Diane Ramirez - 2019

The circumstances regarding who allowed Morris Small Family Home to be in operation and how they were approved as foster care home seems to remain unclear. Maybe it is just easier to blame the owners at the facility instead of looking at those who were supposed to monitor and supervise the foster home.

There is a risk that an investigation into that area would reveal a really broken system. A system which in the end claimed the life of a on only 17-year-old girl. Diane Ramirez should not had a such tragic end to her life. Suffering while being ignored like she was in just another correctional boarding school while her life slowly ended. She was supposed to be protected by the system and instead it failed her, when it allowed her to be placed at a run-down foster home where the only interest seemed to make it as cheap as possible to have children placed there. Not even the gas for a drive down to a hospital where the poor girl could have been given treatment seems to be in the budget.

Of course now the authorities goes after the employees and owneers of the place and their responsibility cannot be ignored. They should bear the consequences of their actions. But other children could be at risk of ending up in the same senseless way if the system is not changed.

We will pray for her family. May she find peace where she is now.

Sources

• Family of teen who died while in foster care furious after suspect released from jail (ABC 7 Eyewitness News)
• Calif. Foster Mom Charged with Murder, Dad with Sexual Abuse After Teen's Death Prompts Investigation (People Magazine)
• Riverside County foster parents charged in death of disabled teen girl appear in court (ABC 7 Eyewitness News)
• A year after her Spectacular Prom, California teen dies at controversial foster home (The Mercury News)

Shaquan Allen - 2016

Only days before he was to leave for less restricted settings, 16 year old Shaquan Allen came into a conflict with two employees at the Lake Villa campus belonging to the Allendale Association. Poorly executed conflict resolution from the staff members resulted in the death of the boy. The police is conducting an investigation. Criminal charges have been brought forward. The court system will have to make a judgment on that.

But despite the outcome of the trial the family of the deceased boy dont get their boy back. It is unknown what brought Shaquan Allen to the facility but his death was not part of the purpose of his stay. It is a tragedy for his family.

May he find peace where he is now.

Sources:

• 'They Took My Baby's Life': 2 Charged in Death of Teen at Residential Treatment Center (NBC Chicago)
• Report criticizes state youth facility where teen died (Chicago Tribune)