Child Protective Services laws and agencies are abusive to families and children. This site provides support and information to parents falsely accused of child abuse by Child Protective Services.

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 The law that started this, CAPTA, must be repealed.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.

Fighting Child Protective Services False Accusations


Fighting Child Protective Services False Accusations Family Rights v. Child Welfare




August 20, 2007

Make Your Court-Appointed Attorney Work For YOU

Recently I introduced two site features: one, a place for people to post referrals to good CPS-fighting attorneys, and the other, a place for people to make a request for an attorney. Both posts have had good responses, yet I know without a doubt that most of the people asking for legal help will not find it by posting on this website. I’m sorry to say that, but it is true. There are few attorneys who are so hard-up for work to do that they’ll come here to pick and choose clients who are probably broke and looking for someone to work pro-bono (for free).

Get over the idea that you might find a good pro-bono attorney. It rarely happens. In the seven-plus years since I started this site I’ve seen it happen only once. An attorney represented a very high-profile case in Oregon AFTER the couple became so desperate they kidnapped their own children from state custody. That attorney lost the case and the couple has been imprisoned ever since.

The alternative to finding the dream-attorney is to take that court-appointed freebie do-nothing attorney the county provides, and make that person WORK for YOU.

The main problem with these court-appointed attorneys is that they are paid by the county; that same county that is your adversary in juvenile court. So how motivated can they be to go against the county and help you?

Turn the tables. Take charge of your case.

A way to control how your attorney handles your case is to decide, yourself, how you want it handled. Then sit down and write your attorney a comprehensive letter detailing exactly what you want to have done with your case.

A keyword to remember is proactive. YOU take the lead. Rather than REacting to what others are doing to you, start thinking ahead to what your next move should be. Keep your attorney informed with a series of letters.

Remind this person, your attorney, that you are the client and you need and demand request the attention your case deserves. If your attorney doesn’t do the things you request, that person is setting himself/herself up for a legal malpractice lawsuit. But if you don’t set forth your requests in writing, there’s no proof you asked for anything in particular to be done.

Let’s face it. These court-appointed attorneys are known for what they don’t do. They often meet a client at the door on the way into the courtroom. They look through the case file as if it were the first time they’ve seen it, trying to orient themselves to what’s going on. Of course there’s no time for them to do any type of adequate defense of the case. They don’t know you, your children, or your situation. They don’t know the truth and don’t know who’s lying. And it seems they just don’t care.

My apologies to all court-appointed attorneys who don’t fit this description, but I’m sure you know that these are the facts about many if not most court-appointed attorneys in juvenile law cases.

You have to do something to get a dead-beat court-appointed attorney’s attention. Writing letters is the way to go. It puts them on notice that (1) you have some legal knowledge, (2) you want your children back, (3) you want a better quality of representation than they are giving to most clients.

If I were to write a letter to an attorney in a new CPS case, it might go something like this:

You have been appointed to represent me as an attorney in the county juvenile court. Be on my side; I need your help. I am fighting for the release of my three children from state custody. I am innocent of any wrongdoing. The caseworker made assumptions about me that are false. My children need to be at home with me, for their well-being – mentally, emotionally, and physically.

While you are my attorney, please keep in mind that you are working for me, not for the county that pays you. As my attorney I expect you to give me the best legal representation available. I therefore request face-to-face meetings with you at least once monthly to make sure you are actively working on my case, and not letting it slide between the cracks.

I understand that many court-appointed attorneys tend to simply guide parents through the juvenile court system, advising them to plead guilty to charges to make things easier for everyone else in the courtroom. This is not the kind of representation I’m requesting. I’m asking you to be actively involved in proving my innocence.

I’m hereby asking that you take my case to trial and make the caseworker prove all charges. Since they are false charges, I think it would be in my best interest, and the best interest of my children, if I were to fight to prove my innocence with a full trial. Do not under any circumstances ask me to plead guilty to false charges against me.

As you know, parents involved in CPS cases have to complete a ‘service plan’ yet many do so and still do not get their children returned. I would like to avoid doing any kind of ‘services’ and request that you refuse all services, and/or force the caseworkers to prove the need for any services requested. I do not want to be in the position of many parents in these cases forced to have psychological evaluations when there is no evidence of mental illness, or forced to do drug testing when there’s no evidence of drug abuse. Please honor my request, protect my best interests, and see that my time is not wasted by unnecessary court-ordered ‘services’. Of course they would also be a waste of taxpayer money. Do everything you can to resist these services in my case. As you are my attorney I’m trusting you to fight these issues individually and fiercely.

I expect you to be 100% aware of what is happening with my case at all times, and to inform me immediately of any changes.

I expect you to obtain and share with me a complete copy of the case file including all case narratives.

I expect you to help me compile substantial evidence to prove my innocence in this case by preponderance of the evidence.

I expect you to produce legal paperwork including a complete response to all caseworker reports, declarations supporting my side of the case, and other documents as needed, and to present those documents to the judge or juvenile court referee who hears our case.

I expect you to do everything you can to prevent my name from being included on the central index, blacklisting people from working with children. I am innocent and my name should not be included on that list.

Please respond to my requests in writing within ten days; I will need your written response for my records in this case.

Sincerely,

Name of Client

…

NOTE: Some of these suggestions are for people with NEW cases; if your case has gone beyond the initial phases your needs will be different. Don’t just copy what I wrote; put these ideas into your own words. TYPE your letters. MAKE COPIES FOR YOUR RECORDS and keep them in a safe place.

…

Comments? I would like to get other ideas from the people reading this on what could be included in letters to attorneys. What do you want from your attorney? Let’s brainstorm this and come up with some great ideas that people who come here in the future will be able to benefit from. Are there any phrases all letters should contain? Anything you think we shouldn’t ask the attorney?

Update: 4/2010 – Read about what the ABA is trying to get CPS attorneys do do for you:
National Project to Improve Representation for Parents Involved in the Child Welfare System.

Update: 11/2010 – Read: Tips for getting the best possible representation from your court appointed attorney
…

Similar Posts:

Filed under: CPS,Legal Issues — Linda Martin @ 9:36 pm

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169 Comments »

  1. Questions for Newcomers

    .

    Here is a link on effective documentation:

    http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/cps/cpsl.cfm

    Here is an outline for Legal and Judicial issues:

    http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/courts/appende.cfm

    .

    Comment by Janet Ramsey — August 21, 2007 @ 5:47 am



  2. In 2005, The ABA drafted a set of ethical guidelines for Parent Attorneys.

    Like all “guidelines”, they are suggested, but not often followed. But, it is worth mentioning that the American Bar Association at least acknowledges some of our complaints, and acted accordingly. I happen to know one of the attorneys who helped draft this.

    Go to http://www.abanet.org/ and look for Parent Attorney in Cases of Abuse and Neglect.

    It runs to 44 pages, but you can print out the highlights and give/e-mail them to your attorney. Hard to come back against something like that.

    I have seen letters which include the instruction that the attorney is NOT to talk with CPS without the parent being reuqested to be present.

    I have also seen a demand that if the attorney at any time fails to believe the parent is innocent, the attorney should notify the parent and leave time for a motion to dismiss the attorney.

    One more thing. I have seen in a parent’s letter that all case workers or GAL who will testify during the hearing be asked to do so under oath.

    Comment by K. — August 21, 2007 @ 11:23 am



  3. Thank you Janet and K.

    Excellent suggestions.

    One phrase that might be needed in our own PARENT GLOSSARY should be

    LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT: Copied from Special Education Federal legislation, this terminology refers to the fact that a child is supposed to placed with family.

    Naturally, a known member is far less intimidating to a child.

    Linda, may I suggest that we make up a list of our own phrases which should be adhered to by cw.

    For example: DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE—which was cited in Bramm holding where foster children were subjected ( willy-nilly) to random moves. LItigation was successful based solely on the facts that one little girl was moved 14x in FC. Also, that cw’s routinely and with DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE MOVED KIDS.

    We also need a link to cases which we have annotated with our own understandings of the legal thinking involved.

    Thanks! Great thread!!

    I hope folks read the atty recommendations cited.

    Best to all. F.

    Comment by fern — August 21, 2007 @ 2:45 pm



  4. Here’s the direct link to the document K told us about:
    http://www.abanet.org/child/clp/ParentStds.pdf

    Very helpful!!! Thanks K… I’m sure that when followed, these guidelines from the ABA will help families prevail in court more often. I didn’t know about this document and am thrilled to see that the ABA has responded to the needs of parents in this way.

    Comment by Linda — August 21, 2007 @ 5:20 pm



  5. Janet – great links!! I especially like the one that explains everything that should be in a CPS case file. It will help people itemize what they need, and understand the contents.

    And Fern (my old friend – we’ve been fighting CPS together for a long time now) … you brought up an important issue with the ‘least restrictive environment’ for the children. That’s something people can ask their attorneys to address in court, in their letters.

    I’m so impressed with the responses to this thread. I’m sure these ideas will really help people who are working through CPS cases.

    Comment by Linda — August 21, 2007 @ 5:37 pm



  6. It was from this site that we learned about doing Declaration of Facts and Omissions and Corrections forms.

    Our attorney kept ignoring this issue when we brought it up. This is an important issue to be made clear to the attorney. You have this right and s/he should see to it that you file this vital information.

    Fortunately we found out that if you are going to be a witness then you can file this. My husband was going to be a witness in our daughter and granddaughter’s hearing. Therefore, we boldly went and filed our forms much to the dismay of the attorney.

    Our daughter, with the help of our lawyers para legal, filed her forms.

    This is crucial in the beginning of your battle with the courts and cps.

    The para legal informed us that cps gets to give their side first which we all know takes months and months before you can present your side. By then it is too late; the judge has made up his/her mind.

    These forms let you present your side during the whole process from beginning to end.

    The other reason you need to do this is so that everything is filed in case you want to sue. You cannot bring up any facts if they are not already filed.

    We all know not everything gets said in court due to time constraints.

    Comment by Ruth — August 21, 2007 @ 5:50 pm



  7. Thanks Ruth… I’m glad to hear that the documents here helped your family win that case!! I learned about the Omissions and Corrections form while I was protesting CPS at the Tulare County Courthouse (CA) in 1991. An attorney stopped to talk to me and said he’d filed this for his client. Later the client came to us with all her information and we did a three or four part series on her case in the local weekly newspaper. So you can thank that attorney, I think his name was Stevenson, for this idea.

    Anyhow.. that’s a great idea, to include in the letter that these forms must be filed.

    Think about it everyone (if you haven’t already) . . . since the standard of proof in a CPS case is “preponderance of the evidence” . . . if the only “evidence” is a caseworker’s report, and the CPS client files nothing, who is more likely to win in court? That’s what has happened in a lot of these cases! So to win, you must compile evidence and write legal documents.

    Comment by Linda — August 21, 2007 @ 6:03 pm



  8. Thank you for this excellent article. I intend to reproduce it on the website “ACS Must Be Stopped.”

    Comment by Eugene Weixel — August 23, 2007 @ 8:12 pm



  9. Eugene, thank you, and that will be fine. Please include a link back to this page. Also thanks for all the work you’re doing to protest ACS failings on your website: ACS Must Be Stopped.

    Comment by Linda — August 23, 2007 @ 9:07 pm



  10. Eugene:

    Jst to say hi and keep the heat on them up there in NYC. An insider’s views such as yours must be seen as treason, but you have my abject respect for the work you are doing.

    Comment by K. — August 23, 2007 @ 9:57 pm



  11. i need help whit my cps case

    Comment by alma — August 24, 2007 @ 3:30 pm



  12. Alma:

    My suggestion is that you join the message forum.

    Comment by K. — August 24, 2007 @ 8:20 pm



  13. this is very well prepared. i wish i would of found this first. thank you so much.

    Comment by kwanie — August 26, 2007 @ 8:44 am



  14. hi like every thing but the part about spinding the tax payers money come on thats one ov the things thay live off ov do you really think thay think about what one person pays an it all adds up to a pay check to thim an taxes comes out ov every one evin thim so all thay are doing is geting there money back if you add it up in taxes so forget about the taxes thay pay i pay every one pays but it does not go to good it goes to those fat asses coplaning there stake is not maid right an thay pay taxes on that meal what dont bring taxes in on an age old debate we all pay we all lose

    Comment by melony — August 27, 2007 @ 2:20 pm



  15. oh wait did not alot ov tax money go to help a naboring state in hericane catrina so how could taxes help a native of this state whin there over bugeting us to help some one else so where does eny money go that we pay an why cant we have a say we do pay thats the law kindness is filled with doller bills ov tax payers an right now im not filling to kind i want to say why me but realy why eny body

    Comment by melony — August 27, 2007 @ 2:33 pm



  16. i am dealing with cps in 2 states, state #1 is the state i am in, were my exboyfriend/ 2 of my 4 kids father and i went to court in 1998 about childcustody (we have joint cusody except i am mc and have a few more rights then him) after we broke up.
    state #2 is were my childs father lives and was convicted for beating my child while she was on a visit, my lawyer is in state #2, my court appointed lawyer ask me if i approve t state #2 haveing juris. and i say no and he hangs up, and will not talk to me about anything else! my court appointed Attorney, D.A.’s office, and the judge are all in state #2 and the only thing they will talk to me about is juris. everytime i say no i do not approve! what can i do or can any one help me solve this problem?

