Jivin J’s Life Links 5-4-10
by JivinJ, host of the blog, JivinJehoshaphat
Donald F. Schwarz, the city’s deputy mayor for health and opportunity, explained in a statement why the 4 minors had been removed from the house.
“It’s now become clear that the foster mother has violated PA state law regarding confidentiality [by discussing the teen’s case with the newspaper], therefore potentially compromising the safety and well-being of the children in her care,” Schwarz’s statement read.
But coercing a 16-year-old girl to get a 24-week abortion out-of-state without the knowledge or consent of her parents isn’t compromising her safety and well-being? This is so evil.

This is so evil.
If the girl was coerced into having an abortion, I agree that it was evil. But if you’re referring to removal of the children from the foster home, I’m inclined to disagree. If confidentiality has been breached, the safety of the foster children in the home may truly be jeopardized. We do not know why they were placed there and the potential danger they face if their placement location could be discovered by those who put them at risk in the first place.
I don’t condemn the foster mother for speaking out if she is telling the truth. But once the press gets involved, the confidentiality of all the foster kids in the home becomes an issue.
Who is the father of the aborted baby? I am just wondering if this foster child was abused and then forced to abort to cover the abuse. You would think that the children’s protective service would want to know. I mean foster parents are supposed to protect the kids in their care. If she is pregnant, obviously they didn’t protect her.
Since the girl was 16, hippie, there’s a good possibility that her sexual encounter(s) was/were consentual. Many kids younger than that are sadly having “consentual” sex. Even the most loving of parents cannot control a child’s behavior when she is somewhere else. I would not assume wrongdoing on their part just because the girl had sex.
I guess by your logic it’s my parents’ fault for “not protecting me” when I chose of my own free will (and knowing it was contrary to what Mom and Dad wanted) to have sex with my boyfriend, right? No… My mistake, my consequences, not their fault.
So foster parents are supposed to keep the coerced abortion confidential and let it keep happening to other kids? She did the right thing, and now she’s being punished for bringing bad publicity to the DHS.
Is the state of New Jersey, where late term abortions are illegal, going to terminate the employment the state employed DHS workers who circumvented the law of the state by driving a minor accross state line to obtain an abortion, or was it done on personal time. If it was done on personal time, the worker did not notify the foster mother and that is kidnaping.
I think her foster mom did the right thing. I understand the confidentiality provision but who did the teen really need to be protected from, sounds like she needed protection from those who were suppose to be protecting her. I believe something that would help state agencies and hospitals is to require some type of insurance that an employee would have to carry so if they choose to do something that is contrary to departmental policy they would be held accountable and not the agency. Now if a pattern is established where it can be proven that a agency knowingly participated in unlawful activity than they should be held accountable. I think we are blessed as a nation to have freedom of the press.
There are age of consent laws for a reason. Children cannot legally consent to sex until they reach a certain age in most states.
Carla:
In most states, the age of consent depends upon the age of both partners. If the father is 16-18yrs old and the mother is 16yrs, that is considered “ok” by the law. If one is 14-15yrs and the other is 14-17yrs, it is ok. Under 14yrs is where it gets more strict.
http://www.ageofconsent.us/
I see no numbers resembling 14.
Are we arguing? :)
It’s the “age gap provision,” Carla.
I get that.
David, in PA there is a judicial bypass provision. The girl’s biological mother did not give consent, so DHS took it to court and were able to obtain the abortion legally.
My tax dollars at work . . .
I can’t stop thinking about this 16 year old girl today and I wonder how she is doing now. Praying for her.