'We Were Once a Family' examines how the foster care system failed the Hart siblings
In this episode from NPR's Book of the Day, author Roxanna Asgarian examines how the foster care system failed the six Hart siblings adopted by Jen and Sarah Hart. The summary explores the birth families' struggles, systemic failures that enabled abusive parents to gain custody of the children, and Dante's lasting trauma after remaining in foster care.
Asgarian argues the system should prioritize supporting birth families rather than separating children due to poverty-related neglect. She also asserts that terminating parental rights does not erase the parent-child bond, underscoring the need for reform to prevent such tragedies.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Jul 18, 2024 episode of the NPR's Book of the Day
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1-Page Summary
The Birth Families
The birth mother of Devonté, Jeremiah, and Ciara, named Sherry, struggled with drug addiction that led to CPS involvement. Although the children had a caring father figure and an available aunt, Cheri and her relatives were deemed unfit by CPS, leading to the children's adoption, reveals Roxanna Asgarian.
The birth mother of Marcus, Hannah, and Abigail, Tammy, faced challenges too. A minor incident regarding medical care for one child was cited as neglect, resulting in her children's removal.
Systemic Failures
Despite repeated reports of abuse and evidence of malnourishment in the Hart household, the child welfare system continually gave the adoptive parents, Jen and Sarah Hart, the benefit of the doubt. This favorable treatment contrasted sharply with the scrutiny applied to the birth families.
Utilizing a national website made it easier for the Harts to adopt all six siblings at once. But the urgency to achieve this "successful" adoption overshadowed thoroughly vetting the parents.
Dante's Trauma
Dante, the oldest sibling, was left in foster care where he experienced further abuse. His anger resulted in him being institutionalized. The trauma continued - his own children later entered the system too.
Reform Needed
Asgarian argues the system should prioritize supporting birth families to reduce removals for poverty-related neglect. Maintaining family/community ties is vital.
The system also failed Tammy by not properly informing her of her children's deaths. Terminating parental rights does not end the bond or identity as parents, stresses Asgarian.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can volunteer as a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) to help represent the best interests of children in the foster care system. By becoming a CASA, you receive training to advocate for children in court, ensuring their needs are heard and that they maintain important family connections whenever possible. This role allows you to directly influence the child welfare process, advocating for family preservation and proper vetting of adoptive parents.
- Start a donation drive for items that support birth families in your community, such as diapers, school supplies, and non-perishable food. This helps address poverty-related challenges that can lead to unnecessary child removals. By providing these resources, you assist in stabilizing families, which can prevent the involvement of child protective services due to neglect stemming from financial hardship.
- Educate yourself on the rights and resources available to birth parents in the child welfare system through local workshops or online courses. With this knowledge, you can inform and support parents who are navigating the system, helping them to understand their rights, the importance of maintaining family ties, and the resources available to them. This empowerment can contribute to better outcomes for families and children involved in the system.
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The stories and experiences of the birth families whose children were adopted by the Hart family
The narrative surrounding the Hart family adoption reveals the complex and heartbreaking journeys of the birth families who lost their children to the child welfare system before they were adopted.
The birth families of the younger children, Devonté, Jeremiah and Ciara, faced challenges but had capable relatives who could have cared for them
The children's birth mother, named Sherry, struggled with drug addiction, which led to inconsistent parenting and ultimately her children's involvement with Child Protective Services (CPS). Sherry's addiction to crack cocaine was a significant factor in her difficulty providing stable parenting for Devonté, Jeremiah, and Ciara. However, despite these challenges, the children had a non-biological father figure who was providing stable care.
The children's birth mother, Cheri, struggled with drug addiction, but the children had a loving father figure and an aunt who were willing to take them in
CPS intervened and removed the children from the father figure due to concerns that he might have been enabling Sherry's drug use. As a result, the children were placed with their aunt, who was willing and able to care for them. However, the situation took a turn when CPS deemed the aunt unfit for asking their birth mother to babysit, due to lack of childcare. Such minor issues led to the children being removed from her custody as well.
Eventually, despite the presence of family members willing to provide for them, the children were placed for adoption.
The birth mother of the older children, Marcus, Hannah, and Abigail, also faced challenges that led to the childre ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
The stories and experiences of the birth families whose children were adopted by the Hart family
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can volunteer as a mentor for children in foster care to provide stable adult relationships. By becoming a mentor through a local organization, you offer consistent support and guidance to children who may lack stable adult figures in their lives. This can help mitigate the effects of instability and provide a positive role model for children who have experienced family challenges.
- Start a donation drive for basic necessities to support struggling families in your community. Collect items such as diapers, school supplies, and non-perishable foods, and partner with local social services to distribute them to families in need. This can alleviate some of the stressors that contribute to family separations and provide a buffer for parents working through their challenges.
- Educate yourself on the signs of child neglect and advocate for early interve ...
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The failures and biases of the child welfare system that led to the children being adopted by the Hart family despite warning signs
The child welfare system has come under scrutiny for its failure to protect the children who were adopted by Jen and Sarah Hart. Despite multiple reports and evidence of abuse, the system repeatedly missed or dismissed the warning signs.
The Hart family was repeatedly investigated for abuse and neglect, but they continued to receive the benefit of the doubt from the child welfare system
The children in the Hart family were subjected to severe malnourishment and showed signs of physical abuse, with bruises serving as a stark indicator of their mistreatment. Incredibly, despite the gravity and frequency of these reports, the child welfare system repeatedly provided the adoptive parents, Jen and Sarah Hart, with the benefit of the doubt. This inaction came despite the actual abuse allegations against them, which were accompanied by numerous Child Protective Services (CPS) investigations.
