You will never get the chance to meet four-year-old Amariana Crenshaw.
Her life ended when she was burned beyond recognition by one or more Molotov cocktails landing on her while she slept on the floor of her foster mother’s rental property.
Medical records reveal that Amariana sustained at least 11 prior injuries during her time in foster mother Tracy Dossman’s care – including being pushed from a car.
Between the time that Amariana entered foster care and the time of her death, she dropped from the 83rd to the 3rd percential for her weight. Foster mother Tracy Dossman has been cited for numerous licensing violation – including two documented incidents of locking the refrigerator while Amariana lived with her.
Now, tell me this:
- Tell me why Tracy Dossman still has her foster parenting license.
- Tell me why Tracy Dossman has not been charged with a crime.
- Tell me why, at this very moment, five other foster children are residing in Tracy Dossman’s “home”
- Look me in the eye and explain to me why, after five black eyes and/or split and swollen lips, an injured leg and a molestation allegation, the conclusion drawn by DSS was that Amariana was “accident-prone.”
The California Department of Social Services says that until they complete the official inquiry, and unless they find Dossman in "noncompliance," they will not move to decertify her as a foster parent. Nor will they require the private agency that certifies Dossman to remove the other children.
"We're not there yet," says DSS spokeswoman Lizelda Lopez, who said it's not clear when a decision will come.
My question for Lopez and the other folks working at DSS is: "Would you trust YOUR children in Tracy Dossman's home?"
Sources:
Editorial: Who’s looking out for the next Amariana? Sacramento Bee, Feb. 14, 2010, pg. 6E.
Lundstrom, Marjie. Clinic records reveal more injuries. Sacramento Bee, Feb. 5, 2010, pg. 1A.
