On a positive note, some of Debbie's co-workers and I have started up a collection at the DCFS office to help with her legal defense and finances. If anyone would like to donate, please call the DCFS office and tell them you would like to make a contribution to the Debbie Aoyama legal defense fund.
Debbie is not a criminal, she is a person who was under a lot of stress at both, her home and work. She lost control and allowed her angry temper to win out and get the best of her. It can and does happen to the best of us.
I know that Debbie is facing termination because of her actions. She is in financial pickle and needs help. What's done is done, but let's not beat her up any more than she already is. It’s very sad because this is a good person and someone who I was proud to call my friend. I understand the rules of employment at the DCFS and firmly agree that Debbie should be fired. But I also think we should try to find her some professional help so that she can once again be Debbie and not some angry maniac that none of us know.
I just think that some of the people on this blog are being a bit hard on her. As her friend and confidant, it hurts to see this stuff posted. How about we all agree with the termination, but stop with the snide comments? Let Debbie leave the DCFS office with a little pride and dignity. Is that asking too much? Danielle DCFS

I've read all of these comments about Debbie Aoyama on this blog and feel its time I chime in. I am not only an employee at the DCFS offices, but also Debbie's close friend for over 5 years. We not only enjoyed each others company in the workplace, but we've become very close friends.
What most people on this blog don't realize is that just a few short years ago Debbie suffered an emotional nervous breakdown. She took a personal leave of absence and tried to get herself together, but I must be honest, she was never the same person. During her leave she experimented with drugs and alcohol. This was in my humblest opinion Debbie's downfall.
She attended regular counseling sessions in an effort to regain her mental strength, patience, and kick her bad habits. It just wasn't meant to be. My good friend and fellow co-worker had lost all of the qualities that made her such a good friend and outstanding employee. I'm sorry to say, after the breakdown and periodic use of drugs and alcohol, Debbie was not the same person that we all came to know and love.
Over the past several years, she became a problematic employee too. One who started making poor administrative decisions regarding the welfare of children. We had several meetings and discussions about it. She became confrontational, angry and abusive often times using expletives and referring to foster children as 'bitches' and 'bastards.' That is when I knew that Debbie was mentally ill.
I tried helping her any way that I could. I even went above and beyond my limitations as a friend and co-worker by trying to cover her tracks. It got to the point where I just couldn't do it any longer and jeopardize my own hide. She got mad and cursed me out simply because I would not cover her screw-ups any longer. In my own opinion, I still believe that we (the DCFS), is being sued up the ying-yang as a result of some of her poor administrative decisions. I will say on Debbie's behalf, she was not thinking with a clear and unbiased mind at that time.
It kills me to have to say this because Debbie was, and is still my friend, but she needs professional help and anger management so that she can once again be the good person that she used to be. How about a little compassion and sympathy instead of all of the name-calling and harsh judgments.