PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Michelle D. Winfield, District Leader of 74th Assembly District
3:04:02
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3 min
Michelle D. Winfield, a District Leader in the 74th Assembly District, testifies in support of the proposed bill and shares insights from a young woman's experiences in the foster care system. She highlights both positive aspects of ACS work and areas for improvement based on the young woman's documented experiences.
- Winfield references a book, "5 Feet of Water" by Amiri Molloy Anderson, which details the author's experiences in foster care from age 11 to 26.
- The testimony covers issues such as sexual abuse, bullying, and inadequate living conditions in foster homes.
- Winfield makes suggestions for improvement, including taking allegations seriously, providing paid tutoring, and addressing bullying by ACS staff.
Michelle D. Winfield
3:04:02
Thank you.
3:04:03
I am Michelle d Winfield.
3:04:06
I am a elected, District Leader in the 74th Assembly District.
3:04:12
I give you that reference because the young lady I'm will be talking about is a member of the political club.
3:04:23
There's a young lady that has gone through the foster care system.
3:04:27
But the first thing I'd like to do is speak to the honorable Stevens and her committee to say thank you.
3:04:35
I support the bill.
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And I thank you.
3:04:39
I also thank ACS.
3:04:41
I know there's been a lot of talk, but I thank them for the work that many do that are positive.
3:04:48
But I have suggestions because of the experience I have with, the young lady and she has through her time, she's 26 years old.
3:04:59
She went into the system when she was 11 years old and she kept journals every single day.
3:05:06
And then she produced a book, 5 Feet of Water, by Amiri Molloy Anderson.
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Everybody should have a copy of that book.
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If you want testimony, it's all here.
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Exactly how she was treated, what problems existed, and it's really mind opening.
3:05:30
So these things included, she had ups and downs, but she was approached in the foster care system by the the, boyfriends of the foster care system, people, men entering her room at night, social workers bullying her to silence.
3:05:57
And even though the many ups and downs, the social worker did not improve her living conditions, which included girls bringing men into the apartment.
3:06:07
There are suggestions that we make and just take seriously the allegations of groping, molestation and drug use in the home.
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Death threats are not just an incident.
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Paid tutoring should be paid.
3:06:26
I heard them say they pay for tutoring.
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They do not pay for her tutoring.
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It's not $90 an hour.
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Encourage children, for their education obtained work.
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Theft or bullying, bullying should not be tolerated by the ACS staff.
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It's included in here.
Althea V. Stevens
3:06:47
Well, thank you.
3:06:48
Could, could you wrap up your testimony?
3:06:50
We do have other free audio.
Michelle D. Winfield
3:06:51
The last statement.
3:06:52
Thank you.
3:06:53
The title of her book, 5 Feet of Water because She's 6 Feet Tall, she says it's 5 feet of water because she wasn't underwater.
3:07:01
She was only molested once and was in 12 different homes.
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Many of her friends molested every week and in 24 homes.
3:07:13
And thank you.
