Contacting Your State Legislator For Help
If your CPS social workers are lying, violating court orders, or just being unreasonable, you might get some relief from their tyranny by contacting your state legislator. I’ve done this many times when dealing with unscrupulous agencies, and each time had a pleasant resolution to my situation.
Let’s go back to how I discovered how effective this could be. Back in the 80’s I was a welfare eligibility worker for the Department of Social Services. Occasionally unhappy clients would contact their legislators, and whenever that happened we’d see the supervisor scrambling to get the case file to take it into the program manager’s office. We knew that these people hated to have anyone call their legislators because then the head of the entire Department of Social Services would get a call from Sacramento where our State Department of Social Services is. In other words, a lot of pressure was applied from the top management because they didn’t like getting these calls! What was even more frustrating to the supervisor was that every time there was a call to a legislator, the client got what she wanted.
A few years back a local Department of Social Services caseworker was harassing me after learning about this site. He came out here four or five times with totally facetious or trivial complaints, such as the accusation that I was homeschooling - something that is legal in all fifty states. After the last time, I decided to take action before he got the bright idea of detaining my children on the basis of the number of complaints he’d either manufactured or followed up on. What I did was to write a letter to this caseworker detailing each of his visits to my family, telling what his reasons were each time and what my response was. I sent him a copy of the letter, and sent a copy to his Program Manager, my county supervisor, a few legislators, and a few newspapers. Maybe a few other people, but I honestly don’t remember who at this point. There was a list of these people at the bottom of the letter, so he knew who was getting it. The state legislator wrote to me telling me he had contacted the head of the Department of Social Services for California. Talk about applying pressure from the top! Then the pressure no doubt reached the local office and I didn’t hear from the guy again for years.
I’ve done similar things regarding other agencies. My experiences with writing to state legislators for help have all been good, and so I’m telling you about it in case anyone wants to try it. If you do, here’s some pointers.
1) Write the legislator a formal letter. Handwriting is OK - it looks authentic. Second best is a typed letter. Worst, and probably useless, is email. I’ve heard that legislators in Washington DC have to delete a lot of email unread because they have no way of processing it. I don’t know if a state legislator would do that, but I wouldn’t trust email. In this case, paper is better.
2) Be sure you use proper spelling and grammar. I know that’s a problem for many people who use this site, but if you know you have a problem then you can ask the local high school English teacher or some other expert for help making the letter look good.
3) Tell the legislator in the first line that you are his constituent. And by the way, you should be sure you’re writing only to legislators that preside over your section of the state. As a constituent you are a person who can vote or not vote for him next time he runs for office.
4) Keep it short! One page is sufficient. Three paragraphs, better. When I wrote the letter I mentioned above, I sent the entire three page letter I’d sent to the social worker, but the cover letter to the legislator was only three very short paragraphs. The letter will probably be read by a staff member who doesn’t have a lot of time to wade through many pages of case information. They want to know your specific complaint and needs, and will be able to process it and act on it quickly. It wouldn’t hurt to attach any evidence you may have on hand.
You will probably get a letter back from the legislator’s office telling you whether or not they took action on your complaint. They are there to watch out for their constituents, so in most cases they’ll try to do something to help. They need to know when the laws they make aren’t being followed properly. They can’t change a court order, but if a CPS social worker is violating a court order or in any way breaking social service regulations, they can probably do something to create change. After getting your letter, you might want to write back and thank them for helping.
Thank you for all of those good points. Especially the point about being a constiuant.
Comment by Ruth — September 16, 2007 @ 10:17 pm
DHS here in Oregon siezed one of my children in March from my mother who is very politically active. Early August they deemed her a unfit resource due to a allegation from 86(talk about reaching for straws). My mother did something simular to Linda and also got excellent results, she got all 3 boys for 4 days unsupervised, and this is after DHS documented she was ruled out as a resource.
Comment by Kevin — September 17, 2007 @ 12:09 am
Linda, your directions are absolutely on Target!
Better yet, parents can assemble other constituents who have had problems with DCFS and *frivolous cases*.
Parents who attend public schools might want to interact with folks who have had similar problems.
Remember….. CPS must ceaselly troll for clients. And middle class parents are often easier to intimidate!
They were raised to believe the propaganda.
Comment by Fern — September 18, 2007 @ 11:45 am
Thank you! I hope this can help us too! I am so thankful to all of you that have taken the time to help others. When, like myself, would have had no idea what to do or where to turn!
Comment by SmalTouchOfFaith — September 19, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
Thank you. I’m going to do this! I hope my legislator is a Christian and does not care for the fact that my 3 children were removed from a loving 2 parent home and sent to live with militant lesbians!
Comment by Susan — September 20, 2007 @ 7:38 am
Thanls for the information. I guess that is where I go next. I have 3 of my 4 children. My mentally ill child has been removed for verified false allegations and now they are trying to say I am unfit mentally to make medical choices for her, when they said at first she was fine, and now she isn’t. She won’t be home for her birthday, and claimed she didn’t remember a close family friend who recently died, but she remembered his dog’s name. She’s in grief mode, and no one wishes to address it.
