Recently a five-year-old African American little boy came to the attention of the authorities after suffering horrendous abuse at the hands of his parents. This abuse included cigarette burns to his entire body, including burns to his genitals, a hand that at this time he cannot fully open due to having it burned on the stove, a broken tooth with an exposed nerve, and finally, it is understood that he was made to sit in his own urine and feces.
This case came to light only after a brave woman called the Child Abuse Hotline, 800-540-4000, when the boy disclosed to her at a commuter train station that his mother had burned his hand on top of a stove.
The little boy was taken to the hospital with a round belly, common in cases of severe malnutrition, and hospitalized at length for kidney failure. The police were shocked by his injuries and are describing his experience as “unbearable psychological and physical abuse.” Assistant Police Chief James McDonnell told reporters last week, “I’ve never seen anyone with these kinds of injuries who has lived. This kid must have a tremendous will to live, to be able to still hang on despite what he’s been through.”
Thankfully, most cases of abuse and neglect are not this horrific but they are far too common. As of May 2008, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services were providing services to 35,352 children. Of those children, 24,009 were in Out of Home Care, either in foster homes or in the homes of relatives.
For years now and continuing today, there is an ongoing shortage of quality Foster and Fost/Adopt homes for these children. They need safe and stable homes in order to grow into healthy, loving and responsible adults. Inner Circle is always looking for compassionate adults who are capable of providing the temporary care or the permanency these children so desperately need. Sadly, when Inner Circle was called upon to provide a home for this little boy we had no choice but to say, “No” as we just don’t have enough homes.
To learn more about foster parenting or adoption please call Robin Monroe, M.A. Certification Coordinator, Inner Circle Foster Care & Adoption Services at 818-988-6300 ext 212 or send an email to robinm@fosterfamily.org.