    Comment by jennifer — November 3, 2007 @ 11:20 am



  17. I AM FIGHTING TO GET MY SON BACK,HE IS 5YEARS OLD,I HAVE DONE ANY AND ALL THERE SERVICES THEY ASKED AND STILL THEY HAVENT RETURNED HIM,I AM A GRADUATE OF DRUG COURT,I VE BEEN CLEAN ALMOST TWO YEARS,I MADE A MISTAKE BY BELIEVIN MY EX. WAS CLEAN AND SOBER,THEY RAIDED MY HOME ,FOUND THINGS THAT I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE WAS THERE,I WENT AND DID THREE DRUG TESTES IN A WEEK TO PROVE THAT I WAS CLEAN AND SOBER,I AM FEARING THE TIME FRAME THEY GIVE YOU TO PROVE IM A GOOD PARENT,THEY DID NOT PUT MY SON INTO OUR PARENTING CLASS WHEN I HAD US ENROLLED.IT WAS 4 MONTHS LATER,WHAT DO I DO?I HAVE COMPLIED WITH EVERY THING AND THEN SOME AND THEY STILL HAVENT GIVEN MY SON BACK…IF I HAD MONEY TO PAY FOR A PRIVATE ATTORNEY I TRULLY BELEIVE IN MY HEART THAT MY SON WOULD BE HOME WITH ME WHERE HE BELONGS. ANY HELP WOULD BE WELCOME AND GRATEFUL THANK YOU A HEARTBROKEN MOM. MICHELLE MCDANIEL SPOKANE,WASHINGTON

    Comment by MICHELLE MCDANIEL — January 1, 2008 @ 6:52 pm



  18. Hi…I hate to burst anyone’s bubble, but if you think that the above correspondence will do anything other than put your attorney on the defensive, you’re mistaken. I represent many parents and children in state custody proceedings. These are complicated matters, to say the least. This proposed letter assumes that your new court-appointed attorney essentially has no other cases of any significance, which is laughable, as I’m sure you would realize. If you insist on representation to this degree, go borrow 25-35k and buy a few months of an attorney’s time and lay out your “demands” to him or her. If you buy a $200 car you should expect perfomance relatively commensurate with your investment; if you drop $40K on a car you expect something altogether different. Why do you think the provision of legal services is any different? Are you that naive?

    Comment by MH — April 9, 2008 @ 5:26 pm



  19. Oh, and one other little ditty: go to trial on the issue of parental unfitness after refusing to comply with a service plan and watch your kids be adopted. This is evidence of unfitenss in many states. Do what you wish, obviously, but don’t blame your lawyer when the crap hits the fan. Your an adult, not a child; effective assistance of counsel does not mean that your lawyer is omniscient, particularly when you are your own worst enemy. Grow up, gang.

    Comment by MH — April 9, 2008 @ 5:33 pm



  20. MH – everyone has the right to proper (aggressive) representation regardless of how impoverished they may be. The fact that you think they don’t have that right shows what kind of attorney you are. The letter is INTENDED to put bad lawyers on the defensive and make them THINK that maybe they could be sued if they don’t do the right thing.

    Anyone who has ever been to juvenile court with a do-nothing public defender will know exactly what I mean.

    Comment by Linda — April 13, 2008 @ 8:05 am



  21. About “refusing to comply with a service plan” – I do not recommend that parents refuse to comply. What I recommend is that their LAWYERS should bring issues about the plan to the judge’s attention and let him know when certain aspects of the service plan are inappropriate, unnecessary, and a waste of taxpayer money. As a LAWYER, that is YOUR DUTY. You are supposed to represent your client, not the county that’s making money hand over fist with social security reimbursements by demanding unnecessary “services”.

    Comment by Linda — April 13, 2008 @ 8:12 am



  22. It has been over a year and I really messed up I trusted an officer that told us that the home safety plan we had would not keep the parents from commeing and takeing the baby and for me to bring her in for a 24hr hold and get gaurdenship papers and we would get her back. We were told the next day at court we were lied to and a dfacs worker would not tell her name and didnt let us inthe court room and the case worker from cobb dfacs said we should have been in the court room. The worker from dville ga comes out and tells is that they sent the baby back to dville for a72 hr hold and they had closed there case and sent it to cobb county were we lived with the child and they charged the mother with abandament in dville ga and thats a lie the safety plan says the child can not leave my home so the mother could not take the baby with her.And no matter what we do they want let us have her 3 home evaluations and we found her abused in foster care. A case worker says she dont care what we want she knows a couple that needs a baby and she is going to give them the baby. The lawyer for dfacs lies and they dont want listen to the case worker from cobb or ask for reports. And the child was sent to another county to live not the county were the case is. Lawyers dont show and I paid a lawyer an she took our money and would not stand up to dfacs. Now they want to let the couple take the child out of the country but we cant see her. To us the judge lets dfacs rule. THANKS SWEETLOVE

    Comment by sweetlove — September 25, 2008 @ 5:32 pm



  23. I thought you were required to also pay for court appointed lawyers. Is that not true? Typically how do court appointed lawyers get paid. Does the defendant when the case closes has to pay for court appointed lawyer fees?

    Comment by Salman — October 11, 2008 @ 11:45 am



  24. Sweetlove… the parents of this child need to fight the case with their attorneys… if you are a grandmother or some other relative you have less rights unless granted legal standing by the court. It sounds like your caseworker gave this child to a friend, and so any lie would do to keep the child. Since it has been a year it may be too late, but I’d submit the Declaration of Facts and Omissions and Corrections forms… found here on FightCPS in the Legal Document Library… if not too late. Then if there is a TPR, file for an appeal right away. Best of luck and love to you… I hope you’re in many ways, successful.

    Comment by Linda — October 15, 2008 @ 2:19 pm



  25. Salman, the county is supposed to pay for court appointed attorneys. If you don’t qualify for a court appointed attorney, you will have to hire someone else.

    Comment by Linda — October 15, 2008 @ 2:21 pm



  26. wow MH you may be right. but we are people and do deserve to have the same legal representation as the rest of the people in the world even though we are not rich. you say you represent families and stuff. so do you treat them all the same or do you treat the ones with money BETTER?

    Comment by Mindy steele — October 18, 2008 @ 9:06 pm



  27. MH, you seem to be the one on the defensive now. whats wrong did something someone say strike a nerve? linda i get what your saying.
    i may not be a lawyer or anything of the sort but i sure am aware of my rights and totally thing we deserve the best legal representation when can get even if they attorney is just getting paid by the court/county.

    Comment by Mindy steele — October 18, 2008 @ 9:36 pm



  28. Mindy – I’m glad MH posted because it just goes to show what kind of attorneys the court is appointing for child welfare victims.

    Excellent example, don’t you think?

    Comment by Linda — October 22, 2008 @ 4:39 pm



  29. Re “Dos and Don’ts” Yes, keep a journal, but it can be a website, a laptop, a paper file, emails—if possible get them to put everything in writing, document as much as possible, or tape record it, just bring the tape recorder to any meeting and put it on the table, they will protest, but you have a right to record every conversation regardless of what they say or do.

    I did not hire anyone, did not spend one cent on private attorneys or on private investigators, I USED the attorneys the County assigned, and you can too, MAKE THEM WORK, BE ONE STEP AHEAD OF THEM! EDUCATE YOURSELF!

    Comment by a.j. ovitsky — December 9, 2008 @ 11:42 am



  30. Searching the kids’ rooms—go ahead and search BUT DO NOT TELL THE DCFS INVESTIGATOR!!!!! The less you tell the investigator the faster your case is likely to disappear. ANYTHING you tell the dependency investigator WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU. GIVE THIS INFO TO YOUR LAWYER, NOT TO THE DI.

    Comment by a.j. ovitsky — December 9, 2008 @ 11:43 am



  31. here’s a good one about the klamath Defender Services,Inc
    I have been through two klamath Defender’s
    that has done nothing for me over the last three year’s my child is being abused by foster parent’s as well of our children in this home,C.P.S state’s thats ok,I have filed complaints on C.P.S as well as going to the Oregon State Bar on my court appointed attorney’s it did not do any good
    the lie’s that they come out with does NOT match my paper work.I tryed to get my file from the Klamath Defender’s office and they can’t find it( hmmm)attorney’s that have your files can’t seem to find your file
    so I filed a complaint to the oregon state bar (Hmm)the attorney’s that I had came up with only half of my file and then I had a hard time geting it because they were going to charge me over $2000.00 dollar’s
    for my file…so over the last 9 month’s
    I have been with out attorney and been fighting on my own…because the klamath defender services,Inc can seem two get me a attorney….and over a week ago I got
    a C.R.B letter in the mail so I sent them a letter and by fax as well to salem oregon
    and I have not heard a word out of any of them writting every day and faxes so today I go in two the C.R.B with out a attorney as always they are only one sided
    as always…….everything you tell your attorney will be used against you in court
    the more you tell them the more they will use against you..I know this because it has happened to me…2 time’s the oregon state bar is no help..anyways good luck and keep fighting it’s a hard road

    Comment by JH — December 16, 2008 @ 10:04 am



  32. My mom is a disabled veteran who has recently come into contact with CPS. She had filed a complaint at the VA hospital and the complaint was given to the girl she was complaining about. Needless to say, a couple of days later, CPS was at her door. My mom gave them her medical records without signing a consent thinking she was cooperating but they turned it into “she is an unstable person who is neglecting her child”. She fired her court appointed attorney because he did not want to research any of the false alligations. He told her to comply with all court orders and just “deal with it”. So now my younger sister is in my care while we battle CPS on our own. They have recently had her sign a service plan but now they are requiring her to go see one of their doctors for an evaluation. Is that legal? I was under the impression that you can choose your own therapist. At this point should we hire a lawyer? how much does it usually cost for a case like this? I am in desperate need of guidance. Our court date is just around the corner. Also I have been taking my sister to counseling and the counselor said my sister is suffering from separation anxiety and depression. We live in Texas. What should we do???

    Comment by QB — January 5, 2009 @ 8:47 pm



  33. It depends upon what she signed. First rule, after say nothing is to sign nothing.

    If you can afford an attorney, I would get one now.

    Your mother needs someone to read over the service plan carefully and advise you accordingly.

    Also, someone to research your state statutes. Often CPS does things that they are not legally allowed to do.

    YOU need to tread carefully as they could remove the child from your care. So, I would keep a low profile while helping your mom.

    Document everything.

    One thing I can recommend is to have your mother see her own doctor. This may be difficult if she uses VA services and she suspects that someone from the VA is the CPS caller.

    At any rate, she should go to a doctor she trusts.

    As to hiring the attorney, interview as many as you can (most give free consults)-find one who is accostumed to fighting CPS.

    Please join the message forum.

    There is a poster / moderator there who knows a great deal about military families and even though your mom is no longer in active service, this poster may be able to advise you in areas where the rest of us can not.

    Comment by MaggieC — January 5, 2009 @ 11:11 pm



  34. my daughter was taking drugs while pregnant, most were prescribed by her own ob. she was put in the hosp. about 2 1/2 wks prior to baby’s birth and was told she had to come off the drugs she had been on for years or dcbs may take the baby. keep in mind she was legally on the meds for years d/t bipolar disorder/ anxiety, etc. she got many promises of help and treatment. she refused the meds she was offered in the hosp. except ones used to delay too early labor. she totally detoxed herself. the baby was born and i was made partial guardian she was contacted by dcbs on the day after a bad labor and emergency c section because the baby was not in position to be born, he was sideways. they again told her they would get her in programs and classes to get her help. the baby was sent to nicu because of his juandice, bruising, etc at birth. she was sent home without anything for pain but motrin and has been clean since, has passed 2 or 3 drug tests was being a very good mother to her child, and beginning to rebuild her bond to her 5 yr old.
    when the baby was about a month old I accidentally dropped the baby. I was very tired and fell asleep in my chair while holding him(which was not abnormal for me I have slept holding babies since I was a teenager) however I must have let go of him and he rolled off a fall of about 2 ft and his arm was broken. My daughter was sitting on the end of the bed watching tv with me and we both heard the fall and went after the baby and then discovered the injury to his arm and called 911.
    A state trooper and social worker came to the emergency department and did an interview and was told by the nurse that the dr. determined the injury was caused by the fall and accidental. the trooper was very kind and unjudgemental but asked questions to determine what happened. he then asked the social worker if they were done there. she said yes, but her and case worker would be out in the morning to see the baby.
    we took the baby home and they came out the next day and for the first time in about 4 to 5 weeks talked to my daughter about treatment saying they were having a difficult time scheduling anything d/t holidays. she repeatedly asked them to get her started. and went for a drug test which was negative.
    later in the day they called and asked me what medicine i was on and i told them all my medicines. I am on a pain patch, lyrica, metoprolol, lisinopril/hctz, zantac, and have several meds i don’t take because they make me drowsy and I don’t take them unless i’m really bad and don’t have the kids to watch. on the night of the accident I had taken no meds that make me drowsy and because i use my pain meds appropriately for pain and as ordered and because i have been on them for many years, they do NOT make me drowsy. they tended to when i had to first start taking them, but no more. I am on that patch at any given time and take it to be able to function d/t really bad arthritis. I am never “drugged out” or whatever they do when overused.
    later that day they called and said they were taking the baby out of our home because of my daughters drug history and that I was on paid meds.

