FightCPS does not advocate or condone violence or illiegal activities of any kind.
FightCPS is intended to help people learn enough about the law to be able to successfully defend themselves and their families against false accusations using legal documents and strategies that put parents in a stronger position when they go back to court.
For more information, see the FAQ.
Child Protective Services, CPS, has devastated and destroyed hundreds of thousands of families in America during the last thirty years leaving a trail of broken hearts, broken dreams, and shattered childhoods.
Rather than helping families, government agents have used unconstitutional laws in Juvenile Court to rip children away from their loving parents, break asunder God-given, natural, parent-child bonds, and adopt the children of the grieving out to others who profit financially with large monthly adoption subsidy payments.
Child Protective Services must be stopped! The law that started this, CAPTA, must be repealed. We must work tirelessly to inform the public of this very dangerous travesty of justice. We must keep faith knowing that if there is a God, there is an answer and a way to end this heartache.
Child Protective Services Agents - please come to your senses! Family destruction on false or trivial grounds is wrong, reprehensible, and inhumane.
Fosterers - be aware that for the money you get you are holding much-loved children away from their grieving families while the parents are forced to perform a service plan that is anything but a service to them. I call this hostage holding for the government. This is not kindness - to help misguided government agents destroy family relationships and break loving bonds.
CPS workers and fosterers - I ask that you now let the children of the innocent return to their homes where they are truly valued, adored, and loved by the parents God gave them.
Family rights are God-given rights. And they should not be ignored or postponed. Every moment these loving parents and children spend separated from one another is a torment beyond what anyone should ever have to bear.
It is unworthy of human dignity to allow this terrorism and torture of families to go on without saying something, speaking out, and trying to make a change.
Site mission: To provide information and support for families attacked by Child Protective Services and child welfare agents, especially those families facing false or trivial accusations of child abuse or neglect; and for researchers working to protect natural family rights.
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Fighting Child Protective Services False Accusations
June 2, 2007
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In 2001 while I was finalizing plans to
divorce, my wife filed a false allegation of sexual abuse against me
subsequently I was kept away from my
children for the next 4 1/2 years without even supervised visitation,
illegally. My fight continues to this day
however, my children are in my life now and I, if nothing esle, want to encurage others not to quit and that there is hope nomatter how small it seems to be.
Comment by Rod Lynn — June 3, 2007 @ 4:34 am
I’m abused by our system for telling the truth. Corrupt Politicians honor themselves and cover-up the corruption aganist ordinary citizens.
WE HAVE A LEGAL SYSTEM WITH NO JUSTICE.
WHEN T. ALEX HICKMAN WAS ELECTED JUSTICE MINISTER IN SEPTEMBER 1966, IT STARTED A LEGAL SYSTEM WITHOUT JUSTICE, WHICH REMAINS IN PLACE TO THIS DAY.
Politicians names and faces change in Ottawa, Ont. and St. John’s, Nl. but the Corruption continues to rule our country. I spent from April to October, 7 months, in Ottawa, on Parliament Hill, with permits, handing out 12,000 information sheets, and 7000 more in Newfoundland, about what happened to my family, and a sheet with each, on a Book about my family, PLAYING WITH THE DEVIL, by Martha Jetta, of Paranormal Books, and still no-one has resolved this INJUSTICE. A simple DNA test would see Justice served. The system protects itself, not the public.
Page # 1
handout
If T. Alex Hickman, the Justice Minister and then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, from 1966 to 2000, rapes and impregnates your 12 year old child, how do you get justice in this Province when the reports go back to the criminal who did the crime? I’ve reported this cime and other incest and abuse in my family, for more than 40 years, to all authorities and RCMP who ignored us as children, but they admit they still have 3 of my reports but won’t release them. Many other reports of abuse were made by 3 sisters and one brother. We are left in Canada without even basic human rights or protection under Canadain Laws. No lawyer will represent us and the last lawyer I acked told me, if any lawyer, in this province, tried to represent you, it would be the last job they ever do as a lawyer in this province. The Legal System has done nothing to help, it’s been completely controlled here by T. Alex Hickman, for 34 years and he still, in retirement, has control.
Please ask our Prime Minister, Mr. Stephen Harper, at pm@pm.gc.ca and ask our Premier, Mr. Danny Williams, at premier@gov.nl.ca to give our family justice. Visit our information website at http://maxpages.com/sexualabuse for seven more pages about abuse of our family, letters from family members and police statements, and no justice to this day. Mr. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, you said during the election you would put families as a priority on your Government Agenda, please help mine, in your letters to me you said you would. Visit our website and sign our guest book with your support.
Page # 2
handout
These are the people on the committee who approved my right to protest on Parliament Hill with my signs and handouts with all this content for 7 months:
1. Mr. K. Macleod (Ceremonial & Protocol) Tel #994-3647
2. Mr. Raymond M. Lambe )PCO) Tel #957-5363
3. Mr. Serge Gourgiue (Senate) Tel #943-0183
4. Ms. Audrey O’Brien (House of Commons) Tel #992-2637
5. Mr. Charles Maier (Public Works) Tel #990-6769
6. Mr. Roger Brown, Chief Supt. (RCMP) Tel #993-8839
7. Mr. Marc Graveline (National Capital Commission) Tel #239-5510
Newfoundland & Labrador MHA’s who came to see me and took my handout:
1. Mr. Tom Marshall - Justice Minister
2. Mr. John Ottenheimer - Inter-Government Affairs
3. Mr. Jack Harris - NPD Leader
4. MHA - Tom Oaborne came by but didn’t speak or take a handout
5. NL Liberal Senator Bill Rompkey tried several times to have the RCMP remove me and my signs from Parliament Hill
6. NL. Liberal Senator George Baker and his wife, he said he would speak with me the following day, the following day never came.
7. Conservative M.P. Mr. Norman Doyle did his job and I thank him. My member came out to see me and delivered my full information package to the Justice Minister, Mr. Vic Towes, himself in person and came to see how I was doing several times. Thank you Mr. Norman Doyle for your concern and your help.
Byron Prior
Tele# 709-834-9822
66 Readers Hill Cres.
Conception Bay South, NL.
A1W 5B4
alltrue@nl.rogers.com
http://maxpages.com/sexualabuse
http://justicehickman.com
Comment by Byron Prior — June 4, 2007 @ 9:46 am
yea im new to this and it has been a trying year and a half for me but i KNOW i was completly wronged by lasvegas c.p.s involving my child sick- and twisted father who used during our case
Comment by holly — June 4, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
one more thing im 22 and in need of some serious help if you know of any but i wont give up till i prove im right ask for info if able to help me thank so much…desperate for answers here in california
Comment by holly — June 4, 2007 @ 6:07 pm
i am a victim of cps i will continue to fight these injustices. i cant believe this agency is this corrupt. i always thought you had to be on drugs or like really abusive for your kids to be taken but now i know that is not the case! for all who dont believe that check out my site and see my sons doctors records and cps so called complaint. thanx Rod I am a member of goodmomsfightdyfs.com i visit all the time
Comment by kwanie — June 5, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
my husband and i have been in an ongoing battle for 1yr. we got into a fight not even in the presence of my son and in the state fl. they automatically take your child we have since got him back it took us 2 weeks thank god. we have complied with all case plans yet still they will not give up we lost everything trying to battle them house,cars jobs etc..and had to move from fl. to texas now they are saying we are violating a court order by leaving fl and they are going to issue a pick up order for my son to be taken back to fl. while in custody my son recieved numerous bite marks a black eye and a cut across is forhead.. he now suffers from bad dreams and he will not let us leave him at any time they put him in an orphange (which i did not know still exsist) they used gloves to change and feed him and they think this is the best interest…we are good loving parents who had a fight during our first year of marriage. they have almosted destoyed my marriage due to the fact they say we can’t have our son but we can not live together. we have lawyers and they are not of much help and we are at our witts end and any advice would be wonderful i for got to mention my son is only going to be 2 june 23
thank you
desperate loving parents
Comment by andrea & keonakhone prakhin — June 7, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
I want to thank you when i was going through my cps dilemma this site helped me out, i got my kids back and now i pray that we find a lawyer to sue cps for all the illegal acts they commited. I published my story on my blog at http://mychildprotectiveservicestory.blogspot.com/, if you know a lawyer that might want to take that case on please let me know…once again thank you
Comment by Leo — June 8, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
My kids where taken from my husband and I on april 17, 2007. My husband was arrested and ordered no contact with his family. My kds where placed in protective coustody by the state of oregon. There is no allegations of abuse by me. They took them away from me because they say i failed to protect them. I know nothing of abuse, and haven’t been able to talk to my son or husband about it. My husband is their step father and has raised them since they where 5, 2 and 8 months old. they are now 13,10, and 9. he is the only father they know. DHS contacted their biological father and after 8 and a half years of him not being in their life’s he came to my court date. i was shocked. This man is the one who was abusive. He has not tried to or has not seen them in so long. He owes me thousands of dollars in suppport. They say he has rights to them, but my husband is only the step parent and he has none. What makes a dad a dad? I think that they are agasint the fact that my kids and I are white and my husband is mexican. They made the statement to me that their is no way your kids could think your husband is thier real father., he is mexican and they aren’t. It will be 90 days that my kids are in coustody, when i finally get to go to court and fight my case. I have not done anything wrong, i have never been in trouble before, i don’t drink, smoke or do drugs. I have had steady employment for years. We have a great home, the kids each have their own rooms. The system is wrong. They can just take kids away for no reason. They are ruining my bond with my children. I have never been away from them in their whole lives. I get one hour a week with them, and it is wrong. I will fight them unitil the end. I want my kids back. If anyone knows of any thing that could help me, please let me know. We have tried to have the children placed with my husband’s parents, who the kids see as their grandparents, but DHS determined that they are not blood related, and cannot be placed with them.
Comment by angela — June 9, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
I need help … my grandchildren were taken by DCFS in February of 2007 due to an accident … my then 5 month old granddaughter fell from my arms and hit the side of her head on a V-Tech light show musical mobile inside the rail of her crib … at that time she didn’t seem to be injured … she didn’t cry, there was no mark, or swelling at that time … late the next evening, my oldest granddaughter noticed very bad swelling on the side of the baby’s head … the first mistake we made was in not taking her immediately to the hospital … instead because the weather was cold and we had all been sick, I just called the hospital and spoke to doctor on call … I told him exactly what happened, when and what her head looked like … he asked me several questions about her and how she was acting … I had to tell him the truth … she was acting totally normal … he said it sounded like a soft tissue contusion … and she should be OK … just to put ice on it for the swelling … and if she developed any of the symptoms he had asked me about I was to take her immediately to the hospital … this was on a Friday night … my daughter and I decided to just wait and see if she developed any of the symptoms the doctor had asked me about … although she never developed any symptoms, since the swelling hadn’t gone down, we called the family doctor on Monday morning and took her in there that afternoon … the physicians Assistant … said she tended to agree with the doctor on call … she left the room supposedly to talk to the doctor about it … instead, she called DCFS, who told her to arrange for a cat scan … she couldn’t get her in until the next afternoon … but when she came back in the room she said she had decided to schedule a cat scan to be sure everything was OK … Mistake #2 was we should have just taken her to ER ourselves … the next afternoon after the cat scan, the technician told my daughter that the baby did have a hairline skull fracture, but she would be OK … before my daughter could leave the hospital, the tech called the doctor for orders … and the doctor told the tech to have baby sent to a big hospital for the trauma for more tests … at the next hospital, there were never any tests
done .. they just kept the baby there for observance … DCFS went to my home while I was with the baby and took my grandson into ‘protective custody’ … they had hospital release my granddaughter into their care … now we can’t get them back … the court appointed attorneys are nothing but a joke … I hope someone on here can help me get my grandchildren back home where they belong … thank you
Comment by Kathy Herron — June 11, 2007 @ 9:22 pm
Kathy, log onto the message board if you haven’t already. People there will be glad to offer you ideas on what to do next. None of us are lawyers, but most of us are ordinary people who took legal matters into our own hands when we had similar problems with CPS.
Comment by Linda — June 11, 2007 @ 10:13 pm
well cps removed my 2 boys in nov 2002 and terminated my rights in sep 2003 they were originally removed for my sons dad breaking my babys leg he had never been abusive toward us so i didnt think he did it on purpose but he had i immediatly retain a restraining order however they were never returned home at the time i was 19 young and dumb i turned to drugs and my rights were terminated my oldest son was placed with my moms 2nd cousin whom had raised me since the age of 6 and my youngest with his bio father well my mom had my oldest son almost 2 yrs when they decided (dhs) that he should be adopted my “mom” started the classes and then they told her she couldnt keep him it wasnt her bio grand child the day she found this out the in home worker came to her house and told her she had just quit her job that she needed to find a good lawyer they wanted joey (my son) my mom had limited money and could not afford a lawyer so she lost my son after my case which lasted less than a year my Dhs worker Quit her job and noone will give me the case file. I was again pregnant at the time this all happen with my daughter Nevaeh i went to treatment and had her with me till she was a month old then she was removed for my being kicked out of a halfway house not for drug use either i went to court and got her back in my care finally a year later i then had another child in 2005 still involved with dhs all was well they hadnt even involved the youngest in services because i was doing so well i was suppose to b done with dhs nov 1st 2006 how ever reports were made and they removed my girls oct 19 2006 they ran hair stats and my girls came up positive for crack cocain my drug of choice at 19 was meth not crack they did my hair stats and they were clean for everything not even been around it however my dad had a problem with crack in the past and later found out he had been doing it in my house w/my brother while i wasnt home and he was babysitting my kids again i fucked up wasnt paying enough attention to the warning sighns that he was using i have cut all ties w/ my father and brother and started returnin to aa meetings and counseling i drop clean random ua s every other day and i have suppervised visits 1 time a week since oct and ive been told no matter what i do they re gonna teerminate my rights my in home worker and lawyer tell me this because i have an extensive back ground with dhs and cps which i do however shouldnt they be telling me what i can do to get them home my girls are bonded to me i was a single mom and i know i made mistakes i ve tried to make it so it doesnt happen again but if u cant trust your dad with your kids who can u trust i didnt know he had relapsed he hadnt done drugs in years and my brother i would never have thought would. and now that theyre out of my life done moved out of state why shouldnt they get to come home i ask them every week what do they want me to do what can i do to get my girls home and keep them home and its always the same answer nothing they arent coming home and their job is suppose to be to reunite familys isnt it? maybe there right and im not maybe my girls shouldnt be with me but i know in my heart they should i let my guard down i made a mistake ive done whats nessecary to ensure it never happens again now what? if anyone has any suggestions please i need help i dont want to lose any more children im willing to go to any lengths to keep them
Comment by Rosanna — June 13, 2007 @ 10:40 am
Why Didn’t Anyone Save Those Children ?
Juvenile court judges and child welfare workers were making fatal errors both ways. They returned children to unstable parents. They entrusted children to foster parents who shouldn’t be allowed to watch houseplants. Children died as a result.
With power comes responsibility and accountability, which most officials ignore. The grown-ups in their lives failed them. We failed them. Their horrible deaths are a black mark against us all. We need to do better.
Those Children Were Failed by the System ! Please, don’t wait for new name on this page . http://suncanaa.com/in_memory_
This page is in memory of children died of neglect or abuse while under the care of the social service agencies! Many died suspiciously or from neglect. Most of their lives and deaths went unnoticed. Until now. But you likely never heard of them. The deaths of these children — and what government agencies did or didn’t do to save their lives — Even when they die, their stories are rarely told. Let’s NOT allow these precious children’s death to be in vain - in the newspaper one day, forgotten the next.
THESE ARE OUR CHILDREN! We owe them something.
As all people say, the children are our future. Well, it’s about TIME, we started nurturing that future, protecting and cherishing each and every precious child that is upon this earth.
The only way to create change is to bring it to the public’s attention. It is about the children! Please hear the childrens’ cry ! http://suncanaa.com/
Please sign PETITION
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/986173347
I am just one voice. Please help my voice be heard so we can prevent any more needless tragedies. Please spread the word and forward this email to your friends and family members.
Please Remember Us http://protected-to-death-by-cps.memory-of.com/
Suncana Sesic Alvarado
Comment by Suncana Sesic Alvarado — June 13, 2007 @ 12:30 pm
My Site Lists Resources To Help Families Like MIne Whose Lives Have Been Devastated & Destroyed Unlawfully By State Interference. My Kids Would Have Been Better Off Without This Interference. Its Horrible Isn’t It? My Boys Miss Each Other. I’m In This For Them & To Become ProActive In This Fight. I Believe Some Good Has To Come From THis ANd For All Those Who Help, That Many More Families Can Be Saved & Reunited. Find Out How My Site Can Help You & Me.
Comment by Shanni Sullivan-Einer — June 13, 2007 @ 10:28 pm
I am happy to read all this succes: you deserve it completely. Proud to work with you in Boston, next june. Please, take all the good thoughts streaming from my heart to you…
Comment by Mistifica — June 14, 2007 @ 4:24 am
I had problems with drugs in my past and I am now on methadone. 3 days before my 3rd child was born I threw up my methadone and used drugs to not get sick. When I went into labor 3 days later I told the hospital about it and they called CPS and they ended up taking all my children because I tested positive for opiates. CPS has made up all kinds of lies about my husband and I and are even saying that my 2nd child was born addicted to heroin and she was not. CPS is trying to ruin my marriage, my children’s lives, and mine and my husband’s lives. My 4 year old thinks she’s not at home because I had a new baby and now she had to go bye-bye. I hate these people and when this is over I will find some kind of civil suit to file!
Comment by Rebekah — June 17, 2007 @ 7:29 am
Rebekah, congratulations on taking the methadone to try to recover from addiction. My experience is that drug cases can go either way. Sometimes drug users get their children back sooner than others, and sometimes not. Keep doing the service plan, and write your affidavit telling your side of the case to the judge.
This reminds me of a man I knew online a few years back, Nehmo. The letter from Susan is still available on the web and there are some links at the bottom of that page to more information.
Their baby, Blaze, was taken because she was using methadone while pregnant. The couple split up and Nehmo tried everything to meet the expectations of Missouri CPS but in the end, Blaze was adopted out anyhow.
That was one of the saddest cases of injustice I’ve seen.
Comment by Linda — June 17, 2007 @ 9:40 am
Hi,
I just found out tonight 6/16 from my two youngest children that childrens services showed up and interviewed them at school on Friday. I don’t know what to do. My husband and I lost our home 2 weeks ago and we are currently homeless. We are staying in a motel with our kids. My sisters, who are total bitches, reported to CPS, and accused me of doing drugs (I don’t even drink). Is there anyone out there who cares to give me some advice?
Comment by Laura — June 17, 2007 @ 10:17 pm
Laura, first of all, don’t panic. Stay calm. If children’s services thought your children were being abused, they would have taken them from the school last Friday when they were interviewed. Obviously they found no reason to detain them on an emergency basis, so you’re doing good so far.
The caseworker probably has to fulfill a certain procedure which probably includes interviewing everyone who lives in the household. When they arrive at your door be calm and explain that your sisters lied. Don’t say too much and don’t give them any leads.
You might want to take the kids to see a doctor to prove they’re in good shape. Don’t tell the doctor why you’re there or that CPS is in your life. Just get a well-child checkup if you haven’t had one recently, then request the doctor records in writing. If CPS decides to detain your kids, you’ll have evidence that you can take to court showing that your kids are A-OK.
I don’t know what else to suggest. I personally would not submit to a drug test without a court order but that’s because I’m 54, never have taken a drug test, and feel it is a violation of my Fourth Amendment rights. Your feelings on this may be different than mine and I’m sure you want to avoid court entirely, so use your own intuition to decide what to do if she requests one.
And I would not sign any type of “service plan”. You might want to see an attorney about this ASAP. Having a good attorney on your side on Day One will often turn CPS workers away because you’re no longer an easy target.
If you sign a “service plan” they’ve hooked you and you’ll be jumping through their hoops for a long time.
See my What To Do page. And remember, I’m not a lawyer and can’t give legal advice. I’m talking from the perspective of someone who’s experienced CPS as a parent.
To talk to others who have been through this, log onto the message board here at FightCPS.
Comment by Linda — June 18, 2007 @ 6:45 am
Please pray for REBECCA
I am writing to let you know that on June 29, 2007, my beautiful blue-eyed two year old baby daughter Rebecca is scheduled to be put up for adoption by Child Protective Services.
Rebecca’s mother is developmentally disabled, and we are not married. My mother and I have been involved in a court battle for custody since Rebecca was 3 months old. The baby’s maternal grandparents do not want their daughter to have a child, so Rebecca was referred to Child Protective Services. Because I have a previous criminal record from 15 years ago, CPS is using this as an excuse to prevent me from being awarded custody. I have paid my debts to society and therefore should not have a previous record held against me. CPS is determined to have my daughter put up for adoption because we have learned that the government will award them $30,000 if this takes place. I have done extensive legal research with our attorney and have found that CPS has broken numerous laws and policies in my case so that they will proceed with the adoption and receive the monetary award. However, CPS is very difficult to fight in court.
The court has mandated that Rebecca be placed in foster care on and off for the past 2 years. Her mother and I were awarded custody on 10/21/2005 but because Rebecca’s mother was unable to properly care for the child while I was at work, CPS became involved again and took my child again on December 22, 2006 – right before Christmas. Constantly being placed in foster care has been devastating to Rebecca, myself and my mother, as Rebecca is her first grandchild.
Rebecca has not received good care while in the foster care system. During visits with her, she has been voraciously hungry and screams and cries when taken away from me. I was giving her cottage cheese and bananas during my visits which she ate readily because she was so hungry. CPS is no longer allowing me to feed her in order to break the emotional and parental bond with me. She has had chronic diaper rash, and as you can see by the enclosed photographs, a mysterious red rash on her face. She did not have any of these problems when she was in my care.
CPS has refused to allow placement of Rebecca with a family member. There are several family members who are very suitable to take care of her, but CPS has made excuses why each is unsuitable so they can move forward with the adoption and receive the monetary award. My mother is very willing to obtain custody of Rebecca and that would be an excellent solution.
We are pleading for your help to influence the California Superior Court to have Rebecca’s custody awarded to a family member and not to a stranger. As a mother yourself, I know you can understand how devastating it would be to have your child taken from you and adopted out. This is a gross injustice to me and my family. We have provided a loving and caring home for Rebecca and will continue to do so. We beg of you to please help us to stop the adoption proceedings. We have very little time.
If you could give me 5 minutes of your time on the telephone, 408-401-1400 I would be eternally grateful.
With Heartfelt Thanks, Grandma Marliese Jamison 408-401-5660
Paul Jamison Father
Case No. xxx-xxxxx
Comment by Marliese Jamison — June 22, 2007 @ 10:43 am
On April 17, 2007 CPS came to my home and took my 4 children 3 boys 9,7,5 and my new born daughter of 2 months… 9 days later they where placed with my half sister Angela who has since turned on me like a viper!!! They have no proof of anything just he said she said…. I am so hurt and alone I miss them so much I can hardly stand it at times.. I know I will get them back…. but at what cost? they will not be to same happy children I raised.. they’ll be jaded..
I am really trying not to hold hate in my heart but I know CPS is trying to keep my little girl…. I really dont know what to do or what else i can be doing to speed this prosses….
thanks for listening 832-794-5566
Comment by Rebecca — June 22, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
If everyone got together with other people in thier state as a group started a civil suit against cps, they can’t argue with more than one person about the same thing.
Comment by star — June 26, 2007 @ 11:15 pm
visiting this website always helps to give me strenghth as i continue to fight for my children… it will be 8 months as of the 4th of july… yet there will be no freedom for us to celebrate that day…
Comment by stephanie laning — June 30, 2007 @ 8:48 am
Our family is currently dealing with cps . Due to an opinion of a doctor that is not familiar with Autistic children and their sensory issues. Now my husband and my kids father has been removed from our home. I do hope there is information out there to find. I am constantly in contact with all of the workers involved and now we are floating around in the paperwork shuffle. Our case keeps changing hands because I was told CPS is afraid they are going to mess up or do something wrong. Too late….. Good luck and best wishes to the families that are being destryed hope they make it through.
Comment by Jennifer Nolin — June 30, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
I’m A Big Fan Of This Website Because CPS (Or As My State Utah Calls It DCFS Division Of Child & Family Services) Destroyed My Family “In The Best Interest Of The Children” And All My Sons Talk About When It Comes To Each Other Is How Much They Miss Each Other & Wish They Could Be Together. I Have A Story To Tell & I’ve Told It. I’m Here Tonight Because I Want People To Join Me In The Fight To Bring Our Families Back Together So I’ve Started A Blog Network Called The Family Advocates Network Just For People With These Issues Like Me To Fight It Out. Sites Like Yours And Others Who Advocate Like I Do Just Piss Me Off, Get Me Fired Up & Get Me Motivated To Work With As Many Of You As Possible For The Same Common Goal - Bringing Our Kids Home. They’ve Done The Same Heartless Things To Thousands Of Families As I’ve Seen & I’ve Joined User Group After User Group Full Of Stories & The Same Heartbreak. I Want To Help. The Caring People In The Government Needs To Be Aware Of What’s Happening & Change This. How Can We Do This? Join Me PLEASE!!!!!!! http://familyadvocatesnetwork.21publish.com http://myspace.com/familyloveconquersall
http://dear.to/preservefamily http://worldlife.forumarena.com These Are All My Sites Devoted To These Causes. Something Needs To Change. We All Need Community Action. Get Involved!
Comment by Shanni Sullivan - Einer — July 6, 2007 @ 10:22 pm
My son. Croix Andrew-kekoa bermudez-bain, was taken from me because I am an american indian that happens to be an alcoholic. I am a great person. I was told by the CPS people that I was to sign over my son or else. I didnt know what to do. People need to know their rights. Please call or E mail Peter Hughes @ rubiconmarketinggroup at gmail.com let him know how much this is effecting us. Trust ME
Comment by pamela — July 12, 2007 @ 11:05 am
My daughters child was taken due to false statements by her stepgrandmother an former CPS worker.
When she requested I call with her there, I told her they could not do anything, because no one saw my daughter drunk or abusing my grandchild. The CPS worker I spoke with said just that and did not even take my name. Suddenly the next day the CPS worker shows up at the stepgrandmothers home and confronts my daughter on leaving her child in the car while she pumps gas.
CPS tells her she has no other option but to sign the child over to the step grandmother (of only 2yrs). The stepgrandmother informs my daughter that I am the one who called. Seven months later the case has been unfounded and still my daughter can not get her child back.
Comment by gayle — July 13, 2007 @ 6:15 am
Pamela, the Federal government has passed a law for people like you. Its called the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1994. If your child is not carded, get it done immediately. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILD IN ORDER TO GET HIM CARDED. THAT IS HIS BIRTHRIGHT. It is the right of the Tribe to AMMEND anything or CONTEST ANYTHING concerning a member. There are people who are willing to help you. http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/downloads/information_packets/icwa-pkt.pdf
I understand that this isn’t much, but it will help you understand YOUR RIGHTS as being an American Indian. My suggestion is to contact the human resources of your Tribe, they will assisst you anyway possible.
Comment by Naomi — July 19, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
please pray for myself and my daughters I went though post-partum spycosis last year. I could not even leave my home, I was so bad. Just recently about six or seven months ago I was diagnosed with boderline personality disorder. After awhile of being on major medication one for phsycotic and mood stablizers and panic disorder. I ended up relapsing with my anxiety unware of a relapse i thought it was just tress I had a few drinks thinking it would calm my nerves. With my grandmother just passing and my relationship going nowhere,I was falling apart fast and before I knew it I was in the hospitol because I overdose and almost died. I have alot of guilt and regrets because of my beautiful daughters and I have no one to blame but myself.I take my diagnosis more seriously now,and I want my daughters back. CPS makes up lies they say i am alcoholic which i havn’t drank in afew years. My daughters even tried to tell Lori the same thing but she won’t listen to us then she tried to accusse me of crack cocaine addict, I said would I have all this if i was I live on a beautiful lake by the way.I just got lucky. then she tried to accuse me of abussing my presription medication. she will try any thing to keep a case against me. sincerely,Rose Mattson
Comment by Rose Mattson — July 19, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
CPS and Investigating Officer Lied to the Court
My name is Nina Starns. I am a mother to 4 children, 2 biological and 2 step kids. In April 2007 my 2-year-old stepson returned home from his biological mother’s house with bruises covering his bottom. I took my stepson to his doctor whom reported the abuse to CPS. From that point, CPS and an officer began conducting an investigation that they botched from the beginning.
A CPS investigator, (Ed Dillon) and an officer (Kevin Hawley) came to our home and interviewed my stepson and my stepson told them 3 times that his biological mother hit him with a belt. CPS and the officer interviewed my stepson’s daycare provider because my stepson told the daycare provider that his biological mother hit him with a belt. Nonetheless, CPS and the officer could not determine where the abuse took place. CPS and the officer asked everyone (the biological mother, myself, and my husband) to submit to polygraph testing. My husband and I spoke with an attorney who advised us not to submit to polygraph testing and per his advice declined. The very day that we declined, CPS and the police officer removed my stepchildren from our care and placed them into protective custody.
The lies begin
CPS and the officer then reported to the court that the biological mother had submitted to polygraph testing and had passed with flying colors. In addition, CPS and the officer claimed to have a doctor’s report by Dr. Kenneth Feldman of Chidren’s hospital that had dated the bruises to have occurred when the children was in our care. Per this information, the children were returned to their biological mother and an Order for Protection was put in place against my husband.
In May 2007 I privately submitted to Polygraph Testing with the same examiner that the police use and the same that conducted the biological mother’s test. I passed. When we provided copies to the officer and to CPS they told us that the test was not important.
From the beginning, we did not believe that Dr. Kenneth Feldman had written any such report dating the bruises, and when we asked the police and CPS refused to make any report available to us. We ordered the CPS file and were told that we would receive it within 2 weeks. 1 ½ months later I called CPS to ask why we had not received the information. At first, I was told that we had never requested the information (even though my husband had physically gone into the office and completed the request form). Then, we were told that they had lost the file. Finally, on July 16, 2007 we received the file.
Included in the file is the biological mother’s Polygraph test result…. She DID NOT pass her polygraph test.
Included is Dr. Kenneth Feldman’s report and he DID NOT place any timeframe on the bruises and even specifically states that one cannot determine the age of bruises by their color.
The police officer and CPS lied to the court and as a result, the court has held the children from us for nearly 4 months now. We will be getting them back shortly however I feel that attention needs to be drawn to this matter. I have all of the documentation, including our countless attempts to seek information, all of which went unanswered by the officer and by the investigating CPS worker. We have letters, reports; we have all the facts and want CPS and the Officer held accountable for intentionally misrepresenting information to the court. There is more information to this story that I would like to tell; I was trying to keep this short for the time being.
Comment by Nina Starns — July 19, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
Hello,
i was told that CPS can do whatever they want becasue the laws are so fague and get away with it. Is this true? Everyone says I am good mom and even my social worker but they refuse to give my kids back becasue I want say my husband is guilty. How can I say that if I did not see anything? There is no physical evidence and her hymen is intact. He has not even found guilty in criminal court yet. His court date has not yet arrived but he thinks that the system is so corrupt and he is lawyer is not doing a good job and we have no more money so he is stuck with his lawyer and he is afriad that he will be found guilty because people believe that kids don’t make stuff like this up.
Comment by Dawn — July 21, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
Hello,
My kids are in foster care. My dad asked to them. They refused to give them to him. My brother wanted them and they won’t give them to him. They won’t let my family take them becasue they are supportive of me. Is there anything I can do. I had lawyer I wanted him to ask the court why in the permancy plan they tried to give them to family members, but that is not true. They never asked before splitting the kids up and putting them in foster care. My lawyer is not doing anything. He says CPS can do anything they want. i don’t know why I gave him all my money. He did not do anything for me.
Comment by Dawn — July 21, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
is your attorney court appointed or a private pay
Comment by immc6 — July 21, 2007 @ 9:51 pm
My husband and I were falsely accused of child abuse by his family. The accusations were ridiculous and outrageouse to say the least. Our case was determined “unfounded”. While going through the process of being investigated, the investigator herself told us that it was an open and shut case, she could clearly see that there were no signs of abuse. We asked her what our legal rights were, such as, can a person call again and again with these false allegations?, what happens after the case is determined “unfounded”? What does unfounded mean? What upsets me is that no information was given to us. She basically told me that I can be investigated over and over again. I’m not sure how other states work, but as for NY, in the letter informing us of the outcome of the case, in no way or form does it give us any information about expunging the case prior to my child becoming 18 years of age. So I looked on the website and there is no information regarding expungement either. Even though my case is unfounded it is still on record. Needless to say, I am livid. We who are falsely accused should be informed of all of our rights, especially if we ask for them. If anyone can empathize with me, please join me in writing to the Office of Children and Family Services requesting that information on expungement be provided on their website and in their letters. Their e-mail is info@ocfs.state.ny.us
Comment by Michele — July 21, 2007 @ 11:15 pm
i had two of my cusions living with me in foster care they where born in Geogia I live in Michigan me and my husbend was trying to adopt them till on March 23 2007 cps tolk them out of our home and sent them back to Georgia on lies my hubends family told cps they where telling them he was beating on me,we had a hearing down in Georgia on July 19 the judge told us we will not get them back they will stay in foster care till they turn 18 our cps report was clean no evidense of abuse was ever found…/ the judge did a phone interview from the person who told these lies and believed her over our story and our cps findings..Its not over we are going to fight to get this throughed out of court and fight this judge ( Roundtree) we want give up on these children please support our fight, if we have to fight till their 18 so be it..no law can make me and my husbend Stop Loving and Fighting for these children,if you know anyone who has been through this please or maybe yourself please point us in the right place thank You parents who want give up!!!!!!
Comment by odessa g. — July 22, 2007 @ 7:58 am
please feel free to contact me at mothergooseof2 -at- att.net or phone 517-763-7076
Comment by odessa g. — July 22, 2007 @ 8:00 am
As each case comes and goes, nothing is changing in this system. These people go to college get hired and receive pay with benefits and retirement plans for their future/ Since I lost my grandson thru tactics and I look back I want advice on how to write a book on my experiences and along with individuals tell their stories. The pain of these precious children lost, I fee thel need to come out. The public need to know what it was like to deal with these workers. What these experiences were like! These families are not saying there were no problems but the system is full of tactics and it need to be in the open. Remember our histroy lessons from school, the country france, cutting off people’s heads was considered a favorable pass time until people who yell and cryed and yell they did not want to died! Peopel did not thing it was fun to watch any more! Well the public do not know what kind of pain we go through unless they feel what we are feeling. Sure people are judgemental think we probably deserve to lose our love ones! But some people will wonder if there are ways to work around the problems and maybe help change the reform of these agencies! We are flesh made of flesh and blood and we can feel pain!
Comment by Arlene Allen — July 23, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
Since I am new at learning to type on this computer please forgive my typing skills!
Comment by Arlene Allen — July 23, 2007 @ 4:39 pm
HELP!!!!!!!!!!
my daughter was taken from me a year ago and they falsly accused me of child abuse they placed her in the care of my mother and and never even checked her out and if they had and still would they would find her very unstable seeing she allowed her husband to put me out when i was 8 mos pregnet anyway back to the point they put me into a position were i had no other option but to terminate my rights becuse they said if i dident they would terminate them and i couldent have no children they would take them from me they placed me in jail for abuse and rushed the case so i had no oppertunity to set up a decent lawyer and foundation for my self they all but killed me the same jude for my family case was the same judge for my criminal they backed me up into a corner and made me feel like i had no choice they influenced my 4 yr old child i was bad and gave her a physc evul that was compleatly off the wall since my mother wont allow me to speak to my daughter or allow anyone to even speak my name around her and my sister went up there to visit and snuck a call to her just a week ago my daughter sarted crying profoundly saying how bad she misses me and loves me and cryed herself to sleep saying i want my mommy it hurt so bad so iv decided to find a lawyer to help me reinstate my rights pleas pleas if you have any helpful information pleas e-mail me at brown_precious_angel@hotmail.com
Comment by Roxanne — July 23, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
Dear Kathy, Thank you for sharing your pain with us on this guestbook. I lost my grandson thru an quick 20 page homestudy report full of untruths 85% worth, not having money and a lawyer who told me to stop. But I want to know did you ever connect with the kinship program, Because for a year and ahalf they provided me with endless information and help me to come up with ideas. The lawyer who help me did not communicate much with me. So this agency works with families who are fighting to get their love ones. Yes they support child protective services yet they try to come up with ideas to help you. In this area where I am from, this agency might as well come from the planet Mars! Maybe where you are from they stand for alot more!
Comment by Arlene Allen — July 24, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
Iam still fighting C.P.S. in Brunswick Ga.Got a phone call last Friday by the new director for C.P.S in Ga. he told me that one of the children was going to be adopted and the other one was going to his father who just got out of jail and has a drug problem,what is wrong with this system?Have these people gone crazy no brains?Why would a judge put a child in a home with a drug additict?That supposely married the mother of the child who gave up both children at birth!!!! Judge got to be blind and doesn’t have any feelings of children,just push them under a rug and move onto the next case,and this new director called my husbend and told him he knew for a fact he was a wife beater! How can someone judge a person they have never meet?They do this so people will stop fighting,guess what I can keep figting as long as I got a breath in me,they will not get rid of me any time SOON….if you are fighting these systems,keep fighting call your governor,call someone in c.p.s. over everyone esle don’t give up,thats what they want you to do! Don’t stop fighting for your children,Iam not I will fight till they come home where they belong!God Bless You in Your Fight!
Comment by odessa g. — July 31, 2007 @ 7:58 am
This for all the parents above. It makes me wonder if the history of america isnt a lie to. Ive been watching and keeping a close eye on campaigns for elections and what i gathered by doing so its plain to see that our politics that run in this event they tell the public what the public wants hear so that they get the win over us. When they get into the gov. seat to were the election is being directed to weather its the presidental seat, or congress. what ever the case might be that person changes his character afterwords that is what i call self-centered egotisticle politics. Us as americans needs to realy look at that point of view they all change somehow after the fact. We need to pay more attention to this matter to get our government back to where our 4 fathers intended to be.
Comment by Johnny — July 31, 2007 @ 8:05 am
I live in Oregon, I’ve been to this site many times over the years. I enjoy Linda’s post and comments. I’ve contacted many State Reps and Senators in this state. State Reps say the Senators are in control of DHS. The Senators claim the State Reps are in charge. The Truth is DHS is in control and none of the state officals what change the policy or hold DHS accountable. To scared of the big, bad, child snatchers! This is one of the worst when it comes CPS, CSD, DHS or SCF, whatever name they choose to go by these days.
Comment by tlwaggoner — August 3, 2007 @ 3:19 pm
In 1999 the easthartford police department snatched my son Okari Wright from me during a insident in which I locked my keys in my car at a doctors appointment. The police said they thought I was a fugative from jamaica and incarcerated my son in the CPS sytem in Hartford Conneticut were he still presides. I’m a American citezen that had never even been to jamaica and was a University of Hartford student at the time. The problem comes were I moved back with my family in Rochester, NY and my son was suppose to be interstated and the Mob who runs the Department of Children and famlies in Conneticut illegally adopted him off. Then I had two more children in Rochester, NY in 2005 Imani Wright tehn in 2007 Nyashia Wright and this state and city decided to be copy cat criminals. I have already contacted the White House who are informed of the situations and have told me that I have a lawsuit out of this world. What can your orginization do to help?Please feel free to write me at Christine Wright P.O. Box 30707 Rochester, NY 14603
Comment by Christine Wright — August 8, 2007 @ 11:07 am
Christine, Fight CPS isn’t an organization. It is only a website that gives basic legal information to parents, points the way toward research opportunities, and provides a social networking self-help message board at http://forum.fightcps.com - that’s where you should go if you’re looking for help on this site. I never help people one-on-one because this site gets around 500 hits a day and there’s no way I could effectively help that many people individually. So I put all my Fight CPS energy into improving this website so it has the information that people need. Hope that helps. I suggest that anyone needing more help go to the message board where you can network with other victims of child protective services.
Comment by Linda — August 8, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
When I was almost 8 months pregnant I got Toxsemia. I didn’t know what it was at the time, and I took an over the counter cold/flu medicine. A two days later I ended up at the hospital, and my blood pressure was out of control. I was flown airevac to another hospital where they performed an emergency C-section. Somehow my baby’s hip was dislocated, but that’s another mystery of another story. After giving birth to my daughter, alligations were reported to CPS that I tested possitive for Methamphetamine. It was later determined as Amphetamine(which was the medicine I took). My daughter was removed from the hospital, later she was placed with my parents. My other children were left with me and their father. After false UA’s on both of us tested possitive for Methamphetamine, my other children were removed and placed with my parents. I requested copies of our UA results and was denied. CPS forced us to allow my parents Guardianship for 1 year, and to seek drug treatment, stating that if we didn’t follow this agreement they would come take our children and sever our rights. Then our case was closed as unsubstansiated. We are afraid to bring the children home because of the threats CPS made. We are are now going to seek legal advice. Please pray that the attorneys can turn this whole thing around so that CPS will be gone out of our lives.
