguli describes what she would do if she were in charge of child welfare in Tennessee.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"e-n-tab-content-21792605514\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-21792605514\" data-tab-index=\"14\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 14;\" class=\" elementor-element elementor-element-2755b52 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2755b52\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f028f5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8f028f5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f3b45c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4f3b45c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"701\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-444\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-701x1024.png 701w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-205x300.png 205w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-768x1122.png 768w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-1051x1536.png 1051w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41-600x877.png 600w, https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759521585_41.png 1271w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8761f28 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8761f28\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b864d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0b864d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter Fourteen: Addendum: Child Policy Review\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8368e81 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8368e81\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This chapter draws on Wexler\u2019s writings on the 2018 Family First Prevention Services Act. Everything else in\u00a0Harvesting\u00a0Children\u00a0is my work product. I have included Wexler\u2019s work because my stories mostly come from Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida and he has a broader scope than my own. I think parents, activists, and academics will find them useful to understand the big picture. My stories detail how these policies fail to protect families and children and what actually happens in child custody cases but I do not have Wexler\u2019s experienced eye about child welfare policy on a national scale. Other articles, resources, and materials about child welfare are included from other writers and experts.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter One: Wrongful Taking his is the book\u2019s scene-setter. It gives 3 snapshots at the top and then describes two cases in detail that show how DCS [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-333","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=333"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/333\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":497,"href":"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/333\/revisions\/497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging7888.webdemodesigns.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}