Home » Child Welfare

Tag: Child Welfare
3 - Investigations / 4 - Cases / Child Custody / Child Custody / Child Support / Child Support / Child Trafficking / Child Welfare / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Government / Maryland Watch / The Reichert Files

Nobody Asked Grant

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Grant Reichert’s communication has been restricted by his mother, Sarah Hornbeck, and John Michel, resulting in a protective order against him without his consent. Supervised visitation has become difficult, raising concerns about his well-being. Witness testimonies suggest he desires contact with his father. Ongoing litigation raises questions about manipulation and parental control dynamics.

Nobody Asked Grant Read More
3 - Investigations / California / California Watch / California's Broken Public Defense System / Child Custody / Child Custody / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Government / Institutions & Accountability / Mental Health / The Reyna Files

The Therapist the Court Ordered

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Dr. Rebecca Bailey, a family therapist, has faced numerous complaints regarding her controversial practice, Transitioning Families, which reunites families amid troubled custody disputes, often in abusive contexts. Critics claim her methods prioritize affluent parents, sidelining protective ones, while courts continue to endorse her, perpetuating a flawed system linked to a broader problematic industry.

The Therapist the Court Ordered Read More
1 - Now / The Schaefer Files / Updates

Update: Follow the Money Series Expands as Data Raises New Questions

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The investigation into federal adoption incentives is broadening, revealing over $1 billion in bonuses and $52 billion in Title IV-E funding. Key findings include decreased foster care caseloads and increased adoption payments. Riptide Investigations is examining state funding patterns, policy changes, and the effectiveness of financial incentives in achieving child welfare goals.

Update: Follow the Money Series Expands as Data Raises New Questions Read More
3 - Investigations / Child Welfare / Dark Money / Family Court / Foster Care / Money & Influence / Money and Finance / Politics / The Schaefer Files

Follow the money: how $1 billion in federal bonuses built an incentive to separate families

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Since 1997, the federal government has paid states over $1 billion in adoption incentives, encouraging adoptions instead of family reunification. While foster care numbers declined, adoption assistance payments surged by nearly 43% in recent years, highlighting a troubling financial structure favoring permanent separations over reunifications.

Follow the money: how $1 billion in federal bonuses built an incentive to separate families Read More
Government / National Security / National Security & Defense / National Security & Governance / National Security & Systems Failures

New Travel Ban Quietly Freezes International Adoptions—And Leaves Children in the Crossfire

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

A new presidential order effective January 1, 2026, halts most international adoptions from 39 “high-risk” countries, impacting thousands of vulnerable children. Framed as a national security measure, the policy has drawn criticism for disproportionately affecting African and Muslim-majority nations and lacking public discourse prior to implementation.

New Travel Ban Quietly Freezes International Adoptions—And Leaves Children in the Crossfire Read More
California / California Watch / Child Custody / Child Custody / Child Protective Services / Child Welfare / Domestic Violence / Family Court / Family Court Reform / San Marcos Abduction Attempt / The Smiel Series

From Safe Haven to Systemic Betrayal: How San Diego’s Polinsky Children’s Center Failed the Smiel Family

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Hundreds of lawsuits, state violations, and survivor accounts paint a devastating portrait of San Diego County’s flagship children’s shelter — the same facility where Giselle Smiel’s kids were taken before being handed to their abusive father.
Polinsky’s story reveals how California’s “child-protection” pipeline can deliver children straight back into danger.

From Safe Haven to Systemic Betrayal: How San Diego’s Polinsky Children’s Center Failed the Smiel Family Read More
Accountability / Advocacy / Anne Arundel County / Baltimore City / Baltimore County / Child Custody / Child Protective Services / Child Trafficking / Child Welfare / Civil Rights / Civil Rights / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Foster Care / Maryland / Maryland Watch / Montgomery County

Maryland Admits Nearly 1,000 Foster Children Missing Since 2020 — Most Are Teenage Girls

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Maryland’s Department of Human Services confirmed that 990 children in state foster care have gone missing between 2020 and 2025. Most are teenage girls, raising concerns about the classification of cases as “runaways.” Advocates argue this lack of transparency masks deeper issues in a failing foster care system, demanding federal oversight and accountability.

Maryland Admits Nearly 1,000 Foster Children Missing Since 2020 — Most Are Teenage Girls Read More
Child Custody / Child Protective Services / Child Support / Child Trafficking / Child Welfare / Constitutional Rights / Court Corruption / Due Process Denied / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Family Values / Foster Care / Government / Government Corruption / Legal Reform / Parental Rights / Policy / Politics / The Corruption Series

The Hidden Market in Broken Homes: How Family Courts Became a Profit Center

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The article by Michael Phillips argues that family courts and child welfare systems have evolved into profit-driven industries, prioritizing revenue over family stability. Federal laws like Title IV-D and Title IV-E incentivize conflict and child removal, creating a cycle of dependency and trauma for families. Reform is essential to shift these damaging incentives.

The Hidden Market in Broken Homes: How Family Courts Became a Profit Center Read More
Child Custody / Child Protective Services / Child Welfare / Family Court / Government / Government Reform / Juveniles / Parental Rights / Religious Freedom / Rights and Freedoms

When Parental Rights Collide With State Power: The Growing Battle Over Transgender Custody Cases

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

American family courts are increasingly removing children from parents who refuse to affirm a child’s transgender identity, regardless of evidence of abuse or neglect. Parents are losing their rights to make critical decisions, while state agencies and activists impose their views. This trend indicates a worrying erosion of parental authority in favor of ideological agendas.

When Parental Rights Collide With State Power: The Growing Battle Over Transgender Custody Cases Read More
Child Custody / Child Custody / Child Protective Services / Child Support / Child Support / Family Court / Idaho / parental rights / Rights and Freedoms

The Idaho Child Marriage Loophole: When “Parental Rights” Become a Custody Workaround

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Idaho’s marriage laws permit minors to marry with minimal oversight, leading to potential custody manipulation. A legal loophole allows one parent to unilaterally arrange marriages, bypassing court orders. This issue raises significant concerns about child protection and legal consistency, prompting calls for reforms to prevent exploitation and uphold family values.

The Idaho Child Marriage Loophole: When “Parental Rights” Become a Custody Workaround Read More