    I have been penalized for years because i have to take meds to be able to get around but to lose our baby because of my using my meds the way i’m supposed to is just too much.
    we are going for a plan meeting and i just got a lawyer but the social worker keeps making comments about the older child not being “out of the woods yet.” He has lived with me and has been cared for and loved very much by me for most of his life. He knows no matter what in his unstable life prior to living with me, that I will be there and care for him. I volunteer at his school, support everything he does, take him to soccer practice, help with homework. everything. and we are very close. If they take him just because they can it will tear him and me apart.
    I cannot say how sorry I am that because of a stupid accident I injured my new grandson, words aren’t enough to say how sorry I am. The night of the accident and days after even now I can’t talk about it without crying. I love him so very much.
    My daughter is still waiting, the baby is about 6 wks old and still no classes and now they are trying to make her go away to a treatment plan for 30 to 60 days. We go to my brothers and say with the baby every day and it just isn’t fair to make her go away from her baby. and to have her baby live elsewhere, when she has done everything they have asked.
    I have tried to be very honest about what has happened, does anyone have suggestions? Her lawyer won’t even sit down and take to her (court appointed.) I don’t think he’s even heard the story of what really happened.
    Oh yes, just for information. I was a registered nurse for almost 20 years. have devoted my life to care for people. I also have 4 children and now 8 grandchildren and everyone tells me what a wonderful grandmother I am. I love my babies more than life. I am not a baby abuser, just a person who made a mistake and will never make that mistake again. Please help.

    Comment by sprnanny — January 6, 2009 @ 12:43 am



  35. WHEN YOU GO TO A TPR (TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS) HEARING AND THE JUDGE EVEN AGREES WITH YOU (THE PARENT) THAT THE CHILD SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU AND THE TRIAL IS DISMISSED. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN DCS (DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN SERVICES) DOES NOT WANT TO RETURN YOUR CHILD TO YOU AND WONT ALLOW YOU TO VISIT? THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING IN THIER POWER TO STILL ADOPT YOUR CHILD TO ANOTHER FAMILY. IT TAKES “A LONG TIME” TO EVEN BE HEARD IN THIS SYSTEM ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK WOMEN.

    Comment by Sabrina — January 7, 2009 @ 4:51 pm



  36. I know exactly what people are going through. My 3 great-grandchildren have been in foster care. A worthless court appointed attorney got the eldest daughter awarded to her father that had not visited her in years and wanted nothing to do with her until he married a woman that could not have children. They were taken out of the grandmothers home and put in foster care. then adopted out. DSHS needs to be forced to have a citizen review board before they are allowed to steal children then sell them for up to $10,000.00 in WA state. It is criminal what they are doing. Now they have the baby in foster care and are trying to adopt her out.

    Comment by Ellen Rackham — January 9, 2009 @ 1:12 pm



  37. thanks maggie c. i do try to keep a low profile and i comply with all court orders including supervised visitations, doctors visits, dental visits, and home visits just to make sure i do not give them any reason to remove her from my care. we just came back from the status hearing that should’ve gone smoothly because my mother is complying with everything they are asking her to do. the judge was told that my sister is suffering from depression now so his response to this was that my mother should move in with me if she is that concerned with her daughter’s depression. Very rude through this whole thing. Is there a way to remove our case out of his courtroom since he is obviously not looking out for the best interest of the child but more concerned with the personal issue he has with my mother?

    Comment by QB — January 11, 2009 @ 11:44 am



  38. It is difficult to switch judges. Be sure to document everything and to get the transcripts from every hearing.

    Comment by MaggieC — January 11, 2009 @ 3:12 pm



  39. i will do that. u know, they asked me to take my sister to counseling and i did that. the counselor gave my sister a depression test and wrote a report for me to take to court stating that my sister has suicidal ideations now and that it is in her best interest to be returned to my mother. Well, they turned that around too, saying that they don’t know that my sister wasn’t already depressed before she was removed from the home so now they are ordering a psychological evaluation on her. this is nothing but a circus. i am starting to lose hope. i don’t feel like they will ever stop even though my mother is doing everything they asked. i just don’t know what to do. our next court date is in april and that is half way through the 12 month mark. i’m very scared for my family.

    Comment by QB — January 12, 2009 @ 5:55 pm



  40. What am I supposed to do when my state appointed attorney lies to the judge.
    I told my attorney that my house was not ready to live in. I was in the process of replacing the carpets with hardwood floors because of my sons allergies.
    My attorney told the judge that I was afraid of my husband and that is why I could not have my son with me.
    Now I am still fighting CPS to get my son returned. They claim that his father is a threat to his safety, I refuse to leave my husband, so therefore my son should be adopted out.
    How do I fight this?
    Plus, my social worker has been in and out of a DV relationship and is a heavy drinker. She was drunk at the last FCCRB that we had.

    Comment by Ida Hensley — January 12, 2009 @ 10:32 pm



  41. Someone please help me. I have been fighting for my children for a year and half now. Pike County Children and Youth have had me so scared, so I was doing everything they asked of me. I do not believe that I am a bad mother. My oldest son got headlice from school and was missing school because the nurse was sending him home. I dont know what else to do. I had another baby in July of 08. Pike County Children and Youth services came to the hospital the day my daughter was born and said she could not come home with me because I already had an active case. They did not have any court papers or anything. They told us that if we tried to take our daughter from the hospital it would be put on lockdown. I have done nothing wrong. I have completed all drug tests and never have had any problems,they also asked me to do an intake with Mental Health, which is rediculous. I have never had any problems. I just recently got offered a court appointed lawyer, I dont hear from him very often. I do not hear anything from the Caseworker at all. My children are cuurently with my parents, and I want them home. They were placed there on a “voluntary placement” back in 2006, and children and youth told me that I could not have any friends at all. I dont understand what else to do. I only see my children 2 times a month in a room in the Children and Youth office. They refuse to give me anymore visits. I have done nothing to deserve this. Please help me.

    Comment by Joanna — January 15, 2009 @ 11:52 pm



  42. More Taxpayer Money for A Useless County Employee
    Well, I had another meeting today with my long awaited for court appointed attorney. I was ready. Had my ducks in a row as it were. Documents, notes, etc in hand. I even found a wonderful example of a “make your court appointed attorney work for YOU” letter on an awesome website I found called http://www.fightcps.com. The information and resources this website has are amazing, but anyway. I typed up my letter of what I wanted and expected from this “county paid” attorney.
    Believe it or not I was flat out told “I will not do any of the things you are asking for.” “Fighting DFS is pointless.” So I asked “so you want me to just roll over and play dead?!” She actually had the nerve to respond “It is my expereince (17 years), if you follow the case plan, you will get your daughter back.” I askedagain, just to be clear “so in 17 years you have never had a case where the parents jumped through all the hoops and didn’t get their children back?” She responded “never”.
    I had to point out that in all of the research I have been doing lately, that is certainly NOT the norm. I mean, I have read the horror stories of where parents jump through all the hoops and never get their kids back. Then there is the whole I AM NOT BEING CHARGED WITH ANYTHING OR EVEN BEING INVESTIGATED thing.
    I mean am I the only person in this dang county that thinks that it a major problem????
    I am obviously the only person who thinks convicting someone on “because I say so” is wrong. They have proven that here. I still can’t get over that. But that particular part isn’t my fight – would almost be easier if it was. I personally AM NOT BEING CHARGED OR INVESTIGATED!
    So I am sitting back, waiting for our next hearing, a “disposition” hearing which according to this brilliant attorney I have now is “just a status conference really”. What a crock – this woman still doesn’t get it – I am not stupid. I may not be THE most intelligent person out there, but I am fairly smart. Smart enough to know when wrong is wrong and dammit this whole thing is just WRONG!!!!
    Admittedly when I first began going through this I thought to mysself, surely none of this can be right. They can’t do this. Then I started researching. Then I started emailing and begging for help. Then I started discovering all these groups (like http://www.passagegroups.us and http://www.fightcps.com), newpaper articles about the horror stories, the parents rights groups like the National Parents Rights Association – and I discovered – oh my god – I am NOT alone – and oh my god – they (DFS/CPS) makes a habit out of this sort of thing.
    Somehow, someway, I have to find a way to get the word out about this place. One thing I have discovered in all of my research so far, is that ironically, there is not a whole lot of information about Wyoming as far as statistics go. Admittedly, I am not done looking yet either.
    I would love to find a way to find all the DFS cases my so called attorney has worked over the last 17 years to see if what she is saying is true (that children are always returned to the parents IF they complete the case plan). Call me cynical but my gut tells me – she is full of it!!!

    Comment by Lydia — January 16, 2009 @ 10:39 am



  43. NEED AGRESSIVE ATTORNEY IN ARIZONA! High profile case.

    Comment by K.P. — January 24, 2009 @ 5:24 pm



  44. i need help finding a lawyer to take case against cps

    Comment by misty cristello — January 24, 2009 @ 6:53 pm



  45. Hello, I would like to let all of the parents know who’ve ever had there children taken, that I’m in the same boat as you. My children were taken from me just last week because of a social worker who did not like me. She offered me to take classes for reasons that had nothing to do with my children from the start. After I asked her why did I need to take the classes per I did not refuse to take the classes, however one week later she went to my children’s school and removed them. And I work in the same department as these social workers. But I do know that my rights were violated due to the fact that these classes are voluntary and not mandatory.

    Comment by Maureen Smith — February 24, 2009 @ 12:04 pm



  46. I am a Missouri resident who applied and past my home study in Missouri to gain conservortership of my two nephews in Texes. However when I went to court to get the boys, CPS denied me for very rediculas reasons. Things that they could have just asked me. Such as why I don’t pay child support on my son. So they remain in CPS coustody. Placed in a Cathlioc home and have been Pegan raised children.They had the boys in care for 10 months before they attemted to even go to my sisters home,and 15 months before they filled out her family history report,this was completed when I went to court in the hallway.What kind of system is this? They have allowed the foster parents to file interest on the boys,and the court has not even terminated on my sister yet…My sister is being railroaded… She did however request a jury trial, begining April 14,2009…I’m dishearted and lost…Any help or advise would be greatly apprecieated…

    Comment by Nicky — February 25, 2009 @ 9:21 pm



  47. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE A COURT APP AND YOU CAN NEVER REACH NOR DOES HE RETURN YOUR CALLS AS NOW WE ARE FIGHTING DHS EVEN MORE AS WE WAS SOPSE TO HAVE OUR CASE CLOSED ON 3/2 BUT NOW DHS CAM OUT AND TOOK OUR CHILDREN AGAIN ON 2/4 ON ANOTHER BUMMED UP INVESTIGATION BUT I GUES THATS WHY OUR FREINDS SAY FREMONT COUNTY SUCKS…

    Comment by walter dixonsr.co — March 5, 2009 @ 9:55 am



  48. on jan 18 2008 i was arrested for a dui my 2 boys were taken by cps upon resolving that matter i was reffered to a stringent family reunification plan it is now march 2009 i have completed all requirements asked of me by the court but i have had ongoing trouble with my social worker i knew within 2x of meeting her she had no intention of returning my children to me i told my attorney this he responded with just get an apartment and everything will be fine well first of all i am a disabled 40 year old male single father i was told i had a total of 18 months to complete the program at my12 month hearing the social workers recomendation was to cease my services on pure nonsense i need only complete a parenting class and all requirements are met but as i said before linda mendosa has decided a long time ago that i should not get my children i was instructed to leave my mothers house my only place of residence and to sever all contact with my only support group my family so for over a year i lived in tents or where ever i could while i compleated these services i have tested clean at all times and graduated all classes so why do i know have to go to a jury trial when my lawyer will not even call me back i feel hopless i love my sons with all my heart i made a mistake but made ammends for it but i am still being punished for it but most of all my children are suffering!

