Rethinking foster care: Molly McGrath Tierney at TEDxBaltimore 2014
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This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Molly McGrath Tierney is the Director for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services, managing the City's child welfare and public assistance programs. Over the past six years, she has led a massive reform effort to dramatically improve the impact of services to vulnerable citizens of Baltimore. Molly's work is considered a national model for modern social services. Molly McGrath Tierney was the Director for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services, managing the City's child welfare and public assistance programs. Over the past six years, she has led a massive reform effort to dramatically improve the impact of services to vulnerable citizens of Baltimore. Molly's work is considered a national model for modern social services. About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
Comments
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Can I say this I'm a Dhs kid and I don't trust anything that comes from any member of Dhs and I'm 17 and their a lot of lying going on about my situation and life in Dhs u said u fixed it whell I've been in this system for 14 going on 15 years and I've got a lot against. Dhs and foster family and group and everywhere els that's all I'm saying but last can u fix what was taking from us and the scares and scares of our memorys that u guys did no u can't
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Thanks Molly, I have just watched this again in preparation for my next research project. It is so refreshing to have my own words put so succinctly by another, in a forum where it is so obvious we are on a path for total collapse. Foster Carers in this country (Australia) are very cheap yet effective labour 24x7 168 hours per week as volunteers in order to make the welfare/out of home care corporate model sustainable. I have always believed, from my experience of 25 years as a foster carer and adoptive mother, that the 'real' observable relationship forged by the two mothers of these kids, are vital and therefore what will support this birth family the best and get that little person back to their family as soon as humanly possible. Realistically, not all kids can go home, but it has to better than it is at the moment. Once these kid get home, that relationship with them and their family does not stop, it mearely becomes one where the carer looks on from a far via say facebook and wonders at the magic that has been created for the world. I have spent the last 7 years studying in order to be taken seriously in my contentions. I will ultimately get my voice heard, hopefully it will be as fantastic as I thought yours was in this talk. Again, thank-you.
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Molly I love this talk! But, as an amateur wonk who has looked at my state's budget, it would not cost as much as foster care to support families! Under the Title IV-E funding, my state's DSHS gets about $2Billion with the mandate that says, "the more kids you take the more money you will make..." In other words keep taking those kids and you can make more money, who cares what trauma you inflict upon those kids and their family...?" This mandate applies to all states receiving this funding. Then CPS goes in and takes an ADDITIONAL 33% of the family support funding such as food stamps, housing assistance, TANF, and Medicaid. According to the Casey Foundation research it actually costs 1000% LESS to support the family (not an exaggeration) , even when a parent is fighting a substance abuse issue! Why oh why can't those who are the Powers The Be get the kahunas to change that mandate from "more kids you take" to "the more kids and their families you help ...?" My 2 cents, Cat in Seattle
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Thank you Molly! I am a child of CPS. I was enslaved as I passed to each foster home. I was once told I had to work for my keep. I had so much work that I worked 1/2 of my school classes switching to the other half the following quarter.... never had friends, never joined in school activities but had to keep working, working, working... The only praise I received was for the work I did and I kept trying to earn that praise (received occasionally). As a result I now work, work, work! After I escaped foster care I worked my way through college, went to work for the State as a computer programmer working into the night at times and looking back, I think I was looking for the praise rather than the pay. I retired from that work and now I own my own small business where I can work all night if I want (but I don't). Foster care was horrible and I so missed my own parents. Both were handicapped. My mother from polio and my father from alcoholism. The real problem at home was never treated so I and my 3 siblings never received any real help.
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Much respect for her acknowledging that CPS is a industry...children the commodity....and how entire organizations only survive on foster kids.
Thank u ma'am. -
It is an inherent structural violence hidden behind good sounding words. The solution is a basic income, a living income guarantee. It is economic equality. Human rights before profit, as a human being, a state of physical beingness, must have stable shelter, clean water, nutrient dense food, and a stable education that builds a dynamic and vibrant critical and creative thinking skill leading to a presence of self AND this world. This would be a correct use of the imagination. Every child is a genius. A stable existence filled with opportunity leads that inherent potential to live a productive life that by design would benefit each and everyone of us!
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It's sad that people have such an ugly view of social workers when all they're trying to do is help others.
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absolutely brilliant
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Tremendous talk (one of the best I've seen on TEDx in a long time). She has explained the matter so clearly and eloquently. Incredibly well-composed and delivered. Bravo!
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OMG I truly enjoyed your talk. I was at the other end of the foster care system. I became an accidental foster parent to three siblings and what a nightmare. The world needs to hear how this system fails the very children they are hired to help. Thank you for bringing this to light!
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PSYCHO
THE
RAPIST
...get it? -
+Dee Smith - Yes, ABOLITION of the pseudo-discipline of social work is
the most comprehensive reform possible. We've existed in this incredibly
advanced and very successful human society for countless centuries...
Now, governments through pseudo-academic lobbies and destructive
societies such as 'Tavistock' are advising us to accept social workers
as our life experts(?), we are now to give them consent over us,
acquiescence of control in a contract to allowing them to become an
authority over our families, children and our interests. This, is an
unacceptable offer; especially, when we know the historic origin of
of social work is Eugenics and a documented disdain of the family unit. -
This woman is my hero! A very incitful and objective description of the very system that she is part of. As a grandparent of the most loved 2 year old in the world and who was kidnapped into foster care 5 mos. ago, thank you. I now see both sides of the issue. I now understand and forgive the social workers that I once despised. Now the focus will be asking each of them to watch this. Thank you.
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This woman is my hero! A very incitful and objective description of the very system that she is part of. As a grandparent of the most loved 2 year old in the world and who was kidnapped into foster care 5 mos. ago, thank you. I now see both sides of the issue. I now understand and forgive the social workers that I once despised. Now the focus will be asking each of them to watch this. Thank you.
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Abolition of the pseudo-discipline of social work is the only solution and hope of reforming this corrupt, crime ridden and abusive system. It is a failed experiment based on Marxist-Darwinian and Eugenics ideology. The University of Southampton announced in 2013 announced it will no longer be teaching social work. Citing; 'After a three year research and study of an examination on the question of the validity of the discipline, the university could not find any credible evidence (globally) that social work is a viable or sensible discipline worth teaching.
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please Ms. Molly, see our story on Facebook "7 ANGELES story "need your advice and direction, your an amazing women, blessing to you.
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My friend was in foster care her parents were neglectful and she eventually got adopted and she loves her parents who adopted her and now Shes gonna be going to college
A family friend of mine fostered then adopted two kids!
I love the adoptees in my family (and friends)
I can't say much about foster care but I do think if a child is being beat on a daily he or she shouldn't be in that home! -
"Awful things happen to kids in foster care. Short term? their Outcomes for important things like health care and education are abysmal and long term? it just gets worse. Kids that grow up in foster care? overwhelmingly destined for the penitentiary, the morgue or the child welfare system when their own kids come into foster care."
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"The industry is committed to taking children from families." So very true. As a CASA, I've seen so many times when a child could go back to their families, but were kept in foster care to keep the "wrap-around" services in place to meet grant outcomes... Love this woman!
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