Shadows of a Dark-Alley Adoptee: Poetry by Ohio adoptee Wendy Blitzer Barkett

Columbus-born adoptee Wendy Blitzer Barkett has just published a new book of poetry:  Shadows of a Dark- Alley Adoptee: An Adoptee's Search for Self.

Wendy's"official" search for her mother Dottye Robertson Moore, and her own history, began when she was18  (and like many of us started "unofficially" much earlier) and continues.  Dottye herself was adopted and died in a traffic accident in 1973,  making things  more complicated.  Wendy's  search has taken her on several cross-country trips, and has been covered b the Columbus Dispatch and Fox Channel 5 in Las Vegas

You can read about Wendy's incredible and frustrating search, now in its third decade at Remembering Dottye.

Shadows of a Dark Alley Adoptee is available on amazon.com. I'm ordering one.

Support adoptees!  Support Ohio adoptees!

Did you know Dottye?

If you have any information about Dottye or Wendy's unknown father contact Wendy at .RememberDottye@yahoo.com

blaagh!!!!

The version of the blog I posted last night on Finding Your Roots was a rough draft. I had a prefectly good final draft, which disappeared, and I only noticed that the bad one is up today  Ugh!  Well, you get the idea.  I've been blogging for 7 years and I've never made a mistake like this before.

PBS Finding Your Roots Starts Sunday: But we're not allowed to find ours

Sunday, PBS will debut, Finding Yourt Roots,  its own version of Who Do You Think You Are?.

 The show, , hosted by Harvard professor Louis  Henry Gates, Jr  is billed as "a journey back in time, examining [their] roots using genealogy and family histories." Guests, that is family tree forangers,  in the 10-part series,  include Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick, Jr, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, Condoliza Rice, Samuel L. Jackson, Barbara Walters,  Robert Downey, jr. Sanjay Gupta  Rabbi Angela Buchdhl. and, Springfield, Ohio's own John Legend.

A couple of days ago Politico  ran a feature on Finding Your Roots  which included a  quote from Newark, NJ mayor Cory Booker, another "guest:"

 People can try to pervert the truth of other people’s past and twist it for their own petty, political benefit, and that’s always going to be a concern and a risk,” Booker said. “But I think, ultimately, by revealing the majesty of each other’s histories … you see how connected we all are.

Booker is obviously referring to race and rightly so. Forgetting the current birther movement for a minute, changing people's histories to serve political ends is hardly anything new in the US. One of the easiest ways to change history (outside of re-writing history books like they do in Texas) is manipulation of birth certificate information..  Less than 100 years ago, for instance, the racial designation of thousands of  Virginians, for reasons of race and eugenics, was changed on birth certificates, I wrote about this here.

The largest class of people though, whose official  government birth documents have been tampered with to change history are adoptees. Not only are the birth names of adoptees and those who give birth to them  removed from birth certificates and replacead with new names when an adoption takes place, but in some states (fortunately not Ohio)  the date and even place of birth  is hanged.; thus, legally erasing any trace of our original selves and replacing us with new state-created identities.

While politicians and policy makers  can look at what happenead in Virginia with disgust and horror today, the fact that 6 million adoptptees have had their own names and histories erased and replaced with state-created constructed idetities and lies, doesn't phrase them That's different.  We're different.

It wil be interesting to see who is  the coprorate sponsor of Finding Your Roots.   Who Do You Think You Are? is clearly an hour-long infomercial for ancestry.com.  ancestry.com is part of the Mormon conglomoraote which includdes L-d-S Social Services, one of the biggest and more influential loggies i nthe US to keep original birth certificaes sealed.

 Unfortunately no adoptees, (that we know of), get a free search and reunion or a platform to discuss sealed records.

