How Could You? Hall of Shame-Mattie Denise Griffin

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 Jackson, Mississippi, foster mother Mattie Denise Griffin, 47, “of Jackson, was arrested Saturday in the …, after police said she was caught on video slapping the [1-year-old] child across the face.

Griffin is also accused of forcing the child to swallow water while she held the baby’s nose, police said.

Tracy Malone, deputy commissioner of child welfare for the Mississippi Department of Child Protective Services, said the agency is working closely with law enforcement.

“Our first priority is to ensure that children are safe and protected, particularly those who are entrusted to our care. As soon as there is a possibility of child abuse, we respond immediately following agency policy and procedure,” Malone said in a statement. “The child is now safe. As with every incident in which a child is harmed or put at-risk, we continue to evaluate our processes to make sure we are doing everything humanly possible to prevent abuse from ever happening and, if something should occur outside of our control, to respond as quickly and effectively as possible.”

Foster mother caught on camera slapping toddler, police say[Wapt  1/31/17 by Erin Pickens]

“Griffin was given a $5,000 bond Monday morning.”

Jackson foster mother charged with child abuse[MS News Now 1/30/17 by Maggie Wade]

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