How Could You? Hall of Shame-11-Year-Old Foster Boy case-Child Death

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 Polk County, Florida, “an 11-year-old boy … died August 12 [2019] after being taken to a Polk County hospital for vomiting.

Authorities still don’t know why he died.

A preliminary autopsy result says there were no signs of trauma or injury, but the Polk County Medical Examiner says they are waiting for toxicology results.

A report on the Florida Department of Children and Families website indicates the boy was under the care of Directions for Living, a state contractor hired by Eckerd Youth Alternatives, which administers care services for children in the Tampa Bay area.

Directions for Living is the same contractor that oversaw 2-year-old Jordan Belliveau’s case before his death last September.”

“After Jordan’s death, Directions for Living said it developed and implemented a new action plan to better protect children.

In the latest case, Pinellas County Child Protective Services removed the 11-year-old boy from his home within the past year and placed him with a family member in Polk County — where he was living at the time of his death.”

Authorities investigate death of 11-year-old boy brought to hospital vomiting

[WFTS 8/27/19 by Adam Walser]

“The I-Team has learned DCF sub-contractor Directions for Living will no longer be managing child welfare cases for DCF in Pinellas County.

The contractor was put on notice the same day the I-Team reported on the death of an 11-year-old boy under its care.

We obtained a letter sent to Directions for Living from Eckerd Connects Community Alternatives.

Eckerd says it is taking over all its 533 subcontracted child welfare cases from Directions for Living to “improve the safety, permanency and well-being of our children and families.”

“Directions for Living is expected to be removed from all Pinellas cases within 60 days.

The annual contract is valued at $4.6 million.

The death of the 11-year-old boy remains under investigation and the coroner is awaiting toxicology results.”

Child welfare subcontractor removed from more than 500 cases after 11-year-old child’s death

[WFTS 8/28/19 by Adam Walser]

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