Comment by Daya Colasacco — August 10, 2007 @ 2:41 am
CPS is a division of state and county that has been given too much power by people just like us.
We have allowed and supported social origanizations that lobby for the protection of children.
In some cases this has been good for the human rights we live by, but it has gotten to a point that social service agencies have been allowed to make alagations toward good parent that can’t be proven. But yet social services has become so powerful because good people thought they were protecting our children, but yet CPS has been allowed to convict the same people who supported them an gave them the power they have today.
It a sad day in the USA
Comment by Steve — September 1, 2007 @ 6:02 pm
Hello, My name is David Kranz. I have been involved with CPS since I was about 4 years old. I am not the one CPS was targeting I was the kid that was put in the middle of their acts…I am 18 years old now and finally got away from all the disasters. My parents divorced when I was about 6 years old. (give or take, mind you I was young.) And CPS has been in my life ever since because of my mom. Since I turned 18 both my parents finally allowed me to read all of the court transcipts and information regarding all the many of court cases me and my family were pulled into. After reading the papers (took a while but managed to get through it) I discovered that CPS wasn’t really there to help me and most of the problems in my past were because of them. I want to know who I talk to because to be honest, I want to go after them now that I am 18 and I need help as to where to start. I don’t want any other families or kids to have to go through what me and my family had to go through. So please someone help me out. Thank You.
David
Comment by David — September 3, 2007 @ 1:57 am
My experience with DSS was a long time ago but it totally destroyed my life. I was never the same afterward, as a person or as a mother. The internet was unheard of then, so I didn’t have a wonderful website like this to help me. I made every mistake in the book — I allowed DSS to enter my home, I gave them too much information, I kept trying to convince them that I was not a child abuser. I was so, so fortunate that my daughter was not removed from my home. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t have unendurable pain over being falsely accused. I signed a “service plan” agreeing to counseling and weekly home visits. I was told if I did not sign this plan, my child would probably be taken away. I felt as if I had just signed my soul over to the devil. My personal life was turned inside out; I felt so violated, so trapped and powerless. They took my life as it was then and made it fit their prototype of a child abuser. I was in the process of divorcing my husband, I was unemployed, I was extremely depressed, I was defensive and hostile, I had an anger management problem, I had no family or friends to lend emotional support. DSS wouldn’t even listen to my explanations. I was unemployed because I’d quit my job to stay home with my child because daycare cost more than I earned. Then I found out my husband was having an affair, so you bet I was angry. I was depressed, defensive and hostile because strangers had entered my home falsely accusing me of striking my child. I was without family support because they lived too far away geographically to be of much help. I was without a network of friends because we’d only lived in this town a year, and I’d been so busy with my job that I had no time to socialize. I was asked by DSS if my parents had beaten me, molested me, if I had ever used drugs or had a drinking problem. No, No, and No, but they just wouldn’t let up. I was asked if I knew how to cook healthy and nutritious meals, if I had problems with reading and writing (I only had a B.S. degree at that time, hello!), if I had ever committed an act of violence. (Not yet, but keep talking and I might). I was fairly certain of who had reported me and why, but I couldn’t prove it and I found out that if the report was made in good faith, there was nothing I could do, even if the charges proved to be false. Every Friday I lived in terror, waiting for the caseworker to make her home visit. She actually didn’t stay more than about 10 minutes, and I think now she knew the claims were false, but she had her job to protect. She told me she had been a high school history teacher before she became a social worker. She had no training or degree in social work at all. Yet she could decide whether my child was abused or not. A very hurtful part of this was my pediatrician. He had always been friendly to me before, but after I was falsely accused, his manner was cold as ice and he wouldn’t meet my eyes. Remember, I had volunteered too much information, and part of that was my pediatrician’s name. I actually thought DSS would be impressed that I took my child to the most prominent pediatrician in town. Yeah, right. I did have one bit of luck in the therapist they sent me to (one of theirs, they wouldn’t let me select my own). He was about to retire and I think he really didn’t give a crap about working with DSS anymore. He believed me, and he believed in me. He urged me to forget what had happened and to move on, but it remains something I have never quite been able to do. He disliked many of DSS’s methods, especially forcing people into counseling. He said, “How can we help someone who has been forced to come here? We can’t help people unless they want help.” After a few months, he wrote DSS a letter stating that he didn’t believe me to be a child abuser. DSS eventually closed my case, but as I said, I was never the same. I lived in fear for years, actually up until my daughter became a teenager, that I would be falsely accused again. I dreaded the normal bumps and bruises that come with an active child’s play because I was afraid someone would see them and think I did it. I stopped sleeping through the night, and often awoke with my heart pounding, thinking I heard DSS knocking at the door again. (For some reason, DSS never used the doorbell even though it was in plain sight. They knocked louder than necessary, perhaps to intimidate me.) When my child started school, I worried that if she had a bruise or bump from playing, a teacher would see it and turn me in. I was really, really paranoid. Once a car similar in make and color to my caseworker’s car turned into my driveway and I felt that terror wash over me again. But it was just a car turning around, not hers at all. Some of you may be wondering what I’m doing on this board since my case was closed years ago. I read the stories and postings with interest and wish I could help everyone. I don’t know what I advice I have to offer, because everyone’s case is different and really, it’s so much worse now that it was when I was accused. If I had anything to do differently, I would have consulted an attorney after DSS first came to my door. I believed then that since I was innocent, I didn’t need a lawyer. A different therapist who helped me over some rough changes last year said this to me: “Judy, it will end. It will be over.” I hope and pray that it will be over for all of you, soon.
Comment by Judy — September 3, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
CPS came to my door friday with totally false claims made by my sister (well, she denies it but its obviously her). They made no allegations of abuse, but instead attacked my husband and myself. I was accused of drug use, as was my husband. We were also accused of being homeless and unemployed–luckily these charges were immediately disproven. We readily let the social worker into our home–which if we were homeless, how did she even know where to look? duh! She said that the charges were unfounded and all we needed to do was to take a drug test and she would close the case. I know we will both pass as we do not do drugs or even drink. After reading all of your posts I’m so frightened that even after passing their test that this will not be the end of it. The worker went to my daughter (7yrs old) at school, pulled her out of class and interviewed her. From what I can gather she told the truth about everything, but I’m still scared to death. They have not taken my child, but I’m still on the verge of loosing my mind. My daughter is traumatized by this as well. She asked why the lady came to talk to her and I told her what her job was. Anyway, has anyone ever had an open and shut case? I trusted the worker–should I not have? Please help.
Comment by Laurie — September 3, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
Laurie, it sounds like you’re almost off the hook — once your drug tests come back clear, what else have they got on you? I would not trust any CPS worker, they may seem kind and sympathetic but they aren’t. I did not have an open and shut case, but a friend of mine did, I’ll call her Diane. She fired one of her employees and about 2 weeks later CPS came to her house with a “referral” on her. Diane was accused of hitting her children (who were 3 and 5), sending them to day care in filthy clothes, sending them to the church nursery on Sundays with bruises and scratches, saying she didn’t want them anymore. CPS came on a Monday morning, just when Diane had a week of vacation and was all set to enjoy it at home with her kids. The social worker threatened her with immediate removal of the kids if she didn’t cooperate. Diane told the worker that the accusations were false and totally ridiculous. She explained about the fired employee and said it had to be that person trying to get back at her. The social worker said maybe, but we still have to investigate. Diane had to give the names of her kids’ daycare, the caregivers at the church nursery, and 3 personal references who would attest to her character and parenting abilities. The worker didn’t take the kids away since they were clean, healthy, and showed no signs of physical abuse. Diane immediately called a lawyer, who advised her to sit tight and wait to hear from CPS. He also told her not to talk to anyone about it. He told her that since the children were not removed immediately, they probably wouldn’t be. Long story short, Diane’s case was closed in a few days because there was no evidence of abuse. But the damage CPS did to her character and reputation was irreparable. CPS contacted Diane’s daycare center and the caregiver of the church nursery. While these people told the truth (clean clothes on the kids, no signs of bruises and scratches), they also gossiped about it. Rumors and half-truths spread everywhere. Diane was treated like dirt by the daycare staff and the church nursery staff. She felt that everywhere she went, people were staring at her and talking about her, wondering if she was an unfit mother. She was positive that the fired employee had accused her to get revenge, but her lawyer told her she had no way of proving it since the call made to CPS was anonymous. But this fired employee knew her very well, she tried to destroy every part of Diane’s life that was meaningful to her — church, vacation, friends. It’s amazing what people will do to get revenge. The person Diane fired had been given every opportunity to turn herself around at work, but chose not to take advantage of it. Long story short, yes, there are open and shut cases.
Comment by Judy — September 4, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
As a child abuse investigator I can GUARANTEE you that we do not come out looking for reasons to take your child. You obviously don’t believe that we care about the children, so look at it this way - taking children creates MUCH more work for us and therefore I would certainly rather the children stay with their families so that I can go home to mine instead of working late. You are also very uninformed about how CPS works. We do not get any benefits from taking children, we do not have certain numbers of children we have to take each month. Every time we hear someone say that it makes us laugh because it is so rediculous. There is aboslutely no benefit to us in removing a child. It does nothing but create more work for all of us. You are doing a great disservice to children who are being abused, by encouraging people to be uncooperative and hide things from CPS. If you have nothing to hide, there is no reason not to talk to the CPI, show them medical records, take a drug test, etc. You clearly had something to hide which is why you had a bad experience with CPS. And by the way, telling the school in writing (or having your attorney tell the school in writing) not to allow CPS access to your child does not work. By law, the school has no choice but to allow us access to the children. And also, refusing to let your child talk to CPS can result in your child being taken away for no reason. If the allegations are serious enough, CPS can get a court order to take your child into custody just for the purpose of interviewing them. The best and quickest way to get rid of CPS is to answer their questions and show them you have nothing to hide. There will always be plenty of people like you, trying to convince the world that CPS is evil and does nothing but ruin people’s lives. It is sad because you are helping to place more children at risk and making it harder for children who need help to get it. There are many children who need CPS intervention in their lives. By encouraging their parents to lie and be uncooperative, you are responsible for those children being hurt. Yes, CPS gets alot of false reports called in by ex- husbands and wives or someone seeking revenge against someone. Very often I knock on doors and talk to people who are not abusing their children and should never have had a report made against them. It is unfortunate that people do that to each other, and I am all for prosecuting people who make false reports and waste my time. But you have no idea the number of children out there who are suffering at the hands of their parents. And it is for those children that I come to work every day. I am certain there are CPS workers who are insensitive and take children who may not need to be taken. But that is certainly the rare exception, not the rule. It takes concrete evidence to get a judge to sign off on the removal of a child. It doesn’t happen with no basis. I have done this job for 9 years and it certainly isn’t for the money, because I barely make enough to pay my bills. It is rediculous to suggest people do this for the money. The pay is pathetic and definitely doesn’t make up for the stress and abuse we tolerate in this field. I, along with most other CPS workers, are here because we believe every child deserves a safe home. Unless you have done this job (not just worked for CPS, but done the job of investigating child abuse) then you have no clue the horrible things we see every day that people do to their kids. You should be thanking us for looking out for those children because we do save lives every day. I have had children as young as 6 years old, thank me for taking them somewhere they feel safe. Just like in any other job, mistakes can be made and I’m sure there have been children taken that may not have needed to be taken. But I personally have never seen that occur in 9 years of doing this job. It is extremely rare. You would be better served focusing your energy on ways to make sure children are safe, rather than assisting the abusers in finding ways to impede the investigation. There are plenty of people ready to jump on the bandwagon with people like you, because I have yet to remove a child without having the parents in court insisting the are being harrassed and people are lying about them. However, nine times out of ten, no one is lying but the parents themselves. I work very hard at my job, and I care very much about the children I talk to every day. You are certainly entitled to have this website so you can vent your frustration and talk with other people who want to bad-mouth CPS. But all your rambling on this website doesn’t change the facts - CPS cares about children, CPS does not look for reasons to take kids. Every day we face uncooperative and obnoxious adults saying things like you have said on this website. Fortunately, none of us who do this job care about the opinions of people like you who are more concerned about spouting off their bitter feelings than they are about child safety. We here at CPS get a good laugh when we see websites like this, because the things said on them are so far from the truth that it’s funny to us. We will continue to do our jobs regardless of what people say. Our focus is on making sure kids are safe, and as long as we are doing that it does not matter to us that people like you have to bad mouth us in order to make yourselves feel better. Enjoy your site - enjoy venting and talking with other bitter people. Luckily for all of you, it won’t stop us from looking out for the kids.
Comment by Karrie — September 6, 2007 @ 7:49 am
Karrie, I have this website because I’ve seen outright LIES in numerous social worker court reports, because the courts don’t honor Constitutional Rights, and because parents in this situation need some legal knowledge and social support.
You DO receive a paycheck, so you DO do this job for money. There can be no denying it. If your paycheck doesn’t cover your bills, you need to learn better money management skills.
I don’t need or want your approval of my site. But you talk about ‘venting’ and being ‘bitter’. That sounds like a great description of what you just wrote.
Comment by Linda — September 6, 2007 @ 8:19 am
I know I’ve said this before, but this is a great resource!!! Keep up the good work!!!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/197433400
Comment by Dawn — September 6, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
Once again, it is so rediculous to say we do this for the money. If I were doing a job just for the purpose of getting money, I would surely be doing something else. My co-workers and I just got a good laugh out of that one. None of us are here for the money, that’s for sure. As for learning better money management, you have no clue how much I get paid or what it costs to maintain a home and care for my family. It has nothing to do with money management, but someone like you apparently cannot understand that. I’m not sure what part of my comment sounded bitter. I’d really like to know what I’m supposedly bitter about. You are the only one here sounding bitter. I am happy at my job and enjoy helping children and families, so I’m not sure exactly what there is to be bitter about. I’m certainly tired of people like you spouting off when they don’t know what they are talking about, but it’s part of my job and I’m surely not losing any sleep over it because I hear comments like yours almost every day. The important thing is, that there are people like myself and my co-workers looking out for the safety of children. Fortunately there are people like us who care enough to do this. You are right that people who lose custody of their children do need legal advice. But that is just it - they need real legal advice from attorneys. Things you have suggested on this site are actually things that could result in more people losing their children, so it is irresponsible of you to do that. People need to know how the system really works, and you (or anyone not working in the system) just simply do not have that knowledge and understanding. I don’t have any doubt whatsoever that there are incidents when caseworkers lie. In any job or any field of work there are people who don’t do their job correctly and should not be there, so it would be just as foolish for me to say no one does that as it is for you to say we all do that! But as I said before, that is the rare exception. So to encourage people to believe that all of us are like that is rediculous and immature. It would be no different than if I tried to say that every person I investigate is just the same and they are all liars. That is equally as rediculous. How can you not see that? If you want to point out particular people or situations in which you have specific knowledge of lies being told, that would be the more appropriate and responsible thing to do. As opposed to what you seem to do on this website which is try to suggest we are “all the same”. Can’t you see how that is so rediculous that it takes away from your credibility? Anyway, I just find it sad that this sort of website gives out so much inaccurate and false information. You guys should all be able to vent to each other and talk about how much you hate CPS. You have every right to that and it doesn’t bother me a bit. The problem I have with this website is that you utilize it to give people advice such as the “ten things to do if you are being investigated by CPS”. I do not want to see more people losing their children, and many of the things you suggested could result in that. I have done this job for nearly ten years and have handled hundreds and hundreds of investigations. I have actually removed children from their parents in probably less than10% of my cases. If you look into the numbers, you will see that that is generally the case. Taking people’s children creates more work for us and costs the system more money. We definitely do not want your kids - we want them to be safe at home with their parents. Sadly, there are times when that is not possible and only in those extreme cases are the children taken. Parents who lose custody of their children want to blame everyone else rather than take responsibility and do what they need to do to learn from the experience and become better parents. Which is why almost everyone who has lost their kids to CPS has so many stories about how it was all lies that caused the removal. That is nearly never the case. So please, vent all your frustration and talk about how you hate us all. Have at it. But be careful how you advise people, because if people take all of your advice they are greatly increasing the chances of losing their children. And try to remember, those of use who do this job are humans. We have all cried over situations we have seen. It breaks my heart to take children from their parents. I’m sure you will always choose to believe the lies that we don’t care and are wanting to take people’s children. I’m not looking to change your mind, because I don’t really care about people’s opinions. I’m just asking you to be careful - and consider that giving people advice when you do not have the knowledge to do so can be very damaging. If you find specific people in this sytem lying and doing things inappropriately, do everything you can to file complaints and report those people to the authorities. But stop making rediculous generalizations. I’m not kidding when I say that the things on this site are so far from the truth that we sat here in the CPS office and laughed at the idea that people actually believe we want to take kids and enjoy doing it. That’s just so rediculous. You can continue to believe that, and I am sure you will. But you are wrong.
Comment by Karrie — September 7, 2007 @ 10:16 am
karrie it is ridiclous that you and your terorists gang at the cps office sit back and laugh at other’s pain and it looks as though you enjoy seperating families. it also appears that you do care that families hate you, or you would not be on this site trying to justify the wrongs of cps on families. further more you are not doing any service by destroying families and wasting tax payer’s money and laughing about it when you should be doing a real service for families, not against them. god is watching you, when you meet your maker you beter hope your not still laughing.
Comment by Christy — September 7, 2007 @ 11:59 am
Kerrie,
Your comments just go to show how insensitive CPS workers are. You say several times in both posts how you and your fellow workers are reading this site and laughing. Laughing at what people’s pain? Behind every post here is a family either torn appart by CPS or one going through hell because of them. If you feel your agency is doing such a good job then why when you look at the stats published on gov websites does it say children are more likely to be abused/neglected and murderd in the care of the state than in thier own home? Look some families on here do need some services but are they provided? Usually not, usually the state just jumps to take the kids. Other families on here don’t need the services and the services are pushed on them. Child abuse does occur no doubt and yes we do need to help those children but in some cases no abuse or neglect really happened yet people are raked through the coals and lives are distroyed in the process. I know so many people in my area who had to deal with cps it isn’t funny and only one would I say actually needed the help. The rest were good parents who took good care of thier kids. I have also met foster parents who have stated that several placements they have had obviously did not need to be taken from the parents and when they tried to do something about it they were threatend with being shut down. CPS around here also selectivly inforces it’s own rules. In one home they will pull a child for domestic violance occuring and in another home where the exact same thing is happening they do nothing and close the case. There are 3 kids that live in the house behind me, you can here the mom yelling at them, cursing them, smacking them, you can hear the dad beating them, these kids are violent, rude and none of the other kids around here are allowed to play with them. I’ve been to the cops twice and the other neighbor called cps. Nothing has been done at all. I’ve not even seen cps out there! This is a case where the kids need protection yet nothing is done. That is what your wonderfull system does ignores the kids in need and distroys the families of people who do not need the help. I have a social worker come to my house once a week from a cps contract agency who tells me nothing is wrong here I have good parenting skills I handle things like I should etc the one that came before her said the same thing and yet cps won’t give up and admit they are wrong. They still say I slap my daughter across the face and in therapy my daughter told the therapist when asked “does your mom hit you?” she said “I wish she would just hit me and get it over with instead of me having to write things like 10 reasons why I shouldn’t do … or an I’m sorry letter” They also say my daughter who was 9 at the time touched her 6 year old step sister when two therapist say there is no reason to belive this child was molested or is molesting others. My kids are also all on honor roll, clean, dressed for the weather, well fed, go to doctors and dentists regularly etc yet I’m still an abusive/neglectful mother. The doctors and therapist are just waiting to be called to court to testify FOR me. I know what your saying when you say that you see shuch horrible things in some homes I go to the school to volenteer allthe time and see kids I just want to take home with me and show what a loving family is like and it breaks my heart but I know I can’t. Abuse does exist but the system abuses too and until your agency can get it together you need to step back and look at the bigger problem and the bigger problem is you. Oh and if your working so hard on helping children why are all of you standing around reading this site and laughing when there are children needing your assistance out there. Now get off the internet and go do your damn job!
Comment by Debbie — September 7, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
Karrie. You DO get a paycheck. You DO work as a CPS caseworker for money. What’s so hard to understand about that? Why do you deny it? Where do you get your money if it isn’t from your pathetic family-destroying job?
As far as claiming there’s false information on this site, give specific examples. Give us links and direct quotes. I’m willing to correct any information that is proven false.
And I’m with Debbie - if your group of CPS workers sits around the CPS office laughing at a group of traumatized parents, you’re not only a bunch of wicked insane losers, you’re also stealing taxpayer money by wasting time on the internet, and not doing your jobs.
Comment by Linda — September 7, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
Kerrie, you mentioned caring for your family so I’m assuming you have children. How do you think you might feel if a social worker knocked on your door and said “we have a referral on you”. Wouldn’t you go into defense mode? What if your child had a bruise he’d gotten while playing, and someone thought you’d hit him and called CPS? And the more you tried to defend yourself against this false accusation, the more CPS thought you were guilty. I think this website is great and I only wish it had been around when CPS destroyed my life. If the posters are bitter, they have a right to be. No one’s life is ever the same after enduring the pain and humiliation of being falsely accused of child abuse. I applaud them for being willing to share their stories and maybe help someone else. I have never felt as trapped, powerless, and isolated as I did during the time I was subjected to home visits and forced into counseling by CPS. I had nothing to hide because I was innocent, but I was also a very private person. The more I tried to cooperate, the worse it got. Don’t judge the posters on this website until you have walked in their shoes.
Comment by Judy — September 7, 2007 @ 11:56 pm
The comments from the CPS worker sicken me. I’m writing from B.C. Canada,and I can tell you it’s the same here.It’s called the Ministry of Child and Family “Development”,or MCFD,but I think the”D”stands for “Destruction”!I might’ve had some sympathy for the worker if I knew of even one family (or child) who could say they got some help.But even the few I’ve met who acknowledge there was a need for help never got any. Now,I’m not here to vent my bitterness- I’m way past that point .What I want is to see a change.Yes,my children were abducted by the “system”,and my boys are home now,thank God,but they still have my daughter.This Christmas will be two years since she was taken by strangers in the night.The allegation was that my husband sexually assaulted her in the bathtub.She was 9 yrs old at the time,having a bath with her little brother who was almost 2 then.My husband went in to find out what was going on when he heard little one crying,and saw that my daughter’s hair wasn’t washed yet after almost an hour in there.So,he said,”Wash your hair,or I’ll wash it for you!”She yelled “No!Go away!Don’t touch me!”,understandably offended at the idea that she wasn’t capable of doing it herself.This incident led to a charge of sexual assault.Here’s how:Two months earlier,my 20 yr old stepson and his girlfriend came to stay with us.Their newborn baby girl had been placed with us because of concerns that they were using crystal meth and seriously neglecting baby.(They were.Baby was in terrible shape when she came.)After some weeks of partying,the young couple got kicked out of where they were.My husband and I agreed to let them stay with us,provided they stayed off drugs and did their best to help care for their own child. At first,it seemed like they were.But the girlfriend wasn’t happy with the arrangement,and started looking for a way to discredit my husband or me,or both.She gave my daughter the idea that if her stepdad was gone, maybe her real dad could come back, and the best way to get me to throw him out was to make me think he was touching her.My daughter started acting so strangely,I actually got suspicious.I voiced my suspicions to a couple of friends,and carefully questioned my daughter.Her responses struck me as odd,like asking what would happen if he was touching her,but not saying he did.I confirmed that if it had happened, he would absolutely be gone,immediately,and he’d likely go to jail,too,which is where child molesters belong.She said he’d never done anything and promised to tell me if anyone ever did.I watched my husband’s every move. Then, when the bathtub thing happened,my step-son’s girlfriend made her move and called in her report.She then told me that my daughter had told her about being abused by my husband,told my daughter that my husband had done things to her in her sleep(!!!)and told the police that he had confessed to me!When MCFD came to investigate,I co-operated with them completely.I had no idea at that point what was true,and if my husband had done anything like what was being said,I think I would’ve killed him myself!The worker questioned my daughter,and she denied anything had happened,so he said he would close the file.But instead he started questioning all my friends and neighbors,pressuring everyone for anything they could think of that might be incriminating.Naturally,some of them recalled my recent suspicions.Suddenly,every little thing started to sound like signs of abuse.Two days before Christmas,a social worker appeared at our home with two police cars and an ultimatum:Either my husband leaves,or they take my daughter.We complied.My husband left.The next day,my daughter asked me if her real dad could come back now.When I said no,and explained why not,she started crying and the whole story came out,how she thought she could just get him into a little bit of trouble so he would have to go.Realizing he could go to jail,she said”We have to help him,Mommy!” She insisted that I take his presents to him so he wouldn’t think she hates him.I tried to assure her everything would be okay,and made arrangements for her to stay at her aunt’s house,since the atmosphere at home was insane.It didn’t help,though.MCFD took her anyway,because her aunt panicked .My step-son and his girlfriend had accompanied my daughter to her aunt’s house at the insistence of MCFD and repeated their ugly story to her.(I still hadn’t clued in to the true source of it all).The aunt immediately called MCFD and put my daughter on a bus.Once they had her in custody, the police started their interrogation.They grilled her for over four hours in one session,three hours in another.They only taped a small part of it,and it’s heartbreakingly obvious from the transcripts how she was co-erced.Right at the end,after denying repeatedly that anything happened,begging over and over to go home,the cop asks,”Did he touch you?” She lays her head on her arm and says,”(sigh)Yes.Can I go home now,please?”(Just so you know,as I’m typing this,I can barely see the screen through my tears)I still can’t recount how they took my youngest son without weeping uncontrollably,ripping my 2yr old from his brother’s arms while slamming me onto the hood of a police car,my baby screaming in terror.There weren’t even any protection concerns regarding the boys, only that I had been seen in town with my husband when I dropped off his gifts.Two months later the courts ruled they’d had no grounds to take my boys and ordered that they be returned.While in “care”,my youngest got so sick,he was put on inhalers for asthma.After he came home,MCFD insisted I continue giving him these meds even though the side effects caused muscle tremors and bloating.I took him to our family doctor.He found no signs of asthma.I took him to a naturopath who found no signs of asthma,and finally to a pediatrician of MCFD’s choice who confimed-no asthma.All three doctors said my son’s symptoms were likely caused by diet and severe anxiety.They also confirmed that these medications can be dangerous to non-asthmatic children.More than a year later,my son is still terrified of police.What’s even more disturbing are things my daughter said during visits before we were cut off completely,such as being taken to a “clinic”where she has to take all her clothes off so they can take pictures to put on a computer screen.(These “examinations”didn’t start until she’d already been in care for 8 months.)She also said her fostermom’s boyfriend got so drunk he came in her room in his underwear.I’ve been denied all contact now because the visit superviser read my diary.In it, I had written all my fears and concens.I had kept it in the bathroom,and my daughter had started using it to write to me.At one point I wrote to her to tell the judge what she told me about wanting her real dad back,what my step-son’s girlfriend told her and how the police made her feel.As a result,the police came with a search warrant and seized everything in my house with my handwriting on it,including everything I had documented about MCFD’s conduct in our case.None of it was ever returned.When copies were sent to my lawyer, everything to do with MCFD was missing:Every page to do with visits,names,dates,conversations with workers,anything I could use in court to strengthen my case-gone.I was charged and convicted for Obstruction of Justice and am now serving 15 months on house arrest.My husband’s trial has been put off three times now,but not by his lawyer.It’s set to continue in October.I think they’re hoping to wear my daughter down enough so she’ll testify against him.So far,she has testified twice that he did not at any time sexually assault her.At this point,I don’t even care if he’s convicted,I just want the nightmare to end.I am heartsick over what is being done to my daughter.Even if he really had done what they say,(which she says he didn’t),the way they’ve handled this has traumatized every one of us deeply,especially my daughter,the one they’re supposed to be protecting.I know that no-one can actually help us except God Himself,so if you’re the kind of person who prays,please pray for my daughter(Elise).But maybe if we can somehow work together to expose the corruption and the glaring flaws in the system,other families could be spared from some of this agony.I’m sure plenty of workers out there really want to help children,but the fact is they are defeating their own purpose.Thank you for your time.And…DON’T GIVE UP!!!
Comment by Anna Wood — September 9, 2007 @ 1:29 am
P.S. If you are in B.C.,and want to contact me,call me @ 604-869-2822
Comment by Anna Wood — September 9, 2007 @ 1:42 am
Although i have never met you Karrie,,,, it appears to me after reading your comments,,,, you are a very evil person. And enjoy causing a great deal of pain to people. And like to laugh at this. Was your great great grandfather”s name Hitler???
Comment by Wendy — September 9, 2007 @ 6:23 am
We are in San Diego, CA. We are looking to start a support/advocacy group within our area. If you are being victimized by CPS, contact us. There is strength in numbers! (619) 966-8369
Comment by Kesha — September 11, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
Also, if anyone can offer any advice or resources to help families & children in SD, CA. Please call too! We are glad to hear from anyone that will give support.
Comment by Kesha — September 11, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
Kerrie,
I have been coming to this web-site for roughly two years. I have not posted much in the last few months. You talk about CPS being a good organization, your freaking nuts. I don’t know what state or county you may work for, but I’m in California. CPS in California is instructed to place children in foster homes if they can get way with it. Your people do it for the federal funds. You know that as well as I do.
I have deal with CPS. I have spent thousands of dollars for attorneys to defend my grandchildren and myself from the false allegations made by your people.
I had a CPS manager lie to a judge. She stated she had the evidence to support the allegations she was making against my family. My attorney asked her to provide him with the evidence. The case was postponed 38 times in 26 weeks, then the federal funding for the foster care ran out so she withdrew the charges against my family, saying she made a mistake. My grandchildren were returned to me late that day and we have not heard a word from them for 10 months now. Now you tell me that CPS is good for our citizens. BS
Comment by Steve — September 14, 2007 @ 9:43 pm
Just heard the most heart-breaking story at my knitting group today. Lynne has been trying to get her 7 year old grandson back for months. Her daughter abandoned him when he was a year old & Lynne raised him until he was removed from her home by DSS. Apparently when she picked him up from a birthday party, he had a total meltdown, refused to leave, kicked and screamed, and Lynne spanked him. Not abusively, but a few swats to his rear. Someone reported her and he was taken away from her. It is the worst travesty of justice that he was not returned to her. She went through what everyone on this board has — having her entire life turned inside out, accused of abuse which she had not committed. Yes she spanked him and probably if she’d realized how unwise it is now to spank a child in public, she wouldn’t have. But in her day, spanking was appropriate. Not abusively, but enough to let the child know that his behavior was inappropriate. DSS said that the child needed to be with his “real” parents but Lynne’s daughter is an alcoholic and the child’s father doesn’t want him. Lynne has spent thousands of dollars in legal fees and said today she was broke and can no longer pay her attorney. She put her head down on the table and cried, and we all tried to comfort her. She has lost so much weight and looks horrible. I gave her the name of this website and told her she could find information that would help her. She is allowed to see her grandson under supervision only. He cries and asks her when he can come home. I hope somehow she can get him back.
Comment by Judy — September 15, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
Dear Judy:
Thank you so much for this example of how CPS runs amuck.
THEY ARE AN INDUSTRY.
And think of how much bewilderment and pain her Grandson must be experiencing!
I do not know what state you live in, but this kind of treatment is INHUMAN.
Suggest your knitting group contact your local poltico. Or Grandmom does!
She must hook up with someone in her state. Suggest looking at http://www.familyrights.us for Members and Friends in your state.
There is also a URL for local groups which AFRA lists on the Website.
Let us hope the grandkid is not fodder for this destructive industry.
Comment by Fern — September 16, 2007 @ 6:58 am
i am a aunt thats nephew is in foster care, and have been ignored and lied to from the state workers about me beable to take my nephew in our home, and have it in emails of there comments, now they just ignore me when i send an email because they now know i keep all emails. he has been in foster care fro over a year now he is now 2 years old and calling the foster parents mommy and daddy and the social worker says thats ok !!. the foster parents lied in court and said that my nephew was uncomportable when he was over last… when it was them that was uncomportable because he called the foster mom mommy and i said no its amy not mommy. and she didn’t like it. there is so much more, can anyone help me please. my email is available davidtawnyh -at- yahoo.com,,, please , they are now putting him up for adoption and the foster parents want him.. this has been the states (welfare)agenda all along. because when he first went in the head lady in my welfare office in my town said we don’t want him to “get used to me” for when he goes up for adoption i don’t want him confused. and this was in the beginning. so it was what they wanted, they told me i had to go threw this foster home programm i did, and still nothing.
Comment by tawny — September 19, 2007 @ 4:43 am
I’m just being investigated by cps and already i can tell its all about money, everyone needs to make money thats what its all about
Comment by heather — September 19, 2007 @ 7:45 am
Oh my god, CPS workers will avoid any and all contact from any of us. beleave me, this is the words of experence. Our Grandbabys were taken illeagally. (per the judge) we were lied to, deceived, forced into supervised visits, after the judge said it was not neccessary. I spent over 100k on attorneys, we went through CPS home inspection. We were told we would get custody. they streched it out for over a year. my daughter had it moved to a different county and we finnally go the kids out of foster care. the system is a joke. these people are trained to lie to everyone, and they get away with it. scary, very scary. this is no different than dealing with the mob. I am sorry iam so negitive, I just hate the bastards for what they did to my family.
Comment by Steve — September 19, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
Please know that the same problems experienced with CPS also happens with APS (ADULT Protective Services) and that is my situation.
I have an adult son, disabled since birth, who NO State or Federal Agency would help me for his many, many special needs over all these years. Now, because of a lady who had tried to become his rep-payee (SSI$) and failed, she was angry and made horrible accusations. They were proven false. But, while I had APS’s ATTENTION, I begged for much needed services like dental treatent and a Day Care Program etc.(There’s no funding in my state for that but APS has the funding to help fill te gap)
BUT-NOTHING! They refuse to help. I guess I need to call and report myself for not meeting his dental care and other needs to get help. (BTW- I AM ALSO A DISABLED ADULT ON SSDI)
Prior to THAT- I myself had called APS to report that my disabled adult son had been physically beaten in a group-home. There was MUCH evidence and witnesses. APS NEVER FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH ANY OF THAT.
This site is the only one I found that offers so much information/education and tips. Even though it’s for CPS, much of it applies and I feel very supported.
Thanks for all the info. and support!
Comment by Glory — September 21, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
Our CPS case happened around six years ago. Due to one malicious false accusation, which soon was expounded by social workers who made up and added new delusional accusations of their own to assist in prosecution of our family, we had two of our four children abducted from the school and spent 1 1/2 years in foster homes, and my wife and I were “founded” of abuse by a group of deluded social workers and a judge who never questioned CPS’s word. There was no evidence ever found or presented, and we were never allowed to speak in defense. Our lawyer claimed that it would be best if we held our tongue, and fought CPS with kindness. Our children were finally returned after CPS and the courts had drained our life savings. I wanted, so much, to sue the S.O.B.’s for the injustices we suffered, if only to reassure my faith in our court systems, but as time went on, I found the impossibility of doing so due to the “self-protection” CPS imposes in league with the court system.
Even though it happened so long ago, I still hate CPS. Our indoctrination to the CPS agency was truly an eye opening and life changing event, and will not ever be forgotten.
The reason I’m posting is to show support for the people here struggling with CPS’s wrongdoings. Don’t give up the fight.
I want to add, just for laughs, some of the accusations CPS accused us of. Keep in mind, the abducted kids were 13yrs and 14yrs old.
1. Not insuring brushing of teeth.
2. Over-feeding
3. Under-feeding
4. Forcing them to go out and play.
5. Forcing them to stay inside the house.
6. Not allowing them to feed their fish.
7. Making them go swimming in the pool.
8. Not allowing them to go swimming with friends.
9. One of the kids reported we bruised her kneecaps, don’t know where this came from, it came up after she had spent a while in a group home comparing stories with other kids. Guess she felt left out since she didn’t have any horror story to tell.
I really can’t think of any other accusations that occurred, but based on those, we were founded of “cruel punishment”.
Comment by Philip Gray — September 26, 2007 @ 7:27 am
about four yrs. ago i had two children taken from me after i reported sexual abuse done to my dhtr. he got 7 yrs. probation and i was left with no children and a past that seems to huant me now. not to mention that his family now has custody of my two children who get to have no contact with me. i find it amazing that cps can say i neglected my children when i tryied to do what was right. i had little knowledge about the law and an attorney that said he could get my kids back if only i had more money. now im trying to find someone to help me get my children back. i have been looking all this time but seem to run in to dead ends.
Comment by terrestia moore — October 2, 2007 @ 2:24 pm
our children were kidnapped by cps in mendocino county california march19 2004 we still havent got them back .Destiny Hogan, Annalea Hogan Ayla Martin Richard Martin. We lovr our children we will fight cps till our deathday if any one knows where our children are please get in touch with us Alan and Bonnie
Comment by alan hogan — October 4, 2007 @ 2:18 am
I have had my 3 kids taken away when I was in the hospital after having a baby. CPS came to the hospital and took my newborn and I didn’t even know! They told me I wasn’t able to see him right know because they were doing some tests on his white cell count, but that he was fine. I got out of the hospital so that I could check on my other children that where at home with their grandfather. I called the hospital and asked how my baby was and they said he’s fine and that I could come and take him home tomorrow. I stayed home with my children (1 & 5) that night since they wouldn’t let me see my baby anyways! The next day, DFS came to my house and removed my children, falsely accusing me of doing drugs while I was pregnant! That’s when I realized, they wouldn’t let me see my baby becaues he wasn’t even there. DFS took him from the hospital! Thay have now terminated my parental rights, and I never even got to go to a court hearing because they wouldn’t tell me when they were!! I found out that my parental rights were terminated by reading the newspaper.
Comment by Jessi — October 5, 2007 @ 8:51 pm
THIS COMMENT IS FOR KARRIE…
OK SO YOU ARE A SOCIAL WORKER. THERE IS NOTHIG WRONG WITH THAT.AND MAYBE YOU ARE ONE OF THE VERY FEW WHO DO CARE.I AM FROM SOMERSET COUNTY. OUR COUNTY IS CROOKED. HERE IS A FEW THINGS THAT I NEED TO SAY TO YOU.NOW I COULD BE RIGHT ABOUT YOU, AND I COULD BE WRONG…. HOWEVER WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THIS WEBSITE.????? NOW HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CALL BECAUSE THEY ARE MISERABLE AND REVENGEFULL, HOWEVER, WHEN ME BEING A PARENT MYSELF, GOING AND ASKING THE PEOPLE WHOM SPECIALIZE IN YOUR LINE OF DUTY, WHY DONT THEY HELP. IVE WENT TO THESE PEOPLE FOR 4 YEARS BECAUSE OF THEY ENVIROMENT MY CHILD WAS LIVING IN WITH HER FATHER. HERE’S WHATS BEEN HAPPENING TO MY CHILD.1 THEY SPIT IN HER FACE, THEY BEAT HER TO THE POINT THAT IT ISNT BLACK AND BLUE, ITS WELDED., ALSO THEY TELL HER WHEN I LEAVE THAT THEY WILL KILL ME WHILE I AM BY MYSELF. SO MY CHILD IS AFRAID FOR ME TO BE ALONE. THEY HAVE TAUGHT HER TO FLIP ME OFF AND CALL ME A PSYCHO SLUT, THEY LOCK HER IN HER ROOM, THIS IS JUST MILD, AND FOR SURE NOT EVERYTHING.I HAVE WENT TO THESE PEOPLE FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF MY CHILD, AND THE MENTAL AND HEALTH STABILITY, AND ALL THEY COULD TELL ME IS THOSE ARE CUSTODY ISSUES. IF YOU KIND OF PEOPLE LOVE TO WORK FOR CHILDREN THEN WHY ISNT MY CHILD PROTECTED?WHY DO I HAVE TO STAY UP AT NIGHT WONDERING WHAT SHE GOT BEAT FOR? WHY DO I HAVE NIGHTMARES THAT MY CHILD IS LOCKED IN HER ROOM WHILE THE HOME SHE IS AT IS BURNING DOWN, AND I CAN’T HELP HER, PLEASE IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, OR ANY LOVE FOR THEM, WOULDN’T THESE THINGS HAUNT YOU? AND TO BE SPACIFIC CPS. CYS HERE DID NOT TAKE MY CHILD OUT OF MY CUSTODY, BUT THEY REFUSE TO HELP ME HELP HER. THAT CHILD IS MY LIFE AND I AM SURE YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE WHOM CARE, AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHOM ABUSE CHILDREN, BUT I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT IF I WAS LIKE THOSE WHO, HURT CHILDREN, THAT SOMEONE LIKE YOU WOULD STEP IN. AND BY NO MEANS AM I TRYING TO BE RUDE, HOWEVER IF YOU ARE ON THIS SITE TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF, AND IF YOU ARE ON THIS SITE TO SEE WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY, THEN WHY DONT YOU PROVE YOURSELF AND SHOW THESE PEOPLE THAT YOU CARE BY SYMPATHIZING WITH THEM. AND SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR CHILDREN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. (MAYBE ONE DAY YOU SHOULD JUST GO READ A FRACTION OF THE PRAYERS, AND WALK A MILE IN OTHERS SHOES, PERHAPS IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN AND YOU LOOK ONTO THAIR EYES, KNOWING THAT THEY ARE AWAY FORM THAIR FAMILY( OR YOU KNOW MAYBE YOUR CHILD IS SICK, BUT YOU WANT TO BE THERE WITH THEM, JUST FOR COMFORT, URS AND THAIRS, OR MAYBE YOU HAVE A TEENAGER, WHOM IS BEING BULLIED, AND WANT TO PROTECT THEM? WHAT WOULD YOU DO, PS IF THESE PARENTS ARE INNOCENT, AND YOU FELT THAIR PAIN WHEN YOU READ THESE PRAYERS . I’M SURE YOU WOULD CRY, BECAUSE I DID. I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A JOB., AND WHEN YOU REMOVE THOSE CHILDREN, AND THEY THANK YOU I KNOW THATS GOT TO BE THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD. BUT SOMETIMES NOT EVERYONE IS RIGHT….