    Comment by kevin doyle — March 5, 2009 @ 10:02 pm



  49. this is great information, it is right! i hope my attorney doesn’t fire me, lol.. she’s been my attorney for over a year and i’ve been doing the work, i’m almost my own attorney, great information, i’ll be letting you know the results

    Comment by sarah — March 24, 2009 @ 11:15 am



  50. I am concerned for my friend she just found out her nine year old who has issues has been doing stuff with her 3 and 4 year old and just found out last night during meeting when her daughter had said out loud he put his penis in my mouth right now she is homeless but is staying with me for another week because she just left her husband she called her nine year olds therapist to see if there were any state funded programs she could send him to to get help because she no longer wants him around her girls/ his sisters and I don’t want him around my kids anymore and he pretty much said no And that he was obligated to call CPS I feel horrible because I was the one that told her to call the therapist to see what she should do! to add to it her nephew who is also nine has been living with her since he was 2 months and she only has legal Gaurdianship and he is a ward of the state so she is scared to death of losing him!!!!!! she wants her son out of the home but not her nephew, Before she speaks to CPS what should she say? Can I get in trouble for having them stay with me now since her son has “issues”? our home is clean we have plenty of food , our kids are well dressed and have nice rooms , and they have been sleeping downstairs we gave my friend the upstairs untill next week

    Comment by D — April 22, 2009 @ 10:58 am



  51. I have a problem with CPS in AZ. I have a 4 year old son and a 6 month old son. Unfortunately I do not have medical insurance and I have not been able to take my youngest son to the doctor. CPS was called because my 6 month is small for his age. I talked with the caseworker and did everything I was asked to do. I reapplied for insurance through the state and took my son to the doctors appointments that they recommended. However, my caseworker seems to have a different agenda than what I thought. She tells me one thing then she recruits others to say different. She has breached my confidentiality from day one. Immediately when we went to any doctors office, the first thing she would do is announce herself as a CPS caseworker and tell them my son has been medically neglected. Now everyone is looking down on me and its tilting the case in her favor. She also went to visit my oldest son’s grandmother becuase my son was visiting her at the time. She was suppose to be checking the environment. However, she gave them information about my youngest sons health situation and the case information. Which has nothing to do with them because the are not related to my youngest son. She told them that she has reports from three doctors saying that I neglected my son. She told them to come to a TDM that took place the next day. At this point they had already given me a 72 hour temporary custody notice because the doctors office would not see my son without insurance and this was the only way it could be paid for. I contacted her supervisor to complain about her volunteering confidential information to my sons grandmother. Her supervisor told me “she would not do anything that she is not suppose to do because she’s a good worker”. He told me we would discuss everything in the TDM and he would have her to call me. Immediately after we hung up the phone, he called the caseworker and told her everything I said. She called my son’s grandmother and asked if she told me anything because her supervisor told her I was upset. Obviously reporting her to her supervisor did nothing. This lady now has a personal problem with me. She is now recruiting my ex to take a paternity test and put his name on my sons birth certificate by telling him that he can take my kids and make me pay child support because I have a CPS case against me. Thankfully my ex does not want to do that although she continues to call him and try to encourage him to do so. This was the first issue. I also took my son to the doctors office for an appointment yesterday. We I arrived, one of the girls that answers the phone tells me to ask for a new caseworker. I asked “why”. She says “the caseworker called to confirmed that you made an appointment and she told me that your son has been neglected and he is very small”. I could not believe my ears. This lady obviously has no discretion. The girl said “I think she’s trying to make us look at you differently”. At this point I am very upset. I don’t know how to pursue this and how to stop this lady. She has tried to make me look like the worst person ever. I am a 23 year old single parent that receives no assist from anyone. I take very good care of my children and make sure that they don’t want for anything. This lady told me that they cut her pay and she doesn’t make much money but I would think after working for CPS for 5 years, she should know better. My son is now on a in-home dependency until we go to court in 3 days. Somebody please help me. I don’t know what to do about this. My babies need me and I need them. What do I do?

    Comment by Rae — June 6, 2009 @ 1:50 pm



  52. Something seriously needs to be done about CPS.I am a grandmother and CPS is causing nothing but nightmares for our family.My daughter has a 16 month old and the baby’s father made a call to CPS that my daughter ,me and my son was all doing drugs and the baby was being neglected.He has since been arrested on a drug charge and now doing time in prison.My daughter has proof that he made the call to get back at her.It was shown to CPS and the court but CPS insists on being a problem.We have taken drug test to prove our innocense.Still having to deal with these cold-hearted bastards.I often wonder what if the shoe was on the other foot.what if they were investigated for something unfounded and had their children put through a situation or removed..I have read every story on this page and my heart goes out to all of you.I wish all of you the best of luck.I pray for all the innocent victims that are being harrassed by CPS.Where is the justice or should i say where has it gone.god bless you all

    Comment by Beth — June 30, 2009 @ 10:18 pm



  53. I’m currently having a problem with cps in NY. They took my children away from me and my husband claiming that were neglecting them. Only because my husband and i argue sometimes but never in front of the children.

    Its been about 2 months now and now i can’t even see them at my moms house cause she’s working along with cps trying to keep my children and we can only see them once a week. CPS claims that my husband hit me with a chair in the head when i never stated that but they said i said it while i was in the hospital.

    The real issue is that the case worker from cps visited me in the hospital repeatedly telling me to divorce my husband and that if i didn’t she’d take the case to court and thats exactly what she did.

    Comment by Wiefy — July 22, 2009 @ 10:17 am



  54. Hi,
    I sure wish I had come across this site over two years ago.
    I will be wrting more here, as time permits, but I will tell you one thing; My infant granddaughter will not have died in vain when I’m through with this whole mockery of the law and ALL OUR HUMAN RIGHTS!!!
    There is no worse thing for a mother to have to do, then to have to tell her daughter she will never see her baby, again.
    A baby who was stunning at birth and healthy and whose mother took every precaution for a healthy pregnancy and outcome. A mother who looked forward to breastfeeding and nurturing her beautiful daughter in the lovely nursery she had worked so hard on; only to be thwarted by the cruel hand of the system who stole the baby shortly after her birth, via surreptitious and felonious means, ~a system, which had already made egregious and biased decisions against her, by placing another daughter in 2007,(shes now four)with the abuse and dependency enabling mother of her abuser(who now has liberal visitation with her now four year old daughter, with his mother overseeing it~courtesy of dyfs!!!).
    Now she even finds out, while still in morning, that this family has been given permission by this state’s biased farce of a “family” court, to leave the state, ~this, after one of the reasons this state said she couldn’t have such liberal visits with her daughter, was because she was trying to take her daughter with her to stay at her father’s home in NY, when she was trying to escape the abuse!!!!!!!!!!-Which dyfs lawyerS, in court, construed to the judge, to make her considered a “Flight Risk”!???????
    Most of what is happening here, is happening to the disadvantaged and the taken-advantage-of. A lot of what is going on now; arises out of class bias, and also is a means of backlash against the barely perceptible progress that women have made, against abuse and the impoverishing ways of an almost implacable financial/job prejudice.
    This country doesn’t want to know what is going on! ~It had better WAKE UP!
    ~MY GRANDDAUGHTER NO LONGER CAN!

    Comment by S.A.S. — July 26, 2009 @ 11:58 am



  55. what happens when a step child lies to help her mother and the man gets put in jail for abuse now fight in both courts for my freedom and to get my son back his mother and i fell out of love with each other a long time ago and we had talk about bracking up and how she was not going to take my son she knows she could not deal with me in court on an even playing field so we finally said we would get a divorce 4 days latter i got put in jail for sex abuse now my step daughter moved out of the house 2 years ago now that her mom and i going to have to fight in court over my son all of a sudden this stuff comes out that i abuse her a her younger sister now my wife is also trying to say now that i hurt my son as well this is a very horrible thing going on cps is all over me along with the lieing lawer the court gave the kids i truly feel if i was not a blackman and my wife was not a white woman some one would have looked at this along time ago and said somthing is not right here and look a bit deeper .but no they just go along with the BS that was told to them and now i am in the fight of my life for my self and my son

    Comment by mike — August 15, 2009 @ 11:52 am



  56. Help. I have seven children. I had just moved back to town an they took my children due to housing issues. It’s now been about nine months my children we’re first split up an put with family. The three oldest went wiht my sister then the four youngest went with the PG. My oldest daughter was sexually assualted. So they had to be removed out of their care in seperated into two different FP placements. THe girls are together and my oldest boy is by hisself. Now since then my girls have been locked out of the FP home, cut with a box cutter had to get thirteen stitches. THen they tried to say you was not listening to FP and she tried to commit sucide maybe. Next my five year old daughter set the grandmothers house on fire. They moved and for a long period of time did not knw their whereabouts. Now my girls have been moved two more times. Don’t hear from them an have been force to visiting with all my children once a week. Recently my four babies have been seperated an put into two seperate Fp’s home. I so far lost i DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. PLEASE CAN SOME ONE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE AS WHAT MY NOT MOVE NEED TO BE. ITS MORE TO THE STORY BUT THATS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART FOR NOW.

    Comment by E — September 16, 2009 @ 9:11 am



  57. For E and whoever else needs it – you can get feedback on your case from other victims of CPS at our message board.

    Have you written an affidavit to explain things from your side? If you take no evidence / paperwork to court the judge is likely to go along with everything CPS suggests. See the legal document library on this site. Make a document called “Objections and Corrections to the Report of the Social Worker” – there’s a sample in the legal document library on this site.

    Comment by LindaJoMartin — September 16, 2009 @ 2:05 pm



  58. I read through all the stories and it makes me angry. I am a Christian that respects others beliefs. The young lady whose nephew was put into a catholic home when he was raised pagan violates his constitutional rights. My children were removed because I dont like what they say so I tell them by yelling at them. I know its wrong but I become so angry at the bullspit that I lose it because I can’t believe this crap is coming out of their mouths. They are suppose to help and respect everyone from every socioeconomic background but they put their own feelings and beliefs in there and the Judge believes them.

    I was beginning to believe that maybe they are right I do have an anger problem but the psychiatrist they sent me too says that I’m not that I’m like the average black woman that refuses to take crap from anybody. And if the judge didn’t have the authority to put me in jail I would’ve told her that she was a mindless beast that is allowing herself to be their puppet without asking for evidence. These judges are crazy. And there are two good judges on the bench in Marion County, Indianapolis, In and they are judge Jensen and judge Danielle Gregory. Gregory from my understanding was fired from the bench for texting a married man during court sessions. Although I don’t agree with her texting, I think its wrong to fire her because she is hanging out with another human being. She was a very fair judge and the last two time dcs took my kids she sent my kids back home because I had the evidence that they lied.

    What are we going to do people??? We need to start lobbying and letting the representatives know that we are in desperate need of their advocacy. If we don’t get their help they won’t be voted in come next election. We should start getting all the victimized parents registered to vote and see if we can get more than five thousand signatures, and I know we have at least that many involved in the system if not more in the state alone. But anyway we should show them these signatures of registered voters and let them know that we are being wronged and that the Judges are unfair and biased and that they need to help change the laws that help legal kidnapping and legal parental rape. After showing them the names we will let them know that they have families that are registered to and there goes the domino affect. But we must be serious in doing it though. We should have been proactive from the start.

    If there is anyone reading this in the state of indiana please contact me so that we can get together and make change for our children. These people need to be put in their place. In criminal law they need proof to lock someone up and even for the death penalty but it changes in juvenile/family court. Lets make it universal shall we people????????

    Comment by Kim — September 23, 2009 @ 10:18 pm



  59. My pro bono attorney is not helping me, he was assigned to me after I fired my paid attorney because she did nothing. The judge saw that I was filing my own motions pro-se and assigned him to me. I need someone who will take my case seriously, my children were literally kidnapped by CPS and the judge keeps pushing court dates back because she has a poor memory and overbooks herself.

    Comment by Michelle — September 29, 2009 @ 3:55 pm



  60. help they want totake my kids i need a great lawyer fast in n ny to handel case please help

    Comment by dawn — October 6, 2009 @ 5:38 am



  61. Im a 35yr Latino Father of Twin Boys 14 months old that CPS is Taking away from me. My Social worker has Put me thru so much,my case plan is so overwhelming, yet i havent deveated from it and its been Perfect to the Letter. At court my Social Workers Arguement is that im just doing the walk and not learning anything from all my classes. Completed Parenting class D/V classes MOAB classes Matrix Program and FPC(family preservation court) still im the Bad guy i need Help ASAP please anyone. DEVESTATED FATHER

    Comment by Javier pina — October 8, 2009 @ 1:28 pm



  62. My 4 children were removed from their mothers home and taken to my home in the country. The children went back home with their mother because CPS thought they were better of with their mother and I figured, I could continue working on my home since, when they are with me their is no time for working on my home and caring for them . It was as though I was still working out of town. I had to pick them up from their same school. It was easier than uprooting them. The mother of my children has been vindictive towards me ,blaming me for calling cps. which is not correct and has been attacking me through the children. Three out of four, have adapted to her ways by ignoring her. I have one child in cps custody that has a harder time, in ignoring her. My daughter is somewhat like me unwilling to lie for her own sake. And I am not the one to teach her because in my home their is no need. They treat my daughter as though she committed a crime in speaking of her abuse by her mother, threatened to be put in detention., If she chooses to live with her father. She lives in fear in the group home she was put in. Because of this situation I lost my job, they cost me another , and are interfering with my being able to get another job by making all this hearings so close together. Almost as though, that were the plan. My daughter was raised with threats and abuse in her mothers home. All my daughter wanted was her mothers LOVE. I do not see why cps has to abuse my daughter in the same way as her mother.{threats and abuse} when you threaten any child causing that child to live in fear is abuse. The action cps is taking is teaching my daughter that the mother was right what happens in the home should stay home. If that were true, than who will protect the children? It pains me to think that my daughter thinks she only had a few more years of abuse from their mother which would be more tolerable than with strangers. for years my children tried to say something of the abuse only for it to fall in death ears and when the day comes they get more abuse by the same people that are supposed to help them.

