Anonymous
02/21/2021 14:44
Subject: Relisha Rudd
The podcast has made no mention of Irving Rudd, Relisha's father and the father of the oldest boy. He was sent to jail for beating to death an infant in his care so he is no prize. He's out now and was accused of further bad behavior but beat the charges (no pun intended) The entire situation is beyond awful.
Anonymous
02/21/2021 14:41
Subject: Relisha Rudd
Stating the obvious but there are no easy answers. I'm uncomfortable with forced sterilization or birth control but very few people even with a college degree and a two parent family can manage easily 4 at 28. Throw in a minimum wage earning potential with not much hope for advancement and it would be near impossible. Someone has to watch the kids so working is limited by one parent.
A few years ago Shamika posted on her Facebook page that life was peaceful. That was after losing the kids. As much as I judge her for her choices, I believe the sincerity of that post. Four kids and another adult in one room must have been a nightmare. As far as I can tell, she hasn't has any more children and I hope that as she ages, she doesn't. I hope the other boys are doing well. The hard to place child probably isn't but maybe there is hope for the adopted one and the one in foster care.
A few years ago Shamika posted on her Facebook page that life was peaceful. That was after losing the kids. As much as I judge her for her choices, I believe the sincerity of that post. Four kids and another adult in one room must have been a nightmare. As far as I can tell, she hasn't has any more children and I hope that as she ages, she doesn't. I hope the other boys are doing well. The hard to place child probably isn't but maybe there is hope for the adopted one and the one in foster care.
Anonymous
02/21/2021 13:12
Subject: Relisha Rudd
Anonymous wrote:Intensive MANDATORY interventions and stable housing while being taught how to literally pay your bills and budget. Shamika had a rent subsidy and Antonio said he gave he money for rent but she didn't pay. Sitting her down and showing her that if you don't give the landlord $xx you won't be able to stay in the apartment, might have been a good start.
Having affordable housing available is critical too of course and this impacts more than the completely disenfranchised. Housing costs in major US markets have widened the divide between the have and the have nots. If you work full time you should be able to afford housing without 1000 roommates. To those spitting on the low paying jobs, I think the pandemic should have shown you that somebody being willing to perform these jobs is critical.
I think my issue is that a single parent with four kids will not be able to afford affordable housing on a minimum wage job. Having kids really young is one of the factors keeping people in poverty. Have five kids by the time you are 28 with no college degree or stable partner? How can you possible afford housing?
And also she had subsidies for housing and still was evicted multiple times. The system was trying to help.
Anonymous
02/21/2021 12:52
Subject: Re:Relisha Rudd
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
DCPS did not fail. the parents of relisha rudd failed her. I understand that she is considered mentally challenged, drug issues, abused etc. Even after three investigations by CPS, did anyone at all ever discuss providing her with a free IUD?
I assume you mean Shamika, Relisha's mom? It's possible that she was offered birth control after having her children.
The school connection is that she was chronically absent and was absent for approximately 18 days straight when the school sent the social worker to the shelter. The school knew she was in an unstable living situation so most likely not on a European vacation during her absences.
The mother initially lied about her "treatment" so the school didn't know for a while. This is 100% on the mother, whatever her impairments.
Birth control after having 4 kids kind of defeats the purpose. I know a few years ago she was fighting to get her other kids back from foster care. I believe her oldest was actually adopted but not sure of the others.
A PP posted about this. Child 1 was adopted, Child 2 has been difficult to place, and Child 3 is in foster care. She will never get them back, and truly hope she does not have any more.
Anonymous
02/21/2021 12:31
Subject: Relisha Rudd
Intensive MANDATORY interventions and stable housing while being taught how to literally pay your bills and budget. Shamika had a rent subsidy and Antonio said he gave he money for rent but she didn't pay. Sitting her down and showing her that if you don't give the landlord $xx you won't be able to stay in the apartment, might have been a good start.
Having affordable housing available is critical too of course and this impacts more than the completely disenfranchised. Housing costs in major US markets have widened the divide between the have and the have nots. If you work full time you should be able to afford housing without 1000 roommates. To those spitting on the low paying jobs, I think the pandemic should have shown you that somebody being willing to perform these jobs is critical.
Having affordable housing available is critical too of course and this impacts more than the completely disenfranchised. Housing costs in major US markets have widened the divide between the have and the have nots. If you work full time you should be able to afford housing without 1000 roommates. To those spitting on the low paying jobs, I think the pandemic should have shown you that somebody being willing to perform these jobs is critical.
Anonymous
02/21/2021 09:25
Subject: Re:Relisha Rudd
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What’s the answer though to prevent another story like this?
Mandating a family mentor or you lose your kids.
+1
Or more resources for social services and really strict attendance policies at school. Like regardless of an excuse note from a doctor, after three days in a row a social worker or some other program worker does a well check on the child. That won’t happen because of the resources needed and the parent complaints you will get from kids on ski vacations with their parents, but attendance policies have little backbone right now.
a family with multiple evictions and small kids should be put on a track for intensive interventions and stable housing.
Anonymous
02/21/2021 01:07
Subject: Re:Relisha Rudd
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What’s the answer though to prevent another story like this?
