Advocates say it’s time for legislators to investigate the recent increase in Iowa court orders to terminate parental rights. “What’s going on here? Are all of a sudden the parents in Iowa becoming evil?” That’s Nancy Augustine. She became an advocate for change after her son and daughter-in-law were investigated by state government social workers in 2012.

“They went through the whole court system — the juvenile court, which I refer to as a kangaroo court system because everything about it is the opposite of ‘innocent until proven guilty,’ etc.,” Augustine said. “They got their children back after going through all the hoops and whistles…but, but I could not let this drop.” Toya Johnson of Iowa Citizens for Justice says Iowa ranks 36th in population, but sixth in the number of children who are removed from their parents’ home after an allegation of abuse.

“We have a serious problem that needs to be addressed not only with the Department of Human Services, but it also needs to be addressed in the way our judicial policies and procedures are going,” Jackson says. Jackson and Augustine testified yesterday (Wednesday) before the Iowa House Government Oversight Committee. The panel’s chairman said state officials will be given a chance to respond to the allegations at a future committee meeting.

(Radio Iowa)