Apr
30
Real need? Or unchecked greed?
Filed Under food stamps, projects, social services | Leave a Comment
While investigating Florida’s disaster food stamp program after Hurricane Wilma, I tracked down internal memos and e-mails, called dozens of workers and heard from many who worried that affluent people were taking advantage of a program meant for the poor. The resulting stories showed how lax oversight made it nearly impossible for the state to [...]
Apr
16
Man fighting for child says caseworker moved in
Filed Under single stories, social services | Leave a Comment
By KATHLEEN CHAPMAN
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
A father who lost his daughter to the foster care system became upset in dependency court one day and blurted out an unusual allegation.
During a Jan. 11 hearing before Juvenile Court Judge Roger Colton, the man said his caseworker from the Children’s Home Society showed up on his doorstep [...]
Apr
11
Nudity to cost woman DCF job
Filed Under single stories, social services | Leave a Comment
By KATHLEEN CHAPMAN
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
WEST PALM BEACH - Department of Children and Families supervisors say they will fire a child abuse investigator who took off her clothes on the Howard Stern show.
When she came into work Monday, Alison Cushman received a letter that says she has 10 days to respond before losing her [...]
Apr
8
By KATHLEEN CHAPMAN and STEPHANIE SLATER
Palm Beach Post Staff Writers
A Palm Beach County child abuse investigator who got naked on the Howard Stern radio show this week will face consequences when she gets back from vacation.
The investigator, Alison Cushman, took off her clothes so Stern could critique her body on his Sirius satellite radio show [...]