More Information, More Questions in Troy Child Sex Assault Investigation

Congratulations to the Dayton Daily News for the bang-up reporting it's doing in the Kenneth Brandt child rape investigation.  I was concerned that coverage would be superficial, but  he Daily News has has stayed on top of things. (I've long been a fan of the Daily News's dedication to actual journalism).  Today's Child-rape case shows safeguards failed. is an important read.  The long feature contains new information on ACTION, Inc., child shuffling between Texas and Dayton, and Brandt himself.  It brings up the yet-to-be-answered question of whether Brandt was living off foster/adoption subsidies. (I'd love to know how the unlicensed insurance agent Brandt convinced ACTION, Inc that he actually had a job.)

 I'm writing another project today that was due last week, and don't' have time today to comment much, but I wanted to get something up with a couple comments.

There's one disturbing piece from the piece I'll point out here before I go for the day.  According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, in the last seven years "28 adopted children from the state (Texas) have been placed in homes thorough Dayton-based ACTION."  In 2006, 12% of ACTION's placements came from Texas.

 I believe this child relocation is common, but I've never understood why.  I'm no doubt naive, but outside of an occasional  special circumstance (excluding kinship placement), why are foster children shipped across state lines? Interstate newborn placement is bad enough, but the outsourcing of foster children is ripe for sex abuse not to mention government and individual financial shenanigans.

The Daily News interviewed University of Dayton Political Science Lecturer Tony Talbott, who teaches a class in human trafficking. .  He says,  "I'm looking at the news coverage, and the residents of Troy are shocked and appalled, which they should be, but they really should be surprised.  This is something occurring throughout the state of Ohio throughout the United States and internationally."

We've certainly seen enough rot in Ohio to have a good idea what goes on here, most of it protected by "professional secrecy"  promoted by  the self-serving  child welfare industry:  "confidentiality" "privacy" and "child's best interest."

As I wrote yesterday, I don't have any sense that ACTION Inc was involved in any illegal activities, and I'd be highly surprised if they are.  Nonetheless, the agency's involvement in the placement of at least three boys who were repeatedly raped by their forever father  and his friends needs exposed and investigated.

The Daily News also mentions a series of ACTION, Inc  videos.  (ACTION's YouTube channel is here.) I found them this morning before I read the article which also references them.  I had originally planned to post a couple today. I've now posted three below, introductions by Patricia A. Hill and two staff members.  They are very short. I was quite taken aback when ACTION, Inc director Patricia A Smith introduces herself as the adoptive mother of 22. A Kid Kollector to boot!

Where the Action Is: ACTION, Inc.identified as agency in Troy child rape cases

Well, it's official!  The name of the Dayton, Ohio agency that handled the adoption of four children by accused adopta pedophile and trafficker Kenneth Brant has been published--ACTION, Inc;  full name:  Adopting Children Today Information/Option Network with the tagline. "dreams can come true,"

A few days ago I  heard that ACTION, Inc was involved in the adoptions  but had no documentation and held back until there was verification.. It has now been reported by the Dayton Daily News.(Man used private Dayton adoption agency in alleged child rape, prostitution case)

The Ohio Secretary of State's business services section verifies that ACTION, Inc. is incorporated as a non-profit child placing agency in Ohio. It's director is identified as Patricia A. Hill  from New Lebanon, a  Dayton suburb.  The agency itself  is located in a single family home at 6000 Philadelphia Drive, Dayton.  Hill's name and home address in SOS documents matches a list of Ohio independent licensed social workers. (I am researching  Hill  and the agency's staff and board which I'll post when completed,  probably in a  couple days.)

According to the ACTION, Inc. website, the agency

...began in 1994 as an adoptive parent support group.  In 1997, members of the group began the licensing process to open an adoption agency.  ACTION continues to proved pre- and post-adoptive services to families as a 501 (c)(3)non-profit corporation.


Our Adoption Services Include:

• Weekly adoptive parent support group
• Infant, child and sibling placements
• Birth parent adoption plans
• Assistance with locating family resources and services
• Specialized educational courses for adoptive families

The page gives no information about the agency's qualifications as child placing  entity,  nor does it list the names and qualifications of  the owner/operator and staff.  (older links with that possible information I found on Googledon't work)  Outside of saying ACTION.Inc is a 501(c)(3), the page offers no accreditation or licensing information, although the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services says that it is licensed. An older ODJFS page contained a directory of  Ohio accredited agencies, but the new page doesn't.