Comment by amanda housel — October 8, 2007 @ 11:03 am
THIS IS ALSO FOR KARRIE AND THE OTHER ONE
WELL TO BEGIN YOU ARE VERY INSENSATIVE,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, HOWEVER I WILL VERIFY THAT CPS WORKERS LIE…………. I’VE HAD A POLICE OFFICER VERIFY THAT. AND IF YOU THINK I AM LYING I WILL SHOW YOU THE PROOF. ALL THESE PEOLE HAVE A SIMILIAR STORY. AND FROM DIFFERENT COUNTY’S COME ON THEY ALL CANT BE LYING? I GO T SOME ADVICE, MAYBE YOU OTTA READ SOME OF THOSE INSTRUCTIONS ON SOCIAL WORK, BEACUSE THE LAST I CHECKED, YOU DON’T LAUGH AT PEOPLE, SO MAYBE YOU ARE IN THE WRONG LINE OF WORK HONEY, YOU SAY PARENTS SHOULD FOLLOW INTRUCTIONS, WELL WHERE’S YOURS?
AND I THINK MAYBE I SHOULD COPY YOUR COMMENTS CARRIE AND MAYBE I SHOULD SHOW IT TO SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES, TO SHOW HOW YOU REALLY CARE, YOU KNOW LAUGHING AND ALL, AND MAYBE THEY WILL UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE THIS WEBSITE, NOT TO MENTION, YOU PEOPLE CANT RETURN OUR CALLS. BUT YOU CAN TYPE. AND BASH, AND LAUGH I AM SURE THE REPRESENTATIVES WOULD NOT LIKE TO BE WASTING THAIR MONEY ON PEOPLE WHOM CAN’T ACT PROFESSIONAL, HAVE A NICE DAY.
Comment by amandA — October 8, 2007 @ 11:29 am
you people make me sick. not every cps worker is out to get you! most of them spend their lives trying to stand up for people without voices, children! children who do get beaten, raped, drugged, kept from school and forced to live in places you wouldnt want your dog to sleep in. not everyone is out to get you. if your trying to get help and you dont think your getting it fast enough, thats the law. even we cant bypass the law to help people. if you have a problem with the motions then take it up with your crooked politicions not the few people who try to help. sorry that one person isnt doing enough to help you with your problem! and talk about finding something better to do with time???? part of our job is finding out how to break barriers with ignorant people who think we’re out to get them. what better way to do that than to go to a website like this. oh and by the way for everyone who says that ‘they’re life was ruined by one false accusation’ your full of shit! because it takes 3 calls to even get cps to look at a case, much less intervene.
Comment by meesh — October 9, 2007 @ 2:20 am
meesh,
I don’t know what your problem is or what your experiences are but your one sick puppy! You must be burnt out and were probably a good social worker at some point. Get help, for the kids your suppose to be protecting sake. Obiously you have dealt with some people who need help but were unable to do so because they did not feel they need it. I’m sure that happens. I have also seen people on her where they knew they needed help but were unable to receive it and some who did not need the help at all. Or even some who needed help that cps tried to help with the wrong tpye of help. People come here because they love thier kids and are willing to do what they need to to get them back. If your unable or unwilling to do so your abusing that child far worse than what an abusive neglectful parent could ever do. If cps workers took less time playing mind games with parents (which frequently voilate federal law) and more time playing it strait the kids would benifit. I feel bad for all the families you work with having a mentally unbalanced social worker is surely a road block to recovery.
On another note, I don’t know where you are but here it does not take 3 calls. Every call is either screened out because it does not meet the definition of abuse/neglect or investigated to see if it was abuse. One worker told me that probably about 90% of the calls she went out on to investigate were “revenge calls” I have also had social workers read me the paper that states “on (date) a call was recieved on alligations that ….” That is one call. I personally think a 3 call rule is stupid. It takes 3 people to protect a child. The people who are doing it for revenge will keep calling back, those who are doing it in “good faith” won’t be obssed with it. Just calling will make them feel they did something. That is why you have these cases on the news when a child dies and the neighbor says ” I called cps and they didn’t do anything.” I guess you need 3 neighbors saying that?
Comment by Debbie — October 9, 2007 @ 7:21 am
Boy Debbie. Meesh thinks she’s crashin huh? well that just shows how mentally uNtable that they are right? sayin were full of sHit. well all of us have a similiar story we all can’t be lying. I don’t even know why they even get on here. We already know they lie… And they, just can;t undserstand the fact that thier job is to destroy families, thats what they get paid for. I don’t know how they sleep at night knowing what they have done to others, Maybe they all should have a government PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION!!!!!!!!! Considering that they say we screw up all the time. I am taking all of these comments to my Local Legislator and the local Representative. To really show how much they care. As well as waste tax payers money. As well as try to Entrap parents. For the same thing they do. Abuse childeren. maybe not physical abuse, But Mental ABUSE ! I would keep this web site up, because they can’t stand that we are all comming together to fight this. And one way or another, we will survive and We will Win. Not Really WE as parents, But we as families. We really don’t have nothing to loose.However our CHILDREN are Our FUTURE. AND WE NEED TO PROTECT THAT , NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES, EVEN IF WE ALL HAVE TO GET TOGETHER STATE, BY STATE, AND TELL OUR STORIES, WE CAN’T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO OUR CHILDREN.
And by the way MEESH YOU ARE THE ONE WHO IS FULL OF SHIT ALL THEY WAY UP TO YOUR HAIR I BET THATS BROWN TOO.:)
Comment by amandA — October 9, 2007 @ 9:48 am
AND BTW MEESH I MEANT BROWN LIKE THE TIP OF YOUR NOSE, THE PART THAT IS SHOVED UP UR SUPERVISORS ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by amandA — October 9, 2007 @ 9:50 am
PS TO ALL THOSE OUT THERE WHO HAVE SEEN MY “FRENCH: I APPOLOGIZE ! BUT HOWEVER LIKE YOU I AM TIRED OF BEING CALLED A LIAR, AND I WILL NO LONGER BACK DOWN, SO I AM VERY SORRY IF I OFFEDED THOSE ON HERE OTHER THAN THE CPS WORKERS PS C.P.S. STANDS FOR CAN’T PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY.
Comment by amandA — October 9, 2007 @ 9:57 am
STILL PRAYIN FOR YOU ALL…. REMEMBER ONE THING THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER TO GOD NOT US, THATS IF THEY EVEN BELIEVE IN HIM BECASUE THEY ARE SICK AND EVIL ..
KEEP YOUR CHINS UP THATS WHAT OUR CHILDREN KNOW WE ARE GOING TO DO BECASUE WE LOVE THEM, AND THEY KNOW WHO LOVES THEM AND WHO DON’T
Comment by amandA — October 9, 2007 @ 10:00 am
this message goes out 2 karrie you and your office are nothing but a bunch of looseres and asses trying to make theese people believe that you people are not lyers you are trained to lie in order to have that job and i can prove it and if this sight doesent bother you then why in the hell are you here reading this and trying to make theese people believe something different i been watching the case with my daughter and grandaughtet for four years now and when a state cop tells you cps knows how to lie thats pretty bad . im amandas mom and i havent done a dam thing wrong and i cant even see my grandaughter cps dont know what the hell there doing the thing that cracks me up is that some of you cps workers dont even have kids and you think folling directions is the answers i know i dident get directions with my daughter and i did a dam good job so c p s workers stop your dam lies and if you dont like what theese people are saying then i sugest you stay of there sigjht i believe theese people i know how you cps workers are im glad you got a good laugh at theese people i printed out what you wrote im gonna plaster it all over my county at every place possible and we will all get a good laugh at you and our country will see that there is cps workers out there just like our cps workers i think we should all print this and get the word out on our cps workers and start pickiting one county and state at a time yours truly karrie ps i think you fell out of a tree and bumped your head futher more mind your own with your own and if you dont like whats being said stay of the sight . tracy
Comment by amandA — October 10, 2007 @ 9:50 am
AMANDA AND TRACY
I hope you do post what they are saying, everywhere you can! maybe someone will find these truely sick workers and give them phychological evaluation and get them help immediately. maybe they know their sick and there crying out for help or their just evil.
Comment by Christy — October 10, 2007 @ 10:57 am
THANK YOU CHRISTY, YEA THESE PEOPLE ARE SICK AND EVIL. WE SHOULS ALL KEEP UP THE G OOD WORK.:) :):):)::p HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY CHRISTY ( BY THE WAY WHAT COUNTY ARE YOU FROM? ) W/B/S/ AMANDA
Comment by Amanda and emily — October 10, 2007 @ 1:01 pm
Amanda I am from washington state Idon’t want to say what county my email is christycur-at-hotmail.com
Comment by Christy — October 10, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Two things:
The problem with law enforcement taking over the role of CPS is that they do not manage any cases. If they decide that a child abuse law has been broken, they have the authority to take temporary custody. Then, for instance, the police officer places the child with a foster family or a relative and we’re left with a judge, three attorneys and the parents. How is a judge to know whether or not it’s safe to return the child home? There needs to be a professional involved monitoring the situation. Attorneys can’t do this because anything the parents tell them will be hearsay and law enforcement will no longer be involved.
2) If you’re upset over CPS practices, you may want to direct some of your attention to the legislative bodies that create laws that CPS follows. You might also direct some attention to the judicial branch, the judge, who decides at the pre-trial conference whether or not the child is to be adjudicated a temporary ward of the state under abused, neglected or dependent status. CPS gathers information, the judge signs the court order allowing temporary custody. With that, the parents typically have one year to demonstrate some kind of progress in addressing the issues that precipitated the event.
2)
Comment by Mr. Anonymous — October 10, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
christy hey i got a hotmail account to talkto you private, so these so called cps workers, cant see what you dotn want them to let my know on this site if you got the message on hotmail, so i know i can wite you.
ok
Comment by Amanda and emily — October 11, 2007 @ 6:06 am
if anyone wahts to chat i have an account @ spike_20019 -at- yahoo.com
Comment by Amanda and emily — October 11, 2007 @ 6:08 am
The only way to fight CPS is to make your Lawyer request a Court Appointed Child Psychiatrist for you and your child for an evaluation to be submitted to the court for reunification. In my case, this was the only time I was allowed a witness on my behalf (my grandmother) and child. My child coincided with my side of the story and verified my innocence to the Psychiatrist. Isuggest you take an album full of beautiful photos and video tapes you think would be helpful. Court appointed Attorney’s will drag a case on and on and on. The CPS will insist that you go for psychiatric treatment. However, they just want you to look like a mentally ill parent and will actually use your cooperation as a tool against you. Mental Health facilities have nothing to do with Child Custody Cases and often time write false reports about your mental health and submit them to courts. I was abused in this way for six years and permanently injured. Remember that your child is a witness. And your child will grow to know the truth. North Hollywood and Orange County Children Services should be ashamed of themselves!
Comment by hankin — October 11, 2007 @ 6:42 am
I want you to know that I don’t believe in Child Abuse. And I don’t want to jeopardize the children that need the Child Protective Service. I want the CPS to allow the accused parent a proper explanation of the situation without prejudice before deciding to take a child into custody. My son was arrested in kindergarden by three Devonshire Division Cops and by his account abused in the V
Comment by hankin — October 11, 2007 @ 6:51 am
….continued from above. He was abused in the Van Nuys Child Protective Service Office. He was left all alone in a corner on the floor terrified and crying for his mommy. They mimicked, humiliated and lied to my son about returning home. The CPS Worker wrote up a filthy hair accusation. But while my son was in CPS custody she falsified a series of reports. Non of which could ever have happened. For the sake of the falsely accused: make sure your child has a regular physician and dentist. Make a solid friendship with another mother or parent that will go to court as a witness if need be,make sure your child washes his hair and wears clean clothes every day to school. My son went through a phase because of mixed messages at school about clothing. He began to demonstrate stress about going to school and insisted upon wearing his dirty pants to school. Keep your child home that day! Call the school and meet with the teacher about your concern. If you sense a problem please spend the $1000.00 and have your attorney meet with the teacher or CPS before the cops arrive.
Comment by hankin — October 11, 2007 @ 7:22 am
Amanda got your email thanks
Comment by Christy — October 11, 2007 @ 7:57 am
Mr. Anonymous ,
1) Actual acts of child abuse are criminal which carries a jail sentence. How are you going to send kids home with parents who are in jail? That is why it would be a police matter. There would be no such thing as temp removal you’d be in jail.
2) In actuality there is nothing wrong with the “written” part of cps except maybe it is too broad. I have read the childwelfare.gov site. Stuff is pretty good. After reading it I though hey I wan’t THAT agency helping me! Not the one that is! Problem is getting the social worker/case worker to do the stuff. They want to “help” you with what they think is a problem which probably isn’t, and don’t want to help with any real problems, even when you ask!! Ever hear the phrase “lost in translation” that is the major problem. When you add the human element with our pre conceived notions and experiences is when you have the problem. You can have 2 differnt workers come into the same home on the same day and list different concerns or one could list problems other one could say nothing here and leave. When it comes to social workers it is really luck of the draw and not much more.
Comment by Debbie — October 11, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
Debbie,
Yes, many acts of child abuse are criminal in nature and many parents are arrested and charged with child endangerment or domestic battery. Some are not charged because the state’s attorney would have too difficult a time to prove the case in criminal court. The majority, however, are not prosecuted by the District Attorneys office.
If both parents are in prison, they still have rights and juvenile court must determine if a termination of parental rights would be in order so that the children can be legally adopted (hopefully by suitable and stable relatives). This decision is made based on several factors that include the age of the child, the length of the prison sentence and the nature of the child abuse or neglect. For example, if the child abuse issue is torture or egregious child molestation and the child is very young, the case would likely go to an expedited termination process and the social worker would immediately begin to seek out close relatives that would be willing to adopt or have guardianship of the child.
I don’t think law enforcement would be an appropriate tool to use in this situation because their role is to investigate and arrest. Whereas the goal of DHS/DCFS is to find permanency for the child and to hopefully prevent him from coming into the system again.
If we let law enforcement handle only the criminal aspects of child endangerment, I believe we’d be letting a lot of kids slip through the cracks and continue to be raised in an abusive or neglectful environment.
For example, what if the police were called to a toddler found outside in 50 degree temperature and find the child’s mom inside a neighbor’s house smoking meth-amphetamine. The police charge her with a simple possession charge, the police put the child with an aunt for the night. What happens next? Does she get her kid back after she’s out of jail? After probation? Since the police officer just put the kid with the aunt, the mom still retains all her rights and can pick him up when she’s released on bond the next day and then continue to smoke meth. Because the Criminal Court judge is only concerned about the crime and the adult. Juvenile Court, however, is concerned with the safety and well-being of the child.
So, you have some egregious criminal acts of child abuse that can land you in prison and have your rights terminated (this is what we all agree on, i think). But we also have the chronic meth-smoking mom who doesn’t watch her toddler. The criminal act is very insignificant for an adult but very, very, very bad for the child.
Comment by Mitch — October 13, 2007 @ 8:13 am
My three year old grand daughter was removed from my home at 10:00 at night because the fbi called dfcs and told them that they thought they MIGHT find nude pictures of her on her mother’s computer. Her mother did not live with me and my grand daughter was safe and loved here and there was no imminent danger and yet they took her at late night and placed her in a foster home where she was terrified and not allowed contact with us for three weeks. The CPS (DFCS) told me and my daughter that if there were no nude pictures found on her computer that my grand daughter would be returned to her mother. There were no nude pictures of her on the computer and the fbi has found no evidence of any wrong doing whatsoever. And yet, my daughter was coerced into signing off on a case plan that included a psychosexual evaluation which is geared specifically toward convicted sex offenders and dfcs sent a referral to the people doing the testing that said that she had sent nude pictures of her daughter over the internet. That never happened, they know it never happened and yet they have sent her to a psychologist and told him that she did it, a psychiatrist and told her that she did it and psychosexual therapist and told her that she did it. That was a lie. They had a woman from Oasis counseling do an evaluation on her without ever talking to her or me or my grand daughter or anyone else which stated that she sent nude pictures of her daughter over the internet when the woman never saw anything to indicate that such a thing happened and my daughter hadn’t even had a 72 hour hearing yet. CPS (DFCS)failed to file their paperwork withing the proper timeframe and failed to serve my daughter with the proper papers for her court date and so her attorney told her that she should not go to court as he couldn’t represent her until she had been served. When she didn’t go to court as instructed by her attorney the CPS supervisor cussed her out and told her that she was to do what her caseworker told her to do and not what her attorney told her to do and that they weren’t required to serve her papers and that her attorney didn’t know what he was talking about. When her attorney filed a motion to dismiss based on their failure to file the proper paperwork, the CPS (DFCS) attorney tried to blackmail her into dropping the motion to dismiss by telling her that unless she dropped the motion to dismiss CPS (DFCS) would withdraw their offer of reunification. If they felt reunification was in my grand daughter’s best interest before they found out about the motion to dismiss the motion should not have changed that. That was clear evidence to me of motivation on the part of CPS (DFCS) to cover their own mistakes rather than to do what was best for my grand daughter. The first time we were allowed to see my grand daughter three weeks after she was placed in foster care in a home with 7 other children she had multiple injuries and had been told by the foster mother that her mother threw her bed away because she wouldn’t need it anymore. When I complained about this I was suddenly not able to get CPS (DFCS) to approve my home for placement even though my grandson, the sibling to the three year old, has lived with me for 7 years. There was never any reason to remove my grand daughter from her family and the allegations that prompted her removal have been shown to be false and yet they are still holding her in custody and have placed her after three months in foster care with a cousin whom she barely knew. After many complaints to higher offices I have finally been granted the overnight visits here in my home that my little grand daughter so desperately wanted and needed. Now I am hearing from her that the foster mother didn’t like her and slapped her repeatedly on her head when she was mad at her. CPS (DFCS) has told me that they are sending the same woman who made the evaluation that stated that my daughter sent nude pictures over the internet without any evidence whatsoever to do an evaluation of my home. They say they are doing it in case some unforseen event causes them to need to place my grand daughter here with me. They are allowing her to be here with me but still expect me to provide sensitive and personal information to a woman who made reccomendations based on mere allegations and without any actual contact with the person she was evaluating. All three of the mental health professionals who tested my daughter found her to be suffering from no mental problems and have found no diagnosis, no reason for her daughter not to be with her and no need for any therapy. There has been no evidence whatsoever of any abuse or illegal activity on my daughter’s part and we have done everything asked of us and yet my grand daughter is still in CPS (DFCS) custody. There were never any improper pictures of my grand daughter found on my daughter’s computer or anyone else’s computer and yet CPS(DFCS) has told each of the mental health persons that there were. My daughter was threatened that her parental rights would be servered because of her attorney’s insistence that CPS (DFCS) follow proper procedure. My grand daughter has gone from being a happy well adjusted, secure child to being fearful and having nightmares and eating disorders at the hands of CPS (DFCS). She has improved since she has been allowed overnight visits here where she is happy and in familiar surroundings. But, she still suffers from being kept from being with her mother and the damage is ongoing and I wonder what it will do to her in the long run. I am being forced to go against my own instincts and cooperate with a process I have reason to distrust because they hold her hostage. I’m sorry, but it appears to me that so long as there is a family member willing to take a child and care for the child the child should NEVER be placed in foster care. Unless and until there has been an investigation the child should not be removed from their parents and if there are grandparents available with whom the child has a bond and is loved that should always be where the child is placed. If the home isn’t up to the arbitrary standards of DFCS then they should take the $120.00 a week they pay foster parents and help the grandparents correct any legitimate problems. They wanted me to have linoleum instead of painted floors. I think what they really wanted was for me not to complain about my grand daughter’s possible abuse in the foster home and the fact that the supervisor handling her case was ignorant of or dismissive of proper procedure. Oh, and when I suggested that my grand daughter should be allowed to at least talk with me after two weeks I was told off by both the caseworker and the supervisor for suggesting that she was probably suffering from fears of abandonment and separation anxiety. She was taken late a night and placed with complete strangers and allowed no contact at the age of THREE. What ignorant ass would imagine that she wouldn’t be suffering??????
Comment by donna — October 14, 2007 @ 10:16 pm
donna, join the boards on here people that post there can give you more info. Ifeel so bad for your granddaughter. Have you gotten to go to court? Have you asked the fbi hey you made this mess now how do we fix it? If the pictures were all disproved what are they using to hold the child on what are they claiming is the “eminant danger”??
Comment by Debbie — October 15, 2007 @ 4:49 am
The way it all started was that my daughter had been talking to a man in a chat room named Michael Williams. She hadn’t talked to him for some time and came across an article saying that a Michael Williams had been arrested in a child porn sting trying to arrange to have sex with a woman’s two year old daughter. My daughter was upset and worried that it might be the same person so she called the fbi who had done the sting and asked if it was the same person she had talked to and had had a brief “date” with for pizza. She had decided the guy was too wierd for her and declined all of his further invitations but was then concerned that if it were the same guy he knew where she and her daughter lived. So, she called them to ask and they gave her vague answers and then showed up at her door asking to look in her computer. She voluntarily gave them her computer as they told her they simply wanted to find his IP address in her computer and compare it to be sure they had all the info on him to trace. She didn’t realize that they had called DFCS (CPS) and told them that they suspected HER of being involved in child porn. Lynn Pryor from DFCS (CPS) came and found out that my grand daughter was spending the night with me and they had the sheriff’s dept come to my house and take her at ten oclock at night. They told both of us that if there were no improper pictures of my grand daughter found on the computer she would be returned immediately. They found no pictures whatsoever except pictures from the neck up. But, they had already put my grand daughter in the foster home and taken her to a doctor who DID molest her so far as I’m concerned. She’s terrified of doctors now and worried that they’ll make her take her panties off. She was severely traumatized that night and afterward. I figure that CPS was determined to find something to justify what they had done to my grand daughter so they said that the fbi was “investigating” and that they were going to keep my grand daughter “in case they might find something”. They never did. It took over a month for them to even have a 72 hour hearing because they didn’t file the paperwork properly and there was no trial until August. My grand daughter was taken on May 18th. They have spent all this time trying to find something to justify what they did and have found nothing. However, they had my daughter agree to a case plan based on the so called evaluation done by the woman from Oasis without any investigation whatsoever and the judge agreed to enforce it saying that she “should have known that the man might be a pedophile”. The excuse for keeping my grand daughter in custody is “failure to protect”. The admitted pedophile, Michael Williams, was apparently offered some sort of plea bargain and at first testified that my daughter sent him nude pictures of my grand daughter. The pictures that were introduced into evidence at trial were three pictures of my grand daughter from the neck up eating candy and smiling. She had pierced ears. The pedophile claimed he had been given the pictures in November but they were pictures that her mother sent to me after Easter to show how her pierced ears looked and telling me that she had to bribe her with candy to sit still to have them pierced. When it was shown not to be true about the nude pictures or even when she put them on her computer, he testified that she changed her diaper in front of him. (It had been a year and a half since the pizza dinner) and that it excited him. The judge at the trial ruled that she was guilty of exploitation because of a law that says that pornography or whatever is in the eye of the beholder. In other words, if a woman changes a baby’s diaper in front of someone and the someone is turned on by it she can be charged with a crime whether she knew he was turned on or not. My daughter’s attorney appealed that decision and the appeal judge decided that she was only guilty of a “failure to protect” and he increased her visitation and ordered reunification after parenting classes and the case plan. The case plan included an order for a psychosexual evaluation that had a whole battery of true false questions such as “when I committed my crime I was just bored”. The questions were all geared toward a person who has been CONVICTED OF A SEX CRIME. The evaluation of my daughter that was given to the test agency was the one done by Nicole Jones of Oasis Counseling which stated as a fact that my daughter sent nude pictures of her child over the internet. This would cause the tester to assume that her assertions that she hadn’t done that were denial. In my opinion that means that CPS (DFCS) set her up to fail the tests. The person who did the follow up interview told my daughter that she didn’t believe she had any sexual deviations and was going to reccomend that her child be returned to her. Meanwhile, the next judicial hearing isn’t until December 4th and they still have custody of my grand daughter and are forcing her to live with her cousin where she is having to make considerable adjustments that are pretty much incomprehensible to a three year old who simply wants to be with her mother. My daughter has done nothing wrong and yet she has been punished and the entire family has been disrupted and the bottom line is, of course, the damage done to my grand daughter who will always remember somewhere in her sub conscious that her grandma sent her off to strangers in the middle of the night and no one ever came to pick her up. Those were her words to me. She said, ” It was dark and it was raining and I was lost. I wanted to call you but I couldn’t find a telephone. I was scared.” I wanted you to come and pick me up grandma. I cried and cried. Why didn’t you come and pick me up, Grandma?” There was no imminent danger, there was no crime, there was no evidence of any wrongdoing and there was no reason to snatch this little girl in the late night and take her to a doctor to be violated and then placed with strangers for three weeks without contact with her family and then left there for three months before finally being placed with a relative she barely knew. By the way, CASA in Haralson Polk Counties is useless for anything at all. The woman who claims to be the senior member there ( Marsha Ballew) told me that she specifically assigned herself to my grand daughter’s case. She sat with the CPS people throughout all proceedings, and was aloof toward the family. She told me and my daughter that if we got the Cherokee nation involved ( my grand daughter is of Cherokee heritage) that they would take her out of state where we would have no contact with her. She told me that she would be coming to my home to look into my personal computer and my 15 year old grand son’s computer and even reccomended that we get rid of them. She told me to not be seen taking any pictures of my grand daughter unless I was willing to show them to other people at the time to prove they had no pornographic content. She has yet to talk to my daughter except for the talk about how we should just do as we were told by CPS (DFCS) because “the judge will always do what DFCS tells him to do because that’s his job”. The woman hasn’t seen my grand daughter even once to this date and apparently has no interest in her welfare. My grand daughter was never appointed a guardian ad litem. My daughter hasn’t been able to work because she has the entire week filled with parenting classes, psychological evaluations, and visits with her daughter. It has cost her a fortune in gas and expenses and she has spent many nights crying herself to sleep and kicking herself for not realizing that she didn’t have to let any of those people in her home to begin with. The fbi had no warrant and no grounds to get a warrant. They stole her computer and have never given it back. She made the bulk of her income on ebay sales and has no way to do that regularly now. I had to completely abandon my plant business this season because my life suddenly revolves around the problem of trying to save my grand child from her plight. The family had no summer vacation and my grandson has been emotionally upset over hearing what was going on and not understanding how the law that he has been taught to respect could have done this to his family.
Comment by donna — October 15, 2007 @ 9:33 am
I read further on the site and the poll indicates that most people think that lawsuits against the various agencies involved in the travesties against families are the best way to solve the problem. I would like to point out that people who have the resources to hire attorneys and fight against agencies who have attorneys who are paid by our tax dollars are rarely if ever targeted for the kind of abuse that I have experienced or read about. It’s always poor or lower middle class people who have no extra money to fight an agency that has limitless access to their own attorneys. All they have to do is to delay enough and file enough paperwork that they can just wait until you run out of money. Also, I suspect that Marsha Ballew (of CASA) might be accurate when she says that the judges always do whatever dfcs or cps tells them to do. Michael Murphy was the appeals judge in my daughter’s case and he has a wonderful reputation but he should have ordered my grand daughter back to her mother and censured the actions of dfcs and he, instead, ordered my daughter to complete her case plan which he should know was drawn up based on erroneous information. Somewhere along the line it became obvious to the people at CPS (DFCS) that if they want to stay in business they need to target only people of limited means.
Comment by donna — October 15, 2007 @ 11:01 am
Iam writing to let everyone know I got a phone call last night from the Head Directer from Georgia and I was told now that the children had been deprived so instead of allegations about my husband abusing me its went to this!! Someone is covering something up here.The children were placed in another foster home for one month before returning to the state of Georgia something happened to these children while in that home and now their trying to pin it on me! I called hospital to get reports and I told c.p.s. of Michigan told them not to give me anything,which is strange because they don’t have rights over the children Gerogia does so tell me whats going on here!! I will fight and I will write till I can’t do it any more!I will be writing my congrass and senaters till I get answers justice will be done! No matter the cost,if people loss their jobs so be it,I”m not scared any more they have mess with the wrong parent!!!
Comment by odessa g. — October 16, 2007 @ 8:46 am
To the best of my knowlege any cps or dfcs MUST tell you what the charges are that cause them to say your children are deprived. They can’t just say, they’re deprived so we’re putting them in a foster home. They MUST serve you with charges and a notification of a deprivation hearing. If they have already severed your parental rights, however, I don’t know that applies. Have you had an attorney throughout all of this? Have you spoken with anyone at the child advocate’s office?
Comment by donna — October 16, 2007 @ 11:42 am
I’ve been on a few different sides of this, as the child in question, as the mom, and as a family member watching.
When I was a kid, my mother was very abusive, physically, mentally, and emotionally. I was also sexually abused by others. CPS intervened on numerous occasions, taking ME from my home, but not my three siblings! I would go to foster care for a few days or weeks, then go right back to my mother. Meanwhile, my father was in the same state, not far away. At no point did they ever try to place me or my siblings with him, until the final placement, when I was ten and my mother nearly killed me. She spent 11 months in an inpatient rehab, and then my brothers and sister and I were all returned to her, full time, with no supervision, or anything. The first night I was home, I was beaten. I just learned to keep my mouth shut so I wouldn’t get sent away again, since some of the foster homes were worse; my younger brother and sister were beaten in theirs while we were separated, as well as being sexually abused (in my sister’s case, by the CPS worker!) It kept up until I was 14, and moved across the country to live with my aunt, after a suicide attempt because my mother hit me again!
After my husband and I separated, when I was 23, I had joint custody of our 23-month-old daughter. I was alone, with no family support, working full-time and trying to raise my daughter alone on my days off (I worked three back-to-back 13 hour shifts, to be able to be with her the rest of the week.) I managed to maintain a lot of things, but slipped into a depression, and my house suffered; I couldn’t find the energy, the time, or the motivation to clean my house. My ex came in one day, and then called CPS, telling them how bad my house looked (he also embellished wildly, but . . . ) When they showed up, they told me simply to clean the house, but to send her to her father’s for the night, so that she wouldn’t be in the way. They said that they’d be back the next day to check on things. Well, by five the next day, they still hadn’t come back, and I went to go get my daughter. I was told by my ex that they had gone with him to Family Court to file a request for modification, and that I couldn’t have her back until after we’d gone back to court, and after they’d seen that my house was clean! It took nearly four months to get them to come out again! During that time, I was given visitation with her, OUTSIDE of my house (I was not allowed to have her in my own home until it was inspected) four days a week, for six hours a day. By the time I ever got home, it was after 6, and I was too exhausted to clean! Meanwhile, my ex had asked me to “borrow” the crib mattress, until things were settled, or he got another one; it was never returned. When they finally DID come through my house again, they told the judge that I didn’t have an adequate bed for her, since there was no mattress. When the judge told me that my visitations would be extended to ten hours, but I couldn’t have her overnight until I got a mattress, I left the courthouse and bought one, with my ex with me (he gave me a ride to the store and home again!) The next time we were in court, I showed the judge the reciept for it, but she didn’t feel like modifying the order, so it stood! That’s exactly how it was phrased to me, too. It was over six months total between the times I got to tuck my daughter into bed . . .
Then there’s my brother’s story . . . He’s a Soldier, active-duty Army. When his first son was a baby, he was sent to AIT in Texas, while his wife and son were in Colorado. She decided to leave the baby (he was about two months) with her sister while she came out to New York, ostensibly to visit our father. While she was here, her sister got tired of taking care of the baby (she had a disabled child of her own to care for), and took him to their parents’. They then turned the baby over to the State. She was informed of the court date, but chose to miss it, instead staying nearly a week longer in New York with her lover. My nephew was placed in foster care. My brother tried to fight to get him back as soon as he got home from training, but then was restationed in Korea, where you can’t take family. He spent a year there, trying to get his son returned to him. Under the Soldiers and Sailors Act, his rights couldn’t be terminated for non-contact while he was stationed overseas. When he got back, he landed in Texas, and was driving straight to Colorado, to go to court for his son. While he was driving, because he was back on American soil, his rights were terminated! That was just the start of it, though. They had three other children, and he was sent to Iraq. Every time he was away, she would do something, like leaving the kids alone, or allowing her house to become so filthy it wasn’t fit for human habitation, and the kids would be taken. After the second time the kids were taken, when the youngest was three months old, they weren’t returned (he was in Iraq, for his first tour, when this happened.) After he got home, they tried to “transition” the children back in, but then he was redeployed. His daughter had never been sent home, and had been in care for over a year, when they took his sons again (they’d never returned legal custody of them anyway; in fact, because the State still had legal custody, even though he had physical custody and provided medical insurance for them, he had to pay child support on them!) He had to come home from Iraq, and was told that he was responsible for her neglect, because he’d left the children with her! They separated, and he filed for divorce, but CPS told him that, until the divorce was finalized, the custody wouldn’t be settled, and divorce court said that, until custody was settled, the divorce wouldn’t be finalized! They stayed in this limbo for a couple of months, before the divorce finally went through. He was then told that the children would be transitioned back into the home, starting with the oldest, but that his daughter was happily acclimatized, and that her new family wanted to adopt her! He refused. They then told him that the only way that he would have any of his children returned to him was if he signed away his daughter; at that point, his sons would be returned. She was two at that point, and had been in care for almost 18 months. They had been in contact with the family who had adopted his oldest son, and they wanted to adopt the little girl, too. Before he could agree to or refuse this, they amended it further, saying he could have his OLDEST (remaining) son, if he signed away the younger TWO children! Otherwise, all three would remain in care, until his rights ended up getting terminated because they’d been in too long . . . But they promised that they would be adopted by the same family, and still be together. He finally agreed, and relinquished his parental rights; at that point, they sent the kids to two different parts of the State of Colorado (from Washington)!
Please note: at no point were any allegations of neglect or abuse directed at my brother, only at his wife in his absence! And still they refused to return the children, even after she was no longer in the home.
Then there’s the other side of the coin, with my fiance’s nephew. There have been dozens of reports filed on him and his mother, since he was an infant, by a number of different people, myself included. His mother has abused him in every way possible, including: failing to dress him appropriately (leaving him in only a dirty diaper in the middle of January in New York, and taking him out in just a parka in December); failing to get him medical treatment, including but not limited to Well Child check-ups and treatment for ear infections; strapping him into a stroller or car seat in a corner or a back room for hours on end; having sex in front of him; allowing her boyfriend to beat him, including bouncing a basketball off of his face; feeding him nothing but Cheese Doodles and Pop Tarts for weeks on end; failing to send him to school; allowing him to be hit by a car; and, worst of all, leaving him by the side of the town’s busiest road, in the middle of a torrential rain storm, during rush hour traffic. All of this and more has been reported to CPS, over and over again, including by his school and his doctors, his grandmother, his aunts and uncles . . . CPS goes out to investigate, and then closes out the case, sometimes as the next report is coming in! This has gone on for years now, and he has never been taken from his mother’s custody. She finally, due to an eviction, gave him to his father and grandmother (more the grandmother, as his father is self-absorbed) until she found a place for the two of them; this was six months ago! She continued to collect food stamps, public assistance, and child support for him, however, until it was reported to Public Assistance that he was no longer in her home. During visitations, he continued to be abused by the boyfriend, and it continued to be reported; because she still had legal custody, they couldn’t stop her from taking him for weekends. Finally, CPS made her sign an agreement, stipulating that his grandmother (my mother-in-law) would have legal and physical custody, until she had a decent, safe home for him, without the boyfriend. They “advised” the grandmother to file for full, legal custody of him in Family Court, but have made no effort to help her file (she has no idea how to do it). They told her that, if she allowed him to visit his mother, knowing that the boyfriend was present (he could visit otherwise), then they would all be arrested, including the grandmother, but haven’t filed any orders of protection or criminal charges.
CPS is useless all around . . .
Comment by Anne — October 21, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
wow, what a bunch of ignorant whiners. maybe if you took care of your obligations as parents FIRST there would never be a reason to have CPS in the first place…or maybe its a conspiracy theory, oh my that must be it, the worlds out to get you and yours, there is NO other explination. im going to be a CPS worker starting january and I CAN NOT WAIT, regardless of what others say. I want to help people, not just children but families. so bite it. keep whining because thats what you guys have time for and keep wallowing in your own fears and guilts, to my fellow cps people, you won’t get through to these people, save your breath for the ones who want help. much love.
Comment by meesh — October 30, 2007 @ 10:59 pm
Okay, so this person called Meesh is paid by dfcs (cps) to make ignorant comments to try to help deflect the deserved damage the publishing of all of these travesties by the victims of dfcs (cps) is doing. They have no excuse for what they are doing to the children they are supposed to be protecting. DFCS (CPS) is an agency that receives funding even though they almost NEVER fulfill their obligations and virtually ALWAYS cause irreparable harm to the children they kidnap and use to justify their existence. Meesh is obviously a member of the agenc that is doing all of this damage to our children and can’t think of a thing to say that actually defends the existence of these creeps and their agencies of evil. So, instead he/she attacks the people who are fighting to try to salvage their families and help their children to overcome the damage being done to them. Rather than sitting on a web-site name calling and making excuses why not go online and find out what the truth is. You people are being funded with taxpayer money and you’re not meeting the requirements mandated by the state to earn that funding. Family placement is supposed to be 75% minimum. Instead, it hovers around 30% at most and that’s because you have created an imaginary need for foster parents and since you must provide these people with the income you promise them when you recruit them, you kidnap people’s children and spend months manufacturing evidence and paying off unethical so called professionals to help you justify what you’re doing to the helpless children whom you have taken away from the parents who love them and placed with strangers who often abuse them. When the foster parents aren’t abusing them they’re being abused by the other children there because these greedy professional foster parents take in far more children than they can effectively take care of and packs angry, unhappy, emotionally damaged children are created who take out their frustration and increasing emotional damage on each other. Usually they pick on the youngest and most helpless kids in the foster home and the foster parents don’t care because that gets them more money. It is in fact usually the poor neglected children of these unscrupulous foster parents who are doing a great deal of the abuse to the children who are drug kicking and crying into their home and taking up the time and care that they feel should rightfully be theirs. You people make me sick.
Comment by donna — November 4, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
Okay, so this person called Meesh is paid by dfcs (cps) to make ignorant comments to try to help deflect the deserved damage the publishing of all of these travesties done to the victims of dfcs (cps) . They have no excuse for what they are doing to the children they are supposed to be protecting. DFCS (CPS) is an agency that receives funding even though they almost NEVER fulfill their obligations and virtually ALWAYS cause irreparable harm to the children they kidnap and use to justify their existence. Meesh is obviously a member of the agenc that is doing all of this damage to our children and can’t think of a thing to say that actually defends the existence of these creeps and their agencies of evil. So, instead he/she attacks the people who are fighting to try to salvage their families and help their children to overcome the damage being done to them. Rather than sitting on a web-site name calling and making excuses why not go online and find out what the truth is. You people are being funded with taxpayer money and you’re not meeting the requirements mandated by the state to earn that funding. Family placement is supposed to be 75% minimum. Instead, it hovers around 30% at most and that’s because you have created an imaginary need for foster parents and since you must provide these people with the income you promise them when you recruit them, you kidnap people’s children and spend months manufacturing evidence and paying off unethical so called professionals to help you justify what you’re doing to the helpless children whom you have taken away from the parents who love them and placed with strangers who often abuse them. When the foster parents aren’t abusing them they’re being abused by the other children there because these greedy professional foster parents take in far more children than they can effectively take care of and packs angry, unhappy, emotionally damaged children are created who take out their frustration and increasing emotional damage on each other. Usually they pick on the youngest and most helpless kids in the foster home and the foster parents don’t care because that gets them more money. It is in fact usually the poor neglected children of these unscrupulous foster parents who are doing a great deal of the abuse to the children who are drug kicking and crying into their home and taking up the time and care that they feel should rightfully be theirs. You people make me sick.