    Comment by Steve Holguin — November 4, 2009 @ 9:22 pm



  63. Iam so sorry for all these comments ive read. I and my wife are in a very bad dept of health and welfare case here in idaho. It allstarted because of our daughter(my stepdaughter). See i have been with my wife over 10 yrs now. I have raised her daughter from age 3. Last yr (oct 2009), I was arested for false allegations, allegations brought by stepdaughter (shes 14 now).I was facing 20 counts of lewd conduct with a minor, spent 5 months in jail fighting these allegations, i had a county attorney (who suxed) and only could get me a felony injury to child plea..so i took it..was released from jail, well i sold everything i owned and hired a private attorney and well..we had the plea overturned, agian i was facing 20 counts and life in prison for a crime that was false. Well my stepdaughter apparently wrote a letter to the judge about how she had lied about the whole thing, ALL CHARGES WERE DISMISSMED!!!

    Wellduring they last 18 months we have been fighting health and welfare here in Idaho..too no avail! We still have a case open..BS..it all stems from the orig abuse charges back in oct of 2008. They have court ordered guardianship for my stepdaughter and taken my wifes parental rights from her, they are trying now too take our 2 children we have together from us also…They (judge) has ordered a PSYCHOSEXUAL EVALUATION from me now before they will let me and my wife live together with our 2 children..? How can this be legal? I was not found guilty? It seems to me they are are just adding crap too our case plan..Well long story short we have agian another court appt attorney..and she anit doing her job..!!! Go figure???

    James.G-Idaho

    Comment by James.G — November 15, 2009 @ 2:42 pm



  64. This is what really gets me?
    Here is the legal basis of the county’s jurisdiction:
    UNSTABLE HOME ENVIRONMENT I.C. 16-1610 (A) AND 16-1603 (B).

    See not (ABUSE), not (SEXUAL ABUSE), not (NEGLECT), not (ABANDONMENT), not (HOMELESS)..?

    Here is a copy of the letter my stepdaughter wrote…:

    Dear Judge,

    To whom it may concern, I B******* G******* have lied about my stepfather James.G on molesting me. I know I was wrong for what i did. I know i shouldnt lie about those kind of things. I lied because i wanted him out of my and my moms life. I have tried to take back my story with health and welfare, but they said i would stay in foster care and could go to jail if i take my story back. I dont wanna be taken from my mom and family. I got into a big fight with my stepdad james that night and was tired of him arguing at me. So i wanted him to go to jail. That was the only way to get him out of my life by saying that he molested me. I want this state to drop all charges agianst my stepdad. I know i was wrong for what i did so please forgive me.

    Sincerly,
    B******* G*******

    So my question is this? Why if this case with the dept of health and welfare is based on the allegations my stepdaughter made in 2008 ( oct ), why is it still open? why have they decide to take my wifes parental rights away and give guardianship to someone else?Why do they feel we should continue this stupied case plan? Agian the legal status of the case plan is (UNSTABLE HOUSE ENVIRONMENT)???? NOT abuse of any kind? And now there forcing us (wife/me) to get a divorce or they will take the younger 2 children from us?

    Iam in the process of filing a civil lawsuit agianst the dept of health and welfare and also agianst the county/state.

    See the other day when we were in court another couple were in the same boat as us..but see they told me something funny and wierd? They got a divorce and he gave up his parental rights to his wife and they closed ther case..??? WTF? Now ive seen these people agian (a month later) and they were in the process of getting rmarried to each other..they have there kids back..and there case is closed? Seems to me that they found a loop hole?

    Any comments would be greatly appercited..ty

    So iam in the procees of a divorce now..I love my children but for there best interest i need to get health and welfare outta my and there lives..they’ve done nothing but lied.

    Oh and get this the judge even had the nerve to say quote ” I’m tired of u and ur wife wasting tax payers money, so just do what the dept asks”..are u serious? Arent court proceedings recorded or taped? dont we as parents have access to these court records?….THANK YOU ALL
    any help with this would be so greatly apperciated..and any knowledge on anything would be great..

    also we are at the final stages of these court proceedings..coming up close to perm hearing here in jan…thank good it only takes 45 days to get a divorce..

    James.G

    Comment by James.G — November 15, 2009 @ 3:16 pm



  65. James, if the attorney won’t write legal documents for you then write them yourself and submit them to her before court. Samples here: legal document library, though after all the unfortunate legal experience you’ve had you may have seen these before.

    Comment by LindaJoMartin — November 15, 2009 @ 8:19 pm



  66. Re: your second comment… you can get court transcripts but as I understand it in most jurisdictions they are quite expensive. The couple you met probably will be re-attacked by the system because she let him back into her life.

    I’m glad you’re getting ready to file a civil lawsuit against these CPS family-abusers. It is the only way they’ll learn they’re not invincible.

    Comment by LindaJoMartin — November 15, 2009 @ 8:25 pm



  67. Earlier in the year my ex-wife had a mishap with cps and cps brought the kids to me. I live in Marana. She immediately signed custody over to me then ran. She came back a couple months ago claiming she changed. But she lost them again to cps. I was living in the travel trailer at the time and started to work on a 1974 graham 70 foot trailer. It is big enough for family of three. To put it straight to the point they told me if I move to Tucson I can get my daughter back. I am aware that Tucson needs the money, but holding my daughter hostage isn’t the way. They cost me my job , I’m losing my home, And at this point they are forcing me to public assistance, so I cannot see what their gain is in all this. I am a Maranian not a Tucsonian. I would rather help my own part of the world. If your’ wondering how they could cost me my job is very simple by making appointments and then canceling at the last minute knowing that I would have to get off early or take a day off to comply. layoffs come around and you are not there all the time.” too bad. we need people here all the time, put him in layoff. He can fix his problems now.” That is what they say but records show differently which gives me unemployment but doesn’t help where it counts. If the mother is accused of abuse and she is married and living with her new husband of seven years or so, does that make the non-custody parent responsible for her actions? Or do I have the right to go to their home and be a pain. Or is the right thing to do is to let her go and live her own life, when she wanted them she got them even after she was accused. Apparently they had nothing on her, or they truly don’t know what they are doing.

    Comment by Steve — November 18, 2009 @ 10:57 am



  68. Steve – Maybe it is time to file for a state administrative hearing, or perhaps you need to go to court again – I guess the right move would depend on what the court order states. I looked for Marana on the map and found out it is only a few miles from Tucson, so I don’t understand what the problem is. Is it in a different county? If you moved to Tucson to get your kids, you could move back to Marana when the case is closed. (Just a thought.) It just seems odd to me that they want you to move when Marana is just down the road a few miles.

    Comment by LindaJoMartin — November 18, 2009 @ 2:24 pm



  69. How can the couple be re-attack if the case is closed?

    Comment by coffee — November 21, 2009 @ 12:26 am



  70. Coffee, once a CPS victim, always a CPS victim? Unless you know how to cut them off at the pass they will consider you fair game.

    Comment by LindaJoMartin — November 21, 2009 @ 9:45 pm



  71. in my county they call it family preservation, ha, more like family chastation. i have completed my case plan that i had to pay for all the way, and still i have supervised visits and when i ask the case worker what is going on she simply says i don’t know. if she doesn’t who does in the meantime, my children are not w/ me, the one real person that would take care of them!

    Comment by denise — December 13, 2009 @ 6:37 pm



  72. Denise, what does your court order say about visitation? Does it leave the amount of visitation up to the caseworker or is it set in the court document that you can have visits only once weekly for an hour? If it is up to the choice of the caseworker, you can file for a state administrative hearing to request more visitation, overnight visits, unsupervised visits, etc. Usually increases in visitation will indicate that your children will eventually be sent home.

    Comment by LindaJoMartin — December 13, 2009 @ 7:20 pm



  73. This started one year ago. Since then my fiance moved out of what was our home so I could get our boys back. Since then the boys and I have moved into an apartment ($) and he is living with friends while we try to save “our” daughter and our family.

    How is it that a DCFS indicated report can be unfounded one minute and founded the next, in addition, after a director’s decision expunging all allegations has been made how can the affected children remain in custody of the court and DCFS and lastly, how is it that these two parties are allowing one of the children to be in the care and custody of a convicted child abuser, who upon a decision made by a previous court is to not have any child under the age of 18; including her own, in her care?

    How is it that an Assistant States Attorney has the power and authority to conceal information and misconstrue the facts pertaining to the case when they had knowledge of the facts; first hand, prior to this courts date? How is it that a neglect/abuse investigator and caseworkers have the power and authority to falsify, mislead and control a court with nothing more than neglect of law and the orders it makes? In that court, how is one to find justice when the administrator thereof refers to one as a perpetrator in open court? Not only that, but what is one to do when their appointed defender ignores and threatens them when they question what is going on?

    Who is accountable, who is responsible and what can be done when a family suffers in their control?

    Comment by KimD/S. — January 18, 2010 @ 7:25 pm



  74. First, my thoughts and prayers are with each of u. Secondly, thank the GOOD LORD I live in FL and not some of the other states. My dealings with DCF (fl version) were actually not too bad. I had been accused by the non custodial parent of my guardian child (teen son’s best friend). Luckily, I had an existing protective order against her, and provided copies to the DCF agent. in FL, our local sheriff’s office has control of the investigative part. The agent was extremely nice and actually went above and beyond. One home visit, case was declared unfounded. Could have been MUCH worse due to circumstances.

    For the rest of you, PLEASE DO NOT EVER GIVE UP! I will b praying for all of you!

    Comment by A FL Mom — February 11, 2010 @ 2:17 pm



  75. FL Mom, glad to hear the accusation was dismissed. I think it is important for people to realize that just because they’ve been contacted by a caseworker, it doesn’t mean the worst. 80% of accusations are not turned into full-blown cases. Many investigations are dismissed as unsubstantiated.

    Comment by LindaJoMartin — February 11, 2010 @ 8:36 pm



  76. Hi I am in Ohio I will love to know if there’s help in Ohio

    Comment by Tie — March 11, 2010 @ 4:31 pm



  77. hello, i work for an advocacy program that helps clients fight for their children in cps cases. however right now we have a case that has gone so corrupt and it just started not even a month ago. the parents are pretty stand up individuals and have denied all charges and the dependancy. the dependancy was filed only a few days after they were taken out of the parents care. then the state took them from thier maternal grandmother on small stuff. such as a domestic violence charge that happend 5 or more years ago that was charged as a misdemeanor and uprooted the children then placed them in foster care for 2 wks then they are placed with another relative now. the parents want the 1 child that showed alleged signs of abuse tested for brittle bone syndrome. witch is almost common among premature babies. cps wont allow it. and since the children are with another family member they tried to take them to another doctor as is thier right to another opinion and the cps office found out and called the doctors office and told them what was going on without consent. its a very corrupt case and the odd thing is the child in question shows no signs of physical abuse. and the other child has no nothing at all wrong neglect or abuse. we need help this is even beyond out expertise and we are trying the best we can. and thier attornies are no help at all. please help anyway you can. thank you.

    Comment by misty — March 15, 2010 @ 11:15 am



  78. I am the grandmother of two beautiful children that have been in the state’s custody for almost a year now.

    I could not take them because of a 23 year old conviction that should have been a misdemeanor, but I couldn’t fight it then, so I took a plea deal, I have since followed the law, and instill in my younger sons that you must abide by the law or deal with the consequences. So I was told it was a permanent disqualifier.I was devastated.

    Now almost a year later the grandchildren are still in the same foster care. My daughter has completed everything they have asked. Now I think it is because she won’t admit to anything. I know that she did not do anything. They didn’t even want to hear about anything else. So now the children are calling the foster parents by first name adding mom and dad. I just think this is sad. I can’t fight. if i was rich i would.

    My grand children have anxiety issues especially to changes. A lot of people do, heck I have it especially when changes are done at work. I have got to see them 4 times this past year. I guess because we have no rights.

    You know what the worst part is, is when they said that it has been alleged that the pg has hurt him a 3yr old now 4. The last time I saw them was 3 days prior to cps being call by the daycare, because my daughter called them to see why he had bruising on his buttocks. Anyway we were in the yard playing with my two sons for 1 1/2 hours until my daughter came home from work.

    My heart aches wondering who or how he could believe I would ever hurt him. Now my daughter said cw said that come may he is gong to try to terminate her parental rights. for what. She has done everything they have asked what more.

    They finally got a home visit. Daughter said it was so much more at ease. I guess I am confused about this whole thing. thank you

    Comment by Rhonda — March 25, 2010 @ 9:49 pm



  79. I had 3 court-appointed attorney who all worked AGAINST me.

    Comment by Aa'Ishah Salaam I — April 6, 2010 @ 1:41 pm



  80. my kids were taken from me and put into foster care due to me and my hubsand getting into a fight an the cops were called we are completly clean live a non drug life, own ore home and cars kids are always taken care of more spoiled then anything, now protive services wont even let us see the kids. our lawyers wont do a thing this is bs.

    Comment by liz — April 19, 2010 @ 7:50 am



  81. Liz, I have to wonder why they won’t let you see the kids. Most people get a reunification plan and visitation. So… if you would like to, please join us on the message board forum so we can give you feedback on what’s happening with your case.