The Action, Inc.page  features two pictures, one of a churchy-looking group of women (the staff? ) and another of a woman ( also in the group picture; Ms Hill?)) with two spiffy-dressed little African-American boys taken in what appears to be a courtroom.

 .

 "For more information"  about ACTION, Inc.we are directed to its "full website." At the top of that page we are informed  Actionadoption.org is COMING SOON to REGISTER.COM which links to register.com for for us to set up our own register.com domain..

While we wait for ACTON, Inc's full-blown webpage to hatch, we find in its place a cheap list of adoption "topics" with links to other adoption topics and sites that are attached sometimes to the spam marketing pest ztomy.-- but nothing about ACTION, Inc. Perhaps this is filler. Bad filler. In fact, when I went to the "full website" yesterday I got filler for video games! I regret not taking a screen shot to post here.

When I began to write this piece this morning, one of the headers, now gone, was called  "Hot Deals," an unfortunate choice of words under the circumstances. That's disappeared, and we now have the equally unfortunate "Hot Favorites" which links to among other topics,  "Adoption Child Photolisting" and "Available Child for Adoption." that connects  to more links which connect to more links. which connect to who knows how  many more links deep into the cyber. hole.  Occasionally, there's a link to a real webpage, which I assume pays to be linked
.
 The curious "full website" contains a search engine, too  Just for fun I typed "ACTION, Inc" into it, and this is what popped up:

Action A Inc

Cheap Prices and Huge Selection. Action A Inc on Sale!

 www.Calibex.com

Action A Inc: Cheap

Best Value for Action A Inc. Find NexTag Sellers' Lowest Price!

 www.NexTag.com

So far I have  no sense that the folks at ACTION, Inc are part of a pedophile or trafficking ring  They're just stupid.

******

Back at the Dayton Daily News we learn some new information about the  investigation:

---the four children are now in the care of Kenneth Brandt's mother; the girl who has not been finalized, will probably be returned to Texas for redistribution

--Brant, following the pattern of many adoption./fostercare abusers, was beginning to socially isolate his victims, through alleged home schooling.

I say "alleged" because we don't know if he actually bothered to. Brandt's qualification for Ohio schooling under Ohio:  evidence that he had a high school diploma and the submission of "proper curriculum."

Whatever went on, one boy was enrolled in Troy schools from August 18, 2011-January 2, 2012; another from August 13, 2010-Feb 13, 2012; and the third from Dec 17, 2010-February 13, 2112. .Reports so far don't indicate when Brandt started to hand off the boys to his Internet acquaintances, but I wonder if that's around the time he began to pull them out of school.  That is,  when his hobby became a money-making deal.

Three is no word yet on what Texas adoption agency, if any, worked the other end. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services says they "will review the case."  ODJFS, of course, is horrified, by the sexual assaults, especially since it licensed the agency that handled the adoptions, It;s investigating "how the adoption took place."

Finally,  on March 1, the Dayton Daily News published an article, .Man accused of child rape, describing a little of his personal life and the reaction of his neighbors to his arrest. A couple interesting points are made:

---Brandt, although he did not hold an insurance agent  license in Ohio, owned Brant Insurance Services.  There is no webpage for the business, but the incorporation can be found o the Ohio SOS page.  How he supported himself, unless illegally, hasn't been revealed and I haven't found anything yet.

---Neighbors report Brandt was selling his house.  Then, shortly after his arrest, a man and woman were spotted moving out furniture and household items.  The man reportedly told someone (no source of the quote): " “I’m so ashamed. I don’t have anything to say. ”

---The children were only occasionally seen outside;  neighbors reported that Brandt watched them carefully.  One of the boys was never seen by neighbors..

More later.

Announcement: Ohio Birthparent Group Meeting - March 18

OBG's March birthparent meeting will be held on Sunday, March 18th from 2-4pm at the Whetstone Public Library (3909 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43214). All birthparents are welcome and no RSVP is required. Join us for an amazing group support experience in a private, birthparents-only setting!