Mandating a family mentor or you lose your kids.
+1
Or more resources for social services and really strict attendance policies at school. Like regardless of an excuse note from a doctor, after three days in a row a social worker or some other program worker does a well check on the child. That won’t happen because of the resources needed and the parent complaints you will get from kids on ski vacations with their parents, but attendance policies have little backbone right now.
Anonymous
02/20/2021 21:33
Subject: Re:Relisha Rudd
Anonymous wrote:What’s the answer though to prevent another story like this?
Mandating a family mentor or you lose your kids.
Anonymous
02/19/2021 16:27
Subject: Re:Relisha Rudd
What’s the answer though to prevent another story like this?
Anonymous
02/19/2021 14:56
Subject: Re:Relisha Rudd
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
DCPS did not fail. the parents of relisha rudd failed her. I understand that she is considered mentally challenged, drug issues, abused etc. Even after three investigations by CPS, did anyone at all ever discuss providing her with a free IUD?
I assume you mean Shamika, Relisha's mom? It's possible that she was offered birth control after having her children.
The school connection is that she was chronically absent and was absent for approximately 18 days straight when the school sent the social worker to the shelter. The school knew she was in an unstable living situation so most likely not on a European vacation during her absences.
The mother initially lied about her "treatment" so the school didn't know for a while. This is 100% on the mother, whatever her impairments.
Birth control after having 4 kids kind of defeats the purpose. I know a few years ago she was fighting to get her other kids back from foster care. I believe her oldest was actually adopted but not sure of the others.
Anonymous
02/19/2021 12:52
Subject: Relisha Rudd
Anonymous wrote:This weeks episode criticizing the Days Inn was similar. Of course the Days Inn on New York Ave is going to be depressing but if you literally have nowhere else to go, it is a roof over your head.
I'm not crazy about the parents sharing a room long term with children of mixed genders but before the Days Inn they were bunking with the sister and her family in a one bedroom so the Days Inn may have given them more space.
The shelter sounds like a disaster and it does seem like no one wanted to commit to improving it since was supposed to be temporary but again, any roof over your head is better than none.
Also the complaints about it not being walkable. Like, they aren't purchasing a condo... it's somewhere to keep you off the street and out of the elements. Also, while it's not a super beautiful area there are sidewalks and crosswalks, there's McDonald's, Taco Bell, and if you want some fresh air it's walkable to the Arboretum.
Anonymous
02/19/2021 10:44
Subject: Relisha Rudd
This weeks episode criticizing the Days Inn was similar. Of course the Days Inn on New York Ave is going to be depressing but if you literally have nowhere else to go, it is a roof over your head.
I'm not crazy about the parents sharing a room long term with children of mixed genders but before the Days Inn they were bunking with the sister and her family in a one bedroom so the Days Inn may have given them more space.
The shelter sounds like a disaster and it does seem like no one wanted to commit to improving it since was supposed to be temporary but again, any roof over your head is better than none.
I'm not crazy about the parents sharing a room long term with children of mixed genders but before the Days Inn they were bunking with the sister and her family in a one bedroom so the Days Inn may have given them more space.
The shelter sounds like a disaster and it does seem like no one wanted to commit to improving it since was supposed to be temporary but again, any roof over your head is better than none.
Anonymous
02/19/2021 10:16
Subject: Relisha Rudd
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anyone listen to this weeks episode about the eviction?
The narrator is pushing my boundaries on compassion here. The mother did not pay rent and was evicted. She had been evicted from others places although the podcast kept emphasizing that not all eviction actions filed against her stuck.
It was noted that she received a rent subsidy so how much was her actual monthly rent in 2006 through 2012? Her boyfriend admitted that she didn't pay rent on the apt before there were any issues with the apt.
Yeah... I half expected her to speculate all the way to "If a meteor wiped out the Landlord & Tenant courthouse, maybe she would not have been evicted."
+1 it is a little much. How about "if she paid her rent she wouldn't have been evicted"
Anonymous
02/19/2021 10:14
Subject: Relisha Rudd
Anonymous wrote:I don't blame the school. It's the school that helped figure out something was wrong to begin with and investigated. "Doctors" notes were sent to school signed by the creep janitor who signed them "Dr."
I don't think you can blame the school. When a parent constantly lies to the school and submits fraudulent notes what do you expect them to do? I think they handled it as best they could. When the lies got to be to much they referred it to social services. Relisha's Mom let her down not her school.
Anonymous
02/18/2021 23:40
Subject: Relisha Rudd
Anonymous wrote:Anyone listen to this weeks episode about the eviction?
The narrator is pushing my boundaries on compassion here. The mother did not pay rent and was evicted. She had been evicted from others places although the podcast kept emphasizing that not all eviction actions filed against her stuck.
It was noted that she received a rent subsidy so how much was her actual monthly rent in 2006 through 2012? Her boyfriend admitted that she didn't pay rent on the apt before there were any issues with the apt.
Yeah... I half expected her to speculate all the way to "If a meteor wiped out the Landlord & Tenant courthouse, maybe she would not have been evicted."