Ruzicka champions parents' rights

OREM — The Utah Eagle Forum will zero in on the Division of Child and Family Services, which its members say unnecessarily takes children away from parents, during the legislative session that begins on Monday.

Gayle Ruzicka, president of the ultra-conservative lobbying group, made a call to arms during the Eagle Forum's annual convention held at Utah Valley State College Saturday.

More than 50 members attended the convention to listen to 11 speakers, who focused primarily on the family and the importance of using Christ as the starting point of education, government and public service.

Ruzicka told those in attendance that the state's economic prosperity should not dull their activism. Since she first arrived in Utah 12 years ago, Ruzicka has seen a sharp decline in the number of people outspoken on family issues as the economy has improved.

"Things may look great out there, there may be more cars in the driveway, but we can't be deceived by this," she said. "We need you as much now as we did 10 years ago. We need more people to fight for all of the people who are getting their families taken away."

The Eagle Forum, which Ruzicka said is stronger than ever, will work almost exclusively for the passage of legislation that makes it more difficult for DCFS to take custody of a child from his or her parents.

"They are taking children out of homes when there is not any real abuse. If parents can't parent their families then society will totally crumble," Ruzicka said.

Among the speakers was newly-elected Rep. Mike Thompson, R-Orem, who is sponsoring five bills that would change DCFS policy.

Thompson criticized DCFS for having policies oriented more toward individual rights than the rights of the family. His legislation is intended to strengthen parents' ability to retain custody of a child during a dispute with the state and to strengthen their ability to defend themselves in a trial.

One such bill would make it impossible for the division to remove a child unless a criminal court convicted one of the parents of child abuse.

"Today you do not even have to be charged with anything to have your rights as a parent terminated," said Thompson, who is not a member of the Eagle Forum.

Thompson also will sponsor a bill that would make it illegal for DCFS to withhold records about an individual's case. He called the division's current policies "anti-parent and anti-traditional family."