    Comment by Linda Martin — April 19, 2010 @ 11:54 am



  82. note: the Missoula office of the public defender provides private investigators upon request.

    Comment by someone in montana — April 22, 2010 @ 9:51 pm



  83. I am glad I found your website! Your sample letter really helped me put together what I wanted to say, it was a great guideline, I did change a lot of it and wound up with 3 pages.
    Thank you

    Comment by Lisa — May 6, 2010 @ 11:39 am



  84. Where in Texas can I find the Declaration of Facts and Omissions and Corrections form?

    Comment by Rey — June 8, 2010 @ 11:50 am



  85. Doesn’t anyone believe as I do with all our technology that CPS has outlived its usefulness? We have the police, the firedepartment, doctors, nurses, specialists etc… that we can call is we suspect abuse on anyone. I don’t want someone who apparently could just as well be a postal worker delivering mail deciding that fate of my children or anyone else’s for that matter.

    Comment by Rey — June 8, 2010 @ 7:45 pm



  86. I’ll say this again and again. CPS is too large and has been given much power. High priced attorneys, pro bono attorneys, doing it yourselves may end up costing you dearly. In this day and age, I believe CPS has outlived its usefulness. If someone believes abuse is being committed, they can call the police, a doctor, a nurse or whatever. Think of all the taxpayer dollar savings if there was no more CPS.

    In any case, let your voice be heard to someone who can deal with CPS. Write letters to the White House. I have the number to their direct fax line: 1-202-456-2461. I spoke with their staff and they want to hear from us.

    Comment by Rey — June 9, 2010 @ 6:49 am



  87. Rey, you can find a link in the document library on this site. The link goes to the message board for which you must be registered.

    Comment by Linda Martin — June 9, 2010 @ 8:48 am



  88. Thank you Linda M. I love all the help I have gotten from your site. I did finally get to the White House and spoke with staff there who are interested in hearing more. I left a fax number I got from the White House staff that goes directly to the White House. I didn’t know so many people were having problems with CPS until I started researching the internet. Maybe if enough people will fax the White House, something will be done.

    Comment by Rey — June 10, 2010 @ 3:58 pm



  89. Linda, thank you again. I found the document Declarations, Objections and Corrections. Tremendous help! Just one other question. What should the page format be? I mean, boarders for example.

    Comment by Rey — June 10, 2010 @ 4:33 pm



  90. Need help in Honolulu is there anyone who can help????? been trying to understand the rules out there, i’m a grandparent here in Cali. if anyone can help me and my daughter please contact me… Mzbrdy12[@]aol.com.

    Comment by Michelle — June 22, 2010 @ 2:38 pm



  91. Michelle, contact the Obama administration and fill them in on your problem. I have listed their direct fax number in one of my postings here. It was noted here on this site that a family contacted the administration with problems they were facing with CPS and the administration got involved and contacted the chief justice of that particular city to fix the problem. Good luck.

    Comment by Rey — June 27, 2010 @ 6:15 am



  92. Linda, CPS took our baby at just 4 days old even before my wife was released from the hospital. The reason they claimed was she was taking prescription medication during pregnancy. They used the term drugs which I consider very vague. It sounds like street drugs. Any case, prior to this, my wife had a car accident. The officer thought she was DWI and took her to jail. It was then that they found out she was pregnant and not DWI. She talked to her primary care physician who prescribed her medication and suggested she go to an OB/GYN where she found out she was 3 months pregnant. She and her primary care agreed she would get off meds but she would have to wean off them. It took her 2 months to stop. Her OB/GYN reported to CPS. Her primary care came forward and confirmed my wife’s story. They still took the baby. Now that she was cleared of drugs, CPS keeps the baby and wants to run us through all sorts of UA’s, tests, psychologicals and what not which we have already done. This will take no less than a year and they will keep the baby. They are fishing. I was told I should take it to trial by jury now. What do you think?

    Comment by Rey — June 29, 2010 @ 7:54 am



  93. Rey, trial by jury isn’t available in child welfare cases. This is an unconstitutional court system, which is part of why I continue to protest the injustice, after twenty years of doing so. Please read suggestions on the site and gather your evidence and legal documents for your next court date. You must be proactive in defending yourself as most attorneys don’t help.

    Comment by Linda Martin — June 30, 2010 @ 1:29 pm



  94. major win in California Courts today: around June 25.

    5 M Judgement v CPS affirmed.

    Search under Fogarty-Hardwick

    Her 5 M Judgment v DCFS AFFIRMED. MAJOR, LINDA, MAJOR.

    please put as front page.

    http://www.prweb.com/releases/Fogarty-Hardwick/social_services/prweb4157254.htm

    Comment by fern — July 1, 2010 @ 8:17 am



  95. California Major win today around June 25, ’10

    Mom wins 5 M v DCFS. Appeals Court affirms

    http://www.prweb.com/releases/Fogarty-Hardwick/social_services/prweb4157254.htm

    Comment by fern — July 1, 2010 @ 8:22 am



  96. Linda, I didn’t know that about Texas. I’m glad I didn’t file our next motion. It appears a no win situation. We lose, they lose, our baby loses.

    Comment by Rey — July 1, 2010 @ 1:44 pm



  97. If it not been for the fear of being put in jail, a person almost wants to claim the 5th on anything but the initial accusations CPS came up with in the first place because in court, after answering all their initial allegations, they intend to get off track and come up with things from out of left field like the color of your blue turtle should be green and we think you should make it so. I find myself asking whether anything else is what we were there for in the first place.??

    Comment by Rey — July 2, 2010 @ 6:14 am



  98. Awesome Linda. This is our current situation with CPS.

    Comment by Rey — July 3, 2010 @ 4:00 am



  99. Linda, do you know if Texas CPS has immunity if I sue for monetary damages?

    Comment by Rey — July 3, 2010 @ 6:15 am



  100. Rey, you can sue them for violations of constitutional rights in federal court.

    Comment by Linda Martin — July 3, 2010 @ 10:33 pm



  101. What do I do know 3 months into this nightmare. Both my wife and I have “submitted” and the “Jailer” was suppose to give us our kids back on the 30th of July but now says our psych evol showed we need marriage counseling. Yea, after this garbage you are making us go thourgh.

    Comment by Rob — July 27, 2010 @ 11:55 pm



  102. My ex bashed one daughter’s head against the wall and tried to drown two of my other newborns. He now has custody of my newborn thanks to CPS. He and his family as well as the family I was born into are in a cult. I have never shared their beliefs. My children and I are persecuted and terrorized daily.

    Comment by Ariel — August 2, 2010 @ 12:12 pm



  103. Hi I am glad I found this site .I am a Grandmother . I live in one state and my son lives 19 hrs in another state. He has 3 children and is fighting the cps system to get his children home. It is a nightmare to deal with them. I have supported him thur phone conversations, we speak everyother day if not daily. we hired a lawyer , we have written letters to the governor of the state he lives. I have spoken twice with an staff member from the state directors office of cps. I have had conversations with the case workers and the laywer . He has done everything he has been ask to do and he still does not have his children.The case workers and lawyers agreed that the children should be home with the father.The mother is the one that did this to the children.Her and the father were separated, she abandoned her family for another man The grass was not greener on the other side. My son would not take her back.She was visiting the children while he was at work and 2 hrs before he got off of work she text him to say she had tooken the children and turned them in to the state! My son left work soon as he got the call and tried to get the children , they would not let him have them. They said there were aligations against him that would have to be investigated. This father and the children have been through choas . this happen 12 months ago and now the children are in their six foster home because of abuse. They are 2 hrs away from the city they live. The only one that is fighting against the father is her court appointed lawyer and gls, It has been proven in court that the mother is unstable.There were recorded phone messages and text messages of why she did this that proved she had lied on the father. The last court date in July the judge commented that he would not release the children into the fathers care untill both parties agree.The gls will not agree because she is the same gls that the mother had when she was in the system. THE STATE RAISED HER.After having children she decided she did not want the responsibilty of taking care of a family. She is tring to keep the children in cps in case she ever can use them for the dss benefits.The lawyer stated that this case is riducluas and that the Dss is not going to let the children go. We do not have the money now to pay the fees for the lawyer to fight the system. I ask every one that knows and understands what the cps is doing to keep our children, to write daily to the white house and to congress. They are the only ones that can make the final desion to change the cps and put tough new poilices in place.We the American people are the ones that have to stand and fight for our goverment to save our children.If all of us would send letters and make phone calls daily. bombade the write house with letters ands there computers with email that they will have to deal with the fact that cps has let power and money overule the llives of our children. I believe they will have to pay attention. and address the issuses and complaints! WRITE, WRITE, WTRITE!

    Comment by Teresa — August 6, 2010 @ 11:27 am



  104. Linda, I need an aggressive attorney for civil rights suit, amendment 14. CPS will not allow my wife and myself to have a baby without their intervention or government intervention/involvement.

    Comment by Rey — August 16, 2010 @ 8:35 pm



  105. Rey – whereabouts do you live?

    I hope you pursue this – you would help so many families!!!

    Comment by Linda Martin — August 17, 2010 @ 6:35 am



  106. Hi
    I lived in Phoenix,Az and our kids were taken due to some false allegations made by a sibling of mine.I was told by CPS that theses alledged allegations would have to be proven.We have done everything the court has asked us to do and still we have’nt gotten are kids back.Now the CPS caseworker along with her supervisor has stated to me that the case is not about the person who made these false allegation that it’s about are kids.The court has stated that our kids have not been abuse sexually,physcial or emotional.So what is the big deal I though I was going to court inregards to the allegation my sibling made our kids have’nt made any allegations against us.They have wrote the court and told there court appointed attorney that they want to come home.They have tried to get the people offering us services to make false statements against us and they want do.Now I was told it is very important to get a report from the counselor who counsel us and see if he thinks it would be a good idea to have the kids return home so now it all depends on his report whether or not we will get our kids back.Our kids had to particpate in counseling services also to see if they had been abuse in anyway.They only went through about a month of counseling and was told that they have’nt any concerns and they were closing the services they did’nt need anymore counseling.They also mention to my kids they were the best kids they have encounter.What do I do when CPS and there Supervisor advise you and the Foster Care Reveiw Board that you don’t have to do certain services in order for them to get some type of accessment and then once you have done the service they don’t get what they want now the want to say oh now we want you to complete the services we told you you did’nt have to do. And the person who has started all this has recanted not only one time but two times.She has mental problems it’s in her school records.I took the siling of mine in because she was was being
    abuse by our stepfather.My dad told me not to take them but they were only 3 years old at the time and they are sibling that what you do.It has back fired in my face now I wish I had listen to my dad and I would be in this situation.I need some help can some please help me and my kids?

    Comment by A.J. — August 18, 2010 @ 12:59 pm



  107. A.J. continue on with your life as if this didn’t happen. On the back burner, you can deal with what you need to do concerning CPS. I would call the Office of consumer affairs on the state level, I don’t know what its called in your state, make a complaint against CPS, the case worker and the supervisor. This way, they will be investigated, not saying it will do much good, but at least you have record of your complaint. As in my case, we are tied up in court but let the caseworker falsely accuse as much as she wants. Eventually, she will be found out as long as you’re clean.

    Comment by Rey — September 17, 2010 @ 1:48 am



  108. Linda, the only way to hurt these people is to sue them. I have already communicated with the presidential administration regarding this problem. I believe changes will be made. Hopefully he will remain in office next term. Changes will take time. It will take his next term to make those changes. In the mean time, if we could organize and put resources together to sue, maybe one at a time, use part of the win to sue again and so on and so on and part goes to the family that got hurt by CPS. I’m not the brains for that but I would be willing to be a part of.

    Comment by Rey — September 17, 2010 @ 1:56 am



  109. Liz, make a formal complaint to the office of consumer affairs or whomever it is in your state. They oversee CPS. Then fax your complaint to the presidential administrative staff. I think I listed their fax number on this board. Just sit tight. They want to make you squirm and almost everything they say from what I have become to discover, even in court is false. If there is nothing there in your househould to hide then don’t worry. They eventually will have too much rope.

    Comment by Rey — September 17, 2010 @ 2:03 am



  110. This is Linda’s board. I only suggest that if you are truly innocent and with nothing to hide, complain to the office of Consumer affairs or whoever it is in your state that oversees CPS. This makes it a formal complaint. Then, use the fax number I’ve posted it here somewhere and fax the president’s administration your complaint. We can start there….

    Comment by Rey — September 17, 2010 @ 2:11 am



  111. I rewrote this letter in september 2010 for my attorney with things i expected. He became rude and was insulted that I made requirements/demands of him on the actions i expect him to take on my case. He is court appointed. He also hung the phone up on me when i called to ask him about the release form for certain information for me to sign so he could request it. Being that it was going to another state and the month of september is half over and we have court in october, I offered to print a generic release form and sign it. This is when he proceeded to tell me that I didn’t know anything about being a lawyer and he was not going to type anything for me now basically. I don’t feel that he is going to do any more for me than what he did at court in september. In fact I think he will probably do less. How do I find an attorney who will help me? I can’t afford to pay a private one. The court date set for october is our second court appearance.