Comment by donna — November 4, 2007 @ 1:52 pm
OMG, I hope somebody is able to track meesh’s IP address and sends it to somebody who can stop her employment with the dept. With somebody like that in the business every child and family in America is in big deep trouble. Talk about ignorant I’ve never seen somebody so uneducated and self absorbed in my life not social worker material at all. Not even close. Meesh, not everyone here is guilty some have even proved they werent but by that time the damage your cps workers did hurt the kids so much they may never get over it. Read some stats honey 80% of the time cps removes a child the child is not better off. http://www.nccpr.org has some good stuff for you to read before you go off distroying families and childrens lives.
Comment by Debbie — November 4, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
DFCS (CPS) is guilty of child abuse far more often than the parents they terrorize. Children are abused in foster homes far more often than in their real homes. DFCS (CPS) is populated by ignorant, prejudiced, “bureau-brains” and the caseworkers who have enough sense to see that the kids are suffering value their paychecks too much to pay attention to their consciences. My grand daughter was abused and left constantly bruised and bleeding by the kids in the foster home they slammed her into and is being abused by the parents and children in the “family placement” home she’s in now. Oh, but that’s great so far as DFCS (CPS) is concerned. They protected her from painted floors and put her someplace with wall to wall carpet. After all, that’s what’s important to children, isn’t it? DFCS (CPS) cares not one whit about the children they kidnap. They care about keeping the foster parents they recruit in a paycheck and keeping their cadre’ of professional agencies in referrals. They are the most unconsciionable group of child abusers I can imagine. They don’t meet any of the requirements for funding that they’re supposed to and yet the Dept. of Health and Human Resources rubber stamps their funding without caring about that either. They’re supposed to have a 75% minimum family placement and yet the really high ones are about 30%. What that usually means is that the grandparents of the children they are terrorizing and traumatizing don’t have enough money to satisfy the arbitrary tastes of the caseworkers who are the hostage takers. I refer you to http://www.grandparentsforchange.com and http://www.fixcps.org and http://www.nccpr.org. Educate yourselves, people. DFCS (CPS) is daily manufacturing a generation of children who are going to be angry, cynical, traumatized and alienated from their families. These children aren’t going to be able to function in this bureau dominated society we’ve managed to somehow create.
Comment by donna — November 5, 2007 @ 7:08 am
I apologize and need to make a correction. It’s http://www.fixcps.net. Also would like to say that the appeals judge found my grand daughter’s mother innocent of everything except not knowing that the person who tried to victimize her child was a pedophile. DFCS (CPS) won’t let the child out of incarceration until they have given all of their professional people a cut of the pie by ordering evaluations and such from all of them “just in case”. What a bunch of ghouls.
Comment by donna — November 5, 2007 @ 7:19 am
http://www.fixcps.org
Comment by donna — November 9, 2007 @ 8:35 pm
Since 1994,CPS has harrassed me & my grandchildren.
They tried to adopt them out & had them in 6 dofferent foster homes,the 2 times they were in foster care.
3 judges told them to let me have my kids & never darken his court again.
To this day they have still listened to every false report made on us ,until once again they have them in foster care!
My grandson is special needs & they have ruined my kid’s lives & mine also.
THey don’t care about kids,just winning their case!
Comment by Janie S.Poole — November 13, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
To Meesh; You have no reason to be on this site if your of no help. Please,
don’t pour salt into our wounds, we get enough of that. I pray you’ll see what everyone here is saying or you will need a lifetime of sleeping pills to do your grand job. You see, we’re not quitters, but we’re champions cause we’ll NEVER give up the good fight. Remember this if nothing else, you will stand in front of the same High power that the rest of us will someday, what excuse will you use then?
Comment by Rita Lloyd — November 13, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
i have delt with cps since the day after my daughter was born, they investigated my husband and i and then droped the case a month later when the found nothing. then when my daughter was 4 months old they got an anonmous phone call that my husband bit and shook our daughter, they placed her and myself at my parents house and told my husband that he could have no unsupervised contact with her untill after a court hearing. at the court hearing they took custody from both of us because of the acusations made on my husband and because i had a mild case of post partum depression. i was still able to live with my daughter at my parents but i had to be supervised with her 24/7, so while my parents were at work i was sent to a facility were i could be supervised with her.they later did test on her and found no evidence of abuse but they contiued with the case for over a year, they finally told me that i could have custody of her if i divorced my husband and had no contact with him, and file for sole custody and not alow him any visitation. so i filed for divorce and they are now out of my life, but now i’m left living with my parents, without a job and on welfare because i was working so hard to get my daughter back i could not work and now that i have been out of work for so long i have been looking for a job for 6 months now and have not been able to get one. They broke my family up, now the man that i was suposed to spend the rest of my life with is left out of our lives and is not able to even see his daughter. CPS never give the father a chance though, here in maine there are places were victums of cps can live with there children whille they are in state custody, but the fathers are lucky if they only get one visit a week, the way i see it is there goal is to split up the family and take the child away from the father and give custody to the mother, so that the mothers are single mothers, and since they make you do so many programs such as counseling they don’t have time to work so after they get the child back they end up on welfare just to support the child and that way dhhs always have records on where they are and where they’re living, so in a way cps is never out of there lives. I will continue to fight against them untill i get my entire family back, eventhough i have my daughter, i am going to fight to get my husband back.
Comment by cassandra robbins — November 25, 2007 @ 9:56 am
Dear Cassandra, I am so sorry for what you’re going through. Is there any way that you can leave the state? Were you the only one who was required to have therapy? What about your husband. Isn’t the reason they took over your lives the allegation that your husband abused your baby? Is there any way that your parents can take care of your baby while you work? Doesn’t the state offer vocational rehabilitation? I’m just grabbing at straws. Your experience seems so terribly unfair. I don’t understand why the state has an interest in breaking up the family unit and depriving the child of the obvious advantage of growing up with both parents. It would make much more sense for them to offer counseling and vocational help for the both of you and whatever was necessary for you to be a whole family rather than making you dependent upon the state to be able to raise your child. At least in Maine they have facilities for you to be able to live with your child. Here in Georgia they alienate the mother and child and cause the child to feel abandoned. Are you a religious person at all? Maybe you could seek support from your church and ask them to help you get your family back together. Sometimes an outside party can see the way more clearly than our own family. Is your husband still around? I don’t understand how they can do that to you and to your child. Do they have him paying child support? It seems that if he is supporting you and your baby he should be allowed to be a father as well. In fact, if the state cared about your child’s welfare shouldn’t they be doing whatever they can to encourage him to be a good father and to help him to be a father to his child?
Comment by donna — November 26, 2007 @ 11:05 pm
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Comment by poeriaoramn — November 29, 2007 @ 12:36 am
My son was removed when he was 5 by the Walla Walla CPS division, which is now one of the most corrupt in WA, due to alleged child abuse and neglect after many calls from my ex and his mother. anyways my case is the class a typical example of teh curruption of the courts. Our town is a boys club and the judges are friends with lawyers and defense is a joke here. I don’t drink or do drugs, I was a sinlge working mother going through a terrible divorce battle at the time of the removal of my son. I was told I neglected him because I worked. I must be abusive because I was subjected to it as a child and during my time with my ex-my reason for divorce, of many-and that due to my native american genetics I have to be an alcoholic and therefore I abused my son physically when I drank and that is why I didn’t know it. This was their report after they paid the counselors, psychoanalysts, and drug and alcohol counselors. The fact that I never drank with or around my son nor do drink was irrelevant to them. My son was put into 3 foster homes. He was neglected and health care was ignored in two of the. The first one he was in he sprained his ankle and was refused medical treatment. The third he was placed into he was mentally and physically abused by the foster mother. He was also mauled by a neighbors dog and almost lost his ear. Last but not least for the duration of his time in that foster care he was sexually raped and abused by an older foster child and it was very repetative as the foster mother did not check on him. Nor did t he CPS workers. My son is now 10 years old and I still don’t have him back. In the 3 year case with CPS I was unable to prove to the judge that I did nothing wrong or that despite all the requirements that I did and completed with counselors willing to testify for me we were kept silent in the court room. My son will never understand the injustice done to him by powerhungry state employees trying to make money that don’t care about the children they are supposed to safe guard. My son tells me that when he grows up his mission in life is to get rid of CPS. That he will go to congress and even the president to have CPS abolished. It is a dream and as for me I know there is no justice. The term America is a dream. What our ancestors have fought for and our military fights for now our power hungry fellow Americans are destroying faster than it was built.
Comment by Jo — December 3, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
what State do you live in?
Have your rights been terminated?
Comment by Lisa Smith — December 4, 2007 @ 8:55 am
I can’t believe how someone I have had nothing to do with for 28 years can come out of the blue and make false accusations and doesn’t know anything about me. Completely NUTS! Cps system needs to change. I don’t believe innocent people should be charged and lives ripped apart cause of a neighbor or a relative or anyone who is doing it out of revenge. They need to investigate the people who are making these false accusations. I was arrested for nothing just cause someone was seeking revenge and the charges are false and cps finally saw that. Completely NUTS I tell you.
Comment by Cps needs to change — December 5, 2007 @ 11:42 pm
My name is Leigha Hoffner and like many of you i have a horror story about DCFS however I am going to take action I have a court date on December 20 at 10am in the cook county juvenile courthouse court room 2B. I am asking anyone and everyone who has problems with DCFS to please contact me so that a press conference about my case and other cases can be addressed while a worker and supervisor are present. I am asking that anyone who has media contacts civil rights contacts etc to contact them and have them contact me so that we can arrange for DCFS to answer for their conduct. i ask everyone that has wanted to do something about dcfs and that they have been through to please show up contact to make arrangements so that they can see they we are no longer going to be quiet. please contact me at hoffnerhooper@yahoo.com or call me at 773-754-0135
Thank you and i will keep you and your children in my prayers
Comment by Leigha Hoffner — December 11, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
As to Jo”s story Dec 3, Its completley true Wall Walla is a very corrupted CPS office!!! I’m dealing with them myself, and have been doing so for a year and a half. The things that go on in that office is unbelievable!! I have had 7 different case workers on my case and as soon as I start to get some where they change the case worker on me and it starts all over again.I have so much proof and evidence against them its crazy!!! I have actually been threatened by them to shut up. Unfortunately Im to poor to hire a lawyer so they love every minute of it. Can anyone help please I have some interesting proof against them PLEASE HELP WALLA WALLA CPS IS CORRUPT!!!!!!
Comment by J.Rogers — December 18, 2007 @ 11:28 am
I had no Idea that there were so many case like this gone on, It make me feel worce know that I am not the only one, Keep fight we the people should find a way to stop this from happeing to othewr people,
Richard Theisen
Comment by Richard Theisen — December 31, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
Me & my wife of 30 years Have done every thing in court complince and they still termenated are parental rights you cant beat astacked deck no matter what please let us no what we have to do to help you and you us thank you
Comment by Wade Holland — January 15, 2008 @ 9:58 am
Like i said before we should do somming about cps. and there ways of careing for the children. we all should do something to stop them from hurting our children. we have to stop them
Comment by susan — January 15, 2008 @ 3:30 pm
i ‘m a grandparent with of three, by my youngest son seperated from kids mother, I think both parents arn’t very good ones. and with the hate they have for each other is not healthy for the kids. CPS has only made it far more worse for the kids. They have made poor decisons every time they got involved putting the kids in a place that has no way of helping them and never checking back to see how they are doing where the put them where there lives can’t get any better and it didn’t. And when that happened they chose to leave them in the same place with a non realtive person that was a very bad mother her self and had only known the kids around 6 months and had lived there a very short while, her own mother had allready taken her daughter from her several times and has her now. CPS refused to let the kids go to thegrandparents (us) that they see them all the time and has from birth, and have even lived with us and we and our house wasn’t far from there, and thats the same house I grew up in (grandfather) we have roots. It was only a few days (Easter) before it proved to be another CPS wrong choice, and it wasn’t like you couldn’ see it comeing. My oldest son had picked up the kids to bring them to our house for a family easter egg hunt around 30 people, they were on the way had one stop to make at a relatives house ran inside the kids stayed in the car it would be fast when they came out of the door the kids were being grabed out of the car and thrown in the car parked next to it and took off it was there mother, she was at the liquor when she spoted the kids and snatched them. The same mother that CPS had removed from her house beacause the boyfriend used to spank the kids and leave marks on them, The father went to him and told him not to spank them again there not his kids he not married to there mother he don’t even work it better stop, he agreed with him and said he was right him.and wouldn’t spank them anymore.and he lied. thats how it started and the mother has been furious every since, but not at the boyfriend for doing it and she knew he was but that didn’ bother her, not letting him gft away with it did. She didn;t have a house so when CPS went to her mothers house to check on the kids, thats where the mother told them they were staying but the kids weren’t at home Cps ask if they were in school she told them yes, When CPS told my oldest where they was , he told them thats od there not in school for the next 2 weeks. CPS new she lied to them but why did she. It really didn’t matter they didn’t care beacause I don’t think they ever checked on them again or has seen them, The mother moved them right back in with the boyfrind at his mothers house! And we don’t get to see them anymore for the first time in ther life she won’t let them see us.she has never pulled this at any time for any reason no matter what kind of problems the parents would be haveing we could see the kids, we didn’ don’t get involved in there crap fights we stay out of it I could care less all we care about is the grand children so what is the problem what his happening with the kid what is she hideing and where are the kids and are they safe? thers alot more .
Leo
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Comment by Hannes Schneider — January 22, 2008 @ 6:44 am
In Memory of Karrie Daniealle Bratcher 07-29-86 to 11-09-2003 Merry Christmas up there Dearest Kare Bear. Yes, You told me you thought you were drug rapped. That one I wished I had taped. Mysteriously in a hospital you died. Over 5,000 people showed up and cried. You were only 17.(and 3 months). Still our little Bean. Such unemaginable heartache. Your son the managed to take. Coustody they did aquire,on 4 lies. My what a great liar. We asked, and paid for DNA.(was denied) Our visitation they took away. We know we will see you again. It is your son we want a blessed life to begin. Anthony should be with me. Paul is not the bialogical father, but why bother. I have proof, I have the whole case in my hand. Not one attorney is willing to take a stand. The Truth is all I ask. This must be a “Jesus Task “. Tony is 4 now, I know you know. Say a Prayer, witch way his future will go. My prayer to you, GOD of Heaven in Jesus Name: Please keep my grandson protected with your Angles, from abuse(of any kind), drugs,filth, neglect and keep him safe with your Love. Please bring him home. We still miss you down herest. We still Love you Kare Bear Dearest, Love always Mom,Family & 5,000 People Karring Attorney Needed, Karen
Comment by Karen Yeadon KY — January 23, 2008 @ 1:51 pm
317-532-7362
Comment by Karen Yeadon KY — January 23, 2008 @ 1:56 pm
Our new born premature baby was taken from us without a reason. I alway believed that this situation will straighten out quickly because everyone will see through the lies of CPS. We were wronged by the false charge and I was wrong about believing that the truth will prevail. Our child will be 11 months old soon and at this time he has never been home. We have burned quickly through any discretionary money and now are left with debt and still no baby. To make matters worse the baby had been discovered by us to be severely neglected by the foster care system that is suppose to be protecting him from harm. How are we to fight a system that has resources, time, and support of the establishment(courts, public, law enforcement) and the experience? We have to work, have limited funding,no time and no experience.
In the more recent past, I have talked with other parent(s) . Some have actual problems with drugs, alcohol, or other impairment issues that are real. Still other parents (like us) have done little or no wrong. They have their child back! The CPS worker in our case is such a known liar that a judge refused to hear the case due to a bias against her. The court found another that has no knowledge about this CPS worker and the lies began. All of these children are the big loser in this scam.
The test of an ideal society is one in which care is afforded to those that are in the greatest of need but have an inability to help themselves including elderly,sick,(physical,mental), and children.
I think after experiencing what we did, our society is in trouble; I know I am.
If you are reading this you probably fall into two categories 1)You don’t believe a child could be taken unless parent(s) actually did wrong. or 2) You believe that CPS has made the false claims because of personal or antedotal evidence. I hope that no one else will ever have to learn by experience that category 2 (CPS lies) can and does happen.
This CPS worker commented after having been caught said ” I have immunity”
Comment by Arthur Chan — January 25, 2008 @ 5:20 pm
——————————————————————————–
In Memory of Karrie Daniealle Bratcher 07-29-86 to 11-09-2003 Merry Christmas up there Dearest Kare Bear. Yes, You told me you thought you were drug rapped. That one I wished I had taped. Mysteriously in a hospital you died. Over 5,000 people showed up and cried. You were only 17.(and 3 months). Still our little Bean. Such unemaginable heartache. Your son the managed to take. Coustody they did aquire,on 4 lies. My what a great liar. We asked, and paid for DNA.(was denied) Our visitation they took away. We know we will see you again. It is your son we want a blessed life to begin. Anthony should be with me. Paul is not the bialogical father, but why bother. I have proof, I have the whole case in my hand. Not one attorney is willing to take a stand. The Truth is all I ask. This must be a “Jesus Task “. Tony is 4 now, I know you know. Say a Prayer, witch way his future will go. My prayer to you, GOD of Heaven in Jesus Name: Please keep my grandson protected with your Angles, from abuse(of any kind), drugs,filth, neglect and keep him safe with your Love. Please bring him home. We still miss you down herest. We still Love you Kare Bear Dearest, Love always Mom,Family & 5,000 People Karring Attorney Needed, Karen
Comment by Karen Yeadon KY — January 23, 2008 @ 1:51 pm
——————————————————————————–
317-532-7362
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Comment by Jennifer Macleod — January 31, 2008 @ 10:57 pm
i have a question. i am 17 yrs old and a few years ago i was removed from my home under false accusations of being abused and sexually abused by my stepdad. i was removed and thank the lord i only endured it for a bout 2 wks or so…but when i was there i was put through and examintation by a nurse who lied and said she was certified and my examination has left me traumatized 4 yrs later. i didnt tell anybody about what i went through for a long time then i told my parents but i didnt want to talk about it. i never went to a therapist or doctor because i just wanted to get on with mylife and try to forget what i went through. i have been suffering severe depression and afraid that i might be suffering from PTSD.. but i dont want to go to a doctor i jsut want to forget. recently i want to stand up speak out and stop them. i am starting to do research to file several lawsuits against the county CPS and the doctor that reported false information to CPS. I decided to go big with this i am trying to bring in the media and the news and broadcast what happened to me. there are so many young children who have gone through worse but when i look at my 3 younger siblings i get soooo ANGRY. what if becuase i didnt speak out my siblings were put through the same thing as me?!
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Comment by Jennifer Macleod — February 8, 2008 @ 11:19 pm
Please help our children get back in our care cps took custody of our two children basing it on an old case that my fiance has already been convicted for cps is basing some made up facts and applying it to our new case.
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Comment by John en Lia Maan — February 9, 2008 @ 12:12 am
to all the cps idiots, i have been a part of cps my whole life by the way here is called dhr (depart. human resources)i was taken away from my mom at 6 then they took my nb sister and told my mom to choose a child and she picked my sis. now my sil got mad because i would not let her keep my 2 month old overnight and (is a teacher) called dhr and made up a bunch of crap , i have also watched dhr has ripped numerous families apart that had no problems and to clear up all the cps lies my grandma worked at dhr for 20 years and she quit because she couldnt handle it , and they do get rewards for the kids they take away. and if you were ever in there system they can take your kids no questions asked just as a precautionary
Comment by crystal — February 18, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
I have a 6 year old daughter. When her father and I spilt up I was informed by law enforcement that if I took my daughter out of his home they would arrest me for kidnapping. My daughter recently came to visit me for christmas. She started taking about wierd things that took place with her father. I called cps to make a report about him. CPS contacted my daughter’s father attorney. This person said that there was an Restraining Order on me. The CPS worker w/o any documents supporting this took my daughter and started a case on me. While in court the same woker let it be known that my daughter took a pocket knife, a soda can and a straw, made an object. When my daughter was asked what it was the worker was told a “pot pipe”. My daughter was then asked do you know how to use it. My daughter picked it up and demonstrated. Then the judge said when can the father be here??
Knowing full well this child is in mortal danger!!
Comment by Rene Massengale — February 19, 2008 @ 1:11 pm
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Comment by englandfrees — February 20, 2008 @ 2:56 am
A CHINS WAS FILED BASED ON FALSE INFORMATION. tHE FORMER CASA ON THE CASE NOW HAS CUSTODY OF MY DAUGHTER. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION OR ADVICE…OR A SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE PLEASE CONTACT ME AT ANGEL29KISSEZ@YAHOO.COM
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Comment by Willem Croese — March 5, 2008 @ 9:26 am
I have been put through so much thanks to CPS. I have done everything that was written on their little reunification plan. They have dragged it out and dragged it out…continuing and continuing in court. The Social Worker says that even though I refused to sign the latest packet (because it was full of inaccurate information) she said it was as good as signed because the attorney did not say anything (public defender) to change it. At the last hearing, she was trying to add more counseling as couples counseling. My wife has the children and I am not allowed to live at home. The Social Worker claims that I am manipulating my wife and children…so we need the counseling. The judge at the last hearing said it was not necessary. That was a first…a family court judge with a backbone. Now the Social Worker is trying to get my ’sex offender’ counselor to enforce the same counseling. She is circumventing the judge’s decision. My sex offender counselor believes her lies that I am seeing my children without her permission. The Social Worker is power hungry. She told me herself that she quit teaching to become a social worker for CPS because she saw where the power was. I was just told tonight that if I don’t comply with the additional counseling I will be kicked out of my current program and referred to a psychologist instead of this clinical social worker who is running my group sex offender counseling. The counseling was due to the criminal charges brought up by the DA based on the CPS charges. So double jeopardy is alive and strong in California…they just call the so called crimes something different in each courtroom. The CPS situation and charges had nothing to do with my younger set of children, yet they have deemed I am not allowed to live with them. However I can see my youngest daughter at any time as she was born while I was incarcerated. Makes no sense to me. I am tired of all the lies and secrecy…because of this “intervention” initiated by my deadbeat ex-wife’s phone call from Florida, after she hired a lawyer to try to gain custody of my teen aged daughters whom she abandoned when I was in the US Army.
Comment by Gregg Umipeg — March 12, 2008 @ 11:20 pm
fight these scum, lets show them the power lies in the people not some under educated state worker!!!!!
Comment by Denvrer — March 18, 2008 @ 8:50 pm
HELLO,
I
NEED
HELP
I
AM
LOOKING
FOR
A
LAWYER
WILLING
TO
TAKE
ON
WASHINGTON
STATE
CPS.
I
REALLY
FEEL
I
BEEN
MISTREATED
AND
THEY
HAVE
NO
GROUND
FOR
THERE
LAWSUIT
AGAINST
ME
PLEASE
PLEASE
PLEASE
HELP
Comment by SASSIE — March 27, 2008 @ 5:53 pm
SASSIE, contact http://www.washingtonfamiliesunited.org email one of the members they will respond back
Comment by christy — March 27, 2008 @ 8:13 pm
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Comment by Torrie Nystrand — April 1, 2008 @ 3:35 pm
My name is Susan Hucks a mother of 3 children a son 25 and twin girls that are 16. I have been charged with child abuse and negelct. I am going to loose my parental rights on May 22.. My twin daughters are in separate homes . I believe my rights as a parent have been violated. I think I’ve been judged unfairly ,I have not had the right to fair counsel. My and I children have suffered from this situation. The guidelines of the Family preservation Act have not been met.l My family investigation was done in a matter of six hours. The only evedence was the childrens word., the children were removed from the home. The girls reported to CPS on the night of March 5, 2007 that their mother kicked them out of the home, was drunk, smoking pot, abusing prescribed medications, and had physically abused one of the children.
On the night of March 5, 2007, a bad argument occurred between my daughters and I. I grounded Andrea, she had accused me of hitting her with the phone that same night. She got mad and said she was running away. This is my daughter who has been suspended from school for beating up another child with charges almost being pressed. Andrea said she was running away, but just went around the block and then came back home. Andrea has been admitted to the hospital threatening suicide twice. I have had her in counseling. Both of the girls have been kicked out of school and finished up the year in the after school program.. Sarah and I also fought all the time because she thought I was to strick. And Sarah and Andrea fought with each other all the time. I have looked for family counseling for all of us together, but could only find individual counseling which at the time my children were removed, we were all attending. When Andrea said she was running away and walked out the door I called for an officer she showed up back home at the time the cop was arriving. Andrea told that cop everything she could that night to get him to remove her from the home, she said she didn’t want to live here anymore.
First of all at any time during the two (2) years this has been going on with my teenage twin daughters – and me being a single mother, father deceased. With all of these people in our lives, doesn’t the law require them to report any type of suspected neglect or abuse?
With the problems we were having, with all the professionals in our lives and seeing a psychiatrist for four (4) years, monitored on medications, and also drug and alcohol tested at random. The girls were always going to regular checkups and dentist appointments. Also I do believe someone would have suspected and reported abuse or neglect. The officer that responded to the call on March 5, 2007, told my daughter he had no reason to remove her out of the home that night and he told me that I needed to call CPS in the morning. He did not feel the safety of the child was at risk. To this day, he has never filed a report. According to the WV Preservation a report should have been done within 48 hrs. I have been charged with abuse and neglect from that very night. All the time the children were removed. There were no marks or has ever been any marks on them or evidence of abuse. And at no time On March 5 did my daughter report being hit with the phone.
My girls wanted to go and live with my cousin and his wife where they would have all the freedom they wanted and had been bribed, but this is another story. I agreed to let the girls go stay with my cousin until the weekend. I felt that we needed time away from each other to cool off. When they had to come back home, they came and threatened if I did not let them stay with my cousin, they would run away or call CPS and report me for abuse. Not wanting to let them go, I had my cousin to sign a statement stating this is the only reason I let them go. I also signed the same statement. The next morning I got up and called CPS myself and told them everything, beginning with the night the police were called, which by this time was 72 hours. To my knowledge the officer still has not filed the report. I told CPS that I was putting my foot down and making the girls come home. If they did not want to live with me they could live with their aunt or brother. When I did this, I know they would be calling CPS to report whatever. The worker, Tim, said he had already gotten a call and had someone on their way to the school to talk to the girls.
Lora Weiss, a CPS worker, called me from school and said she had done her investigation and did I want my girls to come home or stay with my cousins another night. I said they needed to come home so we could work this out. CPS asked me if we needed help such as counseling or a mediator, and I said yes. We had been going to counseling but they were welcome anytime in my home day or night. The next thing I know the police are at my home and CPS brought papers stating they have taken my children and placed them with my cousins. I was accused of kicking them out. I had been accused of abndonment, drug use, alcoholism, and physical abuse. I immediately took a drug and alcohol test as well as a toxicology screen at my doctor’s office. This was sent directly to my lawyer’s office. The judge never saw this. The results of the tests showed no alcohol or drugs in my system other than what was prescribed.
If you were to look at the first court transcripts, the girls swear I kicked them out of the home. But if you look at the last court transcripts they tell that I allowed them to leave while the police were here to go to separate girlfriends’ houses for the night. The judge nor my lawyer questioned this.
According to the medical guidelines for a drug abuser and alcoholic, according to my psychiatrist I did not fit the critique. Never have I had a DUI or been in trouble for drugs. It has been 13 months now and the girls and I have had little visitation, and that was in the very beginning. We have none now.. The girls and I have had no counseling together. We have had only two (2) MDT meetings. The judge ordered that the girls stay together in placement but they are separated now. One is with my cousin and his wife, who has been reported of letting her drink and giving it to her and now they are under investigation again. Sarah is also unsupervised. Now my cousin and his wife are getting a divorce now and he will be moving to California.
I do not think the guidelines of the West Virginia Family Preservation Act have even been close to being met. I think my rights as a parent have been violated. The welfare of my children nor I have been met. It has been 13 months now and we just had our judicational hearing and I have been found guilty of abuse and neglect even though my drug screen was negative, the officer never filed a report the night of the accused abuse, no marks or bruises, no witnesses to abuse or neglect, no drug abuse or alcohol abuse, and preventative measures being taken by the parent in trying to have a functional family. I was found guilty on hear say alone and the teenage girls alone. Is this justice? Is this the way the West Virginia Family Preservation Act works? Did I have an attorney, yes, a court appointed attorney from the Public Defender’s Office who did not represent me. His problem was not lack of ability but lack of knowledge. He told me twice that he was a public criminal defender and had looked outside his office for advice. He did not know anything about family court. I requested a new defender but was denied. But I would think any attorney would object to the prosecuting attorney, and Winfred Bucy, accusing the witness, me, of being on serious drugs when the children were born, referring to hospital birth records. No objections were made and no proof was given… Proof the mother was clean of any drugs can be given upon request.
Why bring all this to your attention you may as?. My teenage daughters do not want to come home now, and I do not want them to if I cannot have some control. I lost that when the children have gotten away with this for 13 months now. My lawyer advised me that I would lose my parental rights if I did not appeal this decision or ask for an improvement period. Why fight for an improvement period, Im not guiltly, the children do not want to come home and at the children’s age the judge would not make them come home.) According to my lawyer if I lost my parental rights and if I had another child I would loose that child at birth. Well this really bothers me ,not that I can ever have any more children I cant. But I have been a good mother to my children and to be branded this way is unfair!
I drove a tractor-trailer for over 18 years, owned two (2) different businesses, obtained a GED, went to college for two (2) years, and raised three (3) children on my own. My son is now 25 years old. I raised him alone with no child support. After three (3) of college, he is in the Air Force now and has been for two (2) years. He is also attending college with online courses part-time.
As a single parent I have done well by my children. I usually had to work six (6) days a week, 12-14 hour days, work around daycare centers, babysitters, many times picking up or dropping the children off at soccer practice or dance in the truck. I think as a good mother my rights should not be terminated and yes I should still have a say as to where my children are placed. I think they should be together as they are twin sisters and I do love them and want the best for them in a secure supervised controlled environment. Last but not least I think these charges of abuse and neglect should be turned around. I AM NOT GUILTY! But what chance do I have in fighting a loosing battle unless I got lucky enough for this letter to get into the right hands and GOD BLESS YOU IF IT DOES!
Comment by Susan — April 9, 2008 @ 6:19 am
I have also sent a copy of this letter to my Gov. , sentors ect.
Comment by Susan — April 9, 2008 @ 6:26 am
i have a case to report,its very old,about 10 years .when i was 11 years old my father harry m yarbro gave me illgal drugs,and at that age i dident know any better,he also tried to tell me he wasent my real father,i dident want to beleave that but i grew up with him so im’e having douts because he wasent a good father at all.but he did pay off child support.so i need some blood tests and invesigation.he lives in kettle falls washington in a trailer park,also he has done some very bad things
Comment by adam yarbro — April 12, 2008 @ 10:14 am
My wife was having a difficult time - she was arrested for DUI with my sonin the car. She was extremely hostile toward me and was approaching my son 10 year old and speaking to him about graphically sexual experiences. I became alarmed so I called up cps for help. In hindsight I realize what a naive and stupid thing to do. I told them that I wanted to protect my children from my wife. They responded by saying that we are not concerned about her, we are concerned about you if you permit her to drive under intoxication we will remove the children from the home because you failed to be the one responsible parent.
They sent over an agent that was sub contracted by an Evergreen services. She was very supportive of me and after someone warned me of the mistake I had made she assured me that I was a great father and if anything my wife was at risk of being removed from the home. Things did accelerate in the home and I told the CPS agent that I needed to remove her with a restraining order. She did nothing to assist me but she was 100% supportive and agreed that my wife was in desperate need of help. I remember the agent attempting to have my wife leave under paeceful terms but she was unsuccessful.
After Ihad here removed from the home, CPS made a complete 180 deegree turnarround where she made a depsotion for mywifes attorney who decided to sue for divorce. She stated I was a woman hater, she also stated that thechildren were bertter off with my wife completely contrary to everything she had been saying all along. I was never more confused by the statementsshe made in my life. The cps agent called me and apologized for the depositon saying that they made me say those things. I was in such shock about what she wrote I could only act politely and say don’t worry about it, as I had a lot more critical issues on my plate at that time. But my own attorney advised me that everything she said was her own free will. The woman was supposed to close out the case and see me once more after having 17 visits with me. She refused to come because she felt that her safety would be at risk based on something that she had in her notes. I was releived but was totally exasperated about the CPS program. As soon as my wife was removed from the home, their tack changed completely as if they were always intent on getting thechildren out of the home. I have been the primary custodial parent for the last year and the children are flourishing. I am amazed how they can just play with your mind like that and have clear conscience.
Confused
John
Comment by John — April 14, 2008 @ 9:22 am
Fighting or shutting down CPS is not the answer… further training for its employees may be.
I work in NY state as a social worker and I have witnessed, first hand, cases of child abuse. What’s your answer or solution for them?
More children and families have been helped from CPS than hurt. Think this campaign over.
Comment by Theresa — April 16, 2008 @ 1:10 pm
But let me reiterate… I do believe there needs to be more adequate training for CPS workers as well as further individualizing cases.
But by petitioning to shut down CPS you are attempting to take a potential safe-haven away from countless children who are truly being abused.
Comment by Theresa — April 16, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
Dear All,
I am a psychotherapist who married a woman with 2 children ages 2,7 at the time. We went on to have two more boys which one has aspergers synderome. When my wifes oler son turned 15 and he believed the grass would be greener on the other side.d We recieved notices from NYS CPS that we have been accused of 65 family court infractions and were headed for trial. After all our assets were depleted and we were told to sell our house to pay for the attorneys to win children we had no house to bring them to, we filed a petition to go pro se. My mother ,God bless her paid 10,000 to a court psychologist to determine that the child was not credible and with medical certainty was displying signs of being coached. Our judge ignored us becausewe were pro se and addressed the fatheres legal team as they were the only concerned party. When the judge ordered a settlement inthe case, there lawyers approached us and stated that this is all in the best interest of the children and we should settle. I rfused and told the judge in open court, that when I am vindicated I w ill sue both petitioners for personal and professional liable. The judge reminded me that this is a different court and call your first wittness. For them it was CPS all reported by them.
They conferensed and dropped all charges against my wife and I and the Judge said Mr. Stoll, you are free to go. I said go where, I spent 45000 defending lies over 2 years, who is returning my money. I got loud and then cuffed.
Now I took on CPS and their BS findings PRO SE, now remember, I am a liscensed psychotherapist, and CPS found me indicated for 6 seperate counts of DWI, Never got one and for failure to provide adequate emotional guardianship. What the hell is that? Put away the PS2 and your abusive. Two more years of fighting CPS and we emerged victiorious. All findings were expunged, and sealed and the workers were reprimanded for responding to a custody case without meeting the burden of a finding. We received this notice on 1/23/08.
Now the Kicker, the grass died on the pther side and you know who wants to come home. He turns 18 in November and he is his father responsibility. I was hoping to post the judges 18 page disposition for all to regain hope in a broken self governing system but I will send it to those that request it and send a self addressed envelope to Charles Stoll 123 Mearns Ave, Highland Falls NY 10928
Phone is 845-446-1472. PS . This is the only thing I have found to control my anger.
Comment by Charles Stoll — April 18, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
I am so sorry to everyone on here….please read a copy of todays newsjournal clermont county ohio the clermont sun…
I posted an add there reaching out to anyone who has children that cps or the court system has failed to protect….anyone here in ohio dealing with these……people please email me i think i may have found an attorney who is not afraid and can help with perhaps a class action…..anyone interested please email me and i will call and or write and anwer every response i get….its wrong….i cant and wont shut up…its my baby girl and i love more than anything and would die any death before they are allowed to get by with what they have done……..to all of you please dont quit……pray and keep on keeping on because if any fight is worth fighting it is this one i will always fight for my children…..it has to change…enought like minds enough voices together they cant ignore…i will help if i can, i promise
Comment by lynn — April 24, 2008 @ 9:24 am
my email is
rydoninluv@yahoo.com
Comment by lynn — April 24, 2008 @ 9:24 am
i just want to say that this website has helped me so much my husband and i are being investigated on false allegations of child abuse this has devestated us beyond belief my children were put through unbelieveable trauma due to this and all anyone can say is that well arent you glad that you know nothing has happend no i am not happy because they bombarded my house like a heard of elephants expecting us to comply and be all right with everything traumatize my child and even though nothing was found we still have to go through the procedure as if we were guilty because it is protocol is insane there has not been one apology made to us in this whole situation all because of what a daycare provider said she saw
Comment by jane doner — May 6, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i am 22 years old living in sioux city, ia and have 2 beautiful baby boys. i was with there father for about 6 years. He was abusive to me emotionally, physically, and sexually. Him and my crazy mother live together and have been making up lies to me. they set me up in a parking lot about 1 year ago and stole my 4 year old from me right out of my arms. they tell cps that my boyfriend was using drugs and cps told me that we had to break up. cps keeps making up lies about me saying that i am bring my kids around inapropriate people. my boyfriend has done nothing and has offered to do what he needs to help me keep the kids. cps says no. i have been fighting this for almost 2 years now and i am getting nowhere. did i mention that my husband has been to jail for hitting me and is facing felony charges for using a false ssn to gain employment…HE IS AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT. i told cps he could take my kids and run 2 mexico with them and that i will never see them again. but they say the are not concerned about that. May 9, 2008 i went to court and cps gave custody to my husband and only will allow me to see them supervised for 2 hrs per week. But did agree to move it to district court, from juvenile court. Im not real sure what good that will do for me. But i love my kids with all my heart and will not give up on them. My 4 years old crys at every visit with me begging me to let him come back home. I just keep telling him i am trying my best. Please help me if anyone knows anything i can do to get this resolved!!! im begging for the saftey of my kids. If my ex runs to mexico with them then what??? -lease help me by calling. 712-577-8557, my phone is always on!!!!
i need help fast 
Comment by Rose — May 10, 2008 @ 4:19 pm
My bff is trying to gain custody of her granddaughter who is in foster care with a former friend. The Magistrate on 10/12/2007 awarded her custody but CSB appealed and the Judge has not made her final ruling. The Judge hired the Magistrate so I think she is likely to rule the same way. Any advice would be appreciated.
Comment by Marie — May 29, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
My daughter and husband are going through a divorce. C.P.S. came through and did a home study. Declaired my house unsafe, never did a walk through never got back with us. 3 generations have grown up in this house and not even a scratch. They said my dog was to big for the kids. This dog and grandkids have grown up together and no problems.
Comment by Charles dupre — May 30, 2008 @ 8:46 am
Hello!
I am Elaine Lehman, the Director of FAST, The False Allegations Solutions Team. (My background is the last item in the attached newsletter. Our website is:
http://www.false-allegations-team.com
FAST is an international, volunteer email organization aimed at helping innocent people who are falsely accused or wrongly convicted of child sex abuse. We have cases all over the USA, in England, Scotland, Canada, Switzerland, and Norway, so far. FAST is growing rapidly with new people contacting us every week.
We are not attorneys, and use an educational approach, throughout. We teach our members their legal options, all about the justice system, and what elements to include in a winning defense strategy. We teach them how to do their own legwork, get involved with their own defense strategies, and work as a team with their attorneys. We teach them how to find the right attorney. We also offer warm emotional support. We do not charge for our help.
Unfortunately, because our main thrust is child sex abuse cases, we no longer accept custody cases between parents. We need to do what we do best- the child sex abuse cases. Many of our cases also involve CPS, not just the Justice System.
Our Assistant Director is Julie Miller, who lives near Charlotte, North Carolina. We also have a team of eight FAST “coaches,” who are people who were falsely accused or wrongly convicted of child sex abuse, themselves, or their loved one was. They learned a lot from their experiences with developing their own, or loved one’s cases, and are now helping others in FAST. Our coaches live in Oregon, Idaho, SW Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Texas, and three are in California.
Our FAST mentor is Allen Cowling. Allen is a national level defense strategist for false allegations of child sex abuse cases. His website is loaded with information for innocent people and their attorneys. http://www.allencowling.com
Allen contributed many articles to our newsletters, over the years. When I don’t know something, I ask Allen!
Anyone can get help from FAST who was falsely accused or wrongly convicted of child sex abuse. FAST is not connected with any religion, and we have had members from all of the major world religions and some alternative religions, as well. Just a few FAST members have no religious beliefs.
A FAST prayer group evolved among those of us who believe in a Higher Power and prayer. No one has to participate in our prayer group. It is for those who want to help in this way. We firmly believe in religious choice/freedom of religion. Our FAST prayer group prays for everybody in FAST every night. When someone has an up-coming legal event such as a hearing or trial, we offer extra prayers for that person.
We publish “The FAST Letter” twice a month. Below is the June, 2008 issue of “The FAST Letter.” All other issues are on our website.
The newsletters on our website are filled with down-to-earth, necessary and valuable information for innocent people falsely accused or wrongly convicted of child sex abuse.
Every newsletter has helpful, nitty gritty articles about everything to do with this terrible situation. The June, 2008, issue is somewhat different because it is all about how to survive the terrible stress that false allegations of child sex abuse cause. I have opened it, below, for people who cannot open attachments.
Enjoy!
Elaine Lehman, Director
FAST, False Allegations Solutions Team
Website: http://www.false-allegations-team.com
Email: elaine.lehman@earthlink.net
*************************************************************************************************************************************
The FAST Letter
FAST, False Allegations Solutions Team
A newsletter about false allegations of child sex abuse
Ethics beyond reproach!
