Make It Make Sense: My Foster Care Journey Navigating A Broken System

07/16/2026

A former foster parent says she was devastated to learn of the death of a 2-year-old Antelope Valley boy she helped raise for nine months. The toddler’s mother was charged with murder in his death. https://abc7.com/19510974/

04/06/2026

EXACTLY!

Like telling your child when CPS interviews them “you know the drill”….

They know damn well what they are doing.

02/24/2026

🤬

🔗: bit.ly/3OmwF4S

Woman Charged After Allegedly Leaving 2 Kids in Filthy Home 'for Days.' One Child Was Found Trying to Eat Raw Meat, Police Say

📷: Flint Township Police Department

02/15/2026

02/03/2026

So when are we going to start following this?!

12/30/2025

Guess what?
Blood is NOT always best 🤬 This behavior is many times generational.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1KVv2Ztax2/?mibextid=wwXIfr

In 1998, four young children, including 5-year-old Jeffrey Baldwin, were removed from their mother's care after a series of child abuse allegations prompted an investigation by the Catholic Children’s Aid Society (CCAS). The children were placed into the custody of their maternal grandparents, Elva Bottineau and Norman Kidman, who were granted legal guardianship by the agency.

At first, the move seemed like a promising solution, as the grandparents were expected to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the children. However, as time passed, it became tragically clear that Jeffrey Baldwin and his siblings were far from safe in the care of their grandparents. Unbeknownst to the authorities, Elva Bottineau and Norman Kidman were themselves abusive and negligent, and the children continued to suffer in silence.

Jeffrey Baldwin, in particular, endured severe mistreatment at the hands of his grandparents. Over the course of several years, Jeffrey was subjected to horrific physical abuse and neglect, and his health deteriorated significantly. Tragically, on November 30, 2002, Jeffrey's life came to an abrupt and tragic end. At the age of 7, he died from complications caused by severe malnutrition and abuse.

The case of Jeffrey Baldwin's death shocked the community and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of child protection services. The investigation into his tragic death revealed systemic failures in the CCAS’s oversight, as there were missed opportunities to intervene and prevent the abuse from escalating. Following Jeffrey’s death, both Elva Bottineau and Norman Kidman were charged with first-degree murder and found guilty of the boy’s death, as well as the abuse of his siblings.

Jeffrey Baldwin’s case sparked public outcry and led to significant changes in child protection laws and practices in Ontario. It underscored the critical importance of vigilant, ongoing monitoring of children placed in the care of relatives, as well as the need for systemic reforms to ensure that no child slips through the cracks of the child welfare system. Jeffrey’s story serves as a tragic reminder of the vulnerability of children and the devastating consequences of abuse and neglect.