    Comment by ryder — September 19, 2010 @ 4:10 pm



  112. I have sent this to a couple major newspapers and sent a letter to the Texas Governor (longer and better written). I plan on sending a copy to every governer in the United States. I will send it to any newspaper or legislator who will listen.

    Dear Editor

    A reform of the CPS Regulations is needed. Many families are needlessly suffering because of these legalized kidnappings. It’s a poor day in our nation, when the average person can walk in and tear families apart. Not because of proper documented evidence by a health care or psychology professional, but hearsay and the worker’s opinion. There are instances where CPS is a true blessing to a child, other times CPS isn’t. I am asking legislators on behalf of every child who goes to bed tonight crying, and every parent crying, to end the suffering. The average person who isn’t trained to know the difference between maliciousness and true neglect/abuse, not properly trained in questioning, no formal medical or psychological training, and who poorly investigates preceeding the removal of a child(ren) should NOT have the authority to remove a child(ren). Who gave anyone the right to play GOD with someone’s life? Furthermore I believe that every person who alleges abuse/neglect against a parent should be required to give their name and address. Legislators It’s time to stand up for the rights of families. Stand up for the innocent children and parents in your state, who are suffering today. A drastic change is needed in CPS Regulations in every state. STAND UP FOR THE INNOCENT, remember these people vote too, and so will their children.
    Tara L Ryder, Omaha, TX

    Comment by ryder — September 19, 2010 @ 4:18 pm



  113. Ryder, I would get it on the court record that your attorney isn’t helpful, refuses to meet with you, and is rude to you. Tell the judge you need a different attorney because this one isn’t willing to represent you right. If it is on the record you can use that in an appeal if it comes to that. When I told the judge that my attorney wasn’t able to represent me right he gave me a continuation and a different attorney – who actually met with me and reviewed the legal documents I’d prepared for court. We used some of those documents and my daughter was sent home to me within a couple weeks. Good luck!

    Comment by Linda Martin — September 19, 2010 @ 7:55 pm



  114. I am trying to find out if I can legally change my statement of agreement to the courts stipulations and jurisdiction over my case with my two children. This is in Milwaukee WI. I just went to my pre trial today Sept. 20, 2010 and was presented with a settlement which I have agreed with because I was told I’d receive one of my children by friday of this week. I learned when I got out of court that that would not be the case. They did not keep up with their end of the bargain. I need to know how long I have or am I able to appeal this decision at all? I am extremely hurt and distraught that my lawyer convinced me of this right before my actual trial date Sept. 28, 2010. What do I do?

    Comment by Ms. Parker — September 20, 2010 @ 6:27 pm



  115. P.A is lacking recourses for any parents who are dealing with CPS. is there a wrongful parental termination law for P.a. i looked all over and couldent find any answers. there are alot of people in Pa. who are being bullied by CPS. some have lost thier kids becuase the mother was trying to get away from the father and the caseworker would tell the father where the mother is living at just so the caseworker can take the kids.

    Comment by Dawn — September 21, 2010 @ 12:15 pm



  116. it seems like that nobody wants to believe that the CPS are corupted. they feel that nomatter what the parents are going through, that they deserve it all nomatter what. how can you convince them that not everybody is gulity?

    Comment by Dawn — September 21, 2010 @ 12:21 pm



  117. how do we reapeal capta?

    Comment by Dawn — September 21, 2010 @ 12:31 pm



  118. To all, notify your US senator of your problems with CPS. He or she will have their staff find someone statewide in your area to help you check in to things. If nothing comes of it, notify your senator again. Make sure people are listening. This is a good place to start. Do this only if you have done nothing wrong; otherwise, do whatever plan CPS and the courts want you to do.

    Comment by Rey — September 21, 2010 @ 10:38 pm



  119. thank you for building this website for thoses who been framed, discriminated, etc. thank you so much.

    Comment by Dawn — September 22, 2010 @ 9:54 am



  120. ATTENTION EVERYONE. HERE IS THE TRUTH YOU NEED TO KNOW. CONFESSIONS OF A FORMER CPS WORKER. SHE WAS BRAVE ENOUGH TO SHINE THE LIGHT FOR THE BROKEN HEARTED. CHECK THIS LINK OUT. YOU MUST KNOW THE TRUTH. http://www.spiritofmaat.com/archive/jul2/dfacs.htm

    Comment by clara — September 22, 2010 @ 6:43 pm



  121. thanks rey. but what about the people who are dealing with strict rules. we waited a year untill the tests, and evaluations were court ordered. the caseworkers were blowing us off just so untill the next court hearing came. they really want our baby so bad. he needs to be with us. he wants to be with us, and the caseworker wont listen.

    Comment by clara — September 23, 2010 @ 1:05 pm



  122. Clara, the caseworkers always work against the parents; that’s why they won’t listen. What you need to do is prepare for court so you can impress the judge; that’s who makes the final decision. Do you know how to prepare for court?

    Who Will Help Prepare Your CPS Case?

    Comment by Linda Martin — September 24, 2010 @ 10:09 am



  123. yes i do miss linda. thank you for your advice. people who gone through cps are taking notes, going for counciling, completing thier goals, taking extra parenting classes, getting our home ready, taking drug and mental evaluation test, even though if it would be a waste of thier time, . baby proofing their home. and getting ready for the unexpected. have a job, hire a few babysitters, having some support, gather information, having faith in god, cuz he can give you alot of support, clear your mind, keep you strong, and give you answers, , if the parents try all this, this will help them. parents if you are facing injustice, if the caseworkers are being unfair to you, who have a more aggressive lawer than yours, i advise you to try writing down notes, be truthful to the judge, dont self inscriminate your self ever, your the parent and you need to not let anything, or anyone discourage you. there is always a will to everyway, when people say you can’t, well guess what you can. anything you done in the past, such as petty stuff, take counciling, so they can see you came to your senses, they are all about tearing up families, not all. but do not let down your guard, anyway, if you lawer isnt aggressive, even if you have paid them, stand up for your self, your kids need you way more than the state does. listen up parents, what your going through is unfair and unhealthy, rember that age discrimination, race, and disable, even mental healh discrimination is unjustice. they should never use petty things against you. and give you little time, like less than three years. (ex.) 15 to 22 months. even procrasionate on anything. its not your fault. write down the complaints, that they put you through. you have no good reason to go through any of this. thank you linda.

    Comment by clara — September 24, 2010 @ 1:25 pm



  124. give this all a try. it should help. do what they tell you to do, and do a little more so the judge will be pleased. that you are putting in effort. family support helps alot. cps is trying to make you go broke anyway they can. your child needs you and stop at nothing.

    Comment by clara — September 24, 2010 @ 1:34 pm



  125. Thank YOU, Clara! Also remember to write your legal declaration and if your social worker’s court report contains inaccurate statements, write “Objections and Corrections to the Report of the Social Worker” and take these documents to your lawyer before court.

    Samples here: Legal Document and Information Library.

    Comment by Linda Martin — September 25, 2010 @ 3:06 pm



  126. thank you linda. in some states, the judges are one sided. on the cps side for the most part, what can the parents do? even if they came to thier senses, completed thier goals. mine how ever, our caseworker wants to put our baby up for adoption as the first goal,and the second goal, they want another foster family to take our baby. but a few weeks before the agreement hearing they wanted to see me do more of my job. which is what im doing. more parenting classes.

    Comment by clara — September 26, 2010 @ 8:27 am



  127. i made a few type o’s on that what i ment to say was that a few minutes before the agreement hearing i was told to take more parenting classes since the father had more parenting certificates than me. one for foster parenting, wich the cps didnt like that. one for father classe. i have two, he has three. the cps workers kept on putting off everything they were supossed to do for the whole year, so we ask the judge to make them court ordered. it was an agreement hearing. that was it. a week later we got a notice in the mail that the cps wanted to have the foster parents adopt our baby, as the first goal, and the second goal they wanted a another foster family to adopt him, we have our baby’s god parents who already adopted somone in thier own family. so what should we do, and what is your opinion on all of this?

    Comment by clara — September 26, 2010 @ 8:42 am



  128. look at this site linda. this will tell you everything. http://amiablyme.wordpress.com/

    parents you need to know what cps and foster parents are doing behind your back.

    Comment by clara — September 26, 2010 @ 4:39 pm



  129. thanks to your website everything is gonna work out. thank you, you guys are awesome!!!

    Comment by Dawn — September 28, 2010 @ 10:55 am



  130. hey, the worst you can do is nothing. we all being tested in life. you got one life to live, so make it sweet, and know your rights.

    Comment by clara — September 28, 2010 @ 10:59 am



  131. thanks you so much for the website. thanks to you. our family has hope. god bless. Dawn, your in my prayers. dont worry you will pull through. and everything is going to come together. i believe in all of you. lots of love.

    Comment by clara — September 28, 2010 @ 11:23 am



  132. Good for you Tara. Continue writing your legislators, even the President’s administration. He might be able to motivate the chief justice look in to things if you are in court lock. I communicate with mine. The poor nor the rich can match the government. If I were a billionaire, I would hire a bunch of attorneys, lose lots of money and hope for the best and that would be the best I could do. I personally want to pull the plug on CPS and start over. Those caseworkers who have lied and put many families in harms way should have their children removed. I wouln’t believe they to be capable of safe parenting if they are able to do such hidious things to other people. I worry about those children now. What are they learning from these caseworkers?

    Comment by Rey — September 29, 2010 @ 1:43 am



  133. Thanks, Dawn… I hope everything turns out well for you and your family.

    Comment by Linda Martin — September 29, 2010 @ 9:31 am



  134. Thanks Clara, your comments are very much appreciated!

    Comment by Linda Martin — September 29, 2010 @ 9:41 am



  135. Rey, you’re right, I should play the lottery and see if I can get enough money to hire attorneys to do a proper class action against the USA re: child welfare laws. However.. meanwhile I’m recommending everyone petition state legislators about state sovereignty and the tenth amendment violations that have allowed federal child welfare laws to destroy our country.

    Comment by Linda Martin — September 29, 2010 @ 10:13 am



  136. ur welcome linda. i hope everyone here gets thier family back. prayers are always heard. god works in mysteriouse ways. never forget that.

    Comment by clara — September 29, 2010 @ 2:05 pm



  137. This site seems very informative and I plan to review it over the next few days.
    I live in Las Vegas in which my 7 months year old son died which 2 months after a coroner’s investigation was learned to be cause by a Influenza viral infection. My immediate problem is how to stop the icpc process in which the mother of our remaining 3 kids wish to have the kids placed with her in California.I have over a hundreds reasons not to have my kids move to California that I need the judge to be aware of. Also I had a tpo against me from the mother of our kids in which i motioned to have it dissolved and it was. I told the cps worker , she then told the other parent that as apart of her getting the kids a tpo against was needed so the cps worker helped her filed another tpo in which the worker actually wrote an extention of the allegations against me, which eventually got dismissed again .I know that legal assistance by cps workers is unlawful and i wish to make all unlawfuls acts by the cps workers known to the judge. Please advise me motions to stopping the cps icpc effort and letting the judge know about things that are done that are contrary to the laws of our state.

    Comment by DANTE — October 10, 2010 @ 5:17 pm



  138. hi cps worker came to my house wesnesday she stated that the headstart school where my 4yr goes gave her a referral. i let her being polite she wanted to talk to my daughter alone, i first agree with then i interrupted her & asked her what are my rights, she stated that she can come back with law enforcements and take my 2 children so i let her continue. now i go to court on the 13th and i have been crying my eyes out every night in great FEAR that they are going to take my babies from me.

    Comment by nicole — October 12, 2010 @ 1:46 am



  139. its for my friend i think she might be in a lot of trouble for kidnapping or something from cps

    Comment by Kc Thomas — December 10, 2010 @ 5:39 pm



  140. KC, has she been charged with custodial interference?

    Comment by Linda Martin — December 11, 2010 @ 3:58 pm



  141. In missouri the state runs dfs, dfs runs services provided and attorneys provided, they have the right to financialy cut the throats of anyone trying to help people accused, would there be a way to file entrapment against the state for provision of services not requested then court ordered and used against you?

    Comment by John — January 4, 2011 @ 9:19 am



  142. John, I’ve never heard of that strategy. Why don’t you run it past Cheryl and Desere at http://www.cpswatchlegalteam.com/ … I think Cheryl may still live in your state and will be familiar with laws there.

    Comment by Linda Martin — January 6, 2011 @ 12:32 pm



  143. If anyone needs the help of a professional writer, I’m here.

    I, too, battle CPS. My older daughter was taken because she strangled my younger daughter. She has been in CPS “care for a year now. They kept her out of school for months (illegal to do), have put her in danger, not held the foster home responsible for not filing incident reports in which my daughter was clearly attacked (also illegal), and has coerced our family. They left my other daughter in my care because they knew that I was not at fault, even though they managed to charge me with neglect of my older daughter. They gave me a choice: either I say I don’t want my older daughter at home and get the neglect charge, or if I didn’t, I’d face endangerment charges, go to jail, and lose both of my children. My older daughter is not getting services, her GAL does not even go out to see her, and she is in constant danger. They have managed to cut off every other family member from being able to contact her besides me. And my daughter told me that if she lost me too, she’d give up hope entirely.