Comment by Char — September 20, 2007 @ 10:16 am
Well, one letter is off, thank you for the nudge. Today is my daughter’s 10th birthday, and her siblings won’t be able to see her because it hasn’t been convenient for the social workers. We haven’t seen her since Wednesday 2 weeks ago because it isn’t convenient. If I added up the actual amount of time I get to see her it doesn’t equal much and it hasn’t been quality.
So again thank you.
Comment by Char — September 21, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
I am so glad that i came across this page. It was by accident but everything happens for a reason. I have had CPS called on me twice and both times were for silly reasons. the second time has still bothered me to this day, and has made the anxiety i already have tremenously worse. i have been on pain meds for 6 years now, i do not abuse them but i am prescibed them and take them as needed. I was on a different pain med with my last pregnency so i asked my doctor to help me make sure that the baby was not affected before i take him home from the hospital. There was no way to not take them during pregnancy becuase my pain was so extreme that my blood pressure would go through the roof, and the pain med did not pose a threat or risk to the baby and in this day in age, I guess, alot of people are prscribed vicodan or percocet during pregnancy. After i had my baby we (doctor and i together) did put my son on a withdraw scale like i asked. I had never had a colic baby before and would never want any of my children to be the least bit uncomfortable. My son turned out totally fine with no withdraw problems :). But the day after i gave birth to my son, he was my fourth so i went into surgery to have my tubes tied, and within a half an hour of being back in my room from surgery, CPS and the social worker fom the hospital were in my room. They said someone in the hospital called (meaning a worker) and since there was drugs in my system (mind you, they were prescribed to me and the only reason they knew was because my Dr. and i checked the babies first poop to see how much went to his system if any) i had to sign over rights to my baby right then and there. I was so anxious and i had just got out of surgery. I couldn’t read the yellow piece of paper so she said i had no choice, i had to sign or they would take my baby right then and not give me a chance, so she explained that the paper only stated that if my son needed to go to a facility where they slowly get the narcotic out of the babies system that i was stating (by signing) that i would take him for the week, if he needed to go. I couldn’t comprehend too much since i had just gotten out of surgery and my surgery was a disaster but i do remember telling her that i just got out of surgery which she knew because she had been waiting on my return back to my room, and i had told her that i was a great mommy and of course i would make sure my baby was more than happy and comfortable.(With me still wondering why this lady was in my room because i did not do anything wrong, i did what my doctor said to do and how to take my meds, which i’ve heard others have had their children taken away for not taken medications prescribed) She said that if they release the baby from the hospital when it was time to go home then the paper I signed was void and it wouldnt matter the case would be closed. Everything was a lie. My doctor came in the next morning very concerned for me and angry that this had happened because all of the facts were very clear. My doctor has been my O.B and family Dr, for eight years has literaly witnessed me be a loving and caring mother and nothing other than that. I also found out that the hospital went against policy and that CPS should not have been in my hospital room nor should the staff let the agent in my room especialy to sign legal documents within 24 hours of me being put under for surgery. I spent the remainder of my time in the hospital very anxious, stressed, and worried, and i came home the same way and did not get to enjoy my new baby like i should of been able too, Instead, i was worried about loosing him for no reason. There was one other thing in my favor, not only did they violate the above in which i stated, but when a rebelious person had called CPS on me in the past a drug test was done at that time(which i wanted to do right away by choice to prove i was a great parent and not a drug abuser) and CPS had it on file that i was on pain Meds for a long period of time, and had all the facts on file and it was proven to NO DOUBT THAT I AM A VERY FIT AND LOVING MOTHER AND THAT INCODENT HAD BEEN TOTALLY UNFOUNDED. I have tried to take legal action but cant find a lawyer that takes this kind of case. i will do what you suggested because there is wonderful parents out there that need to be protected with no doubt from these kinds of things happening.. Thank you so much for the advise. And if there is anything else you can advise me of, please contact me at my email listed. I comend every wonderful mom or dad and want to help make it a comfortable and happy experience being a parent, because it is none other than a wonderful and rewarding blessing.
Comment by Ronni — September 21, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
Ronni, I am so sorry for what happened to you. That’s an absolute disgrace! I pray that you get a good lawyer and sue the shit out of CPS & the hospital for letting them into your room, especially right after surgery! I also had my newborn snatched from birth by my own mother & her ‘partner’. CPS was in my hospital room as well, and I did NOT give them permission to be in there! They had absolutely NO reason to take that baby (as well as my other kids) but they invented the fact that she was ‘failure to thrive’. I hate CPS with all of my heart and wish them dead! This is what this horrible nightmare has turned me into. I have severe physical pain as well as emotional pain & anguish from their persecution. I pray that good lawyers (not CPS friendly goons) will come to our aid and the media will expose CPS for the monsters that they are!
