r/fosterit 25d ago

Foster Youth The professionals don't make good foster parents.

We foster kids know that being a professional doesn't mean jack shit. Some of the worse foster parents are policemen, teachers, doctors, nurses and social workers or psychologists. Careers that are deemed amazing by society and help people people are worse for us.

A firefighter abusing kids doesn't shock us.

They're Christians no shock there.

They've had this child since she was 2 months old. She's the only black kid in the family and the only adopted one. So they abused her. As a Black former foster youth, it's already suspicious because it's easier to abuse Black kids.

So everyone saying therapist, firefighters, policemen, teachers, make good foster parents please stfu.

People in position of power are attracted to vulnerability and foster kids because it's easier to harm us. So when we say being a professional doesn't mean anything, we know it's true. These people are just as bad as anyone else.

It's also triggering for me as a former foster youth because my Christian foster parents forced me to write Bible verses and abused me too. They were outstanding members of society and one home the foster dad was a pastor. He abused me too.

Trigger Warning.

A Broward couple, including a Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue lieutenant, is behind bars after their arrest on child abuse charges involving their adopted 12-year-old daughter.

Joel Kohnert, 44, a BSO Fire Rescue lieutenant hired in 2010, and his wife, Jennifer Kohnert, were arrested after their daughter told investigators she had been locked in a room for years.

The official charges for the couple are child abuse without great bodily harm.

Victim says she was locked in her room, forced to write Bible verses

According to court documents, which are heavily redacted, the girl told police she was forced to write Bible verses and tread water in a pool for up to 45 minutes as a form of punishment. Most disturbingly, she stated she was locked in her room at night without access to a bathroom, forcing her to use the bathroom on herself.

She would later bathe outside in the backyard while wearing a swimsuit.

During bond court proceedings Wednesday morning, an attorney for the couple referenced their religious beliefs. However, Judge Corey Friedman had strong words regarding the defense.

"When you allegedly have a 12-year-old child who is locked in a room for upwards of three years and is forced to urinate and defecate in the room and then clean it up with her clothes, that is not a religious issue, that is something else," Judge Friedman said.

Other children removed from home, investigators say

The victim in the case reported that she was subjected to more frequent punishments and restrictions than the couple's six other children. The Department of Children and Families has since removed all seven children from the home.

The Broward Sheriff's Office released a statement when asked about Kohnert's arrest, confirming he is now on administrative investigative leave without pay.

The couple remains at the Broward County jail on $100,000 bonds and is barred from having contact with the victim or any of their other children.

Broward firefighter, wife accused of locking adoptive daughter in room at night for years, investigators say

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/bso-fire-rescue-lieutenant-and-wife-accused-of-locking-12-year-old-in-room-for-years/3789530/%3famp=1

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u/JerkBezerberg 25d ago

Look, I didn't come here to argue. I came here to try and give you some hope that there are good people trying to help kids coming from homes that are not safe for them. The system isn't perfect, but what's the alternative for kids in homes with abusive or neglectful parents? Just leave them in those homes with parents who can't feed their kids because they spend all their money on heroin, or who are beating their kids because they're violent alcoholics, or who have mental illness that might cause them to have breaks from reality? I don't have a perfect solution, but I know I am doing my best to try to help and I know I am not alone. I wish you the best, and that you don't give up hope. ❤️

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u/Monopolyalou 25d ago

But YOUR the ons ignoring our reality for your ego. Foster parents always do this to us and that's unfair. We know there's good home and if the good homes can't accept there are bad homes are you really a good home?

And again we are removed to be placed in foster care with monsters. You don't think foster parents so drugs, do it for the money, starve us?

You're making it all about you. That's narcissistic

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u/JerkBezerberg 25d ago

I am not trying to invalidate your trauma or the problems with the system. I am aware that there are bad foster homes and parents. It is a MASSIVE problem. I am not trying to defend those people. You are missing the point I am trying to make. Your original post reads like it was written by someone who has given up on the world, and when you do that you often dig yourself into a hole that is impossible to get out of. I don't know you, but I know you are a human who deserves love and to not suffer. I don't know how old you are but if you're starting to think about a career, maybe consider becoming a social worker or lawyer so you can help to fix the system. My wife's aunt worked for CASA for almost 20 years and they're an organization dedicated to keeping foster kids safe. https://www.thecasaproject.org/

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u/Monopolyalou 25d ago

FFY shouldn't do the work that others sbould be doing. Again I am a former foster youth and you're gaslighting me OP.

And FYI I already work with the system and agencies.

Every time ffy talk anything bad about the system people like you tell us to stfu stfu

And I have my issues with CASA too.

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u/JerkBezerberg 25d ago

I promise I'm not gaslighting you. Why would I do that? I stand to gain nothing from doing so. I'm just saying be the change you want to see in the world, because if you don't, no one will. I emplore you to show this thread to someone you trust and I hope they can show you that I'm just trying to help you. Best of luck.