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Press Release
August 1999
ZERA FOUNDATION
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Patricia Hudson
(714) 990-8131
e-mail: zera8@hotmail.com
website: http://www.zerafoundation.org
ZERA FOUNDATION FOUNDED FOR FOSTER/GROUP HOME CHILDREN
Organization formed to correct inconsistencies of Foster/Group Home Care
System
Diamond Bar, 1999 - The Zera Foundation announces operations to correct inconsistencies and abuses of the Foster/Group Home Care System. The foundation holds that the current system is plagued with fraud,
misuse and overcrowding. It plans to educate the public on systemic failures and in partnership with other concerned individuals, businesses and organizations, seek ways to correct these deficiencies outside the system
via the private sector.
According to Zera Foundation head Willie Hudson, the current multi-million dollar California State Care System for Foster/Group Home Children is not providing children with the bare
essentials for success after adolescence and, indeed, serves as a cauldron for future homelessness, welfare dependency and crime, all of which affects society at-large. Hudson, founder of the organization, cites for
example the use of "medicated straight jackets" in order to make such children easier to tolerate. These "straight jackets" include the use of such anti-depressant drugs as Ritalin, Clonidine and
Cylert mostly used without consent or consultation of any kind. He further states, that while certain children do need treatment, many in state's care are routinely drugged for expressing normal angry reactions to abuse
and abandonment or just for being rambunctious kids. "Your tax dollars at work," says Hudson. "Our system breeds children who grow up to be dependent on the state through welfare. When people depend on
the state for their livelihood you don't have citizens, you have slaves."
Hudson asserts that there are more than a half-million children in state care across the nation and more than 112,000 in Los Angeles
County alone. And, it has been documented that a large percentage of these children are further abused in Foster/Group Home settings by staff and administrators. "These care-givers are not all bad guys,"
Hudson says, "But, the system is simply too large and cumbersome to be properly monitored. Abuses can easily go unchecked. And, we're talking about living, breathing human beings who like you and me, just want to
grow up to be good productive citizens. Far to many of them are falling through the cracks and we collectively, will pay for this in the end as taxpayers or crime victims. It just doesn't make sense. At best, it's
immoral. At worst, it's criminal. Overall, it's stupid."
Zera Foundation has been joined by, among others, the Sylvan Learning Centers, Emerald Personnel Agency, Reynolds Aluminum, and Knightress
Productions. The organization is discussing the problems cited above with numerous citizens and organizations at this time. |
