OT: Obesity a crime ???

I agree. Many school districts are now finally recognizing that  THEY also play a huge role in the nutritional responsibilities to children. The story just didn't give enough information regarding this case. I just find it hard to believe that 100% of the burden should've fallen on his mother.

Just a little bit of info that I learned during my time as a foster parent.  Black and latino kids are removed at systematically higher rates than white kids.  It's a combination of social worker bias and parental attitude.  Depending on the type of neglect or abuse claim that is made social workers have a tendency to believe that a white parent will follow through on a case plan or a safety plan that will keep the child from being removed.  White parents know how to fake the funk long enough to get social services off their back.  We (as in black folks) want to fight and get mad when someone tries to tell us what to do. 

Do what you need to do to get social services off your back.   Why even play at getting your child removed.  Children being removed is typically last resort. 

Hi Tsunami,
in some instances removing a child is the last resort. My sister was a protective services worker and now a ps supervisor. She told me that there is so much mess in the system regarding black vs white childrens removals. She said that a white child is usually mangled or neglected to the point of the death of a sibling before removals take place, where as with a black child just the word whuppin coming out of someones mouth would have her boss breathing down her neck to  remove the child. Michigan has bore the burden of many child deaths recently and most of them were white children.

I just saw a story on the news today where a white newborn baby is fighting for his life because the FAMILY DG snatched the baby and dragged it to the woods practically mangling the baby. My blood pressure shot up when the parents said that they believe that the dog felt that the baby was a doll. How bout Rover was jealous and we need to at least get rid of Rover? They plan on keeping the dog, and if that baby survives I BET that they bring that baby right back to the home. The dog was one of those wolf looking dogs.

I used to be a foster parent also, getting ready to get re-liscensed to take in teens.

I saw that story too Q and I was hot.......rover would have to be put down

Your sister is right.  White kids have to be half dead to be removed from their parents but they will remove a black child waaay before it gets to that point.  Case workers will tell you it's better to adopt black kids from foster care because they have had very little abuse.  Good luck with getting re-licensed.  My husband and I plan on doing it again once our kids are much older or out of the house. 

you can't solve a complex problem using a simple @ss approach.

obesity is a complex problem that won't be solved by criminalizing those involved. its actually more of an epidemic or pandemic than a mere problem. 

if you are gonna involve the law, why not start by regulating the food industry.  how about bring physical education back into schools daily instead of weekly. build rec centers in the hood to encourage exercise.  hell, there are plenty of things you can do before you start wanting to lock folk up or charge them with crimes and take away their children.

Diva, I'm torn because I saw a little girl in the mall yesterday couldn't have been no older then 9-10 and she was MORBIDLY OBESE at least 160lb easily and the child was sooo sad LOOKING. That I turned to my daughter with tears in my eyes and had to hold my child and I told her I was heart broken for the little girl.

I think that a parent should be held responsible and should take some sort of steps to a "healthier" life style for a over weight child . Take measure like a therapist (because if a child sneaks, hide and eat you can't be there at all times ) but they need to express why there doing it.  Exercise with the child show them the importance .

Not do as I say and Not as I do ! But then taken a child away I don't agree because all kinds of stuff happens in home for kids, now if they take the child to a fat camp or something like that then I agree. I'm torn , but I feel for the babies....