[Epieikeia]

Wouldn't it have made more sense to get the family set up with food stamps and some assistance getting the heat working better???

Ummmm... there's usually more going on than the birth parents would ever admit to. The plan where we are is reunification... a lot has to happen to loose their kids and generally, the birth parents don't blame themselves if it goes that far (that's usually part of the problem, they won't accept responsiblility for not taking care of their kids).

I agree...there usually is more, but not always abuse (ie physical/ect). Without knowing the birth family I would be hard pressed to critize them without full knowledge of what transpired.

Also HHS differs from state to state in how they handle things. IMO the fact they were "aware" that the little boy had bruises on his back and did not investigate further is incredibily sad. I highly doubt there was only the one incident.....when spanking is your only tool in the tool box, you are limited on your resources to "discipline."

It not fair to assume that the foster /adoptive parents are always doing the best for the child....like anything else there are always good and bad foster parents. I know of foster families here in NE who spank their bio kids and say they don't touch their foster kids. Such inconsistency is very hard to live with successfully though and I think parents who do that run a thin line.

Obviously something was missed, something was done wrong and now a boy is dead----there is no rectifying death. I simply can't believe that this boy died without any markers......the state missed something, of that I have no doubt.