Bittersweet Justice: California

Occasionally there is justice for those negatively affected by the child welfare and adoption systems. Unfortunately, it is usually bittersweet and much too late. This will serve as REFORM Talk’s justice files.

Yet another case of stealing from foster children.

Deputy Probation Officer II Andre Toliver, case manager for foster kids, allegedly pocketing money from Samuel Sago, along with funds from at least 10 other youths he was supervising. “The thefts were discovered in March, after Toliver died of a heart attack. “

Samuel Sago, “a foster child under the care of Los Angeles County from the age of three…saved up some money working at Starbucks – about $300 a month over a 17-month period – and turned it over to his county case manager for safekeeping in a trust fund. That was required by the county’s Transitional Housing Program, which helps house youths for three years after they leave foster care at age 18 and forces them to save money for their future.

As he approached 21 and it was time to start paying his own rent for the first time, the county Department of Children and Family Services offered him a check.

The grand total: $713.

Sago was stunned. What happened to the rest of it – nearly $5,000 – he wondered. He fought with county officials for months, and was offered one runaround and vague excuse after another, but no check.

In fact, it was only after reading a story Friday in the Daily News that he learned the full, awful truth.”

“Not until Friday did Sago get the rest of his money: $4,664.10. Only Monday did Jackie Contreras, acting director of the county’s Department of Children and Family Services, offer an apology. “

County finally apologizes for theft of foster kids’ money
[LA Observed 6/6/11 by Kevin Roderick]

“Sago ended up moving back in with his last foster family, who took him in even though he could not pay them any rent. He is now staying in Gardena with Foster, another member of his last foster family, whom he considered his “sister.”

She took the lead in trying to recover his money, but said the DCFS kept giving her “the runaround.”

“Last week officials disclosed that Toliver had kept two sets of books on his wards’ accounts and $15,000 was missing.”

Once-trusting county foster care client learns his trust fund money went missing
[LA Daily News 6/6/11 by Christina Villacorte]