_____________________________________________________________________________
CHILDREN DO LIE ABOUT SEX ABUSE !
SO DO VINDICTIVE EX-WIVES AND GIRLFRIENDS !
_____________________________________________________________________________
Publishers: Bob and Elaine Lehman ~ June, 2008 ~ Editor: Elaine Lehman
Website: http://www.false-allegations-team.com ~ Email: elaine.lehman@earthlink.net
_____________________________________________________________________________
Contents
Page
2… Surviving false allegations by changing for the better. You can decide to be better or bitter, but bitter will kill you in the end. By Elaine Lehman
3… Surviving the emotional roller coaster of false allegations! By Dave O’Hara
6… Surviving false allegations by doing ANGER THERAPY!
6… Surviving false allegations by using positive thinking techniques!
6… Surviving when your loved one is wrongly convicted! By Julie Miller
9… Surviving marital discord. By Bob and Elaine Lehman
10… Surviving marital discord by practicing “fair fighting.” By Elaine Lehman
11… Surviving FEAR! By Elaine Lehman
14… Surviving bad dreams! By Elaine Lehman and Dave O’Hara
17… Background Information, Bob and Elaine Lehman, Educators, co-authors, co-publishers, co-hosts of radio show, activists
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Surviving false allegations by
changing for the better.
You can decide to be better or bitter, but bitter will kill you in the end.
Elaine Lehman
When an innocent person has false allegations of child sex abuse leveled at him or her, things happen on the inside that may not be immediately obvious, but must be dealt with, with intelligence and awareness. You change, and the change will turn out to be for the worst, unless you really listen to what I am saying in this article, and follow through.
Perhaps you can consider this dreadful experience a gift, as you learn to do self-talk, and to work on your own psyche. You might even be doing this kind of inner work for the first time, ever. Believe it or not, it’s a real blessing to learn how to do this inner work!
Those of us who know how to do this inner self-help work value the skills involved a great deal. The list of skills is far too long and varied for this article, and you actually become an entirely new, better person, after doing a lot of inner work.
This ordeal can change you, so that you go one of two ways:
1. The change you really want takes inner work to achieve:
• You can become more compassionate, caring and empathic with others.
• You can turn to your Higher Power/God, more, and become more spiritual.
• You find out that inner work makes surprisingly satisfying, remarkable differences in your personality and your view of the world.
• After you find that out, you willingly continue your inner work.
• You find that anger therapy works, and you willingly do anger therapy the rest of your life, when necessary, to rid yourself of stored rage.
• You begin using positive thinking techniques such as visualization, and continue using them after your false allegation ordeal is over with.
• You can develop a social conscience, and work to help others in this situation in some way, for the rest of your life.
• If you were wrongly convicted, you use all of these methods to survive in the best possible way, in prison.
2. The change you do NOT want, but must work to prevent, follows.
This change will inevitably and automatically happen, if you don’t actively work toward achieving Change #1.
• You can get bitter and angry at the people involved, the systems, the government, and the world.
• You can let your heart shrivel up until you become unlovable and un-loving. This will cause you to lose all of the wonderful years you have left, and all of the people around you, after this ordeal is over with.
God/your Higher Power, has a beautiful plan for you, and good people in your future, who will love you. But, if you allow Change #2 to take place, you will drive all that away. So, learn all you can about how to achieve Change #1!
_____________________________________________________________________________
Surviving the emotional
roller coaster of false allegations!
Dave O’Hara
This question seems to come up with everyone at some point and time during this nightmare. How do you deal with the stress and emotional roller coaster that comes from this kind of ordeal?
I believe that everyone deals with it in a different way. Some may bury it inside. Others feel better talking about it. I truly believe there are those who simply go with the flow and whatever happens, happens, but they are rare.
I am going to share some personal hurdles that I had to overcome which will hopefully help someone along the way.
I would like to give you an idea of me and who I am. I grew up in a small town. We were not poor, but we didn’t have money either. My parents provided for us very well within the limits of what we had. However, we were not an emotional or open family about our feelings. The men did outside work; my mom and sisters did the housework. I was taught or brought up not to show emotions such as love, tenderness, caring gestures, fear, sadness or jealousy. We were taught to exhibit no anger, especially towards a woman. It was simply not part of our upbringing.
Though all those emotions existed, I buried it all in my subconscious. Therefore, it never came out nor was it expressed. This may work when you are a child or a teenager and I now understand how this is not a healthy way to raise a family. At any rate, I was never prepared for this kind of nightmare and the year and a half to follow. During that time, I generated entirely too much emotion to bury. Therefore, I began the emotional roller coaster ride. I was mad, sad, in denial, depressed, in fits of rage, bitter, spiteful, revengeful, confused, lost and terrified. In short, I felt every emotion except happiness, serenity or joy.
When the CYS caseworker first came to my house, I was not at home. However, the guy could hear me screaming over the phone standing ten feet away from Della, my fiancee. I yelled at her, “Do not let him leave the yard!”
My first emotion was anger and being Italian/Irish didn’t help. It was more like rage, an uncontrollable rage that I had never felt before. I have been angry before, but never like this in my entire life. My rage simply overloaded my system to where I didn’t know what to do with it.
Therefore, the CYS worker requested I meet him at the state police barracks near my house. (Not like it was going to matter, but he didn’t know that). My anger never subsided. In fact it grew every day until the day my trial was over. And then it took two or three days to settle down.
ELAINE: Every innocent victim of false allegations does not react the way Dave did. Some feel utter, abject terror from day one. Either way, the person is reacting to our basic “fight or flight” syndrome. When you first hear that someone has made a false allegation against you, and you realize it is serious, adrenaline pumps wildly through your system, and either rage or fear is the result.
DAVE: Then came denial. This could not be happening to me! They will surely see that this is all lies and the truth will set me free of this. Then my anger came back when the truth, in fact, did not set me free. They ignored the truth, and that only made things worse.
Because I was not taught to show emotions, I did not know what to do with them. When all these negative emotions surfaced, it made things bad between Della and me, when she only wanted to talk and help me. I took it as a sign of pity and weakness. I would lash out at her to leave me alone and I will deal with it, when I should have been grateful to have such a woman at my side. Della stood there never once questioning me or having doubts about the accusations. Besides having to deal with me, she was on her own emotional roller coaster wondering if our kids were going to be taken next. For a year and a half, she dealt with me distancing myself more and more and she still stood by me.
Crying was not an option, though I felt like it on so many days it was unreal. I could see what I was doing to her and the kids but could not control what I was doing. There was never any kind of physical or even verbal abuse. There was just silence and misery, instead of swimming, hiking, camping, and fishing. There was simply nothing. I became obsessed with defending myself and getting even with all these people who just would not listen.
I have been trying every day since the trial to make this up to Della and the kids. Instead of just trying to teach morals and values we discuss everything and why things happened as they did. I involve them in my issues because it involves all of us not just me.
Then came my preliminary hearing. I wanted to end it here and now. But, no. My attorney had to explain the law to me and what they needed to prove. He explained that we did not want to reveal defense. Therefore, I sat there and listened to all the horrible things these people were saying about me. I did not defend myself. That went against the nature of how I was brought up. If I was in the wrong, I was taught to stand and take my punishment like a man. If I was right, I was taught to fight tooth and nail and stand my ground. Again the rage came back. Trying to bury it was hopeless. So I turned it into a powerful determination to prepare the best defense I could. All that time, I was distancing myself from my family.
Feelings of being confused and lost were new to me, as I have always been in control of my life. For the first time, my life was spinning out of control. I needed answers and I needed them now!
That is when I found FAST. They had the answers and the knowledge I was looking for, or if they did not, they would point me in the right direction to get them. Although I have said it many times, Elaine and the others who have helped will never know my gratitude towards them.
Then came my Suppression Hearing or Taint Hearing. We put so much energy and time into this it is unreal. The state calls for one or two things to prove taint and they give you eight examples you can use. We had all eight and multiple accounts of the eight.
We put on a defense that was 2nd to none. I was so positive that this was the end of my ordeal I actually slept and was for the first time in months in a good mood with the kids and Della. All said that it was finally nice to see the old me. Two weeks went by and my motion was denied.
That is where I hit rock bottom during the whole year and half. Those of you in FAST that were helping me should remember that quite well. I was so confident of victory I never considered defeat. I moped around for a day, while all sorts of thoughts were going through my head. I was scared to death and reality set in. These people just will not listen to common sense or facts. I thought to myself that Della and the kids were going to be left alone with all of our plans and the bills to deal with, while I sit in prison for something I did not do. I thought that prison life would be more than I could bear. For those families who have loved ones in prison, our family’s prayers are with you every day.
When I was a senior in high school they made us go to a prison in West Virginia to see what it was all about. The most ungodly visions surfaced in my mind from that field trip as if it were yesterday. Then all of a sudden, like a ton of bricks, I looked around and saw the lovely farm we bought. I saw all our plans, the kids pictures on the wall, and decided I will not let these people win! This will not destroy what we have created and our plans for the future.
I will remember forever my father telling me that it was OK to be scared and afraid. Just be strong and let the fear be your strength, and no matter what comes of it know that I love you. It is a terrible thing to think it took forty years and this nightmare, for my father and me to tell each other that we loved each other.
My father and I have probably the best relationship a father and son could have. We hunt together, fish together, do the little projects around the house together, watch football and have a few beers together. However, we have never been emotional until this nightmare. When the jury read the verdict of “not guilty on all counts” that is the first time in 41 years that I saw my father cry. (Remember this was not an option).
Since that day Dad and I have learned to show emotion like saying “I LOVE YOU.” We have learned that it is better to talk things out with those who love you, and to have family, friends or whomever around you. Even if you are in a fit of rage or have thoughts of doing something stupid, they will be there to keep you positive and give you strength. I think everyone needs that.
This ordeal has shown me the darkest sides of myself, vengeful, mean, spiteful, angry, disgusted, bitter, confused and even lost. But it has also shown me a side I have come to like about myself that I didn’t know existed - love, kindness, caring, patience, support, devotion, and understanding. Saying “I love you” and giving open affection has now become a daily part of our lives. Hugging the kids before they go to school, before they go to bed or even when they leave with their friends, and telling my parents I love them when I get off the phone, or when I am leaving their house.
Even though bad things happen, and the worst may be still ahead of you, do not lose sight of the good things in your life, as I did. I am so thankful every day for those who stood by me when I needed them the most and didn’t even realize it.
Prior to my trial and acquittal, I had dreams about everything from winning to losing and all possibilities in between. It got to the point that I was starting to have a hard time telling the difference between fact and fiction. I was letting my dreams control my feelings during the daytime. I am not superstitious in any way but I do believe you can interpret your dreams. (See the article about interpreting your dreams, by Elaine Lehman, in this newsletter.)
Use your rage to channel bad things that happen into a positive thing when you are angry. Use your rage to get things accomplished. When you feel lost, confused and frightened, let your family and friends help you get back on track and find direction. When you are sad or thinking of possibly doing something very foolish and stupid, stop and take just a moment to think of all the good things in your life. Redirect those negative thoughts into holding onto those things, whether they be dreams or future plans, you have made. Work towards your goals. As Elaine Lehman once told me,
“VISUALIZE IT HAPPENING, AND IT WILL HAPPEN!â€
Survive false allegations by doing ANGER THERAPY!
For more about how to survive the rage that instantly fills us when we are the victims of false allegations, read the following newsletters on our website:
The FAST Letter, April, Issue #2, 2006
The FAST Letter, August, 2006.
The FAST Letter, September, Issue #2, 2006
________________________________________________________________
Survive false allegations by using positive thinking techniques!
Read the following newsletters on our website:
The FAST Letter, November, 2006
The FAST Letter, December, 2007
________________________________________________________________
Surviving when your loved one is wrongly convicted
Julie Miller
“Guiltyâ€
I will never forget the day I heard those words.
I thought, “How could this have happened?†He’s innocent.
In the coming weeks, months, and eventually years, we started to learn exactly why it had happened. Prosecutor and police misconduct, ineffective assistance of counsel, perjured testimony, Brady violations. The list goes on and on.
In the beginning months after conviction, you survive in a daze. Not sure what to do, where to go, how to “fix†this wrong. Where do you begin? You ask yourself over and over, how did this happen? Why? It is just not fair. The anger, frustration and disappointment is a feeling that I can’t even describe. The system that was supposed to protect and provide “justice†just utterly failed.
People ask me a lot how I have survived this long. Well there is no one answer, no one “right way†but there are things you can do to get through it this time.
So how do you survive?
Get over the hatred and frustration that you have. You are going to have it, no doubt. You just can’t carry it with you everyday. It will eat you up and tear you apart if you do. It will get you nowhere and will only hurt things in the long run. You have to be able to get past it and focus on the future. There will bad days, after all. We are all human. Just limit them to the bad days, don’t let bad days turn into bad months. It just will not help. Also, it won’t help your loved one who is in prison and probably has more hatred and frustration than you do, and rightly so.
You need to be the rock! Be there for your loved one, let them vent their frustrations. Let’s face it, prison life is no fun. They are there convicted of something they did not do. Had all of their freedom taken away. You need to be the cheerleader or else you will both just be consumed with anger. Be loving and supportive, send cards and messages of faith, hope and inspiration. Remind them of the good things to look forward to. If you need to cry, do so, then talk to your FAST family. I am not saying that you can’t cry or be upset with your loved one. There are going to be setbacks along the way that are upsetting. But you can’t cry every time you get together or talk on the phone. That will just upset your loved one even more. Be strong and courageous! Be the Rock!
Focus on the future. Have faith and believe in the future when this is behind you. Talk about all the things to look forward to. Make plans. Always talk about when this is over. When the conviction is overturned. Not if. Not maybe. But when. Don’t dwell on what you used to do that you can’t do anymore. Talk about what you are going to do when your loved one comes home. Talk about what you can do now. Living in the past won’t get you to the future.
Do things to help you feel close even though you are apart. Read books together. Write letters. Send crossword puzzles back and forth. Each person completing part and then keep sending it back and forth. Send card and pictures. What are things you always wanted to do together? Start making plans now. Try to have fun in spite of the circumstances.
Surround yourself with positive. This is so important. Surround yourself with positive people, sayings, beliefs, positive everything. Keep out the negative. When it creeps in, push it out. It really helps get through the days. Always believe and stay focused on the future and how far you’ve come and good things that have happened. If there are negative people who don’t support what you are doing, you need to make a decision. They are only bringing you down when you are doing everything to stay up. Surround yourself with positive. I believe it is the only way to survive. I have positive things posted all over my house.
Work on the case. If you are one of the ones that has committed to helping overturn the conviction, I believe that some of the best therapy there is to work on the case. This is also working towards the future and getting together everything you will need to overturn this.
Be patient, committed, persistent and have a plan. Overturning a conviction is a long, hard and involved process. It takes time and patience. You will have doors shut on you a lot. You have to be willing to find another way to open them. Every where you turn, people will tell you that you aren’t entitled to information. You can’t have this. Can’t have that. Can’t do this. Can’t do that.
It was rare that we were able to do something the first time. We would request information from agencies, they would write us back and tell us we can’t have it. Figure out exactly what went wrong at trial and what your plan is to fix this. It might be asking for documents, getting files, requesting information, or interviewing witnesses. You have to break down and analyze everything that went wrong and then have a plan of action to overcome this. You have to be patient, it is just going to happen overnight, as much as you might want it to.
Laugh and have fun. I know. Sounds crazy because this is no laughing matter but laughter and fun are the best therapies. Do not forget the people that you are on the inside. Laugh, have fun and joke around to keep yourself balanced. You can help your loved one better, if you maintain your own balance. You still have to be yourselves and don’t lose sight of this, and as I have said before, the future.
Remember your FAST family. We are here and we know how you feel. The FAST family has been my lifesaver. Other people who know how it feels that have a loved one in prison. No one else knows what that is like. Others “on the outside†may be sympathetic to the situation, but unless you live it, no one else can understand better.
One last thing I need to say and I always bring this up when I speak of post conviction because it is very true.
The most important thing you have to do is decide whether you are going to help fight for your loved ones’ freedom or are you just going to be there to support them? Can you hire more lawyers to do it for you? Everyone’s situation is different. No one can make that decision but you. Overturning a conviction is a long, hard process. It takes time and patience. It is not going to happen overnight and will usually takes years to do. Not everyone can endure that and make that commitment and that is okay. Not everyone can make the commitment. All of that is okay. You just have to decide where you place is in this so that your loved one knows. You don’t want to commit to fight but then not be able to follow through on what needs to be done. Whatever you decide, Stick to it, please, for the sake of the person in prison. I always quote Allen Cowling on this because he says it best:
“If you are assisting someone who was wrongfully convicted, their very life is in your hands. Simply based on your involvement, you are giving them hope that their incarceration nightmare can and will end. It takes a special individual to dedicate themselves to reversing a conviction. It is not an easy task. It takes a great deal of planning, strategy, effort and work. It saddens me every time I talk to someone who is only “playing a game,” at turning things around, yet allowing the person sitting in prison to believe that they honestly care and are sincerely doing everything in their power to get them out. Some of these people do this because it makes them feel important by “assisting,” while others may feel some responsibility for the conviction. Some may be family members who want to ease the guilt of simply doing nothing. One thing that most have in common is, they have no direction at all, no plan and usually, in a panic, run from one person to another in an attempt to get help, but nothing ever seems to get done. Anyone who was convicted of sexually molesting a child and is innocent is sitting in prison, wondering what happened to the very system that was supposed to have found the truth. The system that was supposed to have protected them. They are sitting there with the realization that they have done nothing wrong, but had all freedom taken from them. They are also sitting there, as a convicted child molester, hated by even rapists and murderers. The last thing they need is for someone they believe represents their key to freedom, to be playing a game with their life. For the sake of the convicted and innocent, either do it right or don’t get involved.†—— quoted from Allen Cowling
I am not trying to be harsh, but what he says is very true and something that I read and considered after Ray was convicted because I was making a big long - term commitment to help him overturn this and to do that, I had to be committed to it, for Ray’s sake. I chose to commit to do this. Everyone involved in post conviction has to do it as well.
There are going to be days when it is not easy. There are going to be days of frustration. Just don’t let those days over come you. Don’t let the system that let you down defeat you. You can prove the system wrong and you can survive and you will win with patience and persistence. Have a plan. Laugh. Stay positive, and stay focused. Be strong and Be the rock!
Remember, don’t dwell on the past! Instead, live for the future. J
Surviving marital discord,
and your marriage or relationship will strengthen.
Bob and Elaine Lehman
A juvenile just made false allegations of sex abuse against you or your spouse. You have known him intimately for many years, and he has never given you any reason to think that he might be a pedophile. You trust him! So, you will stick with him and remain loving and loyal. Right? In some cases, the answer to that question is “WRONG.” Why? The allegations have thrown your spouse into a tailspin of negative emotions. He is a BEAR around the house. He snaps at everybody, and growls and yells in a way that he never did, before. Last night, he slammed his fist into a wall. You fight a lot, these days. He can’t sleep and has lost interest in sex. He is depressed, terrified, and even cries. You feel almost the same way he does. Is this horrible situation going to destroy your marriage/relationship?
Eleven things to do, to help keep your marriage/relationship together. (There are more. This will give you ideas. Get creative and think of more.)
1. BOTH: Turn to God, more. Pray together. Go to church, together. (If you believe in God.)
Some FAST members have grown much closer to God through this incredible ordeal.
2. ACCUSED SPOUSE: Use self-talk to get your negative emotions under control. (See article, below, in this newsletter.)
3. SPOUSE: Use self-talk to tell yourself to be patient, loving and kind, no matter what he says or does. He is going through a kind of hell neither of you knew existed, before. Your hell is not as bad as his. You aren’t the one facing prison. In many cases, your spouse was doubly hurt. His own child betrayed him and made false allegations AND he is facing prison.
4. BOTH: Start doing some form of constructive anger therapy instead of dumping your rage on the people you love. (See newsletters listed above.)
5. BOTH: Work through your fears. (See the article about dealing with fear, below.)
6. BOTH: Educate yourself about how to win the case.
7. BOTH: If your children were wrongly taken by Child Protective Services after the false allegations, educate yourselves about your rights and how to fight back in that situation, too. Tell yourselves that you will get the other children back, in time.
• The accused spouse should never be near the older child or teen who made false allegations, again, unless the juvenile completely changes, recants and begs forgiveness.
• Grieve while learning to accept this dreadful, harsh reality.
• Tell yourself you must wait for the youngster to get his heart straight, in time.
• In this case, God, time, and life experiences can intervene and your accuser might very well change, down the line. Time is your friend.
• Until that happens, your accuser is very dangerous to both of you and all the adults in his or her orbit. Juveniles, who made false allegations once, tend to do it, again. They like the excitement and power of controlling all of the adults involved. You would not stand a chance of winning, a second time.)
7. EITHER: Deliberately plan family outings like picnics and hikes or even go camping for the weekend. Cooking and eating outdoors is fun, and walking in the woods helps calm negative emotions. The negative ions in nature help balance you. Get creative, and find other healthy free recreation, if money is tight.
8. BOTH: Deliberately be good to yourself. Do little things for yourself that make you feel good that do not cost much money.
9. ACCUSED SPOUSE: Apologize lovingly for expressing your anger at your family when you are really angry about the false allegations and the hell that followed.
10. BOTH: If worst comes to worst, go into couples therapy for awhile. Be sure you find a therapist with common sense, who has some understanding about false allegations and what they do to the family dynamics.
11. BOTH: Children need both parents. This horror story is going to be over with. If you separate, the children will suffer and so will both of you. Stay together for the sake of the children.
12. BOTH: Stick to the commitment you made to each other. Stay together for better or for worse.
13. BOTH: Remember that “Tough times never last. Tough people do!”
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Surviving marital discord by practicing”fair fighting.”
Elaine Lehman
1. NEVER say “never” or “always.” (You never do thus and such; you always do thus and such.) Besides the fact that it probably isn’t even true, it is a “you message,” and you messages are too confrontive and aggressive for good communication.)
2. NEVER threaten divorce. (This idea hurts too much and sticks in the mind. It can also be a prediction and a self-fulfilling prophecy.)
3. NEVER threaten to leave. (If you need to take a walk or a drive to cool off, say that.)
4. NEVER bring up old stuff. Stick to the current subject.
5. PLAN a time when both are sitting down and comfortable, to discuss a problem. (After dinner, not when either first gets home from work, for instance.)
6. CHOOSE a neutral place to discuss a problem. (Not “his” home office, or “her” craft room, and never the bedroom.) Go out to a park and sit at a picnic table, or use an unusual room in the house, such as the living room, if everyone uses the family room. Drive someplace, park the car, and sit in the car. Or, sit in the car in your own driveway.
7. SAY, “I’m uncomfortable with…” (A behavior, situation or attitude, never the person.) You are owning your own feelings about the problem, not blaming your mate. This is much more likely to get results than a you message.
8. REMEMBER, this is a discussion for the purpose of problem solving and finding solutions. It is not intended to hurt. If both parties cultivate and maintain that attitude, and use the 3 C’s, the problem will be solved!
When you follow these 8 steps:
• You are acting, not reacting.
• You are being assertive, not aggressive.
• You are taking responsibility for your own issues, not blaming the other person.
• You have problem solving in mind, not just lashing out in order to hurt.
Real power is getting done what you want done.
Using these 8 steps gives a couple real power, together. When used consistently, the marriage will always grow stronger and the couple more loving.
Here are two examples of what NOT to do, and what TO do:
FIGHTING: (After brooding and/or suffering over the false allegations or your spouse’s behavior, all day)
SHE SAYS: “All you think about is your car. (or the case) You never want to do anything with me, any more….I”ve even been thinking about divorce.”
HE SAYS: “What? You’re always on the phone with your mother (or whomever has been giving you emotional support). All you ever seem to care about are your girlfriends or your mother. Besides, the car needs work (or I need to work on my defense strategy with FAST). I can’t relax as long as that work needs to be done.”
FIGHTING: (After planning all day)
SHE SAYS: “Honey, we need to talk. I’m uncomfortable because we haven’t spent much time alone, lately. I love you and I want to keep the romance in our marriage!”
HE SAYS: “Hey, I love you, too. Well, I guess we’ll have to do something about that! I realize I’ve spent too much time on the computer, recently. What say we take in a movie and go out to eat on Saturday, and then….?”
____________________________________________________________________________
Surviving
FEAR!
Elaine Lehman
Fear is awful. It feels dreadful, and seems to dominate the psyche when it is screaming at us. False allegations of child sex abuse can bring daily, and what is worse, nightly, terror into the life of the innocent, accused person. Therefore, it seems logical that falsely accused people would want to learn how to get rid of the red/black fears that so often plague them.
How to get rid of fear:
1. Face the fear by working it through, mentally.
• You do this by imagining whatever it is you are afraid of. You visualize what you are the most afraid of, which is the worst case scenario – being convicted and going to prison. (Don’t worry. This kind of visualization will not bring it about. Facing the worst case scenario will result in better positive thinking.)
• Plan how you would handle it, if that scenario were to happen. Plan on keeping your dignity and holding your head up high, no matter what happens. Plan on remaining the decent, responsible human being you are, now. Plan on being the BEST you can be.
• Visualize the entire scene, from hearing the verdict in court, to having handcuffs put on you, to having them take you away.
• Remind yourself that other good, innocent FAST people have been convicted, and have made decent lives for themselves in prison, while working on overturning their wrongful conviction. Yes, this can take a few years, but people go to war for a few years, and come back and resume normal lives, again.
• Remind yourself that you would be in the very best kind of company. Jesus, Peter, Paul, Gandhi, and other great human beings were incarcerated in far worse prisons than you would be in. John McCain was a captive of the North Vietnamese in horrible conditions for 5 and a half years. Look at the kind of life he has led since then, and where he is now! Use these good men as role models.
• Life does not end with a conviction. A conviction is a new kind of life challenge to overcome.
• Turn this huge negative into a positive, and you will be able to do anything at all in the future.
• Remind yourself that if someone really loves you, that person will remain loyal while you are incarcerated. Look at our wonderful FAST women, who are sticking by their men, and helping them overturn their convictions! Prepare your spouse or girlfriend to do the same thing, starting NOW.
• If you have the fear that your loved one will leave you while you are incarcerated, face THAT mentally, and deal with it. At the same time, discuss this fear openly with your loved one, NOW.
• Make sure that your loved one understands what happens next, in order to get the post conviction relief process started, if you are incarcerated.
• Remind yourself that you are at least as strong as others who have been wrongly convicted, who have survived in prison, and been exonerated and released. You can do it, too, if you absolutely have to.
• Last of all, visualize the BEST case scenario! Hold onto that visualization, firmly. You will find that it will be easier to do after you have mentally faced and survived the worst.
2. Sit in the middle of the fear, and observe it.
• When the fear surfaces in your mind, use your inner “observer.” We all have one. The inner observer is the part of your mind that watches everything that happens, internally and externally.
• BECOME your own observer. Doing this will very effectively detach you from the fear. You do not OWN the fear, if you are simply observing it flow around you. It is just a phenomenon, and it cannot control you unless you let it.
• Observe the fear. Let it flow around your point of observation, but do not allow yourself to get swept away with it. Think of your observer as if you were sitting on an island in the middle of a storm.
• Say to yourself, “Yep! That’s a fear, all right. It won’t last. I can outlast it, any day!”
3. Do not let fear make your decisions for you.
• Fear is mindless and stupid. If you allow it to control you, YOU will be mindless and stupid.
• Depend on logic and common sense for decision making. If you are feeling fear, and must make a decision about your case, IGNORE the fear and listen only to logic and common sense.
• Educate yourself at each step of the way. Learn all about the legal process, your options, and what elements to include for a successful defense strategy.
4. Get in touch with your anger at the people and the systems that caused your situation.
• Fear is the flip side of anger. Remember, adrenaline causes EITHER flight or fight! Fear and anger are caused by the same chemical. You can literally choose which one you prefer.
• Fear is debilitating and interferes with intelligence.
• Anger can be used as energy to find answers for your defense. Dig in and start learning how to fight back the most intelligently.
• Obviously, it is far better to get CONSTRUCTIVELY angry than to give in to fear.
• All activists are fueled by anger at something that is wrong in the world. Start helping others in FAST, as soon as you learn enough to do that.
• If you are already incarcerated, use the energy of your anger to help others.
• Defeat the wrongs in this entire situation by becoming more compassionate, and by developing a social conscience.
5. Do some BE Anger Therapy!
• You can either give in to the fear, or get angry, instead, because the two emotions are interchangeable. Which one you feel, now, is how you have been coping.
• If you are uncomfortable because of fear, get in touch with anger, instead.
• When you do consistent anger therapy, you also get rid of fears.
6. Do some hard, physical work or exercise.
• Fears do not last long when you do hard physical work or exercise, to “exorcise” the fear!
• Get angry at the fears, and “chop them up!”
7. Whistle in the dark!
• Act as if you are not afraid. Do not give credibility or power to the fear. Do not let anyone else know you have the fear. Keep on acting, and before long, it becomes reality.
• Soldiers in war do this very effectively. They feel fear, but they simply do not talk much about their fears, or give into them. They ignore their fears, because that is how they were trained. They do whatever they have to do, in SPITE of their fears.
• Innocent people in prison who survive successfully, act like those soldiers in a war.
8. Empower yourself. Use self-talk. You are bigger and stronger than any fear.
• The main thing to remember is to do SOMETHING! Fears can paralyze you, or you can take action to make the fears go away.
9. Talk about your fears to someone who loves you.
• Talking out the fears with a sympathetic loved one will help dissipate them. Sometimes, a loved one can say something that will help, too.
10. Ask yourself, “Is this thing I fear really going to affect my very survival?
• It is the survival fears that are the worst, the most powerful. Falsely accused people think of going to prison as the end of life. This is simply not true. It is a different lifestyle that is not nearly as comfortable, but it is not the end.
• You can learn a great deal from a prison experience that someday, you can use to help others.
• If you believe in a Higher Power, you can grow closer to your Higher Power and become more spiritual.
• Many people have already proved that prison turned them into BETTER people than they were before they went to prison.
• Amazingly enough, life goes on, even in prison. Time passes, and before long, you are free.
11. No fear lasts indefinitely, if you do one of the above.
• Tough times never last; tough people do!
12. Remember, every time you give in to a fear, you make it stronger.
• When you give in to a fear, it will return again and again, each time, stronger.
13. Do SOMETHING!
• Doing any of the above is far better than wallowing in the fear. Taking action, alone, helps.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Surviving
bad dreams
Elaine Lehman and Dave O’Hara
ELAINE: Several people in FAST have told me that they are having bad dreams about their cases. Dave O’Hara said he had bad dreams prior to his acquittal.
Dreams are a message from your subconscious mind. However, they are probably not telling you what you might think. The messages are usually symbolic, not the reality of the frightening dream experience.
Nobody can analyze your dreams as well as you can, yourself. Every person’s symbolism is somewhat different from everyone else’s. There are some symbols that are universal, but a lot of dream symbols are individual. Karl Jung called the universal dream symbols, “Archetypes.”
An example of a universal or archetypal dream symbol is dreaming about a growing tree or plant. This symbolism means human growth to everyone. However, even so, an individual tree might have special significance to an individual. Perhaps you lost your virginity under a weeping willow tree. If you were to dream about a weeping willow, it might mean some kind of loss of innocence. This is not a bad symbol. It means you learned something new and are more aware, as a result. I happen to value greater awareness a lot!
There are two major ways to analyze your dreams.
1. Word association
Let’s say you dreamed about a green frog sitting on a lily pad in a pond. When you wake up, you do not know what that means. So, you write “Frog sitting on a lily pad in a pond,” at the top of the piece of paper. Under that, you write the first word or phrase that occurs to you when you think about that symbolism. Then, you write the next word or phrase. Then, the next. You don’t edit your words or phrases. Just write them down as they come to you. Finally, you will arrive at a word or phrase that is IT! This word or phrase is what the symbolism is really about. You can always tell when you finally arrive at the real meaning.
Here is my free association about the frog. I am just writing this list down as fast as it comes to me. I am not editing it, just taking it as it comes. The words and phrases often have nothing whatsoever to do with what you might consciously associate with a frog. In fact, you might have dreamed about a frog, before, but the new word association list of words and phrases is very different from your previous free association.
Green frog sitting on lily pad in a pond.
Jump
Eat bugs
Happy
Fat cat
Senseless nonsense
Senseless pain
Grabbing at straws
Grabbing at fun
Happy camper
Things always work out
Things always get better
Life is good.
Life will lead to riches.
Life will lead to home.
I intuited that the last several words and phrases are what the frog symbolism is really about. My inner self said, “AHA! This is the meaning.”
2. Direct intuition
Direct intuition means that you think about the frog symbolism, and mentally go directly to the real meaning by using your intuition. Many people can intuit most of their own dream symbolism. However, if nothing comes to you when you try, then you can use the free association method, above.
DAVE: had so many dreams about my trial for a year, that it was crazy. I never spoke of them until now because I am not superstitious in any way.
ELAINE: Dreams are not a form of superstition. They contain real and valuable messages from your own subconscious mind. The only time superstition might get involved is if you think a particular dream symbol like a black cat, means bad luck. The old superstition is of black cats and bad luck. An educated guess is that you have more personal meanings for a black cat if you happen to dream about one. I do.
For example: I once had a wonderful black cat. He was loving, gentle and unusually intelligent. He taught himself to urinate on the toilet! When his sister died, leaving two 5-week-old kittens, Cub took over the parenting of his nieces. He did everything except nurse them. He would sit on my lap and look up at me with eyes absolutely filled with love. So, if I were to dream about a black cat, I would not think of bad luck at all. I would think of Cub. For me, dreaming of Cub would mean that a sweet source of love, gentleness and intelligence was coming.
DAVE: I dreamed about everything about being in court, from being found innocent, to found guilty, to arguing with the judge, to witnesses giving testimony at the trial, and how I was questioning witnesses as if I were the attorney. There for a while I thought I was losing my mind and grip on reality as to what was fact or fiction because of my dreams.
ELAINE: You might find yourself dreaming about the trial a lot, as Dave did, so any one
dream is not particularly significant. You are on an emotional roller coaster, and your dreams will also be up and down. If it were I, I would interpret any one dream in which things did not go well, as a “fear meet” dream, (Fear, meet Elaine…Elaine, meet fear!)
“Fear meet” dreams:
A fear meet dream occurs when you have some kind of fear. Since everybody has some fears, sometimes, everybody will have a fear meet dream, occasionally.
You may or may not know about this fear. Fears are not reality, and the only subconscious purpose of a “fear meet” dream is to inform you that you have a fear about the topic of the dream. Therefore, you can breathe a sigh of relief when you wake up and realize that a bad dream or nightmare was nothing but a “fear meet” dream. It has little or no significance in reality.
However, you can use a fear meet dream constructively.
For instance, if I were convicted in a dream, I might want to be sure that my current defense strategy is adequate. Maybe I need to keep on working on it. Or, I might intuit that my defense strategy is adequate, but I need to go over it, in order to know that all the way through. Knowing it all the way through helps dissipate fears.
However, if I had a dream of being convicted the night before the trial or during the trial, I would interpret it as nothing but the fear, itself. I would utterly dismiss it, in that case. Never let your subconscious mind make you use negative thinking through dreams. Never give in to fear because of a fear meet dream. Stay positive.
Suppose I felt confused and/or lost in a dream. For instance, I couldn’t find the courthouse, or I didn’t remember my defense, or I was mixed up about what happens in a trial. (Something like that.) I would take it to mean that I still do not feel confident or sure of my defense strategy, how to use my attorney, which witnesses to subpoena, or about court procedures, etc.
You might even be confused about something else in a dream that doesn’t seem to have anything to do with your case. If you cannot figure it out by direct intuition, use word association. You might find that there is a valuable hidden message in it that will help you with your case.
Suppose you dreamed of being naked in the courtroom. That would probably mean that you felt exposed, because things about your body that are usually very personal are going to be revealed. You might have a visible scar or tattoo in your genital region, for example. That’s a good thing, if the juvenile accuser does not know it. She will not be able to describe what your genitals look like. However, it can feel weird to know that such private items will be revealed in court, and you might dream about being naked as a result.
I would NEVER take a dream in which I was convicted to mean that I would actually be convicted. That is a fear meet type dream. I don’t ever believe in giving power to fears, and there are other interpretations of a dream like that, too. Fear meet dreams are common. That is because fear plays such a big role in our lives, but you can’t give in to fear. Nevertheless, fear causes a LOT of negative dreams.
I believe that no one else can interpret your dreams completely. Even though someone else might recognize that a particular dream was nothing but a fear meet dream, that person cannot analyze your dream in detail. You have your own symbolism. You have to learn to analyze your own dreams, yourself.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Background Information
Bob and Elaine Lehman
Educators, co-authors, co-publishers, co-hosts of radio show, activists
Elaine Lehman is a former teacher from Baltimore, Maryland, with nearly 20 years of teaching experience with all ages, including adults. Bob is a former rocket engine engineer, who worked for 21 years on the Delta Satellite Program at Cape Canaveral before he and Elaine started their two schools for antisocial teens, in 1977. After the schools closed in 1983, Bob became an airplane mechanic.
1977–1983, Elaine and her husband, Bob Lehman, co-founded and directed two schools for antisocial teens. Elaine and Bob developed their own successful courses of study.
The Lehman’s two schools ended up with a documented 100% success rate of the graduates for the five years of the follow-up study, and an 80% success rate of those who did not complete the program.
1989 -1992, “BUST, Break Up System’s Troubles,” Bob and Elaine Lehman co-founded a state-wide organization in Oregon, aimed at getting the broad, vague child abuse laws changed to clear, specific laws. BUST also exposed the many dreadful problems of the child service division. “BUST, Break Up System’s Troubles,†ended up with 500 members, state-wide. As a result of BUST, the Oregon state legislature had a $200,000 study done by a nonprofit, independent study group that studies state agencies under fire. The study group did an in-depth investigation into every county Child Service Division agency. They spoke with countless parents, grandparents and others. In July, 1992, the study group submitted a scathing report to the state legislature that said all of the same things the Lehmans had said. The legislature changed some of the laws, but not the right ones, due to federal funding problems, if they did.
1997, Bob and Elaine co-founded a similar national organization, “SOC, Save Our Children,†which quickly led to their radio show.
1997 - 1999, Bob and Elaine co-hosted their own radio show, “The Save Our Children Show,†which was simulcast on two 50,000 watt stations in Providence, RI, and Phoenix, AZ. The show was all about antisocial children and teens and false allegations of child sex abuse.
1999, Bob and Elaine Lehman were professional “expert†guests on two national TV talk shows, “The LEEZA Show†and “The QUEEN LATIFAH Show.†Both shows were about discipline and antisocial children. Elaine has also appeared on several radio shows and TV shows, and she and Bob have given lectures to community groups.
1995 - 1996 - The couple co-authored a published book, Petey, the Peacock Breaks a Leg, Winston-Derek Pub. Co., Nashville, TN, 1995. Petey is a true children’s book about peacocks.
1978 – Present - The couple co-published a newsprint periodical in Oregon, and several international newsletters. These publications were all about antisocial juveniles and false allegations of child abuse. (See “Newsletters†on our website.)
2001 – 2007, Bob Lehman’s son, Craig Lehman, created and maintained a website for the Lehmans, called http://www.BEANSWERS.com. It is not currently in use.
2004 - Present: Elaine Lehman co-founded and directs the “FAST, False Allegations Solutions Team,†an international, educational, volunteer, email support group for people who have been falsely accused of child sex abuse.
2007, Allen Cowling, a national-level defense strategist for false allegations of child sex abuse cases, kindly designed a new website for FAST: http://www.false-allegations-team.com
(Allen Cowling is Elaine Lehman’s mentor about false allegations of child sex abuse cases.)
Comment by Elaine Lehman — June 6, 2008 @ 8:37 am
My friend Mike Hanson won an award several years ago for this video. He shows CPS stealing a 2 day old child from a mother while they are still in the hospital. The parents had their other two children taken before and they jumped through all the hoops that CPS required and CPS still took the third child. Here is the video.
http://www.youtube.com/user/MikeHansonArchives
Comment by Nate Thomas — June 12, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
My name is Jaundene Nicholas. I am speaking on behalf of my husband,
Moses Nicholas and our four children, Jeremiah age 4; Moses, Jr age 3;
Elicia age 2; and Teaundra age 1. They were taken away from us by force
on May 24, 2008 by TPD and CPS. Since that date, my children have been
abused at the hands of the people that are suppose to be caring for
them. I have photos that show marks and bruises that aren’t from
playing outside. The foster mothers in charge of our children were
never giving the authority by us as parents to put a hand on any of our
babies. They don\’t want to be where they are because they don\’t feel
safe and secure the way the Child Protective Services has made it seem.
