Today local parents set up a peaceful protest outside of Kenai’s Office of Children’s Services, saying they believe the local OCS officials take children without proper investigations. Statewide OCS Director Christy Lawton disagrees, and says staff has begun conversations with protesters about their concerns.
Local Small Business Owner of Green Rush Events Joshua Bird says he and his wife have been personally affected by OCS, they did not share details of how.
Bird: “I think they’ve personally affected most people’s lives in some way, including ours, and it takes a community, this is a community issue that needs the support of a community.”
Bird says he will collect signatures and offer people a space to share their stories through a small sound system, “Until OCS is held accountable for their actions”.
Bird’s wife Kim was also there…
Kim: “I’d just like to see them investigated and look case by case to make sure the kids were taken away for a good cause. If kids need to be taken away I understand that but not from parents that love their children and they don’t abuse them and they take care of them.”
OCS Director Lawton says there are only rare situations when children are considered in immediate danger of harm that officials will take children through swift actions to protect the child.
Lawton: “Any complaints about child abuse and neglect that we investigate are prompted from a report from an outside entity, a mandated reporter or a concerned Alaskan. Before we go out, we’re always trying to collect as much information as we can to learn what we know about the family and try to evaluate what’s going on.”
She says Kenai staff had friendly conversations with the protesters today and the Office is willing to continue conversations.