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Advocates call for action on birthday of slain foster child

Marcus Fiesel would have celebrated his 6th birthday Wednesday, June 24. The Middletown boy's foster parents Liz and David Carroll Jr. were convicted of murder in his August 2006 death in Clermont County.

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By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer Updated 6:57 AM Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Marcus Fiesel would be 6 years old Wednesday, June 24, had he lived.

Instead, the young Middletown boy died in a closet where his foster parents left him bound in the August heat while they attended a family reunion. That was three years ago.

While many changes have since been made to the system that failed Fiesel — increased screening of foster parents, decreased workloads for caseworkers, increased home visits — one woman says a key component has been overlooked: the community.

Holly Schlaack, a program supervisor for a court appointed special advocate program in Hamilton County, outlines in a new book 12 things common people can do to help protect foster children.

The book, “Invisible Kids, Marcus Fiesel’s Legacy,” is part novel, part call to action. It tells the personal stories of the children she has met through her 15 years as an advocate. And it urges the community to not leave it up to government alone to keep these children safe.

Despite sweeping overhauls to children services, Schlaack said the need is even more now than when Fiesel died because a state budget crunch is causing drastic cuts to programs meant to protect children. “If we thought things were bad in 2006, they’re much worse today, three years later,” she said.

“The government or system can only do so much for kids,” she said. “We can’t assume that because a child is placed in foster care, they are automatically saved, protected and loved.”

There are also numerous ways to donate time, she says, from raising money to benefit foster children and families to becoming a foster or adoptive parent. If they don’t have time, she says residents should at least educate themselves about child abuse.

Larry Bergeron, director of the Liberty Twp.-based Coalition of Care, said his agency has at least 40 different ways people can help address the “crisis” of foster care.

He said people can provide respite care for adoptive and foster families, help with writing resumes and college applications for foster kids, clothing, furniture, money for medical expenses or just a day out.

“We can’t let Marcus’ story end where it did, it can’t end in a closet. We can’t let that happen again,” Schlaack said. “We going to have to become active, engaged community members around those kids, in honor of Marcus.”

Interested in volunteering to help foster children?

Contact the Coalition for Care at (513) 515-2611 or visit the agency’s Web site at www.coalitoinofcare.org.

Contact Brett Richardson, Butler County Children Services volunteer coordinator, at (513) 887-4351 or by e-mail at Richab05@odjfs.state.oh.us.

Read more about Schlaack’s book at www.invisiblekidsthebook.com.

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Birth parents are no good. That's why he was placed in foster care. The agency in New Carlisle failed to adequately investigate the foster care givers. It is now closed. The state needs to do a better job at holding agencies accountable. Until that happens you may see more of these unfortunate situations.

flipper
9:09 AM, 6/24/2009

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It's too bad that the Journal-News article didn't mention the fine work being done by PARACHUTE: Butler County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). A Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers to work as an investigator, negotiator, monitor, reporter, and advocate for the best interests of children who have been abused or neglected. For more information on PARACHUTE and how to volunteer, go to www.butlercountyohio.org/PARACHUTE

John
9:06 AM, 6/24/2009

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Where are his birth parents?

Desere
8:52 AM, 6/24/2009

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sad...I am with you on the subject of children...things of this nature make me sick, literally! I do hope that people realize there are some great foster parents out there! My friend was one years ago, and the children still come to her with great respect and love! The former foster children are now parents themselve and seek her for her knowledge and wisdom, but most of all, the love she gave them! sad...one voice can start a chain reaction of change in this society....Happy Birthday Marcus..

Nona
8:06 AM, 6/24/2009

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I am a divorce parent, I stuck-up for our children and childrens DIS services and the courts just did not listen. I have allways had Marcus on my mind,WHAT A SHAME!

Matt
7:27 AM, 6/24/2009

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