Memorial grows for Harlem boy who allegedly died of malnourishment
NEW YORK -- A growing memorial in Harlem is dedicated to a boy who prosecutors say died of malnourishment at the hands of his parents.Four-year-old Jahmeik Modlin weighed just 19 pounds when officers found him last weekend and took him to the hospital, where he died, according to prosecutors. The boy's three siblings – ages 5, 6 and 7 – remain in the hospital and were being treated for malnourishment, officials said. They're unable to eat solid foods and were being fed via IV, prosecutors said.It's alleged Jahmeik and his three siblings never went to school and were isolated from the...
Florida lawmakers hit state's child welfare agency with $70 million in 'claim bills'
Florida lawmakers now have filed close to $70 million worth of what are called "claim bills" for next year's legislative session to compensate families for alleged negligence by the state's child welfare agency. The five bills, all filed by state senators, take aim at the Florida Department of Children and Families, and...
Here’s How Old Illinois Kids Have To Be To Be Left Home Alone
You may have seen it pointed out that Kevin McCallister's parents in the movie Home Alone (set here in Illinois) would have been looking at serious trouble for leaving an 8 year old to knock around that fabulous house all by himself. If the McCallisters were following Illinois law, they...
Family of 4-year-old Harlem boy allegedly starved by parents blames children's services
The family of a 4-year-old boy who was allegedly starved to death by his parents joined with local civil rights advocates to slam the city on Monday.Investigators say Jahmeik Modlin died of chronic starvation, malnutrition and dehydration. He was just 19 pounds at the time of his death.Modlin's father said his son was fed and his mother told investigators he must have lost weight because he had been sick.Cops charged his parents with manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child. They have both been indicted by a grand jury, but their indictments will remain sealed until they are arraigned.They...
CPS Accountability Crisis: Protecting Families' Rights
Child Protective Services (CPS) was established with the goal of protecting children and assisting families in correcting issues that jeopardized their well-being. Most of us have encountered, at some point, a child in need of intervention. Perhaps you knew of a child who was frequently hungry or one who showed signs of physical abuse. In such cases, contacting CPS might have been necessary to ensure the child's safety, as they were unable to protect themselves. The agency’s objective was not only to safeguard the child but also to help the family address and resolve the underlying issues that led to the need for intervention.