March 19th, 1997
HURTING FAMILIES FIGHT BACK AGAINST OUT OF CONTROL AGENCIES.
Kirkland, WA—A coalition of parents, children,
families and friends is appealing to their government with a "Petition
to All State and Federal Agencies, Officials and Officers" to investigate
and rectify the long-standing abuses of families by various agencies of
government chiefly the Washington State Department of Social and Health
Services with its Child Protective Services (CPS) division.
Several leaders of the as yet unnamed group are victims of governmental
abuses themselves - chief among them being Alma J. Kidd of Des Moines whose
spirited defiance of the state’s right to molest her family with impunity
over the past four years has inspired a loyal following of nearly a hundred
other parents who’ve been battered by government as well. With thousands
of petitions being signed at courthouses and juvenile justice centers around
the state, she is riding the crest of a great wave of discontent over apparent
mismanagement, malfeasance and criminality by government that is not confined
to CPS.
Speaking from her home in Des Moines earlier today, Alma stated, "This
petition is surprising me with how fast it has caught fire. We started
with nothing two weeks ago, just me and one other lady. We now have over
40 volunteers, the promise of many more, and we’re to the point now that
in the last four days we have collected thousands of signatures."
As evidence of a mass uprising from the people, Alma cites the acquisition
of signatures from over a dozen Snohomish County attorneys, four judges,
at least 7 social workers, and persons of such diverse backgrounds as police
officers, school teachers, pastors, postmen, courthouse security guards,
military men, nurses, doctors, dentists, counselors, real estate agents,
entrepreneurs, and thousands of moms and dads.
Says Alma, "Many adults who were raised in foster care also signed.
One gentleman who was in the state's care in the late 1970’s, said that
his family and his life were totally destroyed by the Department of Social
and Health Services." Giving Alma the names of his two brothers, he
pleaded that he be contacted if their names turned up on the petition.
They had been torn apart 15 years ago and placed in separate foster facilities.
Another mother whose child had been taken and died in Washington's foster
care, signed the petition and left quietly weeping.
Admitting the extent of the problem, one social worker with involvement
in Alma's case told her, "I can't stop it in the office I work in,
but my voice may be heard on this petition."
According to Ms. Kidd, "Many signers were foster home parents. They
would read the petition and say, ‘I'm a foster home parent and this stuff
doesn't go on in my home. But, the state definitely needs to investigate
any abusive foster situations.’"
Speaking from his Kirkland office today, WTV Vice President Sidney Turbyfill
expressed delight that this blight on Washington State’s image may finally
be remedied through the peaceful actions of its citizens. "Certainly
there is more at stake here than image," said Turbyfill. "People’s
lives are being destroyed at the very hands that are supposed to provide
succor and healing during tough times in families. What we’ve seen through
tragedies like the OK Boys Ranch, Wenatchee witch hunts, Ms. Kidd’s case
and too many others is that government is not family, cannot be family
and is architecturally wrong to fulfill those responsibilities. The shear
weight of recent disclosures of state wrongdoing fairly screams this out."
He further stated, "Understand that many people who signed this petition
knew that they were requesting an investigation of the agencies that they
worked for which seems to me to be a very strong admission of the dire
circumstances within their agencies. I think it bodes well that this movement
is drawing its vitality from the best possible source - ‘We the People.’
As President Andrew Johnson reminded us in 1865, ‘Our government springs
from and was made for the people-not the people for the Government. To
them it owes allegiance; from them it must derive its courage, strength
and wisdom.’ This petition proves that, the ‘courage, strength and wisdom’
of the people is still alive and well in Washington state.
The petition and movement will be featured this evening, Wednesday the
19th, on the Michael Reagan show. Petition leaders expect volunteer participation
to increase dramatically as a result.
Copies of the petition are available by writing to: Petition, PO Box 3700, Kent WA 98032 or calling (800) 208-3529. For fastest delivery: ask for a FAX copy.
Washington for Traditional Values will be assisting
with networking and media relations for the time being. Contact Sidney
Turbyfill at (425) 821-3341 or Alma Kidd at (206) 824-3291.
Email: turbyfil@e-z.net