The child welfare system seemed to treat the adoptive parents more favorably than the birth families, despite the evidence of abuse
This preferential treatment becomes even more apparent when contrasted with the handling of the children's biological family. A minor mistake made by the aunt who was caring for the children was deemed sufficient for CPS to remove them from her custody. This disparity in response highlights a bias within the system, treating the adoptive parents more favorably than the birth family, even in the face of compelling evidence of abuse.
The children were placed for adoption through a national website, making it easier for the Hart family to adopt the sibling group
The child welfare system's difficulty in finding adoptive families for sibling groups played a significant role in the placement with the Har ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
The failures and biases of the child welfare system that led to the children being adopted by the Hart family despite warning signs
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can educate yourself on the signs of child abuse and neglect by taking a free online course from a reputable child welfare organization. Understanding the indicators of abuse equips you to recognize and report them responsibly. For example, a course might teach you the difference between accidental injuries and those that could be signs of abuse, helping you to make informed decisions when you suspect a child is in danger.
- Volunteer as a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) for children in the foster care system. CASAs are trained volunteers who represent the best interests of a child in court. By becoming a CASA, you provide a voice for children who might otherwise be overlooked by the system, ensuring their needs are heard and met.
- Start a community awareness ...
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The lasting impacts on the one biological sibling who was not adopted
The story of the Hart family's adoption often leaves out Dante, the biological sibling who remained in foster care. His journey reflects the profound consequences of the foster care system on children left behind.
Dante, the oldest sibling of the children adopted by the Hart family, was left in the foster care system and experienced further trauma and abuse
Dante's life took a different path from his siblings when he was not adopted by the Hart family. As the oldest, he bore the brunt of the split, remaining in the foster care system where he endured additional trauma and abuse. This differentiation in experiences between siblings who are adopted and those who are not can create a lifetime of emotional scars.
Dante was old enough to express anger and "act out" when removed from his family, leading to him being placed in an institution for children with high behavioral needs
Dante's response to the separation manifested in anger and behavioral issues, which is not uncommon for older children in the system who have a clearer understanding of their situation. Because of his actions, labeled as 'acting out', he was placed in an institution designed for children with high behavioral needs—a decision that may promise more specialized care, but can also lead to further feelings of isolati ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
The lasting impacts on the one biological sibling who was not adopted
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can volunteer as a mentor for youth in foster care to provide stable support and guidance they might be missing. By becoming a mentor through a local organization, you offer a consistent presence in the life of a child who may be experiencing instability, helping to mitigate some of the emotional scars associated with their situation.
- Create a personal journal to explore and process your own feelings about family dynamics and childhood experiences. Writing down your thoughts can be a therapeutic way to understand and heal from your own past, especially if you've experienced differences in treatment among siblings or have gone through foster care yourself.
- Engage in advocacy or suppo ...
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The Need for Reform in the Child Welfare System
The child welfare system's focus on supporting birth families is paramount to prevent unnecessary removals and to preserve the emotional well-being of children and their parents.
Support for Birth Families and Limiting System Entries
The system should prioritize support for birth families to reduce the number of children entering foster care.
Importance of Family and Community Connections
Research underscores that children often thrive best within their birth families or with close relatives. Roxanna Asgarian shares her own experiences of growing up in a less stable home but stresses the value of remaining within her community and family. These connections are vital for children's emotional and social development.
Avoiding Removals for Poverty-Related Neglect
Asgarian notes that allegations of neglect are frequently confounded with signs of poverty. She argues for a critical assessment of whether children are removed due to actual neglect or simply because their families are struggling financially.
Respect and Dignity for Birth Families
The case of the Hart family's adoption brings to light how the child welfare system can fail birth parents.
Informing and Supporting Birth Families
The birth mother of Marcus, Hannah, and Abigail Hart was not info ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
The Need for Reform in the Child Welfare System
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While supporting birth families is important, the child welfare system must also ensure that children are living in safe environments. In some cases, remaining with birth families may not be in the best interest of the child due to abuse, severe neglect, or other harmful situations.
- The assertion that children thrive best within their birth families or with close relatives is generally true, but there are instances where alternative placements, such as with non-relative foster parents or adoptive families, may provide better outcomes for the child.
- While poverty should not be conflated with neglect, there must be mechanisms to ensure that children's basic needs are being met. Financial support for families in poverty is crucial, but it should not overshadow the need to protect children from potential harm.
- The need for timely and sensitive communication with birth parents in tragic circumstances is ...
Actionables
- You can volunteer as a family mentor to provide support and guidance to birth families in need, helping them navigate challenges and prevent the need for foster care. By becoming a mentor through local non-profit organizations, you offer practical assistance, such as budgeting advice or parenting tips, to families who might be struggling due to poverty or lack of resources. This direct involvement strengthens the family unit and contributes to a more supportive community.
- Start a donation drive for essential items to assist birth families facing financial hardships, reducing the risk of neglect allegations linked to poverty. Collaborate with local child welfare agencies to identify needed items such as clothing, school supplies, and household goods. By organizing collection points at your workplace, school, or community center, you help ensure that families have access to the resources they need to provide a stable environment for their children.
- Educate yourself on the child welfare system and advocate for policy ...
Get access to the context and additional materials
1-Page Summary- The stories and experiences of the birth families whose children were adopted by the Hart family
- The failures and biases of the child welfare system that led to the children being adopted by the Hart family despite warning signs
- The lasting impacts on the one biological sibling who was not adopted
- The Need for Reform in the Child Welfare System
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