    I know what my older daughter did was abusive and wrong. But what she is going through is endangerment and just as wrong as what she put our family through for YEARS before anyone would do anything to help. I am really afraid for my daughter’s life at this point and I have no one to turn to.

    Please help. I can help in return. I will offer my services as a writer to anyone who can help me. Please.

    Comment by Kimber — January 14, 2011 @ 11:13 pm



  144. Kimber, I hope you’ll join us on our message board. http://forum.fightcps.com

    Comment by Linda Martin — January 15, 2011 @ 9:14 am



  145. i went through this,lost my 11yr and 7mo old boys,was the most painful thing anyone can imagine n im so glad to see ppl fighting for whats right! i got them back,after following my case plan,i was emotionally tortured,hands tied,and my 11,now13,yr old will never forget being torn from me,i hope they all burn in hell…

    Comment by bridget — January 24, 2011 @ 11:23 pm



  146. also,DONT get on their bad side,as awful as it is,u prettymuch have to kiss their a**…those workers all SEEM to be on a powertrip,they enjoyed watching me squirm and i knew it,but $ MY CHILDREN,i co-operated completely,was always polite..in turn,they DID make special provisions for me,i got to see my kids when i wanted,just had to be supervised. once that caseplan is set its virtually impossible to get around it,we have friends in high places,they couldnt help,they all said follow the caseplan,bow to the workers,NEVER go against them n id get my kids back,and i did. cps IS like God, THEY ARE IN CONTROL,the d.a.,..nobody,can go over them,its them n the judge…i STAY on my toes now,afraid to even go out with friends because they may find out and think im being a bad mom,i secondguess EVERYTHING i do nowi wish EVERY1 could know how LITTLE it takes to get your kids taken!

    Comment by bridget — January 25, 2011 @ 12:42 am



  147. I’m having hard time with cps cps is saying I’m innocent didn’t do the things I’m being accused of and is not willing to investigate more into what they told me on the phone I didn’t write down the day I talked to him he closed the case unfounded how do I get restraining order off me when none of the things never happend? My parents put the restraining order on me and falsely accused me of things that never happend what can I do? Cps won’t do their jobs right?

    Comment by Michelle G — January 29, 2011 @ 3:10 pm



  148. What can I do to get restraining order off me when I am being falsely accused of things that never happened? Cps won’t do their job right they closed the case unfounded.

    Comment by Michelle — January 29, 2011 @ 3:12 pm



  149. Michelle, you would have to go to your county court to get a restraining order removed. That would not involve CPS.

    Comment by Linda Martin — January 30, 2011 @ 1:12 pm



  150. I am a single mother of 4, I made the mistake of giving my kids to cps because I had a nervous break down, after I hurt my back at work…Now my 1 year hearing is coming up and they want to take my kids until they are 18 because I dont have housing (also because I have two evictions because of this worker’s comp case)…I want to know my rights and do I have any now…

    Comment by Christine — February 25, 2011 @ 8:05 pm



  151. after 2 yrs. and 10 months, I FINALLY have a visit for the first time w/ my son. I do thing the letter from this helped me. I know it was not GOD who did it. I’ve prayed over and over. All I did was ask help for my son, and now I’m fighting to have a visit & get him BACK HOME, where he belongs!!!!

    meshe722003 -at- yahoo.com
    Thank you..

    Comment by michelle — March 2, 2011 @ 6:59 am



  152. To Christine:

    What ever you do, watch what you say to them, they will use every bit against you, and make up lies to put a mark on you. They will lie to you stating your child said it. They are Liars, back stabbers, deciteful, heartless people. I have cried since the begining of my ordeal, and because I cry of missing my son, I can’t see him, and how they say I’m mental for crying. WHAT MOTHER in her RIGHT MIND- WOULD NOT CRY! Write down everything they say, protect everything you do and say. keep every copy, make copies, write down time and date of every time to speak or even drop something off. Make copy of any cards you send your children.
    Always make a copy, keep reciepts, If you need any thing else, even to talk, I’m here:
    meshe722003 -at- yahoo.com
    I am a unset mom too!

    Comment by michelle — March 2, 2011 @ 7:07 am



  153. I need help finding an attorney in Arizona. One that may work pro bono on my dependancy case. My current lawyer won’t even keep in touch with me regarding my case. I recieve nothing regarding paperwork and documents. Does anyone one know or can anyone direct me to a good lawyer here in AZ?

    Comment by Amanda — March 11, 2011 @ 1:18 pm



  154. There’s a section of our Fight CPS message board forum for Arizona. You’re welcome to meet others in your state there. Look for a member named Cheryl – she’s a good advocate for AZ residents.

    Comment by Linda Martin — March 14, 2011 @ 1:47 pm



  155. Help,
    We need help trying to fight CPS and child advocates. My nieces kids were removed on December 1, 2009 for allegations of injury to child. The Dr at hospital told her and the boyfriend the baby had fractures to arm and leg and he would need his arm to be in a sling when leaving. Funny thing is he left the hospital a day later and had no bandage for sling. We went to court and all they talk about is his arm and nothing about his leg, when questioned we are told nothing is wrong with the leg. We are in process of getting the medical file from hospital to see what it actually states. Does anyone know how we can find a radiologist to read the Xray? Cps says they will not retuen the child if my niece continues to see the boyfriend and they also say she is not able to provide for the kids. Where did it become a law you have to be rich to have children? Sadly she wants to believe he never hurt the baby and wants to stand by his side. Can anyone please give suggestions on what we should do?
    Now they are telling he she needs to consider relinquishing her rights as a parent.

    Comment by Kim — March 30, 2011 @ 10:14 am



  156. Kim, you need a lawyer’s help. You can request Kinship Care of the baby. Usually termination of parental rights doesn’t happen until about 18 months after the detention, so if the case has been ongoing since 2009 it is likely they will terminate parental rights because they don’t trust the boyfriend situation. Any future children you niece has may also be taken away! A lawyer might be able to help you adopt the baby… but if she’s been with the same foster parents for months, they too might be wanting to adopt. Once your niece’s parental rights are terminated, your rights for Kinship Care will also be gone.

    Comment by Linda Martin — April 1, 2011 @ 1:10 pm



  157. Please Google CPS Policy Handbook this is a gov site READ & RESEARCH all things pertaining to you and your case. There is a lot of helpful info in that handbook. IT IS MASSIVE! gigabites. Thwart them at their own game. I helped my son get his daughter back. Mother called in Dec. said “come get your kid, I don’t want to be a mommy anymore. I want to get high”. He called Sheriff when he arrived, she had left. CPS got envolved. He was clean, had been for years. CPS visited his home once a month. He said drug test me anytime. March 11,2011 They did a swab test in his home said he was positive for meth. This test is not allowed in court. They refused to test again. He went in one hour to have a Lab urinalysis. 4 hrs later a blood test.
    Urinalysis next day, negative. Blood test , 5 days later, negative. They threatened him with a foster. He signed a voluntary placement. After test they would not talk to him. His lawyer wouldn’t do anything. I found out you can REVOKE a voluntary placement. if they have not petitioned the court for placement within 48 hrs. If no court filings in 14 days. REVOKE! in writing handed to caseworker in person. With title of form and form # on revokation. You don’t need a notary, but we notarized! She wanted to know how we found out, we told her we called GOV. My son drove to the school they put her in, showed proof of joint custody and got his daughter. Learn the law, learn the CPS policy. Never show anger, always confidence. Knowledge is POWER!

    Comment by Susan — April 6, 2011 @ 11:21 am



  158. How do you finish your services move to another state to WORK and leave a domestic violence situation ,and California cps has the U.S. marshalls remove your children from school and returned to California so I can do a domestic violence class?CRAZY SYSTEM im sure glad the goverrnment is protecting MY children

    Comment by maria — April 15, 2011 @ 7:02 am



  159. I NEED HELP I FEEL THAT I WAS RAIL ROADED INTO GIVING UP MY KIDS .THIS IS THE MEANEST PART OF THE U.S. PROGRAMS THERE IS. I FEEL IM LIVING IN GEMARY AND ITS 1940 AND IM A JEW

    Comment by RAYMOND — May 23, 2011 @ 1:54 pm



  160. I need help, my new born was tooken from me for accusatios of drug use. But my three other children are still in my care.

    Comment by Christina — July 17, 2011 @ 8:32 pm



  161. That is the worst letter I have ever read regarding how to (control) your court appointed atty. FIRST, I do not let my client set the rules, I set the rules. Secondly, I do not abide by inmate deadlines. All that letter does is galvanize the parties and makes it an “us against them” atmosphere which doesnt help anyone. If I get a letter like that, I am going to the jail and have a “come to jesus” talk with him about who sets the rules and when and If I file something. If he balks, then I withdraw and he will have to start over with someone else. If he continues with this stupid strategy, then his case will lanquish will good evidence may be lost simply because he thinks he can control the atty. Good luck.

    Comment by courtappointedatty — August 7, 2011 @ 7:22 pm



  162. To Courtappointedatty…

    So, you will refuse to offer adequate defense to someone who expects you to actually work on the case? Isn’t that against the bar rules?

    Also… FYI – most of the people using this site are not in jail and haven’t had any criminal charges against them. They are parents falsely accused of child abuse whose children have been taken from them, and their attorneys aren’t willing to work to defend them adequately.

    As I understand it, court appointed attorneys working for clients in criminal courtrooms do a much better job of defense than those working in juvenile courtrooms.

    Comment by Linda Martin — August 8, 2011 @ 6:06 pm



  163. My son and daughter in-law are the victims of collateral damage in il states war on child abuse. How many loving families need to be destroyed to catch /stop /or end child abuse. I believe they are victims of a misdiagnosed ulna fracture above the elbow and even the Doctor has no explanation for this from all that I have read This sort of problem needs to be dealt with by a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon as well as the type of radiograph and dose along with Knowledge of other things taking place in an infants body. So far the state jumped to conclusion ,has pulled every dirty filthy tactic there is and have denied the parents of the very rights explained it the packets Ps This happened in a county of around 5,000 people and a town of 350. The one that started all this is a PA and not a doctor. If this is a break it is a simple no displaced fracture . the bone needed no adjustment screws/ surgery. They put a splint on 2 days after the state stole all three children The public in general does not want to believe this could happen to innocent people. I do believe the state Knows they are wrong but I am most worried that’s not their problem but ours Help Help Help These innocent children all of them

    Comment by Larry — September 26, 2011 @ 10:58 am



  164. my five nieces were tooken away from my sister in law Jan 2011…my brother has been complying with all therapies and parent aide programs but they are still telling him that one person can not parent all five children…he does not want them to be split up or sent with his soon to be ex wife…she is in jail right now for not appearing to court for 5 counts of child neglect..what can he do to prove he can care for all five….and if not what can i do to be considered a possible placement if they are split up

    Comment by dolly — October 25, 2011 @ 3:58 pm



  165. Need Defence CPS Lawyer in
    Whiteplains court House To save
    Kids and family Being Destoyed

    Comment by Scott — November 11, 2011 @ 11:55 pm



  166. Can CPS refuse to give you your children back because of diabetes? I am ordered to random drug testing. Case involved marijuana two years ago. Never tested positive ever again for marijuana but get positive result for alcohol. I have already submitted medical paper work and already completed countless classes. Social worker even stated she knows that i am not drinking. Can a medical condition legally be used in court to prevent you from getting your kids back?

    Comment by Victor — November 16, 2011 @ 12:39 pm



  167. Victor, can you get your doctor to write a statement saying that diabetes isn’t going to interfere with your ability to be a parent? Is there someone else who can take care of your children if you have a low blood sugar? Or maybe you don’t have low blood sugars and the doctor can verify that?

    Yes, I’ve heard of people having their children taken away due to diabetes and other medical conditions, but I thought the newer medications (Lantus) made low blood sugars extremely rare! Maybe the social workers and judge don’t realize this. You need to prove in court that you’re capable of taking care of your children despite diabetes.

    Yes, I realize MOST diabetics will never have this come up, but now that they have your kids they will use anything to keep them. What you prove IN COURT is what’s important. The caseworkers probably just think they’re trying to keep your kids safe.

    Comment by Linda Martin — November 17, 2011 @ 9:30 pm



  168. My case has been open for less than 30 days and my case involves drug use. Today my attorney said to me that there is a 100% chance of not getting my kids back. What should i do since my “legal representation” has decided ahead of time i am not getting my child back. Case takes place in Washington State. A speedy reply would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

    Comment by James — December 30, 2011 @ 3:50 pm



  169. James, I wonder why… because during my time advocating for parents I’ve known of many parents who used drugs and later got their kids back after rehab. So is this not the first time CPS took your child? If you relapsed that would count against you because they don’t like repeat cases. Do everything you can to clean up your life and become the parent you want for your child. Put that child first and impress the judge. You can work around a deadbeat attorney.

    Comment by Linda Martin — December 31, 2011 @ 7:27 pm



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12/23/11 - I noticed a political ad running on this site, and want to say I don't support any presidential candidates other than Ron Paul. I believe he's honest, ethical, and the candidate most likely to free us from CPS injustice. - Linda


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