The autopsy report said Omaree's death was a result of blunt trauma and deems it a homicide. The report detailed five blunt injuries to the child on his head, chest, abdomen, back and extremities. Omaree also had evidence of a bite mark and burns on his body.
According to the report, Omaree's injuries were at different stages of healing, meaning the injuries didn't occur at the same time.
The report also said that Omaree had nine referrals to the Children, Youth and Families Department and two of them confirmed abuse.
Read more:
http://www.koat.com/news/autopsy-report-released-in-omaree-varela-case/25159510#ixzz2zzOS5UZ7.
Read more:
http://www.koat.com/news/new-mexico...rom-blunt-force-trauma/25167756#ixzz2zzOFYZyb
(My apologies for the long, heartfelt post.....)
NINE REFERRALS TO CYFD! :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
Nine! NINE! The mere paperwork involved in each referral is undeniable. The accountability to Omaree can not be minimized. Each referral was a missed opportunity to rescue him from the hell that was his everyday existence, and they failed - MISERABLY!
Even the luckiest feline only has nine lives. I am not making a joke of this whatsoever. I am incensed. What child is expected to survive against those odds? We can't - and he didn't.
Every closed out referral gave SVC & JC mixed messages. They received positive reinforcement (no true consequences - Omaree remained with them - which emboldened them and allowed the cycle of violence to escalate) for negative behaviors. :moo:
That's not how this is supposed to work. The professionals assigned to this case likely had at least a Bachelors, if not a Masters in Social Work. If not the Case Worker, then definitely the Case Manager. This is Psychology 101.
They should NOT have been rewarded for bad behavior. They should have received negative reinforcement (taking something AWAY) for their actions.
This is the ABA Guideline for Positive and Negative Reinforcement
http://bcotb.com/the-difference-bet...einforcement-and-positivenegative-punishment/
The failure of CYFD to hold the C's tangibly accountable (within the realm of their access, i.e. stricter monitoring, ultimately taking Omaree out of the home permanently), never happened.
They allowed SVC to maintain the power, and custody, each and every time. This is a crucial issue, and one that needs to be overhauled in a major way. The systemic need to reunite children with abusive biological parents, who show no signs of the ability to change, are in the throes of addiction, and are capable of murder, must change.
I experienced this myself in the prosecution of my ex-husband for DV. The City's policy was "any parental involvement, even bad parental involvement, is better than no involvement." I was warned that all he had to do was show up, and we would head to mediation (with the man who hurt me and my children emotionally - and who I - sadly - had allowed to escalate to physical this one time before calling 911). My daughter was in my arms when it happened, and I still haven't forgiven myself for him ever harming a hair on her head, on my watch :tears: )
It was up to the Commissioner. I had given his warrant to the Bailiffs earlier (they thought I was Counsel). As I was escorted out in tears with the other moms, I felt I had failed.
I was notified an hour later that he got into it with the Commissioner in open court, and he was taken into custody. I was granted full physical/legal custody with a no visitation order and the TRO was extended. All of this happened without me being in the courtroom.
He bailed out in under an hour and the DA eventually plea bargained the child abuse charge :banghead; , and he was convicted of SA within days of the divorce being finalized. He never served time, completed the DV Treatment program, paid his fines, and that was it. He had to relinquish his firearm, and if anything, I am happy to know he will never pass the background check to (legally) purchase another one.
The point of my long post (sorry) is that the system is broken when we force children to be exposed to parents who don't deserve to be parents. It can take just one thing to change your path. I have my suspicions as to why the Commissioner went against her normal SOP and I thank God every day she did.
A real parent does what it takes, putting their child(ren) first, no matter the cost! The C's NEVER did that and they were ALLOWED to NINE TIMES! Omaree didn't live to get a 10th chance (and that's just the documented cases). :tantrum:
CYFD owes it to Omaree to implement sweeping changes expeditiously. It's insane to believe there aren't more Omaree's out there - teetering in the brink of survival, begging for someone to hear them before they take their last breath at the hands of their abuser!
Omaree had a loving foster family, so there really was NO valid reason to MAKE him stay with "parents" who hated him! None! :no:
Justice for Omaree must include accountability for those in Social Services who were criminally negligent. He didn't know his life mattered when he was here. The least we can do is show him how much he meant, by fighting for his legacy.
#JusticeForOmaree
:rose:
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