by Health Impact News Staff

In 2006 and 2007 investigative reporter John Boel exposed much of the corruption taking place in the “child protection” system in Kentucky. His reports were broadcast in the local media at that time, and included some amazing interviews with former CPS whistleblowers, documenting the depth of the alleged corruption within Kentucky CPS.

In a report aired originally on WLKY Target 32 News, news anchors begin the story by explaining that the station had to go to court just to get permission to air their investigative report, because the State of Kentucky attempted to censor their report from the public.

Reporter John Boel states that they were “being swamped with complaints” against CPS in Kentucky. He explains that his report gives an “in-depth look” into Kentucky CPS which exemplifies what they were hearing from so many other families who were coming to them.

Boel reports that children are often removed quickly with no evidence of parental wrong-doing, and that the State retaliates against those who try to fight back.

Corrupt Kentucky Family Court

The investigative report shows a confidential video tape from an actual custody trial that was recorded in family court. Boel states:

While it may take weeks, months or years to take someone’s freedom away in a circuit court, it only takes 17 minutes to take 3 …. children away in a family court.

The video footage then clearly shows that the mother in this case had no true representation in family court. The caseworker states that the children were taken into state custody due to “educational and medical neglect.” No records were allegedly provided, only the opinion of the caseworker. After 17 minutes, the judge terminates the mother’s right to her children.

State of Kentucky Retaliates Against Those Who Try to Fight Back – Including Attorneys

The mother allegedly appealed the ruling and fought back, which resulted in the State removing her other 3 children, and 14 children from her extended family.

Next, Boel interviews an attorney who took this family’s case, attorney Bob Bishop, and his wife Jennifer Bishop. Jennifer explains how her husband was incredulous that such abuses in the system were happening.

She then explains that CPS came after them also, removing their own adopted daughter from their home.

They said “if you don’t cooperate with us, we’re going to take all your children, and charge you with emotional abuse.”

Corrupt State of Kentucky Makes Money from Adoptions

In his next investigative report, reporter John Boel explains that one of the motivations for the State to remove children from parents even when parents have done nothing to warrant such a removal, is to receive federal reimbursement funds for the adoption program.

In his follow up report in 2007, John Boel receives “confidential” family court tapes showing just how the system works, and how the actions of some caseworkers even disturb some of their fellow caseworkers. Records supporting parents seem to “disappear.” They also reveal conflicts of interest between case workers and foster parents who may be related to the case worker placing the child into the foster home.

Watch these 3 reports here:

CPS Whistleblowers Speak out on Abuse in Kentucky CPS

In this 4th report, John Boel explains that CPS whistleblowers reveal how Kentucky families are harassed, and CPS workers are pressured to boost State adoption numbers.

He starts out his report by interviewing former CPS social worker Pat Moore, who was fired because she refused to ignore abuses in a foster home. She sued the State of Kentucky, and settled for $308,000.00. Moore allegedly refused to carry out an adoption for foster parents because they had criminal records, and a convicted sex offender was allegedly visiting and caring for the foster children. CPS tried to over-rule her decision to oppose the adoption and push it through quickly.

Boel interviewed her attorney, who stated that he believed the motivation for CPS to approve adoptions to convicted criminals was to receive federal funds available for adoptions.

Adoption Business: Placing Orders for Babies that CPS Fills by Kidnapping

Next, Boel interviews another CPS whistleblower, but one who wanted to keep her identity concealed because she was so afraid of retaliation. The former CPS worker explains how CPS is all about statistics, about how many children can be placed into adoption, since State and Federal reimbursement funds are all tied into statistics. She explains that CPS workers are encouraged to put more children into adoption.

She even relates one story of how someone who could not have children “placed an order” for a baby:

Someone could not have a child and wanted a child. So, within the community this certain person saw a family that was in distress, was having a hard time, and relayed to (CPS) workers that they would like those children. And that is exactly what is happening….

Next, Boel interviews a former CPS supervisor who also conceals her identity because she fears retaliation. This person tells Boel that if an order for a child was delayed or denied, her supervisors would come in and try to overrule local decisions.

This one family was promised a child. And when it happened that the child was going to be reunified with the parents, they called our regional office, and our regional office came down on our county and they harassed the birth parents… because they did not agree with our decision.

Kentucky CPS Power: Take Away Children at Will

These CPS whistleblowers also confirmed that CPS can and does take away children simply to retaliate against people who try to fight or expose the system:

I can call in a report tomorrow, and I can make it seem very real, to the point that a family will be investigated. And whoever gets it could come up with a substantiation, of let’s say “neglect,” and it might not be true. But it doesn’t matter.

Watch this shocking report here:

Are Things Any Different in Kentucky Today?

We could find no evidence that John Boel’s investigative reports on Kentucky CPS back in 2005 through 2007 resulted in any changes for the better.

Earlier this year, Health Impact News reported on the story of the Maney family in Kentucky, which suggests it might be business as usual in Kentucky CPS.

Brenda Maney of Richmond, Kentucky spoke to our reporters and told us her story, which is published here. Brenda reports that a well-meaning friend called CPS in Kentucky to actually help her through some difficult times, but that instead of helping, CPS allegedly took her children away, even over the objections of local police.

Brenda is facing a hearing on May 7, 2015 to permanently remove her parental rights.

Supporters are encouraged to call the governor of Kentucky and legislators to advocate for the return of Brenda Maney’s children. Governor Steve Beshear may be reached at 502-564-2611, or contacted here.

The Senator for Brenda’s district is Senator Jared Carpenter, who may be reached at 502-564-8100 Ext. 730, or contacted here.

Representative Rita Smart represents her district. She may be reached at 502-564-8100 Ext. 607, or contacted here.

UPDATE 5/8/2015

John Boel now works for a different news station, WAVE3. He has told Health Impact News that he can only cover the stories his news management assigns to him, and he is not currently covering any Kentucky CPS stories. Contact his station and ask them to cover the Maney family story (and the Naugler family story!) and their court case on May 7. WAVE3 can be contacted here.