How Could You? Hall of Shame-Touchstone Residential Services foster home UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Raleigh, North Carolina, “Raleigh police are investigating reports of sexual and physical abuse at a group home on Red Quartz Drive.

A search warrant says there is probable cause to believe there is evidence of first degree forcible sex offense by a “substitute parent.”

Police say they received a report of child abuse from Child Protective Services where a juvenile accused the substitute parent of sodomy. The juvenile told child abuse prevention organization SAFEchild that the incidents began was he was 10 years old, and in at least instance a friend of the guardian was in the bedroom while the juvenile was sodomized.

The warrant says the juvenile told SAFEchild he had also witnessed the guardian sodomize another juvenile on more than one occasion. The juvenile also claims the guardian showed him a video of a man and woman engage in vaginal and anal sex.

In more than one instance, the juvenile says the guardian had him pose for pictures during which the juvenile would bend over for the photo.

Another juvenile interviewed by SAFEchild says the guardian threw him down a flight of stairs, and in at least one case had put the juvenile in a choke hold.

SAFEchild says it also has reason to believe drug sales were conducted at the home.

Items seized from the home include cameras, video recorders, DVRs , surveillance cameras, personal computers and other electronic devices or storage media capable of storing digital files and still pictures.

No criminal charges have been filed in this case as the incidents are still under investigation.”

Police investigating alleged sexual abuse at Raleigh group home
[NBC 17 6/20/11]

Update: “One of the men named in an alleged sexual and physical abuse scandal involving multiple juvenile boys is registered as the owner of the foster home.

State documents show the group home on Red Quartz Drive was initially licensed in January 2009, and is still licensed amidst allegations that a guardian sexually abused at least one of the juveniles.

One child says the abuse started when he was 10 years old. Another says while he was being sexually abused, he was afraid to tell in fear of being labeled gay.”

Man accused of sexually assualting juveniles runs Raleigh foster home
[NBC17 6/21/11 by Jackie Faye]

“The Raleigh man facing the allegations still has his foster license. One state lawmaker is now taking a look at the foster care law; meanwhile, a woman who runs a foster care supervising agency says accusations are not uncommon.

Schofield trained the Raleigh man facing the allegations to be a foster parent.

“I vaguely remember that he had a passion for working with the children and that he really wanted to develop the skills that he needed,” said Schofield.

Schofield also said a single man being a foster parent is more prone to having allegations made against him.

“A lot of people may think it is strange for a single male to do foster care,” said Schofield.”

“Although Schofield’s agency, Youth Quest, trained the man facing the allegations, that man switched to a different agency shortly after training. Touchstone Residential Services has supervised the man for the past two years.

DHHS said no more than four children stayed at the Red Quartz Drive home at one time, but would not say if children are currently staying there. They also said the supervising agency for any foster home can decide whether to remove children if they believe they are in an unsafe environment.”
State lawmaker looks to strengthen the law after allegations made against a Raleigh foster parent

[NBC17 6/22/11 by Jackie Faye]

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