Congress looks closer at CAPTA:  Plans to replace it.
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May 24, 1995
        Congress was brought to it's sense (if that is possible) by 
testimony regarding the injustices of CAPTA, the Child Abuse Protection and 
Treatment Act, commonly known as the "Mondale Act."  It was through this 
act, that federal funding, based primarily on the head-count of children 
labeled as abuse or at risk, had caused states to form law and policy that 
violated civil and human rights of parents falsely accused, and forced 
millions of children to languish in foster and state institutional care.  
Child abuse issues became the political white horse of both politicians and 
bureaucrats throughout the past decade.
        Subsequent to the Mondale Act, billions of tax and private dollars
poured into what NASVO calls the Child Abuse Industry, wherein agencies
(both public and private) could access state and matching federal dollars
by merely providing head count of children labeled as abused or at risk for
furthering their goals and programs.  The programs, however, were not 
monitored by the public, nor were there any corrective processes for the
public to voice complaints or seek changes.  It was also because of the
Mondale Act and the results of a child protection system out of control that
organizations like VOCAL were formed.
        This Congress, a Republican majority, has sought methods in which
to cut government waste as well as what they see as a federal government
that has become far too large and powerful over states and citizens.  Thus,
the Mondale Act, part of which confiscates Social Security Title XX money
for feeding the Child Abuse Industry, came under fire during the United 
States Senate Subcommitte on Children and Families, Committee on Labor and
Human Services.  The most impressive information was provided by private
citizens, namely Carol Hopkins, the former deputy foreman of the 1991 San
Diego Grand Jury, Richard Wexler, author of Wounded Innocence and professor
at Penn State, and Debbie Nathan, journalist.  There was also moving 
testimony from James Wade, the Navy man vindicated by DNA, after county
officials disregarded his daughter's denial that her father had raped her.
NASVO and VOCAL owe these four and those that worked with them a debt of
gratitude for their freely given efforts.
        Mr. Wexler gave his testimony focusing on the failyre of the 
present system to protect children by abusing them further in an 
unrelenting foster-care system. He also attacked the lack of accountability 
of agency personnel.
        Ms. Hopkins provided succinct information on the findings of 
evidence by the 1991 San Diego Grand Jury, and the information gleaned by
that jury that so inflamed the voters of that county, that the district
attorney lost the next election.  The people of San Diego demanded change 
and got it.  But their outrage did not change what the Mondale Act had set
into motion, and Hopkins eloquently pointed out that the problems were not
only found in San Diego, but throughout the country, that children were
those who ultimately suffered, as did their families.  Her closing statement
was "I strongly believe the protection of the family is essential to the
protection of our society and essential to the survival of a healthy
democracy."
        Debbie Nathan provided a lengthy list of those individuals of whose
cases she assessed, had been falsely accused and/or wrongly convicted.  She
also included those who had died due to suicide, or while in prison. 
According to NASVO's computer hackers who "surf the net", all voiced 
convincingly a need to change by eliminating the present immunity enjoyed
by social workers, better training of social workers, family centered child
protection, effective due process protections, society recognition (as in
"first do no harm"), and redress for those who have been destroyed by the
present system.
        The debate that followed primarily consisted of the usual rhetoric
by those who make their living from the Industry, that children will die if 
the Mondale Act is repealed or diminished.
        NASVO/VOCAL's primary concern is regarding those children who have
continued to remain in long-term foster care, however, safeguards will be
set, as the new block grant legislation will not diminish the need for 
their on-going care.
        Language is now being formulated for the Senate Child and Family
Protection Act Block Grant.  Write your senator for this new information,
and NASVO will keep you updated.
        For those who wish to have copies of the testimony, they may obtain
copies from NASVO/VOCAL by sending postage and copying fee of $5.00 to 
VOCAL-NASVO, Special Services Office, 11625 E. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson,
AZ 85730, or you may obtain the information and download it through 
InterNet, Compuserve, or America On-Line.
~~~ ReneWave v1.00.wb2 (unregistered)
--- Mankind = One Family
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