The Mountain Xpress interviewed Angela Pittman of the Buncombe County Department of Social Services took place on Jan. 13, 2010, in her office. The interview was given with the express stipulation that individual DSS cases could not be discussed. Questions are by reporter Nelda Holder.
The interview came as part of Holder’s reporting on a child custody case involving DSS and Ryan Baldwin and his family. Xpress published an initial story on Jan. 6, and has published a follow-up.
Click here to download a PDF of the interview with Pittman.
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This story of the brutal treatment of a family by government agencies is every parent’s worst nightmare. I hope that those responsible for this travesty will be held accountable.
I think the reporter, Nelda Holder, did an outstanding job of reporting this story–especially with the restrictions added by a social services department that seems to be eager to cover up its own wrongdoing.
Myrtie J.
Ms. Holder did an outstanding job on this story. This was a horrendous situation that should NEVER have happened. Ryan has the most loving and supportive parents and grandparents and yet, Buncombe County DSS takes him away from them, for what? Money? Buncombe County DSS should do their job and take care of the children who are in bad shape and need to be removed quickly from abusive homes. There are more than enough of those children in Buncombe County. Apparently, those children do not come with Federal money so they are stuck in mentally, physically, and sexually abusive sitautions while a beloved boy like Ryan is removed from his family – because of money.
Got ya DSS. Time to clean house in Buncombe County – across the board.
Because you have excellent reporting skills, the story of Ryan is reaching across cyberspace touching the lives of those who live with chronic fatigue syndrome. This is just another instance of uneducated physicians and a broken system. In order to work properly an engine needs all the necessary elements, a physician that understands chronic fatigue syndrome, a physician that recognizes that a parent knows their child better than anyone and has the right to refuse certain treatments, and a social worker that knows how to make appropriate referrals before jumping to uneducated conclusions. A very close relative and once best friend is now in a near vegitative state because her brain misfires constantly, all due to the combination of medications used to treat her chronic fatigue syndrome. In this case her husband and I tried to intervene, but she would have none of it stating, my doctor knows best. The doctor does not always know best.
My hat is off to the editor and to Dr. Cheney.
we need to stop talking and do something to save our family members. I, have been there, know just how it is. There is not a day go by that I, dont think of the abuse given to my grandson by DSS and the courts of Asheville,NC. Be very careful it is not good there.
@Celeste Cooper
Thanks so much for adding this tragic, still crucial information about your relative and CFS to the story.
I encourage you to write your comments in a letter to the Mountain Xpress’ editor so it appears in the print edition, if you haven’t already done that. Also to the Asheville Citizen-Times.
The expectation that parents must trust doctors who don’t know what they don’t know needs to be called for what it is — a dangerous hoax.
I don’t see how the lack of a primary care physician is necessarily an indicator of child neglect if no qualified primary care health care provider can be found. And by “qualified,” I mean someone who’s expert in the nuances of diagnosing and treating a complex disorder, one that challenges the constraints of conventional allopathic medical concepts.
I’ll be there. Thank you. May God Bless and Keep You and your son Ryan.
we say Dss,but in real it is child protective service helping the greedy to distroy our children and adults that are sick and in need of medical care. That is why I,support Health Care Reform. You might not like the messenger but the truth will save you and your loveones.To Mrs. Baldwin,I will say again God Bless you and your son.Mrs. Baldwin,I dont think you want to really know what your child might have gone through by medical doctors and people that he didnt even know.You find me I might talk to you. Again, I say it is dirty medical practice and low down DSS and Child Protective Service. God Bless You.
Jason, I, recently made a comment and I, spelled DESTROY wrong. Will you please correct it for me?
I was informed that one of the judges involved in
this case is planning to retire as soon as
possible. Apparently Judge Gary Cash is trying
to get away before true justice can be served !
The “Untouchables” will be brought into the
public spotlight !