How Could You? Hall of Shame-Dominic McGee case

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 Colorado, “Dominic McGee was born to a mother addicted to drugs and taken away from her to live in a series of five foster homes where authorities assumed he’d be safe. Instead, he says he was subjected to physical and sexual abuse and even threatened with castration as a form of discipline.

He’s finally on his own at 21 but recently learned that he’s got an atrocious credit history. While he was still in foster care in 2005, someone used his identity to try to open a mortgage. He also ended up saddled with medical and utility bills he says he’s not responsible for.

The fact that foster children are sometimes shuffled from home to home, with their personal information passing through different hands, makes it a recipe for identity theft, child advocates say. Once they turn 18 and are ready to live on their own, many foster youth discover that they have car loans, unpaid bills or mortgages in their names. Debts and bad credit can prevent them from renting an apartment, getting college financial aid, or opening a bank account. Finding culprits can be nearly impossible.”

“McGee acknowledges that he made some bad choices as a teen, like opening up credit card accounts that he’s been unable to pay. Combined with the other bills opened in his name without his knowledge, it could take years for him to clear up his credit record.”

McGee currently lives in an apartment through a program that helps homeless youth.

“A Colorado law taking effect this summer seeks to prevent [identity theft]. It directs local courts that deal with foster youth to make sure children between 16 and 18 obtain a free credit report. If there’s a problem, cases would be referred to government agencies or nonprofits that can help clean up credit records.”

Only a few states have addressed this issue. “California enacted a law like Colorado’s five years ago and Connecticut did so last year. A similar proposal failed in Illinois last year.”

Foster youth’s stolen IDs getting more attention
[Associated Press 4/30/11]

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