CPS has told us that our children don\’t ask for us; if that is true
then why is it that when we see our children they grab a tight hold to
us when they see the people that they are to leave with. My children
have never been separated since birth, but now they reside in two
different locations. The happiness in their eyes fade when then have to
leave to go to these places and they scream, \”No! NO! Hit! Hit! I
don\’t want to go. I want to go with you. No, No!\” They fight and cry
and reach for us, but there is no way to get to us. I heard the
visitation worker tell the mothers not to hit them anymore because we
are taking pictures, which only means to me that the next time it may be
there head under water, or knocking them upside the head as not to leave
marks, but my babies are very smart and tell us EVERYTHING. My oldest
son, Jeremiah, said to me \”HER hit my head mommy, and it hurts!\”, and
the reason I knew he spoke of the foster mother was because when he saw
her, he grabbed my hand tighter and said, \”No mommy I don\’t want to
go, HER hurt me!\”
If there is any way to help me get my children back in the safeness of
their father and I or even to make this public notice that we are
fighting for the safety and wellbeing of our beautiful children, please
help. I can be reached @ (520) 668-2609 and my husband can be reached @
(520) 668-2645. We urge you to help us before anything worse happens to
them and cannot be reversed. The time is now and we are going to use
every resource possible to get our babies out of the hands of money
hungry people who only look at our children as dollars and not as
people.
We were on our way back to the state of New York where we all are
originally from.
Since these false allegations have been made and my children are in the custody of CPS, they haven’t been the same. They are unhappy, when before they were always smiling and happy to be with us. Their smiles fade and start to cry and scream when they see that they cannot be with us, their birth parents and protectors. Our love for them has no bounds and we will find someone that can help this situation be rectified. We will not stop fighting until the liars that got our children put away are put to justice. There has been an admittance of false allegations and because of these allegations, our babies are in the hands of ruthless people with no regard for our children’s wellbeing, only the profit they are making. My children are not getting the nourishment that they need and are being slapped, scratched and bruised by people that do not have the authority or permission to do so.
My prayer is that my children do not die at the hands of these ruthless people who don’t care about them. We as parents will continue to fight until the battle is WON. These children mean the world to us and we need all the help we can get to have our babies return to our care where they will be SAFE.
Our reasoning for seeking help outside of CPS is because they haven’t been doing their jobs. We know that this is happening to our children because we have pictures to prove it. Our children are being abused by these “child care representatives.” We want justice for our children, for they are our first priority. We are fighting tooth and nail, and until our last breath, we will see justice served for our babies.
Please help us!
–
Jaundene Nicholas
Comment by jaundene — June 13, 2008 @ 9:05 am
We need to form a coalition against this communist organization. It destoys children, families, lives in general. The evil this organization does by far outways any good it does. If there is anyone that has any legal ideas how to destroy this organization please submit your ideas and lets all band together to stop this.
Comment by Charles Dupre — June 13, 2008 @ 9:35 am
Wow! I just stumbled onto this website and I am happy I did. I have a story very similar to so many of the others on here, and it would be far to long and painful to print it here. But I would like to say God bless all of you, and you are not alone. My experience almost destroyed me as a man, and a father, it drove me to the point of suicide. I was ready to give up on God, love, and life. If not for my family and the love of a woman who helped me back out of my shell, and blessed me with a son who I love so much, I wouldn’t be here now.
As I have come to believe, social workers are scientific proof that scum rises to the top. Now some may call me radical and or militant and thats fine. But I’ve been through their Hell and I survived and I will never go through it again. We have all seen how their system works, it doesn’t. I will NEVER allow my son to be taken from me by the likes of those POS. I will meet any attempt with what ever force I find necessary.
When the rules and institutions that are supposed to protect us from tyranny are in fact supporting the tyrants, then we the people must act on our God given rights and duty to destroy it. Especially when their targets are OUR children.
Best wishes to all, and remember the nine scariest words in the english language are, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”
Comment by Kurt V. — June 16, 2008 @ 8:51 am
I’ve been sitting here reading the posted comments for the past hour, they bring up many painful and very bitter memories. It would seem the behavior of Social Services, or as I like to call them the SS, is pretty consistent nationwide. All very Stalinist.
Many of you have written about suing the bastards, good idea, but HOW? I live in MN. and here they are protected from prosecution by the legislature. The huge load of BS were supposed to swallow is that ” in their jobs they must be given the freedom of action to protect the children. And even if their actions are proven to be wrong or based on falsehoods they are immune from prosecution in that they were only acting in the best interest of the child.” Makes me want to puke.
Social work is the easiest damm degree one can get from a post secondary school. Very little is based on any real science or proven facts, most of the crap they call social science was started in the 60’s under the Johnson administration and their failed “Great Society” programs. The same program which gave this nation all the failed welfare programs and started the destruction of the American family as we once knew it. The idea that the government can raise families, and that fathers are not important in families except as a source of $ was a large part of idea behind this. As should have been expected the radical feminists (feminazis) hooked their wagon onto this failed idea, and have ever since been trying to get people to believe that their “only purpose was to ensure womens rights”. More BS.
Since the 60’s the SS like all government programs has continued to grow, (despite any results) and has become the out of control evil we have today.
In fairness not all the blame can land on the SS. Far to many slithering lawyers have also hooked their financial fortunes onto the great American family wrecking machine, ie. the family court system. Which is why so many of you in your comments express surprise and anger at “why your attorney didn’t do more to help you or told you not to file certain motions”.
It’s all a scam folks, here in MN every time someone in the legislature has the courage to propose any legislation that will truly change how the family court operates the trial lawyers, SS members, feminazis, and judges all come out in droves to prevent any change from happening. They of course have all the willing help they need from the members of the legislature ie. more lawyers who love the status quo. Hey folks there’s money in our misery, especially if the state can sell our kids to the highest bidder.
An example of these practices was played out here in my home county. I live in Cottonwood County which is in the SW corner of MN we are a rural county with a total county population of about 12,000 people. Yet for 4 years in a row this county had the highest rate of prosecuted child abuse in the entire state of MN.. As well as a 8 times higher rate of out of home placement for kids than any other county. Why- because we were blessed with career building zealot named Victor Vieth who was asst. county attorney during his reign of terror. Mr. Vieth could find a child abuser in everyones home, well except his of course and his willing goon squad from the SS. Vieth would have his goons go to every public school in the county and have them hand out papers to the kids as they left school telling the kids to call this number if their parents spank them. Business was good. Their first victims were single parents, families who were divorcing, and families who didn’t have financial means to fight. But when the easy prey dried up. Anyone was fair game. I know a lady who’s only escape from being drug through their hell was her husbands profession. He is a minister. She was in a local store and her then 4yo grand child was having a tantrum, so the child was given a swat this act was witnessed by one of the SS goons who immediately called for back up. The only thing that kept her from being one the Vickies victoms was the fact she was married to a clergy member. It would appear that the state loses it’s nerve when faced with a higher authority than themselves.
This was actually a blessing because some people started to see what the hell was going on and didn’t like it. The county commissioners started getting calls for Vickies head and Vickie started getting calls threatening his head.
The commissioners to save their asses decided Vickie needed to go. So they propped him up as some hero for children and sent him on his way leaving a trail of destroyed lives behind him. I believe now he is employed by Winona State University in Winona MN. helping to train new little zealots like himself. So if you live in Winona and happen to run into him, ( i’d use a large truck) beware, and keep your children close.
Despite Mr. Vieths and his goons best efforts he never got above a 35% conviction rate of any of the hundreds of people the little prick drug through the mud. Many many innocent people were hurt.
In closing, and yes I know I’ve went on to long, but it does feel good to vent. I would love to see someone find a way to bring this evil system crashing down, I just don’t know if it can be done within the court as it operates now. I’ve talked with many others who feel that with the SS’s unholy protection we have to look for other ways to crack their armor. I’d love to find a peaceful way to destroy them and make them pay for what they have done. But sometimes the best way to crack someones armor is with a well placed Louisville Slugger.
Comment by Kurt V. — June 17, 2008 @ 10:20 am
The social workers wanted family therapy with more social workers and anger management with more social workers and the doctor wanted a full medical and psych work up with DOCTORS.
Who is correct? How hard is it to see who is correct?
Comment by Maggie — June 23, 2008 @ 9:23 pm
HELP!! having trouble with my account!!
Comment by AmyG — June 24, 2008 @ 4:56 pm
Registered.. But can’t log on!!
Comment by AmyG — June 24, 2008 @ 4:56 pm
Hi.. I’m not new to the sytem unfortunately.. On March 9, 2007 I gave birth to my son.. Because I was newly sober and already in the system for my then 4 year old daughter, I was instructed to wave my rights to him.. They told me that I HAD to do this in order for the father’s family to gain custody.. It has been a very long year..
I’m going to let Bruce’s great aunt explain:
TIME LINE FOR
Baby Bruce Allan Mims III to be placed in Idaho
With his Aunt Mona
September 03, 2007
Marty calls Michele and I to let us know the out come of Michael after surgery. The cancer is back and with a vengeance. Most was inoperable and will be treated with radiation. Michael will require 24 hour care for the remainder of his life. Marty will not be able to complete the adoption process. She tells Michele to move to plan B; Mona to adopt baby Bruce. Marty and I talk in great length about Michael and what we can expect. Michele told Marty she would call me in the morning to discuss me adopting Baby Bruce.
September 4th, 2007
Michele calls to ask if I am still willing to adopt Baby Bruce in light of the situation with Marty and Michael. I told her yes. FAMILY COMES FIRST. She will call DCS tomorrow morning and let them know.
September 07, 2007
DCS from California contacted me on September 7th and asked if I would be willing to adopt my infant nephew who is 6months old. My sister Marty was unable to complete the program because of her husband’s cancer coming back in the brain. I immediately started the program for Kinship Adoption/ Foster Parent plan. I went to DCS in Twin Falls and personally picked up the packet to be filled out. I turned it back in within 2 days and was scheduled for finger printing October 18th.
Oct 11th
I was able to start my foster classes beginning Oct 11th; this was the earliest class available. The classes ran from October 11th – November 20th every Tuesday and Thursday night from 6pm- 9pm in Burley, a 2 hour drive from my home. I’m unable to visit Baby Bruce until background checks were complete and classes were almost finished per DCS in California.
Oct. 15th
I hired a carpenter to come into my home to convert my office into a nursery and my hall closet into my office area. This cost me approximately $1000.00
Oct 24th
First home study from 8am-1pm by Mrs. Leavitte
November 5th
Second Home study from 8am-1pm by Mrs. Leavitte
On November 6th Mrs. Leavitte informed me she was still missing documentation to complete my packet from friends that were writing about my abilities as a parent, friend or co-worker. I ran all over gathering these statements up or making phone calls to have them faxed in. As it turned out, once we turned every thing in Mrs. Leavitte received the originals a few days later in the mail. My background check was complete and at this time a visit could be made for me to spend time with Baby Bruce.
13 Nov 2007 Delta Flight 3695 from Sun Valley, ID to Salt Lake City, UT (L)
13 Nov 2007 Delta Flight 4055 from Salt Lake City, UT to San Jose, CA (L)
15 Nov 2007 Delta Flight 3912 from San Jose, CA to Salt Lake City, UT (L)
15 Nov 2007 Delta Flight 3682 from Salt Lake City, UT to Sun Valley, ID (L)
November 14th. This is my first visit with Baby Bruce. He is now 8 months old; I had requested to meet both sets of foster families because I wished to thank them for taking good care of Baby Bruce for the family. I was told they did not wish to meet me. My visit with Baby Bruce went well. Malaika and Celeste supervised the visit. Baby Bruce seemed at ease with me. He was even able to fall asleep in my arms during the visit. He never fussed at any time during my 4 hour visit. When it was time for me to leave I felt a part of me stay with him. I promised him that soon he will come home to stay and that I (mommy) loved him very much. I stayed with my girlfriend Tracy and her family.
November 19th Final home study was completed by Mrs. Leavitte she felt everything was in place and ready for Baby Bruce to come home. I had attended every class including the extra 3 hour one required for Kinship adoptions. His room is painted, decorated and fully equipped with every thing Baby Bruce could possibly need including his own carbon / smoke detector, 3 car seats, toys, blankets, musical crib toys and lots of clothes ranging from 9 months to 24 months. I was told hopefully he could be here for his first Thanksgiving.
November 20th My final Foster Parent class and my daughters 18th birthday. It was a tough choice for me. Was I to attend class or dinner with Becca? Becca insisted I go to class. Baby Bruce was very important to our family. We did lunch instead of supper and went shopping afterwards.
November 21st I was told he wouldn’t be here for Thanksgiving, maybe Christmas.
I asked what the holdup was and they said Foster parents want to adopt. I didn’t know they were ever being considered.
November 28th, I had the finale meeting with Mrs. Leavitt at DCS. She covered all my paperwork and presented me with my license. We went over any further questions she had. She wished me luck and said once Baby Bruce was transferred to Idaho a new case worker would be assigned. I promised to keep in touch and I thanked her for helping me get through the process. I learned a lot and feel the pride course is very important and should be continued. It opened my eyes to a large need in our community for foster parents.
December 9th. This was my second visit with Baby Bruce he is now 9 months old. Because I was approved for placement before this visit the foster parents wanted to meet me. This is when they informed me that they would prefer if I would refer to him as
Dec. 9th cont:
Casey. They do not call him Bruce, and they too wished to adopt him and felt they were better suited. They couldn’t have kids and this was there chance to be his parents. I chose to not comment only to acknowledge their losses. I disagreed with the name change and voiced this to both case workers Celeste and Malaika. He was named after his father, grandfather and great grand father. Ken and Meg stayed for the first 2 hours it was during this time I found out that DCS gave them permission to travel to Ohio without anyone from our family’s permission. I was relieved when they left the room upon my request so that I could have the remaining time alone with my little boy. Baby Bruce never cried when they left. He glanced at them and than continued to play with me on the floor for about another hour. Baby Bruce fell asleep once again in my arms. I so enjoy rocking him to sleep. He is such a snuggle bunny. Celeste was present for this visit. I asked if a visit could be done in Idaho so that he could meet his family and was told NO. I didn’t argue this even though I knew another family in Idaho going through this process: was granted visits from California to Idaho.
December 10th
TDM hearing is today. Baby Bruce was there and went freely into my arms from the foster fathers arms. My Nephew Bruce’s father and his mother were not allowed to attend this TDM meeting per Malika and Cleo. It was agreed that Baby Bruce should be placed with his biological family in Idaho on December 28th. I left relieved and was taken to the airport by Malika and Celeste. I couldn’t wait to call the family and let them know Baby Bruce would be home just after Christmas. We were disappointed that his first Christmas would not be spent with us, however knowing he would be home for New Years was better than missing all of his firsts. We are to begin the transitioning period that was laid out in the meeting. 2 overnight stays in California and than foster parents are to bring him to Idaho to stay permanently on December 28th 2007 they have agreed to this.
December 14th
Malika called to let me know that the foster parents filed a grievance against the TDM meeting and that I would not be getting Baby Bruce on the 28th. I was devastated. I was under the impression the judge had signed the court order for his removal. I asked Malaika how that would be affected and she said it just will be placed on hold by the department pending the out come of the grievance hearing. I asked how long before he will come home. She said she had NO idea; she had never been through a grievance and didn’t know how it would work. She stated “Don’t worry it’s only a formality†“He will be home with you in no timeâ€. DCS is behind family reunification first and foremost and I have been selected for him to go to permanently.†The court order would remain in effect and once the hearing was over he will be moved to you. The hearing was scheduled for December 31st.
Malika and I than discussed my upcoming visit with Baby Bruce. She informed me that Ken and Meg felt it was best that they pick me up and take me to their home to go over Bruce’s daily routine. She felt this would take about 1-2 hours. The foster parents were to take Bruce and I back to my hotel for my over night visit. She gave me phone numbers in case I need to call. Malika asked me to call Ken and Meg to work out the arrangements.
Dec. 14th cont:
When I called Ken informed me that I would be spending the day with them in their home and that depending on whether or not they felt I should have Baby Bruce over night would all depend on how our visit went. I let Ken know what Malika had said he disagreed. I ended the conversation and called Malika back, she in turn worked out the details and called me back. I agreed to do as she had previously stated.
December16th _ 17th
This was my third visit with Baby Bruce and my first over night stay. I was asked to go to the foster family’s home and visit for the first hour. Ken was to pick me up around 9:30 in the morning. This was while Baby Bruce was asleep they could go over his daily schedule. Ken was approximately 45 minutes late picking me up. I called Meg and she stated he was running late leaving their house. Once he arrived to pick me up he needed to stop by the store for items they had forgotten to pickup to cover Baby Bruce’s visit with me. I was told Malika would be joining us, she never showed up. We visited and they went over his schedule with me on what he does at what time from eating to playing and his sleep times. They spent the first 45 minutes discussing his schedule which was all written down for me. They spent the next hour going over why they wanted to adopt baby Bruce. This included showing me around their home and seeing the pictures of the children they had lost. They told me about their family and the trip to Ohio. Baby Bruce woke from his morning nap; they changed him, fed him. I noticed while Ken fed
Baby Bruce it was beginner baby food. Meg prepared his bottle and fed it to him once Ken was done. Baby Bruce doesn’t hold his bottle; the foster parents do it all for him.
I ended up spending about 3 ½ hours at their home before they returned us to the hotel.
Santa Clause was at the hotel and I wanted pictures of baby Bruce with Santa. I also paid for a picture to be taken of Ken, Meg and baby Bruce to have in his baby book. Ken and Meg inspected my room before leaving this was around 3pm. Baby Bruce was ready for his nap. I again rocked him to sleep and held him for just a few minutes before placing him in his crib. Once he awoke we just hung out at the Mansion. It was rainy and cold out for most of my visit. It was extremely hard to say good bye. Ken and Meg were approximately 45 minutes early to pick Baby Bruce up from my visit. The foster mom would not allow me to sit in the back seat on the way to the airport with Baby Bruce. She stated she missed him and needed to be with him. I wanted to give Baby Bruce a kiss goodbye but was told they needed to run I wasn’t allowed. They left me standing at the curb as they drove away tears were streaming down my face.
December 20th Celeste called to go over arrangements for second visit. I had previously tried to work it out with Ken and Meg to no avail. I requested Celeste be at the next visit for Ken and Meg were being extremely condescending towards me. They were showing open hostility towards my visits. Celeste agreed to pick me up at the hotel and be with me. I expressed my concerns to Celeste about Ken and Meg’s attachment to Bruce and whether or not they understood they were a temporary placement of Baby Bruce. Celeste assured me they knew that family was the goal for Baby Bruce. They were told this from the beginning.
December 23rd - December 24th
This is my fourth visit. Celeste and I spent approximately 1 hour at their home. During this time Celeste expressed to all of us the importance of our meetings and how this is what was in best interest of Baby Bruce. This transitional period is to prepare him to move to Idaho with his family. Upon leaving I left a letter for Ken and Meg because it was obvious they were having difficulties with understanding how important Baby Bruce is to our family. I had hoped to ease their pain since the previous ruling was that he was to be coming to Idaho on the 28th. I wanted them to know that we loved him and we truly are what’s in his best interest. I had received Celeste permission to give them the letter.
Celeste dropped Bruce and I off at Christmas in the park. She picked us back up after 2 hours and returned us to our hotel room. My visit with him was to short. It is getting harder to leave my little guy. He is changing so quickly. Starting to crawl and make little noises and looks for your approval for a job well done. He loves to be told “You’re a Good Boyâ€. This makes his whole face light up. He is now almost 9 months old. I’ve noticed a few concerns regarding his muscles in his legs. I spoke to Celeste about this and to my case worker in Idaho. I was told to continue monitoring him. If necessary, physical therapy can be considered if it doesn’t improve.
Baby Bruce is nine months old, I’m wondering why Ken and Meg still have him on stage 0 baby food. He has several teeth and I feel he should be on stage 2. I will continue to stick to their feeding schedule but will mention this concern to Celeste.
Dec.30th- January 1st. This is my fifth visit. Ken and Meg brought baby Bruce to the hotel. I had Baby Bruce for two nights. Again stage O baby food is packed, no solids or stage 2 baby food. The weather was rather rainy and cold and I was informed he had the sniffles and was getting over a cold. I chose to keep him inside for this visit. We just hung out in the hotel room and played. I did take him out in his stroller for a walk around the grounds at the hotel once the weather had cleared up. He enjoyed the birds and the fish in the pond. Baby Bruce didn’t have enough food packed in his bags for the two day stay. I contacted my niece. She came by the hotel front desk picked up envelope with money and list. She purchased additional items from the store that I needed for her nephews weekend with me. She than returned the items to the front desk. This visit was even harder to leave because we had a second grievance hearing during the middle of my visit. We were promised on December 31st that we would be granted a decision in 1 week. I was promised by Celeste and Malika that not to worry, DCS is on my side and he would be home soon continue to be patient and understanding.
January 4th
I called and asked for Cleo. I was told she no longer worked for DCS. I asked why they stated she retired. They gave me Mark A Lapiz to speak to. I received his voice mail. I let him know who I was and what I was calling about. I left a message on Celeste and Malika’s phones as well asking if they had heard anything from Will Lightbourne. I was hoping an answer was available I received no return call.
January 5th
I called Malika because I woke up sick. I had just returned from the doctors and my cold had turned into Bronchial Pneumonia and I wasn’t going to be able to keep my visit with Baby Bruce. It was scheduled for January 6th-7th. I asked her again if she had heard anything from Will. Once again I was reminded about there audit in the offices and that they would promise to call me if and when they received the news.
January 8th-12th I called DCS every day. Wanting to know if there was a decision
Each time I called I was told they hadn’t heard a word. They told me they too are anxious for an answer. I repeatedly asked if Will was on vacation or otherwise detained. They said NO he is just a busy man. They also stated they were under a heavy audit and that at this time it was not the priority. The audit came first. They would call me if and when a decision was made. No contact from them until the 12th and that was to let me know about my visit arrangements only. Again I asked and they said no News. By now 2 weeks have gone by no phone calls from DCS, no decisions made.
January 13th -14th
This is my 6th visit. Baby Bruce is now 10 months old. I met Malaika in the hallway and Baby Bruce started kicking his feet and getting all excited to see me. He remembered even after not being able to see me last week. I was speaking to him while Malaika was carrying him in his car seat. The foster family had cut his hair. I was upset about it at first because I would have liked to been there for his first hair cut. I wanted pictures and a lock of hair for his baby book. They did neither of these things. This was a tradition we did with both of our children and I wanted it to continue for little Bruce. We had another great visit. Nothing exciting just my little guy and I hanging out and playing. Again stage O baby food is packed, no solids or stage 2 baby food. Ken and Meg have refused contact with me since my letter. I would like to ask why he is still on stage 0 baby food. I will mention this to Malika again when she picks us up.
Malaika picked us up the next day and dropped me off at the airport. I asked her if there was any news yet. I was told NO. Just please be patient. I don’t know why you are worried. He will be home with you soon. We are behind you 100 %. I mentioned to Malika again about my concerns regarding the baby food and his leg muscles. She said she would note it and check with Ken and Meg. I gave Baby Bruce a kiss goodbye and told him Mommy would see him again really soon and hopefully I would be able to bring him home.
January 15th – 18th.
I again called every day leaving messages to no avail. 3 weeks have now passed by and we have heard nothing. Will Lightbourne has just ignored all the calls Mark has made or I have been lied to repeatedly by Mark, Malaika and Celeste regarding their daily calls to his voice mail. I’m beginning to feel frustrated with DCS’s lack of compassion for not just me, but for Baby Bruce as well. He is getting older every day and he needs to come home.
January 20-21st
Visit cancelled. Malika failed to make hotel reservations and they were all booked up. I thought I had also reserved a room and was told no. I was not allowed to stay with Baby Bruce anywhere but at a hotel. Not even at my girlfriends in San Jose. There was a large convention going on and all hotels were booked solid except for those costing upwards of $300.00-500.00 per night.
January 29th – January 30th
This is my seventh visit with Baby Bruce he is now 10 ½ months old. Celeste brought him to my hotel. I asked Celeste if we had any news yet; I received the same non committal answer as always NO not yet. Mark can’t seem to get Will to return his calls. I than directed all my attention to little Bruce. He seemed excited to see me again. At first he looked at me and than when I spoke to him he began to kick his little feet and smile from ear to ear. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He really changed in just two weeks time. Missing the one visit was a huge difference. He is now pulling himself up and truly crawling on his hands and knee’s. He is such a great little guy; always happy and full of smiles. He is starting to say dada and momma. I would like to think he is referring to me when he say’s momma. But sometimes it’s a toy or even the waitress. Sometimes he looks at me and say’s momma. I smile and say yes I’m your momma pumpkin or little man and he just smiles or giggles. He picks up the bear my daughter bought him and says dada. I say no Becca. I look forward to our quiet time. This is when I get to rock him to sleep and sing him lullabies. He always looks into my eyes and smiles at me just before drifting off to sleep. He lets out a little sigh and this is when I now it’s time to place him in his crib. He is such an easy baby to get to sleep.
It was at this visit while Baby Bruce was napping I called Senator Corbett’s office and spoke to Darby about my situation. I was completely frustrated with DCS’s lack of compassion towards Baby Bruce and myself. I felt we deserved better than we were getting from Mr. Lightbourne, Mark and Malaika. I told them what has happened and how they continue to stall with answers. They made several phone calls on our behalf. They called me back and assured me that I should be getting answers soon. They rattled some chains and hoped the ball was bouncing again. I was to call them back next week.
February 1st
Malika called me to say that Will Lightbourne had finally called back and wished to have a third hearing. When I asked why it took him so long to call back she had no answers. He supposedly needed more information to make his decision. The hearing is set for Feb 6th was it a coincident that he would do this soon after getting a call from the Senator? Probably!
February 6th – 7th
8th visit
Today is the 3rd grievance hearing with all parties. I’m waiting in the lobby for every one to show up. I see Mr. Lightbourne walking towards the building with both foster moms and current foster dad plus their attorney. They are carrying on a conversation upon entering the building they see me and stop the conversation. Mr. Lightbourne excuses himself to go set up our meeting room. Celeste and Mark arrive about 10 minutes later.
Feb. 6th and 7th cont:
Malaika was not present. She was called away for Jury Duty again my nephew and sister were not allowed to attend because DCS said NO.
Will expressed that he had new information brought to his attention and felt it needed addressed. Will asked the foster parents to enlighten all of us. This time the foster parent’s add a new element. Baby Bruce is having difficulty sleeping. He has nightmares and needs a night light. This is new information; never shared with any of us before now. I have spent several nights with him in the hotel and never had any problems what so ever. I couldn’t believe what Ken or Meg where saying. I truly felt they looked all the information up on the internet and than tried to convince us it was so. They never looked any of us in the eye only looked at each other or down at their hands or notes. I tried to make eye contact to no avail. I felt that it was just another attempt to keep my nephew from me.
The meeting was adjourned and Mr. Lightbourne promised a decision by Friday the 9th. I felt he had spoken to Meg and Ken in great length regarding this issue and was already biased because of their comments. I asked if it was going to be like last time and take another 4 weeks, he stated no. He had to have answers on his boss’s desk by 5 pm and it was now 3 pm. I explained to him that we needed this resolved because Baby Bruce needed to be home with his permanent family. I new all this waiting has been hard on all of us including Ken and Meg, but most of all it was hard for baby Bruce not to be settled. He deserved to be home with his biological family and the wishes of his parents needed to be heard as well. He thanked me for my concern and dismissed the meeting. He treated me as if he could have cared less about my opinion.
Celeste and I went over to the DCS office picked up baby Bruce for my 8th visit. She returned us to my hotel. Once again I unpack Baby Bruce’s bag to find he is still on stage 0 baby food. He now has several teeth. Ken and Meg have included the normal list of when, what and where’s for Baby Bruce. I follow the list to a T. He seems to do well with the strict schedule they have him on.
Bruce and I played. I purchased him a musical book. He likes playing with it and sliding the cow up and down. He pinched his finger between the pages and began to cry. I came to his rescue and all is well. Other than this it was the only time he has ever cried with me. It was for less than a minute and he had forgotten all about. Its nap time, I have so missed being able to rock him to sleep. He snuggles down and I begin to sing. He smiled up at me like always and fell asleep. I wish I could just snuggle with him for a little while longer but I know from experience kids sleep better where they can stretch out. He lets out his deep sigh and I place him in the crib. His naps generally last about 2 -2 ½ hours. My visit once again is over too soon. I’m watching him sleep and know that
Celeste will be here in 6 hours to take him away. This makes me want to stop time and
just enjoy him sleeping peacefully.
Celeste is due to pick up baby Bruce anytime. I have made a list of questions I wish to ask her about. First and foremost will be regarding the baby food issues, than about Will Lightbourne and has there been a decision yet. I asked her if they had heard anything and she said no. She reminded me once again that DCS was on my side and to please not worry. This time next week he will be home with me. She said she would talk with Ken and Meg in light of what was stated at the hearing referring to the nightmares and food issues or regression..
February 9th
Celeste called at 1pm to inform me the DCS decision was to leave Baby Bruce with the foster parents. I began crying and asked Why!! She said I would get a letter in the mail explaining the decision. She was very sorry and upset by the decision. He should have been given to you. She explained my options to fight the decision through the courts and explained that DCS could no longer allow me visits. I told her that I was not going to take this lying down. Tell them this is far from over and that I was going to fight with every breath in my body to get him home with me where he should have been months ago. I believe the decision was made because Will was upset with me for going to Senator Corbett’s office requesting help in this matter. I feel he was brought out into the light and it didn’t look good for what he was putting us through. The fact that he ignored us for one whole month without so much as returning one person’s phone calls.
I than wrote a letter to Malaika expressing my feelings in great detail regarding the decision. I was so upset I couldn’t finish work and had to be taken to a friends home close by. I spent the afternoon making calls to Governor’s, Senators, Newspapers, Media and the likes. I tried Marks office at 4 pm and asked if he could please give me a reason why. He said he couldn’t but would fax me a copy of the determination letter. It states the only reason for him not being placed with me is because of his length of stay with the Jones. 5 months verses 2 ½ months had he been placed with me when originally court ordered.(December 28th )
Our family is devastated. I wrote a letter that was sent every where for people to please help us. I have given those to Bruce’s attorney for the courts to read as well as other correspondence to Malaika through out this entire process over the past four months of his life. And now here we are still trying to get Baby Bruce home with his biological family where he should have been since I was licensed on November 20, 2007. At this time Baby Bruce would have been with the Jones only 2 ¾ months.
February 12th – 14th
I was notified of hearing to strip my nephew of parental rights and asked to please be present by Margaret Brancatelli. In light of DCS’s decision she felt she could still help us keep our baby nephew and get him placed in my home. I and a co-worker drove all night long to be at the court hearing. No decision was made. Hearing continued until March 3rd. At least I can see a possible good out come and the light is shining once more. The judge was positive and I believe she will do the right thing by our family. She was furious with DCS for defying her court order. Malaika was not present. She was ordered to appear from here out. (NO EXCEPTIONS) Explanation was to be given at next hearing. Nothing came out. This is not the first court order Malaika has ignored. Michele was granted a court order granting her 2 visits per month with baby Bruce. Malaika has taken it upon herself to ignore this and only allow 1 visit per month to Baby Bruce’s grandma Michele. Michele has asked repeatedly for her 2 visits a month and been denied by Malaika. Malaika for the most part doesn’t even return Michele’s calls to schedule her visits.
This flight has never been reimbursed by DCS as of yet!
22 Feb 2008 Delta Flight 3733 from Twin Falls, ID to Salt Lake City, UT (H)
22 Feb 2008 Delta Flight 3998 from Salt Lake City, UT to San Jose, CA (Q)
23 Feb 2008 Delta Flight 3763 from San Jose, CA to Salt Lake City, UT (Q)
23 Feb 2008 Delta Flight 3663 from Salt Lake City, UT to Twin Falls, ID (H)
February 22nd -23rd
This is my ninth visit with Baby Bruce. Baby Bruce was excited to see me. Celeste brought him to the hotel and he was kicking his feet and smiling from ear to ear while I spoke to him in his car seat. He is starting to pull himself up on furniture around the room. He is crawling really well. He has stopped pulling with forearms and literally gets up on all fours and is crawling every where. He was pulling himself up too and office chair when it spun on him and he fell and bumped his forehead against desk in hotel room. It happened while I was unpacking his things. I quickly put ice on it and all was forgotten. I unpacked baby Bruce’s things and noticed once again they still have him on beginner baby food stage 0 and the bottle warmer is missing. I called Meg and she said she would bring it right over.
I had just placed baby Bruce in his crib so that I could use the restroom when Meg knocked on my door aprx. 10 minutes after we had hung up. Baby Bruce was jumping in his crib when I opened the door. Meg asked if she could say hello and I said sure. I went over and picked him up she gave him a hug and than I took him back. He kind of whimpered for just a second but once I told Meg thank you and she proceeded to leave he seemed fine.
We had another great overnight visit. I so look forward to holding him at nap times and bedtimes. He is getting bigger and loves crawling on the floor, so the best time to snuggle is nap time or bedtime. He loves to be held and sang to. He just smiles from ear to ear. I wish that we could just bring him home. Celeste is due to pick him up again, I must remember to show her is little bruise. I showed it to Celeste when she picked him up. She said bumps and bruises are expected at this age and to not worry about it. The ten days apart really shows how fast he is changing. I sure missed him. This visit like all the rest go bye to quickly. All I want to do is wrap my arms around Baby Bruce and leave. Never to look back at this state again. I love him so much. We are missing out on so many memories and pictures to add in his baby book. Hopefully soon we will be allowed to bring baby Bruce home. Court is coming up soon.
February 29th – March 03
This is my 10th visit with baby Bruce, I had requested a 3 day weekend from Malaika. This was denied. She would only give Baby Bruce to me from Feb 29th- March 2nd @ 8a.m. I was disappointed by her decision after all I was in California until March 3rd and DCS still owed me a visit from Feb. 12th. I didn’t get Baby Bruce until almost 2pm today. The foster parents had scheduled a dental appointment during my visitation time and I was not allowed to attend.
Feb 29th-March 3rd cont:
Malika arrived and I greeted Baby Bruce in his car seat. He seems happy and smiling from ear to ear. He is kicking his little feet. Malika helps get everything in the hotel room and than leaves. I noticed he is now on stage 2 baby foods and they have forgotten to pack his yogurts and his breakfast. I called Ken and Meg to see if they wanted me to just buy it for him or if they wanted to bring it buy. They choose to deliver it. I had them leave it at the front desk because we were fixing to go out.
I rented a car for this visit and took Baby Bruce to Sears and had his 1year old pictures taken with his cousin Eric. His Aunt Victoria was allowed to be with us and her son. I had requested family pictures to be taken. I was hoping to have daddy Bruce, Michele, Anthony, Victoria and both boys. This was denied by Malaika. She would only allow pictures with Baby Bruce and Little EJ with Victoria present only. We had a great day. Baby Bruce played with Eric at Sears and shared his toys without hesitations. Overall this visit was great. I noticed while shopping that baby Bruce seemed to shy away from men. He would openly flirt withy the ladies but men he would cower into my shoulder as if trying to get away. I will voice this to Malaika when I see her.
I purchased clothes and shoes for Baby Bruce today. The ones sent by the foster parents were obviously too small. His toes were being forced to curl in his shoes and his shirts were to snug a crossed the middle. I will send the clothes home with him, plus the 2 new pairs of shoes. I also purchased a really cute horse jumper for him to play in. He loves the bouncer at the DCS office and I noticed the foster parents didn’t have one for him. I also had previously spoken to our pediatrician in Idaho about my concerns for Baby Bruce’s under developed leg muscles. He recommended the bouncer. He stated it would help strengthen his legs. I have voiced my concerns for the lack of muscle strength he shows on several visits to both Malaika and Celeste.
I truly hope this nightmare with California and the Foster parents ends soon. Baby Bruce needs to come home where he can be with his true family. His biological family that adores him with all they have to give. I sit and rock him to sleep; I watch him sleep and know in just a few short hours I will have to let him go once again. This is tearing my heart apart.
March 6th Court / Visit Denied
Requested to see Baby Bruce for a couple hours after court and was denied by Malaika.
Her reason was she felt court was to stressful and not enough time to give foster parents notice.
March 13th – 15th VISIT DENIED
This is supposed to be my Eleventh visit. I had requested yet again to please have Baby Bruce for my entire stay. After court was out on the 13th my visit was to start. It was than I found out that the foster parents claimed Baby Bruce was sick and would not be available for my over night visit. He was running a fever. HELLO I have raised two great kids. I believe I could have taken great care of Baby Bruce in my Hotel room without complicating his fever or illness. I was finally notified by Mark at 2pm that I would not
March 13th – 15th cont:
be allowed the visit. I asked if we could at least go see him and I was told adamantly NO. Here I am in California, paying for a hotel and can’t even go see Baby Bruce, my soul purpose of being in this state. How truly frustrating this is. I call the airlines to go home early and no flight available, however for $50.00 they can get me on the 10:10 in the morning. I take the early leave. I’m disappointed in DCS, Ken and Meg and this entire situation, I believe Ken and Meg will do whatever it takes to keep me away from my nephew even if that means to defy the court order by using the “He’s sick†to their advantage.
March 15th -16th
I attempted to call the foster parents to check on baby Bruce. I wanted to know how he was feeling. No one answered their phones. On the second attempt I left a message voicing my concerns about his illness and just wanting to know if he was feeling better. I let them know that I was scheduled to visit again on the 18th and really missed him and asked that they please call me back and let me know how he was feeling. I received no reply.
March 18th – 19th VISIT DENIED
This was supposed to be my visit since the last one was denied. Again this one too was cancelled. Mark called at 9:45am on March 17th to let me know that the foster parents felt he was still too under the weather for me to see him. It has been 6 days if he is truly sick they should be taking him to see the doctor again. I miss him and want to at least see him. Maybe I will be able to next week?
March 18th – 19th 2008
Visit with Baby Bruce was denied. Foster parents stated he was still very ill. Mark called at 9:45 am on March 17th
March 20th
Emailed Malika to see about up coming visit? Gave her all future dates. Requested for DCS to pay hotel expenses since they were court ordered. Malika never called me or e-mailed me back.
March 21st
I attempted yet again to reach Malika, just reached her answering machine. I left a message; No reply. I looked on line with Delta to see if I had a flight for the 25-26. Saw that I did. I sent a copy of itinerary to Malika asking when Baby Bruce would be brought to Hotel and by whom. I received no reply. This is normal treatment from Malika.
March 24th
Left another message on Malika’s phone regarding my visit. Received no call back, I even emailed her, received nothing back.
March 25th – 26th
12th visit
I finally get to see baby Bruce for the first time since March 2nd.He appears to still have a slight stuffy nose and a cough. Malika meets me at the hotel immediately after arriving. He seems a little confused but brightens quickly when I say hey little pumpkin mommy missed you. I begin to tickle him gently as Malika is driving. We are unloading the car and I thank Malika for remembering his jumper I had purchased for his birthday. Malika informed me the Jones never took it home. She has had it in her office this whole time. I was shocked. This was some thing little Bruce needs to help build up his muscles and they disregarded it. Little Bruce loves playing in it and it is good for him. We unloaded every thing from Malika’s car into the hotel room. Malika left. While unpacking Baby Bruce’s things I found yet another note from the Jones regarding his eating schedule. I’m a little shocked at the small amount of food they have packed for him and how little he is being given for each meal. He has a cough that is full of phlegm. They are now giving him regular milk and cheese. No pedialite was provided. I sent my niece to the store once again. She purchased six 4 oz cans of pedialite. I felt this was better for him than the milk because of his cough. He plays and is very happy. The food they sent was stage 2 however he should be in the chunky baby food stage 4 by now. They sent crackers and cheerios but no sippy cup. They have four 6oz bottles of milk and some other foods. I have kept the food portions to show Mrs. Brancatelli. I asked Malika when she picked up Baby Bruce to please explain to Jones why he needs his jumper and to please request that they take it home for him. This visit once again was difficult for me to leave him. He is changing so fast and beginning to attempt to walk.
April 1-2
I came down sick the morning before my scheduled visit. I attempted to call Malika, Celeste and Mark to advise them of my illness and to cancel my scheduled visit. I was unable to reach them for DCS office was closed for a funeral entire day. I than tried to reach the Foster Parents to let them know I wouldn’t be coming. I was unable to reach them with the phone numbers they had given me. I ended up leaving a message on Mrs. Jones cell phone.
April 8th – 9th, 2008
13th visit
Flight schedule has changed. I no longer arrive at 10am. I now arrive at 12 noon. Baby Bruce was brought to my hotel by Mrs. Elsa Pear at 1pm. Mark had prior engagement, Celeste was sick and Malika was out for vacation. I asked Mrs. Pear how Baby Bruce did with the transfer and she stated wonderful all smiles and that he is an adorable baby boy. She helped get every thing in our room and than left. Baby Bruce was happy to see me. He was all smiles. We played for about 3 hours solid he never let me get to far from him. We played peek a boo and I would hide around a corner and call his name and he would come crawling and laugh or giggle as he found me. He finally took his afternoon nap for about 1 hour. While he slept I unpacked his remaining items.
