Comments on: Jessica Scovil: when the foster system fails completely

By: Marley Greiner

Marley Greiner — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:06:26 +0000

A short comment on “birthparent.” I’ve seen a real debasement of terminology in the last few years. Here’s an example: “June Cleaver is the birthmother of two boys, Wally and Beaver, and the adoptive mother of two others, Eddie. and Lumpy” If one is to interpret this in everyday adoption language, that would mean that June put up Wally and Beaver for adoption and later adopted Eddie and Lumpy. Of course, that’s not true. I don’t know where this silliness started, but it’s growing.

I’m not big on PC adoption language, but please, let words mean what they are supposed to mean,..

By: Baby Love Child

Baby Love Child — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 05:39:52 +0000

Finally, see the video off this Fox (faux) news link for an interview with Jessica's parents, Robert Scovil and Evelyn Carter. Note the (inaccurate) use of "birthparent" in this as well.

By: Baby Love Child

Baby Love Child — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 05:21:03 +0000

In the video linked off this Fox (faux) news page out of Atlanta, Maj. David Cochran of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office says they had been fostering for 7 years. (this contradicts the '5 years' in the news story above.) Also note the sign in the front yard on the video, displaying the phone number. The number is maintained as part of the Freddie Mac Foundation's "Wednesday's Child" program.

By: Baby Love Child

Baby Love Child — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:37:08 +0000

I should also mention, Jessica was one of 5 kids in the household, see this earlier story, Baby dies after left in vehicle in Jackson County,

The girl was one of three foster children and two adopted children living with the family, Cochran said.

Wendy Osborne was 29. She and her husband had been fostering for more than five years, according to this article, Girl left in minivan dies. (Yes, that would mean the first child was placed with them when she was 24.)