OBG in the Community

• OBG presented a program titled "Grief, Loss and 'Getting Over It': Accounting for Birthparents' Experiences in Public Narratives of Adoption" at the Winter/Spring continuing education series sponsored by the Columbus Society for Clinical Social Work and Ohio State's Counseling and Consultation Service.
• On March 25th, OBG's Kate Livingston will present at the Alliance for the Study of Adoption and Culture's 4th International Conference in Claremont, CA.

OBG Promotional Materials

Does your organization need printed materials to help spread the word about Ohio Birthparent Group's post-adoption support services? OBG brochures and business cards are available! Donation suggested. Contact ohiobirthparents@gmail.com for details.

Historic Pictures of Ohio Orphanages and Children's Homes

Tuscarawas County Children's Home, New Philadelphia

I've added a series of historic pictures of orphanages and children's home, public and private, in Ohio to our Facebook page. Many of these were still in operation into the 1970s, though  chances are no newborns were going through them by that time.

 I knew two girls, Vickie and Vicky,  who lived in the hell hole that was the Fairmount Children's Home in Alliance.  They were neither orphans or adoptables, just kids with rotten, dysfunctional parents. The Vicks were sent to Fairmount  by Children's Services as punishment for running away from their tormentors.  They continued to run away, this time from Fairmount, until the Juvenile Court judge finally emancipated them.

I've got more pictures to put up, but it will be a few days.

Fairmount Children's Home, Alliance

Odd Fellows Children's Home, Springfield

B'nai Brith Jewish Orphanage, Cleveland

 Go the our Facebook page for more pictures.

More Details in Troy Adoption Pedo Case: Boys tell police assaults began shortly after coming to Ohio

The pedo adoption story in Troy has hit the national media.  UPI,  CBS News, and Huffington Post  and even the London Daily Mail has picked it up, and I suspect more will follow. The Dayton Daily News, however, offers the most detailed coverage . This morning we have FBI to pursue charges against the men in child sex case.

I won't post the entire article here, but these are the highlights:

---Kenneth Brandt, the adoptive father of the boys, is the former president of the Foster Parent Association of Miami County.

---Brandt has a history of  "bringing children from Texas to Troy as supposed 'foster children,'”(No details; currently under investigation.)

--- Quote   “We will be looking at the process (Brandt) was using to get the children into his custody,” said [Tim] Ferguson, [supervisory senior resident agent at the FBI’s Dayton office].adding that the FBI has not determined why the children were adopted or removed from Texas.

---the fourth child in the home is a girl.  (It appears so far that she was not prostitutedo r assaulted).

---the 9-year old boy , whose adoption had not been finalized, was probably prostituted (various reports are unclear)

--- Troy Police seized four laptops, a cellphone, iPod, printer, a flash drive, account ledgers, two wooden paddles and a video camera from Brandt’s home, according to the search warrant affidavit.

---Brandt is being held on $800,000 bond  in Miami County charged with three counts of rape and one count of felonious compelling prostitution.

---Jason Zwick is being held on $500,000 bond in Miami County on charge of rape.

---Patrick Rieder is being held with no bond  in Montgomery County and charged with four counts of rape

Other reports:
WDTN:  Kenneth Brandt is a 7-89th grade  Troy Basketball League, but police have no indication that Brandt engaged in "inappropriate conduct" with any of the boys.

WOIO:  the 10-year old boy was initially afraid to cooperate with police out of fear of being separated from the other children.  After being assured that they would  stay together he told authorities he had sexually assaulted by Brandt 2-3 times a week as as soon as he arrived from Texas. The 9-year old says the sexual assaults stated about two weeks after his arrival.

Here is Rieder's online arrest record in the case.

Again, it is imperative that the media release the name of the adoption agency/agencies and foster care providers involved in the placement of these children. ODJFS is "investigating" and needs its feet held to fire on this one.  It's gotten away too long with covering and slapping the wrists  "adoption professionals."