The food sent for his overnight stay. Snack 4 oz yogurt , Dinner 4 oz squash, corn and chicken mix and 4oz of applesauce. For breakfast a small amount cheerios,1 oz cereal 4 oz applesauce and I ordered him a 4 oz container of yogurt from the hotel with my breakfast. They also sent (3) 4 oz bottles of milk. I ordered (2) additional 8 oz cartons from the hotel that he drank as well over the course of his stay.
Baby Bruce was happy as always. Very playful and has truly found his voice now. He loved playing in his bouncer. He would squeal and giggle uncontrollably. He slept well for the most part that night; he is out growing the small crib the hotel provides. Each time he tried to change positions he would wake himself up and quickly go right back to sleep. I have asked again if his visits can be in Idaho and have been told once again no by Mark. I truly feel this would be in his best interest verses a motel.
Mark showed up at 8 am, Baby Bruce was sleeping on the bed. Mark loaded every thing in the car while I woke baby Bruce and prepared him to leave. Mark drove me to the airport and as I was getting out of the back seat Baby Bruce realized what was happening and began to cry large crocodile tears while reaching for me with both hands trying to get out of his car seat restraints. I sat back down in the car and asked Mark to give me his bear and blanket. I calmed baby Bruce down and offered to go with Mark to drop of Baby Bruce and he said no, he also stated that he had never witnessed baby Bruce do this with any one else. He shows a tremendous attachment to me. I gave little Bruce another kiss and hug and stepped back out of the car. He instantly began to cry again and reach for me. This broke my heart, there was nothing I could do but watch Mark drive away with Baby Bruce looking at me and reaching for me with tears streaming down his face.
Once I composed my self I contacted my family and told them what had happened they advised me to contact Bruce’s attorney and let Mrs. Brancatelli know what had happened. I did as requested and feel each day that goes by Baby Bruce is clearly missing me. It is obvious that even though my visits are once a week he has had no trouble bonding with me and has formed an attachment to me. I called Mark’s office to see if Baby Bruce calmed down soon after leaving me at the airport. Mark was unavailable. I left a message voicing my concern and asked for him to call me back. I received no reply.
April 14th
Mark called today to confirm my visit tomorrow. I also asked him how Bruce did after leaving me at the airport. He said he cried fairly hard until they reached the interstate than he seemed to calm himself down, it was truly a sad separation for Baby Bruce. Mark would like to talk to me more later in the day for I was at work and in a meeting. I attempted to return Marks call at 2pm. received his answering machine. Left a message for him stating I was returning his call and to please call me back after 4pm at my home since I was leaving work and would be driving. Mark never returned my call.
April 15th -16th
14th visit
I am in SLC when Mark returns my call on my way out for my next visit. Mark asked me to please not leave notes of concerns in the diaper bag for Mr. and Mrs. Jones. Any concerns or issues that I have need to come through him. I simply agreed. He said we would talk more once I arrived in San Jose, Celeste would be handling the transfer.
Celeste called me at 1:10 to notify me she was at the hotel and that she had the intern for social workers from the District Attorneys office with her. She wanted to meet me and supervise the transfer. They stayed for approximately 3-5 minutes. They informed me that a Mike Gammino would be contacting me later in the week to discuss Baby Bruce with me. They left and Baby Bruce and I went for a walk around the hotel grounds with his stroller.
Upon returning to our room baby Bruce went straight for his bouncer. I placed him in it while I unpacked all of his items. Once again the food supply they sent is very limited. He would be with me for his afternoon snack, Dinner and breakfast. They packed (1) 4oz applesauce’s, (1) 4oz squash chicken dinner(stage 2) a handful of cheerios, (1) 4oz yogurt, 1oz cereal, 4oz prunes and (3) 4 oz bottles of milk. I purchased extra milk and yogurt from the hotel.
Baby Bruce and I played most the afternoon. He didn’t take his nap but retired for bed at about 8 pm. He slept until 5 am without any problems throughout the night. When he awoke at 5 we played. Bathed and ate breakfast together. Bruce began to look sleepy again at about 7:30, he fell asleep. I packed up our things and prepared to leave. Celeste arrived at 8:30. We loaded her car and she drove me to the airport. Again Baby Bruce was quick to figure out what was about to happen. Before Celeste could get out of the car Baby Bruce began to cry. All I had done was open my car door. I again calmed him down while Celeste retrieved his blanket and bear from the trunk. I than stepped out of the car, He began to cry Celeste said he would be ok and that she would see me again next week. Once again Baby Bruce and I separate in tears. Is there no end to the pain DCS is causing our family to endure? Not to mention Baby Bruce. He deserves to be home and settled per the court order.
April 18, 2008
I receive a phone call from Mr. Mike Gammino A Social Worker for the District Attorney’s office. We spoke for approximately 1 hour on the phone from 3:30pm-4:30pm. He assured me that he was taking this matter seriously and was doing a thorough investigation and wanted to meet me at my next visit. We are meeting this coming Tuesday at my hotel. He also wishes to meet baby Bruce and go over what has transpired with this case for the past several months. I eagerly await this meeting. This is the first time anyone representing Baby Bruce’s best interest has contacted me. Maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel yet. I believe God is watching over us and has his hand on each of our shoulders.
April 20, 2008
15th visit
I met with Celeste and the psychologist at DCS office today. My visit was supervised for the first 2-3 hours at the office. Later we were returned to the hotel. Mr. Gammino was to meet me at approximately 3pm. He no called and no showed. I was so disappointed. I really felt after we spoke on the phone he was going to give us a fair chance. I guess he is no different than the rest just provides great lip service. I called Celeste shortly after we arrived at the Hotel to inform her Baby Bruce’s special blanket was still in her car. She asked how things went with Mr. Gammino and I informed Celeste that Mike Gammino had no showed and no called for our interview and observational visit with Baby Bruce. She told me he had been in court maybe he forgot. She had one of her other social workers drop off Baby Bruce’s blanket at hotel around 5 pm. Other than this our visit went great.
April 25, 2008
Mark called to inform me that I would not be getting Baby Bruce on Monday as planned. They were waiting for a decision from the judge regarding my visit during court week. I asked him what changed and he said nothing. They just needed to confer with the courts because of the trial. The original plan was for me to get my 2 make up visit and current visit during court week. I was to arrive Sunday night and Baby Bruce would be brought to the hotel Monday morning than I would testify Tuesday. While I was in court he would be with whom ever Ken and Meg set up or DCS provided during my time or testimony. He changed my flight schedule to fly out Monday night costing me an additional 33.00 at check in time for the flight change.
April 28-May 2, 2008
I’m denied my visit during court week Ken and Meg claim it will be too stressful on every one especially Baby Bruce. The judge must follow DCS lead and go with what is asked. DCS has managed to place a gag order on this case until trial is over. Once again they are treated as if they are god. They lie, manipulate and attempt to twist things around in there best interest. Court is adjourned until May 13 – 15th. What a night mare. Baby Bruce just needs to come home. When will this farce end.
May 5, 2008
I asked Celeste about next weeks visit for May 13-15 during court week. She informed me they were denied because of court. I sent Malaika a letter requesting why. I’m not testifying that week and wouldn’t it be better if Baby Bruce was with me and not a day care as fotster parents claimed. I was told NO!! I stated fine see you tomorrow for my visit.
May 6-7, 2008
16th visit
I have another overnight visit with Baby Bruce. He is changing so much. It’s great to see him again. He is growing like a weed. So much has changed with him in 2 short weeks. He is really trying to walk now and is more interactive with his playing. He squeals louder and gets really excited to play peek-a- boo. He loves to play in his bouncer and is extremely vocal about it. I noticed one thing today while setting his bouncer up. It has not been used since my last visit on April 22-23. I know this because I placed tape on the holes and turned it around backwards just to see if they used it. It didn’t surprise me that they are not using it. They have made it no secret how they feel about our family and any gifts we send to them. I have never seen the shoes I bought on his feet since the day I purchased them back on March 3rd for his first birthday. Nothing surprises me where Ken and Meg are concerned. I will be so happy when Baby Bruce comes home for good. Celeste keeps telling me to think positive and good things will happen. Not to give up hope after all Family comes first and foremost. I continue to pray each night that soon he will come home. I have placed our family on a prayer list as well. I truly hope this helps. I let Celeste know about my discovery and she said once again it will be addressed.
May 14,2008 @ 4pm
Celeste Hammond called today out of the blue she wanted to get things straight before testifying in court tomorrow. She spoke to me about conversations we had, people I have meet whether in TDM meetings or at court. She asked if I had ever met Mr. Gammino and I reminded her of his no call and no shows. We talked about the name change issue and about our visit at the Jones home. We spoke about my daughter and her schooling. She asked about my son and his wife. How they were doing with all of this. She also asked about a picture of Baby Bruce with his father. I informed her “the picture came up in court and I was not privy to see it.†However Bruce stated the picture was taken by his mother at one of their visits with his cell phone. She asked if I had ever had Bruce at the hotel for any visits and I said NO. She again told me she needed to know the truth. I told her again I would never jeopardize my visit with baby Bruce. He means too much to me. She asked how I was doing and dealing with all this added stress. I told her it’s difficult and she said she understood and to just hang in there. It will be over soon. She apologized again for what our family is going through and hoped the out come was in our favor. She believes it should be since family always comes first and foremost. She told me to stay strong. She asked how I knew about all my dates and facts and I informed her that I write a journal as they happen. We were on the phone for approximately 1 hour. I wished her luck with testifying in the morning and thanked her again for all the support.
May 15th 2008
My sister notifies me that court didn’t end and in fact is extended until June 4-5. Once again our lives are placed on hold determining the out come of what is in Baby Bruce best interest. Once again we are let down by the system for a fair and speedy trial. This has been going on for far too long. What will happen next? Will we ever bring Baby Bruce home to his biological family? All questions my family seems to have and I can’t answer. This is so saddening to see our system at its worse when it comes to right and wrong where family is willing, able and ready to take care of our own. Will this farce of the law ever end? We can only pray to God for the out come that we hope for, the system is out of our hands.
May 16 and 19 2008
Celeste informs me my visit is in place for May 20th -21st on the 16th. On May 19th Mark calls to tell me my visit has been changed by the courts to supervised visits because of the picture that no one has bothered to show me. I’m upset by this change like any normal humane being that has complied too their every whim would be. I told Mark I need to make a phone call and would call him back. I hung up my phone. I spoke with a good friend about the crap DCS is pulling now and how they wish to do the visit even though Baby Bruce shows separation anxiety when taken from me as it is now. She said it would be in his best interest to only do the one visit and not put him through the turmoil twice in a 24 hour period. That is not in his best interest. No sooner do I get off the phone does it ring and it’s Mark demanding an answer to my supervised visit. He insists he needs an answer NOW. He told me because of the damning evidence my visits will be supervised. I try to explain there are no pictures with Bruce and his son taken in my care. I agree to the terms of the visit even though I feel they are going to be a lot harder on Baby Bruce having to leave me twice in a 24 hour period than to leave me once. I will do whatever DCS dictates I must in order to have me nephew home with me. This is truly insane. What more are they going to do to try to keep Baby Bruce from me?? Celeste will be supervising our visit and we plan to take Baby Bruce to a park for the afternoon. This is the only truly good thing about the supervised visits. Celeste still is supportive of our family getting baby Bruce. She is a true angel amongst the devils at DCS.
May 20th -21st
Visit 17th
My visit was supervised by not just Celeste but by a man named George. The first part of my visit was with Celeste. We took Baby Bruce to target to get toys and sippy cup. The foster parents failed to supply either. We than took Baby Bruce to Happy Hollows for approximately 2 ½ hours. I fed Baby Bruce his snack at the park; yogurt and cheese around 3. We left the park at 3:45 and headed to Denny’s by the hotel, Celeste mentioned she was rather hungry and I agreed. While at Denny’s; Baby Bruce ate bananas, fruit, yogurt scrabbled eggs with cheese, sausage and some french fries of Celeste’s. Celeste and I spoke about several concerns I have with Baby Bruce. Main one is his diet. He was extremely constipated today. It took him from 2 pm until 6:30 pm to poop. This was after turning beet red on several occasions. She assured me Ken and Meg would be getting a letter regarding his diet and future visit expectations.
George took over our visit at 5:30pm. We had never met and he had a lot of questions. I answered them as best I could. He watched me feed Baby Bruce some of his dinner that Ken and Meg sent. Bruce didn’t seem to want it after eating at Denny’s he was more interested in drinking from his sippy cup. We played for a little while longer. I spoke with George about my concerns of him driving baby Bruce to Ken and Megs and how he cries when being separated. He felt it necessary to try and minimize his stress by asking Ken and Meg to pick up at my hotel. They agreed to this change. The time flew by before we knew it Ken and Meg where in the parking lot to pick up Baby Bruce. I gave him a kiss and hung in our hotel room than walked him to elevator with George. I rode down to the main floor careful to situate Baby Bruce to ware he would be able to see Ken and Meg when the doors opened. I stayed in the elevator so that they wouldn’t see me but so that Baby Bruce was comfortable with a stranger passing him off. He never let out a single tear. He saw Ken and Meg when the doors opened, looked at me and smiled as George pushed him in his stroller towards Ken and Meg. I cried all the way back to my room. It hurts so much to leave him. Please let this end. Let us bring him home soon. PLEASE!! I won’t be getting second half of visit on the 21st to late of notice for DCS to make arrangements. Next week I will get both visits.
May 27th -28th
18th visit
My visit today was to begin at 10am, however upon arriving in San Jose Celeste left a message on my cell phone stating she couldn’t find any one to supervise my visit. She would get back to me. She finally called my cell phone at 1pm stating she was on her way to pick me up. I was allowed a visit from aprx. 2pm – 7pm supervised by Rachel from 2-5 than Victoria 5-7. Malaika informed them to NOT allow me to refer to myself as mommy at any time. And that I was to call him Casey NOT Bruce. I argued and lost this battle. Celeste said she would look into the reason just enjoy the time you are granted. We had a great visit. Baby Bruce received his hair cut without any problems he looks adorable. The entire experience is video and I can’t wait to show it to our family. Computers are great. It can be emailed to all. My visist was to be till 7 but Rachel said she had to leave at 6:30 to have him at the office by 7. So once again my visit was cut short and I wasn’t allowed to even walk him to the car. I had to say good bye in my room.
2nd visit 8-noon
Celeste called to say they were running late and should be there soon. Rebecca showed up at 8:40 and left at 10:30. We were left unsupervised for about 15 minutes while she had her car unlocked. She locked the keys in it. She came back to the room and we played until she informed me it was time to go. I requested that they not take me to the airport as to save my little man from going through the separation trauma. He cries when we separate and I felt it was in his best interest to say good bye at the hotel instead. Celeste called to ask why and I explained my reason. I had to be at the airport 90 minutes before my flight and DCS scheduled my return flight for 12:45. Therefore I couldn’t have my full visit. DCS once again caused me to have less time. I pray this is over soon and Baby Bruce will come home to his family in Idaho. My heart breaks each time we separate, I just pray our family will prevail and he will finally come home where he belongs.
Its me again.. I know that was a long read.. But thats what happened.. I have just signed the appeal documents..
NONE of this would have happened if the Social Workers had enough sense to follow the Judge’s orders..
I’ve reached out to the local newspapers, but nobody seems to care..
Comment by AmyG — June 24, 2008 @ 5:07 pm
TIME LINE FOR
Baby Bruce Allan Mims III to be placed in Idaho
With his Aunt Mona
September 03, 2007
Marty calls Michele and I to let us know the out come of Michael after surgery. The cancer is back and with a vengeance. Most was inoperable and will be treated with radiation. Michael will require 24 hour care for the remainder of his life. Marty will not be able to complete the adoption process. She tells Michele to move to plan B; Mona to adopt baby Bruce. Marty and I talk in great length about Michael and what we can expect. Michele told Marty she would call me in the morning to discuss me adopting Baby Bruce.
September 4th, 2007
Michele calls to ask if I am still willing to adopt Baby Bruce in light of the situation with Marty and Michael. I told her yes. FAMILY COMES FIRST. She will call DCS tomorrow morning and let them know.
September 07, 2007
DCS from California contacted me on September 7th and asked if I would be willing to adopt my infant nephew who is 6months old. My sister Marty was unable to complete the program because of her husband’s cancer coming back in the brain. I immediately started the program for Kinship Adoption/ Foster Parent plan. I went to DCS in Twin Falls and personally picked up the packet to be filled out. I turned it back in within 2 days and was scheduled for finger printing October 18th.
Oct 11th
I was able to start my foster classes beginning Oct 11th; this was the earliest class available. The classes ran from October 11th – November 20th every Tuesday and Thursday night from 6pm- 9pm in Burley, a 2 hour drive from my home. I’m unable to visit Baby Bruce until background checks were complete and classes were almost finished per DCS in California.
Oct. 15th
I hired a carpenter to come into my home to convert my office into a nursery and my hall closet into my office area. This cost me approximately $1000.00
Oct 24th
First home study from 8am-1pm by Mrs. Leavitte
November 5th
Second Home study from 8am-1pm by Mrs. Leavitte
On November 6th Mrs. Leavitte informed me she was still missing documentation to complete my packet from friends that were writing about my abilities as a parent, friend or co-worker. I ran all over gathering these statements up or making phone calls to have them faxed in. As it turned out, once we turned every thing in Mrs. Leavitte received the originals a few days later in the mail. My background check was complete and at this time a visit could be made for me to spend time with Baby Bruce.
13 Nov 2007 Delta Flight 3695 from Sun Valley, ID to Salt Lake City, UT (L)
13 Nov 2007 Delta Flight 4055 from Salt Lake City, UT to San Jose, CA (L)
15 Nov 2007 Delta Flight 3912 from San Jose, CA to Salt Lake City, UT (L)
15 Nov 2007 Delta Flight 3682 from Salt Lake City, UT to Sun Valley, ID (L)
November 14th. This is my first visit with Baby Bruce. He is now 8 months old; I had requested to meet both sets of foster families because I wished to thank them for taking good care of Baby Bruce for the family. I was told they did not wish to meet me. My visit with Baby Bruce went well. Malaika and Celeste supervised the visit. Baby Bruce seemed at ease with me. He was even able to fall asleep in my arms during the visit. He never fussed at any time during my 4 hour visit. When it was time for me to leave I felt a part of me stay with him. I promised him that soon he will come home to stay and that I (mommy) loved him very much. I stayed with my girlfriend Tracy and her family.
November 19th Final home study was completed by Mrs. Leavitte she felt everything was in place and ready for Baby Bruce to come home. I had attended every class including the extra 3 hour one required for Kinship adoptions. His room is painted, decorated and fully equipped with every thing Baby Bruce could possibly need including his own carbon / smoke detector, 3 car seats, toys, blankets, musical crib toys and lots of clothes ranging from 9 months to 24 months. I was told hopefully he could be here for his first Thanksgiving.
November 20th My final Foster Parent class and my daughters 18th birthday. It was a tough choice for me. Was I to attend class or dinner with Becca? Becca insisted I go to class. Baby Bruce was very important to our family. We did lunch instead of supper and went shopping afterwards.
November 21st I was told he wouldn’t be here for Thanksgiving, maybe Christmas.
I asked what the holdup was and they said Foster parents want to adopt. I didn’t know they were ever being considered.
November 28th, I had the finale meeting with Mrs. Leavitt at DCS. She covered all my paperwork and presented me with my license. We went over any further questions she had. She wished me luck and said once Baby Bruce was transferred to Idaho a new case worker would be assigned. I promised to keep in touch and I thanked her for helping me get through the process. I learned a lot and feel the pride course is very important and should be continued. It opened my eyes to a large need in our community for foster parents.
December 9th. This was my second visit with Baby Bruce he is now 9 months old. Because I was approved for placement before this visit the foster parents wanted to meet me. This is when they informed me that they would prefer if I would refer to him as
Dec. 9th cont:
Casey. They do not call him Bruce, and they too wished to adopt him and felt they were better suited. They couldn’t have kids and this was there chance to be his parents. I chose to not comment only to acknowledge their losses. I disagreed with the name change and voiced this to both case workers Celeste and Malaika. He was named after his father, grandfather and great grand father. Ken and Meg stayed for the first 2 hours it was during this time I found out that DCS gave them permission to travel to Ohio without anyone from our family’s permission. I was relieved when they left the room upon my request so that I could have the remaining time alone with my little boy. Baby Bruce never cried when they left. He glanced at them and than continued to play with me on the floor for about another hour. Baby Bruce fell asleep once again in my arms. I so enjoy rocking him to sleep. He is such a snuggle bunny. Celeste was present for this visit. I asked if a visit could be done in Idaho so that he could meet his family and was told NO. I didn’t argue this even though I knew another family in Idaho going through this process: was granted visits from California to Idaho.
December 10th
TDM hearing is today. Baby Bruce was there and went freely into my arms from the foster fathers arms. My Nephew Bruce’s father and his mother were not allowed to attend this TDM meeting per Malika and Cleo. It was agreed that Baby Bruce should be placed with his biological family in Idaho on December 28th. I left relieved and was taken to the airport by Malika and Celeste. I couldn’t wait to call the family and let them know Baby Bruce would be home just after Christmas. We were disappointed that his first Christmas would not be spent with us, however knowing he would be home for New Years was better than missing all of his firsts. We are to begin the transitioning period that was laid out in the meeting. 2 overnight stays in California and than foster parents are to bring him to Idaho to stay permanently on December 28th 2007 they have agreed to this.
December 14th
Malika called to let me know that the foster parents filed a grievance against the TDM meeting and that I would not be getting Baby Bruce on the 28th. I was devastated. I was under the impression the judge had signed the court order for his removal. I asked Malaika how that would be affected and she said it just will be placed on hold by the department pending the out come of the grievance hearing. I asked how long before he will come home. She said she had NO idea; she had never been through a grievance and didn’t know how it would work. She stated “Don’t worry it’s only a formality†“He will be home with you in no timeâ€. DCS is behind family reunification first and foremost and I have been selected for him to go to permanently.†The court order would remain in effect and once the hearing was over he will be moved to you. The hearing was scheduled for December 31st.
Malika and I than discussed my upcoming visit with Baby Bruce. She informed me that Ken and Meg felt it was best that they pick me up and take me to their home to go over Bruce’s daily routine. She felt this would take about 1-2 hours. The foster parents were to take Bruce and I back to my hotel for my over night visit. She gave me phone numbers in case I need to call. Malika asked me to call Ken and Meg to work out the arrangements.
Dec. 14th cont:
When I called Ken informed me that I would be spending the day with them in their home and that depending on whether or not they felt I should have Baby Bruce over night would all depend on how our visit went. I let Ken know what Malika had said he disagreed. I ended the conversation and called Malika back, she in turn worked out the details and called me back. I agreed to do as she had previously stated.
December16th _ 17th
This was my third visit with Baby Bruce and my first over night stay. I was asked to go to the foster family’s home and visit for the first hour. Ken was to pick me up around 9:30 in the morning. This was while Baby Bruce was asleep they could go over his daily schedule. Ken was approximately 45 minutes late picking me up. I called Meg and she stated he was running late leaving their house. Once he arrived to pick me up he needed to stop by the store for items they had forgotten to pickup to cover Baby Bruce’s visit with me. I was told Malika would be joining us, she never showed up. We visited and they went over his schedule with me on what he does at what time from eating to playing and his sleep times. They spent the first 45 minutes discussing his schedule which was all written down for me. They spent the next hour going over why they wanted to adopt baby Bruce. This included showing me around their home and seeing the pictures of the children they had lost. They told me about their family and the trip to Ohio. Baby Bruce woke from his morning nap; they changed him, fed him. I noticed while Ken fed
Baby Bruce it was beginner baby food. Meg prepared his bottle and fed it to him once Ken was done. Baby Bruce doesn’t hold his bottle; the foster parents do it all for him.
I ended up spending about 3 ½ hours at their home before they returned us to the hotel.
Santa Clause was at the hotel and I wanted pictures of baby Bruce with Santa. I also paid for a picture to be taken of Ken, Meg and baby Bruce to have in his baby book. Ken and Meg inspected my room before leaving this was around 3pm. Baby Bruce was ready for his nap. I again rocked him to sleep and held him for just a few minutes before placing him in his crib. Once he awoke we just hung out at the Mansion. It was rainy and cold out for most of my visit. It was extremely hard to say good bye. Ken and Meg were approximately 45 minutes early to pick Baby Bruce up from my visit. The foster mom would not allow me to sit in the back seat on the way to the airport with Baby Bruce. She stated she missed him and needed to be with him. I wanted to give Baby Bruce a kiss goodbye but was told they needed to run I wasn’t allowed. They left me standing at the curb as they drove away tears were streaming down my face.
December 20th Celeste called to go over arrangements for second visit. I had previously tried to work it out with Ken and Meg to no avail. I requested Celeste be at the next visit for Ken and Meg were being extremely condescending towards me. They were showing open hostility towards my visits. Celeste agreed to pick me up at the hotel and be with me. I expressed my concerns to Celeste about Ken and Meg’s attachment to Bruce and whether or not they understood they were a temporary placement of Baby Bruce. Celeste assured me they knew that family was the goal for Baby Bruce. They were told this from the beginning.
December 23rd - December 24th
This is my fourth visit. Celeste and I spent approximately 1 hour at their home. During this time Celeste expressed to all of us the importance of our meetings and how this is what was in best interest of Baby Bruce. This transitional period is to prepare him to move to Idaho with his family. Upon leaving I left a letter for Ken and Meg because it was obvious they were having difficulties with understanding how important Baby Bruce is to our family. I had hoped to ease their pain since the previous ruling was that he was to be coming to Idaho on the 28th. I wanted them to know that we loved him and we truly are what’s in his best interest. I had received Celeste permission to give them the letter.
Celeste dropped Bruce and I off at Christmas in the park. She picked us back up after 2 hours and returned us to our hotel room. My visit with him was to short. It is getting harder to leave my little guy. He is changing so quickly. Starting to crawl and make little noises and looks for your approval for a job well done. He loves to be told “You’re a Good Boyâ€. This makes his whole face light up. He is now almost 9 months old. I’ve noticed a few concerns regarding his muscles in his legs. I spoke to Celeste about this and to my case worker in Idaho. I was told to continue monitoring him. If necessary, physical therapy can be considered if it doesn’t improve.
Baby Bruce is nine months old, I’m wondering why Ken and Meg still have him on stage 0 baby food. He has several teeth and I feel he should be on stage 2. I will continue to stick to their feeding schedule but will mention this concern to Celeste.
Dec.30th- January 1st. This is my fifth visit. Ken and Meg brought baby Bruce to the hotel. I had Baby Bruce for two nights. Again stage O baby food is packed, no solids or stage 2 baby food. The weather was rather rainy and cold and I was informed he had the sniffles and was getting over a cold. I chose to keep him inside for this visit. We just hung out in the hotel room and played. I did take him out in his stroller for a walk around the grounds at the hotel once the weather had cleared up. He enjoyed the birds and the fish in the pond. Baby Bruce didn’t have enough food packed in his bags for the two day stay. I contacted my niece. She came by the hotel front desk picked up envelope with money and list. She purchased additional items from the store that I needed for her nephews weekend with me. She than returned the items to the front desk. This visit was even harder to leave because we had a second grievance hearing during the middle of my visit. We were promised on December 31st that we would be granted a decision in 1 week. I was promised by Celeste and Malika that not to worry, DCS is on my side and he would be home soon continue to be patient and understanding.
January 4th
I called and asked for Cleo. I was told she no longer worked for DCS. I asked why they stated she retired. They gave me Mark A Lapiz to speak to. I received his voice mail. I let him know who I was and what I was calling about. I left a message on Celeste and Malika’s phones as well asking if they had heard anything from Will Lightbourne. I was hoping an answer was available I received no return call.
January 5th
I called Malika because I woke up sick. I had just returned from the doctors and my cold had turned into Bronchial Pneumonia and I wasn’t going to be able to keep my visit with Baby Bruce. It was scheduled for January 6th-7th. I asked her again if she had heard anything from Will. Once again I was reminded about there audit in the offices and that they would promise to call me if and when they received the news.
January 8th-12th I called DCS every day. Wanting to know if there was a decision
Each time I called I was told they hadn’t heard a word. They told me they too are anxious for an answer. I repeatedly asked if Will was on vacation or otherwise detained. They said NO he is just a busy man. They also stated they were under a heavy audit and that at this time it was not the priority. The audit came first. They would call me if and when a decision was made. No contact from them until the 12th and that was to let me know about my visit arrangements only. Again I asked and they said no News. By now 2 weeks have gone by no phone calls from DCS, no decisions made.
January 13th -14th
This is my 6th visit. Baby Bruce is now 10 months old. I met Malaika in the hallway and Baby Bruce started kicking his feet and getting all excited to see me. He remembered even after not being able to see me last week. I was speaking to him while Malaika was carrying him in his car seat. The foster family had cut his hair. I was upset about it at first because I would have liked to been there for his first hair cut. I wanted pictures and a lock of hair for his baby book. They did neither of these things. This was a tradition we did with both of our children and I wanted it to continue for little Bruce. We had another great visit. Nothing exciting just my little guy and I hanging out and playing. Again stage O baby food is packed, no solids or stage 2 baby food. Ken and Meg have refused contact with me since my letter. I would like to ask why he is still on stage 0 baby food. I will mention this to Malika again when she picks us up.
Malaika picked us up the next day and dropped me off at the airport. I asked her if there was any news yet. I was told NO. Just please be patient. I don’t know why you are worried. He will be home with you soon. We are behind you 100 %. I mentioned to Malika again about my concerns regarding the baby food and his leg muscles. She said she would note it and check with Ken and Meg. I gave Baby Bruce a kiss goodbye and told him Mommy would see him again really soon and hopefully I would be able to bring him home.
January 15th – 18th.
I again called every day leaving messages to no avail. 3 weeks have now passed by and we have heard nothing. Will Lightbourne has just ignored all the calls Mark has made or I have been lied to repeatedly by Mark, Malaika and Celeste regarding their daily calls to his voice mail. I’m beginning to feel frustrated with DCS’s lack of compassion for not just me, but for Baby Bruce as well. He is getting older every day and he needs to come home.
January 20-21st
Visit cancelled. Malika failed to make hotel reservations and they were all booked up. I thought I had also reserved a room and was told no. I was not allowed to stay with Baby Bruce anywhere but at a hotel. Not even at my girlfriends in San Jose. There was a large convention going on and all hotels were booked solid except for those costing upwards of $300.00-500.00 per night.
January 29th – January 30th
This is my seventh visit with Baby Bruce he is now 10 ½ months old. Celeste brought him to my hotel. I asked Celeste if we had any news yet; I received the same non committal answer as always NO not yet. Mark can’t seem to get Will to return his calls. I than directed all my attention to little Bruce. He seemed excited to see me again. At first he looked at me and than when I spoke to him he began to kick his little feet and smile from ear to ear. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He really changed in just two weeks time. Missing the one visit was a huge difference. He is now pulling himself up and truly crawling on his hands and knee’s. He is such a great little guy; always happy and full of smiles. He is starting to say dada and momma. I would like to think he is referring to me when he say’s momma. But sometimes it’s a toy or even the waitress. Sometimes he looks at me and say’s momma. I smile and say yes I’m your momma pumpkin or little man and he just smiles or giggles. He picks up the bear my daughter bought him and says dada. I say no Becca. I look forward to our quiet time. This is when I get to rock him to sleep and sing him lullabies. He always looks into my eyes and smiles at me just before drifting off to sleep. He lets out a little sigh and this is when I now it’s time to place him in his crib. He is such an easy baby to get to sleep.
It was at this visit while Baby Bruce was napping I called Senator Corbett’s office and spoke to Darby about my situation. I was completely frustrated with DCS’s lack of compassion towards Baby Bruce and myself. I felt we deserved better than we were getting from Mr. Lightbourne, Mark and Malaika. I told them what has happened and how they continue to stall with answers. They made several phone calls on our behalf. They called me back and assured me that I should be getting answers soon. They rattled some chains and hoped the ball was bouncing again. I was to call them back next week.
February 1st
Malika called me to say that Will Lightbourne had finally called back and wished to have a third hearing. When I asked why it took him so long to call back she had no answers. He supposedly needed more information to make his decision. The hearing is set for Feb 6th was it a coincident that he would do this soon after getting a call from the Senator? Probably!
February 6th – 7th
8th visit
Today is the 3rd grievance hearing with all parties. I’m waiting in the lobby for every one to show up. I see Mr. Lightbourne walking towards the building with both foster moms and current foster dad plus their attorney. They are carrying on a conversation upon entering the building they see me and stop the conversation. Mr. Lightbourne excuses himself to go set up our meeting room. Celeste and Mark arrive about 10 minutes later.
Feb. 6th and 7th cont:
Malaika was not present. She was called away for Jury Duty again my nephew and sister were not allowed to attend because DCS said NO.
Will expressed that he had new information brought to his attention and felt it needed addressed. Will asked the foster parents to enlighten all of us. This time the foster parent’s add a new element. Baby Bruce is having difficulty sleeping. He has nightmares and needs a night light. This is new information; never shared with any of us before now. I have spent several nights with him in the hotel and never had any problems what so ever. I couldn’t believe what Ken or Meg where saying. I truly felt they looked all the information up on the internet and than tried to convince us it was so. They never looked any of us in the eye only looked at each other or down at their hands or notes. I tried to make eye contact to no avail. I felt that it was just another attempt to keep my nephew from me.
The meeting was adjourned and Mr. Lightbourne promised a decision by Friday the 9th. I felt he had spoken to Meg and Ken in great length regarding this issue and was already biased because of their comments. I asked if it was going to be like last time and take another 4 weeks, he stated no. He had to have answers on his boss’s desk by 5 pm and it was now 3 pm. I explained to him that we needed this resolved because Baby Bruce needed to be home with his permanent family. I new all this waiting has been hard on all of us including Ken and Meg, but most of all it was hard for baby Bruce not to be settled. He deserved to be home with his biological family and the wishes of his parents needed to be heard as well. He thanked me for my concern and dismissed the meeting. He treated me as if he could have cared less about my opinion.
Celeste and I went over to the DCS office picked up baby Bruce for my 8th visit. She returned us to my hotel. Once again I unpack Baby Bruce’s bag to find he is still on stage 0 baby food. He now has several teeth. Ken and Meg have included the normal list of when, what and where’s for Baby Bruce. I follow the list to a T. He seems to do well with the strict schedule they have him on.
Bruce and I played. I purchased him a musical book. He likes playing with it and sliding the cow up and down. He pinched his finger between the pages and began to cry. I came to his rescue and all is well. Other than this it was the only time he has ever cried with me. It was for less than a minute and he had forgotten all about. Its nap time, I have so missed being able to rock him to sleep. He snuggles down and I begin to sing. He smiled up at me like always and fell asleep. I wish I could just snuggle with him for a little while longer but I know from experience kids sleep better where they can stretch out. He lets out his deep sigh and I place him in the crib. His naps generally last about 2 -2 ½ hours. My visit once again is over too soon. I’m watching him sleep and know that
Celeste will be here in 6 hours to take him away. This makes me want to stop time and
just enjoy him sleeping peacefully.
Celeste is due to pick up baby Bruce anytime. I have made a list of questions I wish to ask her about. First and foremost will be regarding the baby food issues, than about Will Lightbourne and has there been a decision yet. I asked her if they had heard anything and she said no. She reminded me once again that DCS was on my side and to please not worry. This time next week he will be home with me. She said she would talk with Ken and Meg in light of what was stated at the hearing referring to the nightmares and food issues or regression..
February 9th
Celeste called at 1pm to inform me the DCS decision was to leave Baby Bruce with the foster parents. I began crying and asked Why!! She said I would get a letter in the mail explaining the decision. She was very sorry and upset by the decision. He should have been given to you. She explained my options to fight the decision through the courts and explained that DCS could no longer allow me visits. I told her that I was not going to take this lying down. Tell them this is far from over and that I was going to fight with every breath in my body to get him home with me where he should have been months ago. I believe the decision was made because Will was upset with me for going to Senator Corbett’s office requesting help in this matter. I feel he was brought out into the light and it didn’t look good for what he was putting us through. The fact that he ignored us for one whole month without so much as returning one person’s phone calls.
I than wrote a letter to Malaika expressing my feelings in great detail regarding the decision. I was so upset I couldn’t finish work and had to be taken to a friends home close by. I spent the afternoon making calls to Governor’s, Senators, Newspapers, Media and the likes. I tried Marks office at 4 pm and asked if he could please give me a reason why. He said he couldn’t but would fax me a copy of the determination letter. It states the only reason for him not being placed with me is because of his length of stay with the Jones. 5 months verses 2 ½ months had he been placed with me when originally court ordered.(December 28th )
Our family is devastated. I wrote a letter that was sent every where for people to please help us. I have given those to Bruce’s attorney for the courts to read as well as other correspondence to Malaika through out this entire process over the past four months of his life. And now here we are still trying to get Baby Bruce home with his biological family where he should have been since I was licensed on November 20, 2007. At this time Baby Bruce would have been with the Jones only 2 ¾ months.
February 12th – 14th
I was notified of hearing to strip my nephew of parental rights and asked to please be present by Margaret Brancatelli. In light of DCS’s decision she felt she could still help us keep our baby nephew and get him placed in my home. I and a co-worker drove all night long to be at the court hearing. No decision was made. Hearing continued until March 3rd. At least I can see a possible good out come and the light is shining once more. The judge was positive and I believe she will do the right thing by our family. She was furious with DCS for defying her court order. Malaika was not present. She was ordered to appear from here out. (NO EXCEPTIONS) Explanation was to be given at next hearing. Nothing came out. This is not the first court order Malaika has ignored. Michele was granted a court order granting her 2 visits per month with baby Bruce. Malaika has taken it upon herself to ignore this and only allow 1 visit per month to Baby Bruce’s grandma Michele. Michele has asked repeatedly for her 2 visits a month and been denied by Malaika. Malaika for the most part doesn’t even return Michele’s calls to schedule her visits.
This flight has never been reimbursed by DCS as of yet!
22 Feb 2008 Delta Flight 3733 from Twin Falls, ID to Salt Lake City, UT (H)
22 Feb 2008 Delta Flight 3998 from Salt Lake City, UT to San Jose, CA (Q)
23 Feb 2008 Delta Flight 3763 from San Jose, CA to Salt Lake City, UT (Q)
23 Feb 2008 Delta Flight 3663 from Salt Lake City, UT to Twin Falls, ID (H)
February 22nd -23rd
This is my ninth visit with Baby Bruce. Baby Bruce was excited to see me. Celeste brought him to the hotel and he was kicking his feet and smiling from ear to ear while I spoke to him in his car seat. He is starting to pull himself up on furniture around the room. He is crawling really well. He has stopped pulling with forearms and literally gets up on all fours and is crawling every where. He was pulling himself up too and office chair when it spun on him and he fell and bumped his forehead against desk in hotel room. It happened while I was unpacking his things. I quickly put ice on it and all was forgotten. I unpacked baby Bruce’s things and noticed once again they still have him on beginner baby food stage 0 and the bottle warmer is missing. I called Meg and she said she would bring it right over.
I had just placed baby Bruce in his crib so that I could use the restroom when Meg knocked on my door aprx. 10 minutes after we had hung up. Baby Bruce was jumping in his crib when I opened the door. Meg asked if she could say hello and I said sure. I went over and picked him up she gave him a hug and than I took him back. He kind of whimpered for just a second but once I told Meg thank you and she proceeded to leave he seemed fine.
We had another great overnight visit. I so look forward to holding him at nap times and bedtimes. He is getting bigger and loves crawling on the floor, so the best time to snuggle is nap time or bedtime. He loves to be held and sang to. He just smiles from ear to ear. I wish that we could just bring him home. Celeste is due to pick him up again, I must remember to show her is little bruise. I showed it to Celeste when she picked him up. She said bumps and bruises are expected at this age and to not worry about it. The ten days apart really shows how fast he is changing. I sure missed him. This visit like all the rest go bye to quickly. All I want to do is wrap my arms around Baby Bruce and leave. Never to look back at this state again. I love him so much. We are missing out on so many memories and pictures to add in his baby book. Hopefully soon we will be allowed to bring baby Bruce home. Court is coming up soon.
February 29th – March 03
This is my 10th visit with baby Bruce, I had requested a 3 day weekend from Malaika. This was denied. She would only give Baby Bruce to me from Feb 29th- March 2nd @ 8a.m. I was disappointed by her decision after all I was in California until March 3rd and DCS still owed me a visit from Feb. 12th. I didn’t get Baby Bruce until almost 2pm today. The foster parents had scheduled a dental appointment during my visitation time and I was not allowed to attend.
Feb 29th-March 3rd cont:
Malika arrived and I greeted Baby Bruce in his car seat. He seems happy and smiling from ear to ear. He is kicking his little feet. Malika helps get everything in the hotel room and than leaves. I noticed he is now on stage 2 baby foods and they have forgotten to pack his yogurts and his breakfast. I called Ken and Meg to see if they wanted me to just buy it for him or if they wanted to bring it buy. They choose to deliver it. I had them leave it at the front desk because we were fixing to go out.
