-----
Jan 12, 2007 6:45 am US/Central
State Blames Private Agency For Foster Child Death

Jack Fink
Reporting
(CBS 11 News) DALLAS The State claims the company that licensed a Desoto
foster home, Therapeutic Family Life, made six violations that led to the
death of six-year-old Katherine Frances.

Marissa Gonazles of Child Protective Services says, "This private agency did
not fulfill its responsibility to place these children in a safe environment
and that directly contributed to the death of the child."

In the report, child care licensing investigators say Therapeutic Family
Life knew the foster parents left Frances and her three siblings alone with
their teenage son, who's now accused in the child's death.

The State also says the company was aware the teenager was accused of
previously harming the foster children.

But investigators found, "despite all of this, Therapeutic Family Life
failed to make arrangements for qualified childcare for these four children,
and indeed didn't address the issue in any way."

Gonzales says, "There's no evidence or any documentation that any
information was passed to the department about any wrong-doing in the house.


The company's attorney, Eli Bell says, "The State doesn't have its facts
right," and that they will appeal.

The report also calls the foster parents, "irresponsible people incapable of
meeting the needs of the four foster children."

The foster parents have declined comment all along.

Joyce Burk, the foster mother, was arrested early Friday morning at her
workplace, and charged with child endangerment.

The State can't explain why the children weren't permanently removed before
Frances died.

One week earlier, records show Frances was taken to the hospital. She had
been badly bruised. But Gonazles says the State allowed the six-year-old to
be returned to her foster parents after they agreed to watch them at all
times.

"Everyone had a responsibility in the decision to return the child to the
house,” she said. “Unfortunately it had tragic consequences."

The State could try to force Therapeutic Family Life to surrender all of the
foster homes it licenses.

Next week, a judge will consider trying the 14-year-old boy as an adult.
(CBS 11 News)
From Our Partners


Video

You need the latest Flash player to view CBS 11 - Dallas / Fort Worth's
Source for Breaking News, Weather, and Sports video content.
Click here to download.
Advertisement

CBS 11 News
Related Stories
Girl Dies In Foster Home, Teenage Boy Accused
Report: Girl Visited Hospital Week Before Death
Mother Files Lawsuit In Foster Care Death Case
Transplant Mothers Meet For The First Time
More Local News
State Blames Private Agency For Foster Child Death
North Texas Family Searches For Lost Ark
Gifts Keep On Giving When You Re-Gift
Trick Horse Rider Inducted To Cowboy Hall Of Fame
Police Hunt For Wounded Armed Robber
Top News Stories
Possible Bomb Threat On Plane At Ohio Airport
Dead Stowaway Found In Plane At Atlanta Airport
Senate To Deny Pensions To Convicted Lawmakers
McCain Defends Iraq Plan As Bush Calls Mideast
State Blames Private Agency For Foster Child Death
Copyright
Privacy Policy
EEO Public File
A Parent's Guide to TV Ratings
CBS Television Stations Digital Media
Site Map
© MMVII, CBS Stations Group of Texas L.P. All Rights Reserved.
--


Recent Activity
1New Members
Visit Your Group
SPONSORED LINKS
Christian family vacation
Christian family
Family christian book store
Christian family counseling
Christian group
Yahoo! Mail
Next gen email?
Try the all-new
Yahoo! Mail Beta.
Y! Messenger
Files to share?
Send up to 1GB of
files in an IM.
Yahoo! Photos
Share Your Photos
via email & mobile.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]