I rented a car for this visit and took Baby Bruce to Sears and had his 1year old pictures taken with his cousin Eric. His Aunt Victoria was allowed to be with us and her son. I had requested family pictures to be taken. I was hoping to have daddy Bruce, Michele, Anthony, Victoria and both boys. This was denied by Malaika. She would only allow pictures with Baby Bruce and Little EJ with Victoria present only. We had a great day. Baby Bruce played with Eric at Sears and shared his toys without hesitations. Overall this visit was great. I noticed while shopping that baby Bruce seemed to shy away from men. He would openly flirt withy the ladies but men he would cower into my shoulder as if trying to get away. I will voice this to Malaika when I see her.
I purchased clothes and shoes for Baby Bruce today. The ones sent by the foster parents were obviously too small. His toes were being forced to curl in his shoes and his shirts were to snug a crossed the middle. I will send the clothes home with him, plus the 2 new pairs of shoes. I also purchased a really cute horse jumper for him to play in. He loves the bouncer at the DCS office and I noticed the foster parents didn’t have one for him. I also had previously spoken to our pediatrician in Idaho about my concerns for Baby Bruce’s under developed leg muscles. He recommended the bouncer. He stated it would help strengthen his legs. I have voiced my concerns for the lack of muscle strength he shows on several visits to both Malaika and Celeste.
I truly hope this nightmare with California and the Foster parents ends soon. Baby Bruce needs to come home where he can be with his true family. His biological family that adores him with all they have to give. I sit and rock him to sleep; I watch him sleep and know in just a few short hours I will have to let him go once again. This is tearing my heart apart.
March 6th Court / Visit Denied
Requested to see Baby Bruce for a couple hours after court and was denied by Malaika.
Her reason was she felt court was to stressful and not enough time to give foster parents notice.
March 13th – 15th VISIT DENIED
This is supposed to be my Eleventh visit. I had requested yet again to please have Baby Bruce for my entire stay. After court was out on the 13th my visit was to start. It was than I found out that the foster parents claimed Baby Bruce was sick and would not be available for my over night visit. He was running a fever. HELLO I have raised two great kids. I believe I could have taken great care of Baby Bruce in my Hotel room without complicating his fever or illness. I was finally notified by Mark at 2pm that I would not
March 13th – 15th cont:
be allowed the visit. I asked if we could at least go see him and I was told adamantly NO. Here I am in California, paying for a hotel and can’t even go see Baby Bruce, my soul purpose of being in this state. How truly frustrating this is. I call the airlines to go home early and no flight available, however for $50.00 they can get me on the 10:10 in the morning. I take the early leave. I’m disappointed in DCS, Ken and Meg and this entire situation, I believe Ken and Meg will do whatever it takes to keep me away from my nephew even if that means to defy the court order by using the “He’s sick†to their advantage.
March 15th -16th
I attempted to call the foster parents to check on baby Bruce. I wanted to know how he was feeling. No one answered their phones. On the second attempt I left a message voicing my concerns about his illness and just wanting to know if he was feeling better. I let them know that I was scheduled to visit again on the 18th and really missed him and asked that they please call me back and let me know how he was feeling. I received no reply.
March 18th – 19th VISIT DENIED
This was supposed to be my visit since the last one was denied. Again this one too was cancelled. Mark called at 9:45am on March 17th to let me know that the foster parents felt he was still too under the weather for me to see him. It has been 6 days if he is truly sick they should be taking him to see the doctor again. I miss him and want to at least see him. Maybe I will be able to next week?
March 18th – 19th 2008
Visit with Baby Bruce was denied. Foster parents stated he was still very ill. Mark called at 9:45 am on March 17th
March 20th
Emailed Malika to see about up coming visit? Gave her all future dates. Requested for DCS to pay hotel expenses since they were court ordered. Malika never called me or e-mailed me back.
March 21st
I attempted yet again to reach Malika, just reached her answering machine. I left a message; No reply. I looked on line with Delta to see if I had a flight for the 25-26. Saw that I did. I sent a copy of itinerary to Malika asking when Baby Bruce would be brought to Hotel and by whom. I received no reply. This is normal treatment from Malika.
March 24th
Left another message on Malika’s phone regarding my visit. Received no call back, I even emailed her, received nothing back.
March 25th – 26th
12th visit
I finally get to see baby Bruce for the first time since March 2nd.He appears to still have a slight stuffy nose and a cough. Malika meets me at the hotel immediately after arriving. He seems a little confused but brightens quickly when I say hey little pumpkin mommy missed you. I begin to tickle him gently as Malika is driving. We are unloading the car and I thank Malika for remembering his jumper I had purchased for his birthday. Malika informed me the Jones never took it home. She has had it in her office this whole time. I was shocked. This was some thing little Bruce needs to help build up his muscles and they disregarded it. Little Bruce loves playing in it and it is good for him. We unloaded every thing from Malika’s car into the hotel room. Malika left. While unpacking Baby Bruce’s things I found yet another note from the Jones regarding his eating schedule. I’m a little shocked at the small amount of food they have packed for him and how little he is being given for each meal. He has a cough that is full of phlegm. They are now giving him regular milk and cheese. No pedialite was provided. I sent my niece to the store once again. She purchased six 4 oz cans of pedialite. I felt this was better for him than the milk because of his cough. He plays and is very happy. The food they sent was stage 2 however he should be in the chunky baby food stage 4 by now. They sent crackers and cheerios but no sippy cup. They have four 6oz bottles of milk and some other foods. I have kept the food portions to show Mrs. Brancatelli. I asked Malika when she picked up Baby Bruce to please explain to Jones why he needs his jumper and to please request that they take it home for him. This visit once again was difficult for me to leave him. He is changing so fast and beginning to attempt to walk.
April 1-2
I came down sick the morning before my scheduled visit. I attempted to call Malika, Celeste and Mark to advise them of my illness and to cancel my scheduled visit. I was unable to reach them for DCS office was closed for a funeral entire day. I than tried to reach the Foster Parents to let them know I wouldn’t be coming. I was unable to reach them with the phone numbers they had given me. I ended up leaving a message on Mrs. Jones cell phone.
April 8th – 9th, 2008
13th visit
Flight schedule has changed. I no longer arrive at 10am. I now arrive at 12 noon. Baby Bruce was brought to my hotel by Mrs. Elsa Pear at 1pm. Mark had prior engagement, Celeste was sick and Malika was out for vacation. I asked Mrs. Pear how Baby Bruce did with the transfer and she stated wonderful all smiles and that he is an adorable baby boy. She helped get every thing in our room and than left. Baby Bruce was happy to see me. He was all smiles. We played for about 3 hours solid he never let me get to far from him. We played peek a boo and I would hide around a corner and call his name and he would come crawling and laugh or giggle as he found me. He finally took his afternoon nap for about 1 hour. While he slept I unpacked his remaining items.
The food sent for his overnight stay. Snack 4 oz yogurt , Dinner 4 oz squash, corn and chicken mix and 4oz of applesauce. For breakfast a small amount cheerios,1 oz cereal 4 oz applesauce and I ordered him a 4 oz container of yogurt from the hotel with my breakfast. They also sent (3) 4 oz bottles of milk. I ordered (2) additional 8 oz cartons from the hotel that he drank as well over the course of his stay.
Baby Bruce was happy as always. Very playful and has truly found his voice now. He loved playing in his bouncer. He would squeal and giggle uncontrollably. He slept well for the most part that night; he is out growing the small crib the hotel provides. Each time he tried to change positions he would wake himself up and quickly go right back to sleep. I have asked again if his visits can be in Idaho and have been told once again no by Mark. I truly feel this would be in his best interest verses a motel.
Mark showed up at 8 am, Baby Bruce was sleeping on the bed. Mark loaded every thing in the car while I woke baby Bruce and prepared him to leave. Mark drove me to the airport and as I was getting out of the back seat Baby Bruce realized what was happening and began to cry large crocodile tears while reaching for me with both hands trying to get out of his car seat restraints. I sat back down in the car and asked Mark to give me his bear and blanket. I calmed baby Bruce down and offered to go with Mark to drop of Baby Bruce and he said no, he also stated that he had never witnessed baby Bruce do this with any one else. He shows a tremendous attachment to me. I gave little Bruce another kiss and hug and stepped back out of the car. He instantly began to cry again and reach for me. This broke my heart, there was nothing I could do but watch Mark drive away with Baby Bruce looking at me and reaching for me with tears streaming down his face.
Once I composed my self I contacted my family and told them what had happened they advised me to contact Bruce’s attorney and let Mrs. Brancatelli know what had happened. I did as requested and feel each day that goes by Baby Bruce is clearly missing me. It is obvious that even though my visits are once a week he has had no trouble bonding with me and has formed an attachment to me. I called Mark’s office to see if Baby Bruce calmed down soon after leaving me at the airport. Mark was unavailable. I left a message voicing my concern and asked for him to call me back. I received no reply.
April 14th
Mark called today to confirm my visit tomorrow. I also asked him how Bruce did after leaving me at the airport. He said he cried fairly hard until they reached the interstate than he seemed to calm himself down, it was truly a sad separation for Baby Bruce. Mark would like to talk to me more later in the day for I was at work and in a meeting. I attempted to return Marks call at 2pm. received his answering machine. Left a message for him stating I was returning his call and to please call me back after 4pm at my home since I was leaving work and would be driving. Mark never returned my call.
April 15th -16th
14th visit
I am in SLC when Mark returns my call on my way out for my next visit. Mark asked me to please not leave notes of concerns in the diaper bag for Mr. and Mrs. Jones. Any concerns or issues that I have need to come through him. I simply agreed. He said we would talk more once I arrived in San Jose, Celeste would be handling the transfer.
Celeste called me at 1:10 to notify me she was at the hotel and that she had the intern for social workers from the District Attorneys office with her. She wanted to meet me and supervise the transfer. They stayed for approximately 3-5 minutes. They informed me that a Mike Gammino would be contacting me later in the week to discuss Baby Bruce with me. They left and Baby Bruce and I went for a walk around the hotel grounds with his stroller.
Upon returning to our room baby Bruce went straight for his bouncer. I placed him in it while I unpacked all of his items. Once again the food supply they sent is very limited. He would be with me for his afternoon snack, Dinner and breakfast. They packed (1) 4oz applesauce’s, (1) 4oz squash chicken dinner(stage 2) a handful of cheerios, (1) 4oz yogurt, 1oz cereal, 4oz prunes and (3) 4 oz bottles of milk. I purchased extra milk and yogurt from the hotel.
Baby Bruce and I played most the afternoon. He didn’t take his nap but retired for bed at about 8 pm. He slept until 5 am without any problems throughout the night. When he awoke at 5 we played. Bathed and ate breakfast together. Bruce began to look sleepy again at about 7:30, he fell asleep. I packed up our things and prepared to leave. Celeste arrived at 8:30. We loaded her car and she drove me to the airport. Again Baby Bruce was quick to figure out what was about to happen. Before Celeste could get out of the car Baby Bruce began to cry. All I had done was open my car door. I again calmed him down while Celeste retrieved his blanket and bear from the trunk. I than stepped out of the car, He began to cry Celeste said he would be ok and that she would see me again next week. Once again Baby Bruce and I separate in tears. Is there no end to the pain DCS is causing our family to endure? Not to mention Baby Bruce. He deserves to be home and settled per the court order.
April 18, 2008
I receive a phone call from Mr. Mike Gammino A Social Worker for the District Attorney’s office. We spoke for approximately 1 hour on the phone from 3:30pm-4:30pm. He assured me that he was taking this matter seriously and was doing a thorough investigation and wanted to meet me at my next visit. We are meeting this coming Tuesday at my hotel. He also wishes to meet baby Bruce and go over what has transpired with this case for the past several months. I eagerly await this meeting. This is the first time anyone representing Baby Bruce’s best interest has contacted me. Maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel yet. I believe God is watching over us and has his hand on each of our shoulders.
April 20, 2008
15th visit
I met with Celeste and the psychologist at DCS office today. My visit was supervised for the first 2-3 hours at the office. Later we were returned to the hotel. Mr. Gammino was to meet me at approximately 3pm. He no called and no showed. I was so disappointed. I really felt after we spoke on the phone he was going to give us a fair chance. I guess he is no different than the rest just provides great lip service. I called Celeste shortly after we arrived at the Hotel to inform her Baby Bruce’s special blanket was still in her car. She asked how things went with Mr. Gammino and I informed Celeste that Mike Gammino had no showed and no called for our interview and observational visit with Baby Bruce. She told me he had been in court maybe he forgot. She had one of her other social workers drop off Baby Bruce’s blanket at hotel around 5 pm. Other than this our visit went great.
April 25, 2008
Mark called to inform me that I would not be getting Baby Bruce on Monday as planned. They were waiting for a decision from the judge regarding my visit during court week. I asked him what changed and he said nothing. They just needed to confer with the courts because of the trial. The original plan was for me to get my 2 make up visit and current visit during court week. I was to arrive Sunday night and Baby Bruce would be brought to the hotel Monday morning than I would testify Tuesday. While I was in court he would be with whom ever Ken and Meg set up or DCS provided during my time or testimony. He changed my flight schedule to fly out Monday night costing me an additional 33.00 at check in time for the flight change.
April 28-May 2, 2008
I’m denied my visit during court week Ken and Meg claim it will be too stressful on every one especially Baby Bruce. The judge must follow DCS lead and go with what is asked. DCS has managed to place a gag order on this case until trial is over. Once again they are treated as if they are god. They lie, manipulate and attempt to twist things around in there best interest. Court is adjourned until May 13 – 15th. What a night mare. Baby Bruce just needs to come home. When will this farce end.
May 5, 2008
I asked Celeste about next weeks visit for May 13-15 during court week. She informed me they were denied because of court. I sent Malaika a letter requesting why. I’m not testifying that week and wouldn’t it be better if Baby Bruce was with me and not a day care as fotster parents claimed. I was told NO!! I stated fine see you tomorrow for my visit.
May 6-7, 2008
16th visit
I have another overnight visit with Baby Bruce. He is changing so much. It’s great to see him again. He is growing like a weed. So much has changed with him in 2 short weeks. He is really trying to walk now and is more interactive with his playing. He squeals louder and gets really excited to play peek-a- boo. He loves to play in his bouncer and is extremely vocal about it. I noticed one thing today while setting his bouncer up. It has not been used since my last visit on April 22-23. I know this because I placed tape on the holes and turned it around backwards just to see if they used it. It didn’t surprise me that they are not using it. They have made it no secret how they feel about our family and any gifts we send to them. I have never seen the shoes I bought on his feet since the day I purchased them back on March 3rd for his first birthday. Nothing surprises me where Ken and Meg are concerned. I will be so happy when Baby Bruce comes home for good. Celeste keeps telling me to think positive and good things will happen. Not to give up hope after all Family comes first and foremost. I continue to pray each night that soon he will come home. I have placed our family on a prayer list as well. I truly hope this helps. I let Celeste know about my discovery and she said once again it will be addressed.
May 14,2008 @ 4pm
Celeste Hammond called today out of the blue she wanted to get things straight before testifying in court tomorrow. She spoke to me about conversations we had, people I have meet whether in TDM meetings or at court. She asked if I had ever met Mr. Gammino and I reminded her of his no call and no shows. We talked about the name change issue and about our visit at the Jones home. We spoke about my daughter and her schooling. She asked about my son and his wife. How they were doing with all of this. She also asked about a picture of Baby Bruce with his father. I informed her “the picture came up in court and I was not privy to see it.†However Bruce stated the picture was taken by his mother at one of their visits with his cell phone. She asked if I had ever had Bruce at the hotel for any visits and I said NO. She again told me she needed to know the truth. I told her again I would never jeopardize my visit with baby Bruce. He means too much to me. She asked how I was doing and dealing with all this added stress. I told her it’s difficult and she said she understood and to just hang in there. It will be over soon. She apologized again for what our family is going through and hoped the out come was in our favor. She believes it should be since family always comes first and foremost. She told me to stay strong. She asked how I knew about all my dates and facts and I informed her that I write a journal as they happen. We were on the phone for approximately 1 hour. I wished her luck with testifying in the morning and thanked her again for all the support.
May 15th 2008
My sister notifies me that court didn’t end and in fact is extended until June 4-5. Once again our lives are placed on hold determining the out come of what is in Baby Bruce best interest. Once again we are let down by the system for a fair and speedy trial. This has been going on for far too long. What will happen next? Will we ever bring Baby Bruce home to his biological family? All questions my family seems to have and I can’t answer. This is so saddening to see our system at its worse when it comes to right and wrong where family is willing, able and ready to take care of our own. Will this farce of the law ever end? We can only pray to God for the out come that we hope for, the system is out of our hands.
May 16 and 19 2008
Celeste informs me my visit is in place for May 20th -21st on the 16th. On May 19th Mark calls to tell me my visit has been changed by the courts to supervised visits because of the picture that no one has bothered to show me. I’m upset by this change like any normal humane being that has complied too their every whim would be. I told Mark I need to make a phone call and would call him back. I hung up my phone. I spoke with a good friend about the crap DCS is pulling now and how they wish to do the visit even though Baby Bruce shows separation anxiety when taken from me as it is now. She said it would be in his best interest to only do the one visit and not put him through the turmoil twice in a 24 hour period. That is not in his best interest. No sooner do I get off the phone does it ring and it’s Mark demanding an answer to my supervised visit. He insists he needs an answer NOW. He told me because of the damning evidence my visits will be supervised. I try to explain there are no pictures with Bruce and his son taken in my care. I agree to the terms of the visit even though I feel they are going to be a lot harder on Baby Bruce having to leave me twice in a 24 hour period than to leave me once. I will do whatever DCS dictates I must in order to have me nephew home with me. This is truly insane. What more are they going to do to try to keep Baby Bruce from me?? Celeste will be supervising our visit and we plan to take Baby Bruce to a park for the afternoon. This is the only truly good thing about the supervised visits. Celeste still is supportive of our family getting baby Bruce. She is a true angel amongst the devils at DCS.
May 20th -21st
Visit 17th
My visit was supervised by not just Celeste but by a man named George. The first part of my visit was with Celeste. We took Baby Bruce to target to get toys and sippy cup. The foster parents failed to supply either. We than took Baby Bruce to Happy Hollows for approximately 2 ½ hours. I fed Baby Bruce his snack at the park; yogurt and cheese around 3. We left the park at 3:45 and headed to Denny’s by the hotel, Celeste mentioned she was rather hungry and I agreed. While at Denny’s; Baby Bruce ate bananas, fruit, yogurt scrabbled eggs with cheese, sausage and some french fries of Celeste’s. Celeste and I spoke about several concerns I have with Baby Bruce. Main one is his diet. He was extremely constipated today. It took him from 2 pm until 6:30 pm to poop. This was after turning beet red on several occasions. She assured me Ken and Meg would be getting a letter regarding his diet and future visit expectations.
George took over our visit at 5:30pm. We had never met and he had a lot of questions. I answered them as best I could. He watched me feed Baby Bruce some of his dinner that Ken and Meg sent. Bruce didn’t seem to want it after eating at Denny’s he was more interested in drinking from his sippy cup. We played for a little while longer. I spoke with George about my concerns of him driving baby Bruce to Ken and Megs and how he cries when being separated. He felt it necessary to try and minimize his stress by asking Ken and Meg to pick up at my hotel. They agreed to this change. The time flew by before we knew it Ken and Meg where in the parking lot to pick up Baby Bruce. I gave him a kiss and hung in our hotel room than walked him to elevator with George. I rode down to the main floor careful to situate Baby Bruce to ware he would be able to see Ken and Meg when the doors opened. I stayed in the elevator so that they wouldn’t see me but so that Baby Bruce was comfortable with a stranger passing him off. He never let out a single tear. He saw Ken and Meg when the doors opened, looked at me and smiled as George pushed him in his stroller towards Ken and Meg. I cried all the way back to my room. It hurts so much to leave him. Please let this end. Let us bring him home soon. PLEASE!! I won’t be getting second half of visit on the 21st to late of notice for DCS to make arrangements. Next week I will get both visits.
May 27th -28th
18th visit
My visit today was to begin at 10am, however upon arriving in San Jose Celeste left a message on my cell phone stating she couldn’t find any one to supervise my visit. She would get back to me. She finally called my cell phone at 1pm stating she was on her way to pick me up. I was allowed a visit from aprx. 2pm – 7pm supervised by Rachel from 2-5 than Victoria 5-7. Malaika informed them to NOT allow me to refer to myself as mommy at any time. And that I was to call him Casey NOT Bruce. I argued and lost this battle. Celeste said she would look into the reason just enjoy the time you are granted. We had a great visit. Baby Bruce received his hair cut without any problems he looks adorable. The entire experience is video and I can’t wait to show it to our family. Computers are great. It can be emailed to all. My visist was to be till 7 but Rachel said she had to leave at 6:30 to have him at the office by 7. So once again my visit was cut short and I wasn’t allowed to even walk him to the car. I had to say good bye in my room.
2nd visit 8-noon
Celeste called to say they were running late and should be there soon. Rebecca showed up at 8:40 and left at 10:30. We were left unsupervised for about 15 minutes while she had her car unlocked. She locked the keys in it. She came back to the room and we played until she informed me it was time to go. I requested that they not take me to the airport as to save my little man from going through the separation trauma. He cries when we separate and I felt it was in his best interest to say good bye at the hotel instead. Celeste called to ask why and I explained my reason. I had to be at the airport 90 minutes before my flight and DCS scheduled my return flight for 12:45. Therefore I couldn’t have my full visit. DCS once again caused me to have less time. I pray this is over soon and Baby Bruce will come home to his family in Idaho. My heart breaks each time we separate, I just pray our family will prevail and he will finally come home where he belongs.
Its me again.. I know that was a long read.. But thats what happened.. I have just signed the appeal documents..
NONE of this would have happened if the Social Workers had enough sense to follow the Judge’s orders..
I’ve reached out to the local newspapers, but nobody seems to care..
Comment by AmyG — June 24, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
I JUST WANT SOMEONE TO TAKE NOTICE OF THE INJUSTICES WRITTEN ABOVE.. PLEASE!
Comment by AmyG — June 24, 2008 @ 5:13 pm
to karrie the CPS worker, i am sure you do care about the children, then care about their right to privacy and respect my right to privacy. if a worker agrees to communicate through counsel, i expect her to keep her word. when she does not go through channels and instead tries to invade my privacy and my child’s privacy, the sanctity of our home, i draw the line there. i have nothing whatsoever to hide, but i do have to insist on mutual respect. i can provide any documentation you guys want, but you will get it through counsel, not through ambushing me at home, and you have no right to a home visit. if there are 400 cases per worker, PLEASE PRIORITIZE them. CPS’s mission is to protect children in imminent danger. if there is no evidence of danger after one week, one month, five months, perhaps it is time to accept documents from counsel close the file and move on to a REAL EMERGENCY?
Comment by a.j. ovitsky — July 2, 2008 @ 4:23 pm
My heart just aches after reading these stories. My story is one of hope to all of you who are still fighting for your precious children. The CPS took my 6 yr old daughter and just-turned 4 year old son from me and my husband. CPS and the local Sheriffs kidnapped the kids from their respective schools while we were at work. A worker at my daughter’s afterschool care program overheard my daughter talking about the “Naked Brothers Band” (a popular kids show on the Disney channel). She suspected that my daughter was being exposed to sexualized programming and reported it to CPS. And thats how it all started. With just this bit of information, CPS claimed that the children were in danger of sexual abuse. After CPS and the Sheriffs stole my children, they sent undercover officers to my home. There were warrants, more officers, a 5 hour search of my home. At the end, a social worker thrust papers at me stating that the children were with foster care and my “hearing” would be the following Wednesday. I’m certain all of you have had the “this cannot be happening” feeling.
With the loving support of friends, my husband and I pulled ourselves together for the fight for our children. Certainly we were in no shape for this battle. We were fortunate to have lucked upon the most wonderful attorney. He new what the CPS had in store for us. He had a plan. My husband needed to move out of the house. My husband agreed to do this only if it meant getting the kids back home. At the custody hearing, CPS fabricated a host of lies about how the mother failed to protect the kids from the father. No, said the judge, the kids could not go home with the mother. My attorney then demanded an expedited Trial. This rocked the CPS’s counsel. She admitted in open court that this was highly unusual and that she had in fact never had a contested custody Trial.
My attorney went right to work keeping the CPS attorney busy with discovery and subpenas. Clearly this was wearing them down. At the same time, my attorney’s partner went to work on the social worker. Why can’t the mother see her children everyday? The social worker said the county couldn’t afford it. Okay then, the mother will pay for it out of her own pocket. Another unusual event to CPS. We drained our accounts to pay the legal fees and visitation service. But it was worth every cent! I would have sold my home if thats what it took ti get my babies back!
Both the County and the CPS broke from the pressure. 18 days after my kids were kidnapped, there was a hearing. The CPS attorney advised the judge that the County was dismissing the charges against both me and my husband. The judge wanted to know why. The attorney plainly said that the County could find no evidence to support the charges.
We got our babies the same day. Months have past and I’ve worked through my anger over the injustices forced upon my husband and I. I can only say that I love my children and will protect them always . . .
Comment by DiannaO — July 3, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
Hi, I am 18 years old, and about 2 years ago CPS came to my house. My parents didn’t let them in. They are still harrassing my family, and we have not had any peace since that first visit. I have two younger siblings, and now my parents are being taken to trial for neglect. The CPS worker is out of control, they have no evidence, and the caseworker seems to have some personal vendetta against my parents. No one will listen to me or my siblings when we say nothing is wrong. Our caseworker has lied and twisted things we’ve said and now is using them against my parents. I believe that CPS is out of control. The answer is for any children old enough to stand up against them (after all we are the ones they are supposed to be protecting). I am trying to find other children who are victims of CPS’ “services”. Please, anyone, visit http://cpschildren.wetpaint.com/ and share you perspective. The only way to bring about change is to fight, and defend the ideals of truth and freedom that this country was founded on!
Comment by Hannah — July 17, 2008 @ 7:21 pm
I wish i would have read this before CPS was called on me … I had just gone through a separation and was rearranging, I’m pregnant so things were in disarray because of me being fat and tired … and my child is a boy … so he likes to play in the dirt and is covered in dirt and food (it was right after lunch) …
She asked if I could talk and just sort of came in and I had to let her sit there while i changed my sons diaper in the other room. I come back out and my son keeps running around because little ones have lots of energy and he keeps going out on the patio cause he can open the door … so I get up to get her a drink and she pulls out a camera and starts taking pictures of this little dirt ball of a boy … he’s a cheese so he gets right up in the camera where you can see all his nastiness… she tells me someone called and said that i smoked pot and was neglegent with him and let him around the stuff! she asked if i did and i said no and she asked if i would pass a piss test and somehow I have to go in every week now and pee in a cup while the attendant watches … and i’m 7 months pregnant and can barely reach and usually have to drag my son with me …
To make things better I am on antibiotics so that i don’t get the same sickness I had with the first pregnancy … and it’s apparently showing up in my tests as some hard core drug …
I can never get ahold of the workers and they have apparently lost my file already so i am hoping that once i’m done testing that i’ll be done with it but i know what cps is capable of and it scares me that there is so much emphasis on dividing the family … no matter what .
I will definately not let them back into my home without a warrent and luckily my son is too young to talk … it’s frustrating and stressful ,… a lot of crap i don’t need on top of trying to raise my son alone, find a job while pregnant, pay my bills on a part time pay, try to figure out what’s going on with my marriage, and just be pregnant in general …
My son is one of the happiest and healthiest little guys there has ever been. He’s social, compassionate, independent, and explorative. People compliment me on his pleasantness in the grocery store, at the doctors office and everywhere we go … so to have someone come to me and say that i am a bad enough mother that my child needs to not be with me hurts a lot.
Comment by Megan — July 22, 2008 @ 7:17 pm
I too, am new to the grasps of CPS,They stand tall like a Cobra, ready to strike at any given moment,like the snakes that they are. We, the people need to take a stand, take back what is rightfully our’s, our families!! I dont know where or how they have gotten so powerful, but it’s time to stop them. With so many families that CPS has destroyed, We could do it, if we stand together. One nation, under God, not CPS. No one should have the right to take anyone’s parental rights away, No one but God, and who made them God? No one! Just tell me where to start, Let’s get going on this, lets keep the families together. Winning to CPS is keeping the children from their families.Let’s stop them before there’s no families left. Thank-you for your time.
Comment by christina seymour — July 26, 2008 @ 10:05 pm
My two sons CJ (12) and Tommy (9) are very intelligent, happy, athletic, well-behaved, healthy, well-dressed, well-fed, individuals. My boyfriend and I took them to the beach to reward them for their good behavior last May. My boyfriend and I began to quarrel after having too much to drink. We went back to camp where I proceeded to take a nap. When I woke up about an hour later, I found out my boyfriend had packed his things and left us there alone. Feeling betrayed, scared and angry, I decided to pack up and attempt to drive the 4 hours home that night. I have night blindeness and under normal circumstances, I would not have attempted the drive. An officer had a car pulled over, his lights were flashing and blinding to me, I apparently drove too close to the side of the road and within a few minutes he pulled me over for DWI with child. CPS is now charging me with child abuse and neglect and threatening to place my kids in foster care. I’m not trying to downplay how very wrong my decision to drive was but, I feel CPS going overboard with their authority.
Comment by Terri Shade — July 28, 2008 @ 2:16 pm
To Dorthy Torres in the redwood city office of san mateo cal CPS
You said I dont trust any one. that is un true, I dont trust your office!!!!!!!!
you earn trust , and I did trust you till I found out you lied to me. there is more shelters you could have place them in.and had your office never lied about me in the first place we would not be here at this point. then you told me when I found out what happen to my son call it in that they would get a hold of you that was un true, three days passed before you did anything, My son was choked and you stopped me from having the person placed on charges, then you tried to set me up with that doctor you know if I found out that my ex was seeing I would never talk to. you almost were able to get me to play along with your game. had I gone on the 17th I would never have known that she was seen by that doctor,
that was what you were banking on.
you can fool some people some of the time but you need to get up pretty early to fool me!!!
CPS needs to be stopped , we need to all get to gether and fight them one for all, all for one we are paying them lets not be bow down to them.
Comment
Comment by AaronShinabery — July 29, 2008 @ 11:55 pm
TO YOUR HONNOR:
I am writing you because; I don’t know what to do?
C.P.S told me they would help with the cost of the programs you want me to take.
They have resented it, and are now saying that they said they would help me
Get in touch with those people, and the cost would be on me.
They are giving Cynthya everything she needs, to make me look as bad as possible.
They feel that I am a monster, and are trying to make me look as bad as possible.
All I want, is to care, love, and support my children.
My two kids are like a rose growing to me.
I love watching them, grown into little people.
I am proud my kids, and I can’t see them hurt any more.
I want them to grow up in a stable invorment.
Knowing right from wrong, and to telling the truth at all times
I live with the truth by my side.
I think after this traumatic experience both, them and myself have experienced we need your help Dealing with.
I can’t afford the pay for all that is needed.
Please your HONNOR my family needs your help.
Your HONNOR you don’t have to force me in to anything.
If it makes my children a better person, I want it!!! Please help me grow these two children.
They are the best kids, smart, funny, bright, and the love them with all of my life!!!!!
My kids could make a difference for all of us, please don’t
Stop me from making two great people that will make a mark in life.
For my children I would go to the end of this earth.
Very truly yours,
Aaron Francis Shinabery, Sr.
Comment by AaronShinabery — July 29, 2008 @ 11:56 pm
If you have done anthing wrong CALLTHEM BUG THEM CALL and CALL one day they listen to us
Comment by AaronShinabery — July 30, 2008 @ 12:03 am
IF YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG
Comment by AaronShinabery — July 30, 2008 @ 12:04 am
NOW IS GARRY STOPPING YOU, ARE YOU STOPPING you
dorthy
Comment by AaronShinabery — July 30, 2008 @ 12:14 am
Dorthy here is my son statement from the last pysch To whom it cersons:
My canceller call it and me a liar makes me feel sad because I didn’t molest Alley He said I did. This was untrue he believes my mother; I didn’t do what they said I did.
She didn’t believe me, and she tried to send me to Gail please help me.
I didn’t do what was said about me. I don’t trust my canceller, he don’t believe me.
My mother has made me lie for her I am not a lire, and I am not ling for her any more. Please help me I don’t want her mad at me, and I love her, she is my mom please tell her to stop lying.
The day my dad took my sister to the doctor she was not feeling good.
He took her to our doctor.
She told them that her mommy beat her why don’t they believe me.
Mommy beat her and healed me down and spit in my face.
Please help us.
Comment by AaronShinabery — July 30, 2008 @ 12:19 am
wow here they go again they put the person that started this whole mess back on the case,the one how told me I would never see my kids again. Nicole Hayes of the san mateo county cal CPS she should have been fired, she asked me if I molested my kids that nasty pig she should be ingail for what she did to my family, but yet they promoted her how the @##%&(&$ is the country comming too.
Comment by AaronShinabery — July 30, 2008 @ 9:53 am
Comment by AaronShinabery — July 30, 2008 @ 9:54 am
My husband and I have spent years trying to gain custody of our grandchildren due to neglect and endangerment from both parents. We have never applied for, or received any financial assistance for these children. The paternal grandparents are both on disability and receive government aid for the grandchildren. On three separate occasions the DCS has made false allegations against us and supported the paternal grandparents in their attempt to take custody from us. Our attorney, and on two occasions their own appointed agents have proven these allegations to be unfounded. After more than four years I am completely disillusioned with our court system and the DCS. I know the DCS claims to be overworked, therefore I am really amazed that this county has the manpower to focus so intensely on this case.
Comment by Iris Broyles — September 8, 2008 @ 11:32 am
My Daughter was 3 mon. old when we took her to the hospital because something was wrong, and we didnt know what it was. The doctor comes in after her X-rays with a CPS investigator and a detective and took her immediatly into there custody and questioning/accusing us of child abuse. This was 6 almost 7 mon. ago. Since then they havent done any medical testing for any kind of bone diseases/disorders. They have given my fiance’ placement after 4 mon. of foster care (beause I was home alone with her a majority of the day). They have indicted me with felony child abuse charges. (I turned myself in almost 2 weeks ago) 25,000 unsecured bond. (We didnt have to pay anything). I get visitation with my daughter 2x a week 4 hours tuesday and 3 hours friday. I have shown nothing other than im a good loving mother, have done everything they asked, taking lie detector test (passed) psych eval (came out good) enrolled in there stupid parenting program. taking upon my self to take an online parenting class (they done actually offer real classes where I live) went to therepy, taking an infant/toddler saftey and development class (which I also did on my own) Not only did they take my daughter away from me, I can only see my finace’ the 2nd most important person in my life, the person i’ve needed to support me through these false claims. 2x a week. Please, if possible..I could use some help.
PsFaerie@aim.com
Comment by Sheila — September 10, 2008 @ 10:36 pm
Hello to all,I recently lost my best friend June 19th and it was thanks to the stress that cps had put on her and her family for the last 15 years. She died from a seizure in her sleep, she suffered from post tramatic stressd disorder. Her husband Dale was accused by his 1st wife of having abused their daughter then 5yrs old because he wanted a divorce .I was a witness to her physically abusing the little girl. A is now 23 and states even now that her Father never abused her. Dale is trying to reopen the case to clear his name ( happened in Georgia the trial ) Dales mother and sister were also witness and none of us could testify because we didnt have the means $$ to get there from Michigan . Dale was convicted in 1990 Ever since Dales step daughter from his second marriage to Becky now deceased, was four (started school) Roxy has been pulled out of school and interviewed by cps over her stepdad. Dale and Becky have a daughter together ; Bree and the same thing has been happening to her also. No proof has ever been found against Dale that he has ever abused anyone. Dale and I ,I have a land contract with him for starters. I and my two children live in his former home and he lives with his wifes parents> Dale by the way is legally blind and cannot drive. I have already been threatened to have my children removed twice this year,in the last month in fact. I already have an attorney and I am calling the aclu ( the American Civil Liberities Union) to help with this case. I have been told by the cps worker that if the Police know that Dale has been spending the night at my house, still legally his property than they will call cps and then they will remove my daughter 9yrs old , my son is 12 yrs old. On the premise that since my daughter was already sexually assualted by her 17yr old cousin, he is sitting in Jail for this; Also Bree ,Dales daughter when she caught Brian in the garage of my former inlaws attacking my daughter. Because of Dales record.The fight continues the cps worker never even looked in Dales File which has got to be a foot thick by now, left my house and on the same day went to his current residence last Wed.and not knowing it was his former inlaws property claimed that some made yet another complaint ” were worried that dale was sexually abusing his two daughter Roxy will be 17 in Nov.2008 and Bree will be 12 in Oct. Ron told Dale and the girls to go into the house and procided to tell the ditz off and that his Daughter was dead thanks to them ,she was 38 and the next time they come out to his property it had better be with the police. The cps worker pulled Bree out of class at school the next day to interview her again about her dad. I called the cps supervisor on Friday and gave him one hell of an earful !!! They are trying to get me to sign a service agreement. This is over some thing my mother did 30 miles away from where I live ,in August ,2008 my kids have not seen her since The cps worker was to supposed to have me sign it on Wed. of last week and I told her not until my attorney sees it first. She magically lost it so she was going to send it to me,to sign and return . The Parent aide she is trying to set me up with called me on Friday to set up an appointment for today Monday the 22nd Their 30 days is up today. After telling me that since I had signed the service agreement ( which odviously I have not) I called the supervisor of cps. Today I am meeting hopefully with my attorney and a phone conference with the ACLU to see what can be done and then we will proceed from there.
Comment by Cheryl — September 22, 2008 @ 7:23 am
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Comment by Martin Campbell — September 23, 2008 @ 4:38 am
What happend to our personal rights and the rights of our children? CPS is not looking to fix anything they are looking to accuse and support their case, its not finding the truth or doing what is the children best interest. What about what is in the best interest of our CHILDRED. Our system is broken and needs to be fix. I pray the Lord will lead us to gathering together to fix this mess. For all the families torn apart by CPS. Alway remember TELL THE TRUTH NO MATTER WHAT! Don’t agree to ANYTHING unless its the truth. If you can’t be with your children set an example anyway… tell the truth and be honest NO MATTER WHAT CPS SAYS.
Comment by justamom — September 23, 2008 @ 8:51 pm
my names shawn single dad in ca. Im at a point in my case i feel hopeless i have done everything in my caseplan completly and i still don’t have my kids hew are 1&3 years old my visitation is only an hour a week supervised at there office my oldest shawn jr for the first two years of his life i raised him by myself just me and him so we have a strong bond its been about a year since they were taken he’s really hurt that im not in his life to were he said he does’nt want me when i come to him at the start of the visit but it gets better throughout the vist to at the end he’s giving me kisses again and telling me he loves me i worried that if this go on much longer it could have more long term affect on him at this time i feel are relationship can mend itself i have been trying to set a court date so i could have them returned to my custody but my public pretender does’nt return my phone calls and when i went to the courtroom lobby and waited for her to walk out she throws up her hands and said i hope your not here for me i dont have time i keep calling just to get no responce all i need to do is get myself on calender of the courts and im sure the judge will put the kids back with me being not only have i completed there court orderd case plan but also have finished an additonal three parenting classes i went to family law to see if i could get on calender that way and i cant so if anybody out there has any helpfull info on how i can personally get on calender without my pd i would greatly appreciate it you’d be helping me save my family god bless
Comment by superdad — October 6, 2008 @ 12:39 am
Ok so my 2 sons got taken from me 06-17-04,then 16mo and 6, for unfounded cps reports ig…my 6 year old had to call the cops and there was a supposed 911 tape no one ever found????And also CPS said my 6 year old reported that his step father kicked him and he was limping from it, but really my son had surgrey for a toumer on his hip,that was also unfounded… When my kids got yanked out of my care I was clean and sober, never been to jail in my life, and anyone who knew me would tell you what a good mom I was… Now in the past 4 years i’ve become a felon and have been to jail over 50 times… Resorted to using drugs for the first 2 years went to treatment 7 times**** and have now been clean for 2 years & 3mo i’ve had a third child who is 6mo old and CPS says i’m fit to raise him my now 10 year old still in foster care ??? But comes to my home every weekend for home visits?? Last friday CPS wanted me to sign 3rd party custody to his foster parent who wants me to mess up so bad she can taste it,, I basicaly told them to f@#k off. Now my son comes home this sunday.. So ALL I CAN SAY IS AS LONG AS YOU ARE CLEAN FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT … OUR KIDS NEED US NOW MORE THAN EVER PEOPLE!!! Sencerly LESLIE
Comment by leslie cummings — October 7, 2008 @ 12:14 pm
ilove my daughter cps is not telling me how to get my daughter back
Comment by serena — October 8, 2008 @ 9:03 am
How many times can people make false accusations about you about your kids before it becomed harrasment? CPS in NY has visited me 4 times in 3 monthe with no wrong doing. When asked who is making these statements they report they don’t have to tell you. Where are my rights?
Comment by anny — October 10, 2008 @ 5:51 pm