Comment by Susan — September 22, 2007 @ 9:24 am
Please help me, Pasco County
Florida. Nasty Neighbor keeps calling CPS Know of it By inferrence of commentary from neighbor.
How do I demand this be stopped and
person be prosecuted?
727-247-2152
Comment by john thurston — September 22, 2007 @ 8:29 pm
I need any information on how and who to contact to get this woman out of the CPS system.. I live in Henderson County, Texas
Greeneyed2c -at- aol.com
Comment by Glenda & Steve — September 23, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
my 6 month old was taken from me at 2 weeks old because my ex’s mom called cps on me the night my baby was born. they said because i had depression issues after my first child that i cant take care of aubrea so at 2 weeks old they took me to court and gave temporary custody to my ex even though just an hour before he failed a drug screen for cps. well i had court last week and they gave him custody and me supervised visits?! they said they want me to only have supervised visits until she is 18 i have no clue what i should do??? can i appeal the judges decision
Comment by Jessica Penny — September 24, 2007 @ 12:59 am
thank you susan….It is a horrible thing to be tormented by these people..I truly believe that we were givin our children for a reason, they were all ment to be through lifes cyles. Each of our lives are lessons and as we live and learn and especially those of us who did not have much or who had a very bad childhood, it is our job and god given chance to break bad cycles and teach our children better. Unfortunately there is bad parents out there but i do believe that if everyone was a little more family orrianted now a days, then we would be able to communicate and there would always be someone to step in and help, ‘FAMILY HELP”….The biggest problem is no one sees how important family is anymore, no one sticks together, or for that matter, appreciates the fact that we were born into families for a reason. Our kids are precious and its our job to teach them well, let them be happy kids, and set them on the right path, and maybe we can make a difference in the future. Its just a shame that CPS has the right to do as they wish and not even think twice about whos door they are knocking on..I had a very rough childhood and wasnt loved by my parents (they didnt see that) but they knocked on my door and invaded my hospital room, and i have been saving and raising peoples kids since i was 13, i have always had something to do with kids, i love mine dearly..always keep in mind that they will also use it against you if you show them anger, you have to kill em with kindness:). I am glad that there is a website like this and maybe it will make a difference..
Comment by Ronni — September 24, 2007 @ 3:19 am
To find your legislator use the form on this page: http://www.fightcps.com/articles/legislators.html
Comment by Linda — September 24, 2007 @ 8:30 am
Your’e absolutely right Ronni! I also had a difficult childhood and was abused by excuses for human beings that BOTH my parents were living with. Did you know that there is NO oath taken in the Family Courts here in CO? This just blows my mind! Hearsay & false allegations made by CPS are taken as Gospel truth while NOTHING the parents say makes any difference. This system sucks & must be changed!
Comment by Susan — September 24, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
You are absolutely right. This system needs to be changed completely. Nothing is done when there is something going on and some peoples worlds are shattered when something false is reported and cps won’t listen to the truth, it is crazy.
Comment by lynne — September 24, 2007 @ 2:03 pm
really alot of things need to be changed,like if someone calls CPS on you, they should not allow anonymous calls in my point of view. It should be treated the same as if someone were to testify against someone in court, like if someone were to snitch on a person, the person that tells on the other person is subject to get reviewed as to their own credibility..The same should go for anyone who calls CPS, ya see i thought that everyone had the right to face their accuser and if i were to see a child get a abused or thought they were i would be upfront about it, why would you not want anyone to know that you are looking out for the best interest for another child? In my opinion anonymous calls should be disregarded, and the people who call in on someone should be made to state and show proof of why they accuse and then vise versa if you are wrongly accused there should be a law and an agency for those who wrongly accuse..I bet it wouldnt happen as often and our tax dollars and our children would be saved, but i also think that CPS agency dont want this becuase then they would not be so powerful and would not get paid like they do for displacing our babies..
Comment by Ronni — September 24, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
Susan, I was thinking about what you wrote and I had a light bulb moment. You stated that you hoped your rep was a christian because they let your kids go to a lesbian couple. Maybe if you started a letter writting campaign to the christian .org’s on the internet you’d get some much needed attention to your situation. Now I’ve said on the message boards to you before I have no issue with gay’s and lesbians adopting kids when people are willing to adopt thier kids to them but here I can’t agree with your situation. I found http://www.family.org/
on the internet and there is a contact us on the top of the page. Also there is a tv show called the 700 club they must have an online webpage too find it contact them see what they can do. Some of these christian groups are very powerful. Might be grasping at straws then again might work! Won’t know unless you try. Good luck.
Comment by Debbie — September 25, 2007 @ 11:03 am
When writing to your legislators, one thing I might include is why are CPS workers not required to have psych evals to get their jobs? Cops, correction officers and other do, but the people we are supposed to trust our children to don’t?
They should have psych evals before being hired and every two years because of the stress of their jobs.
Comment by Char — September 27, 2007 @ 12:05 am
Hey Debbie, I HAVE written to many Christian organizations, as well as regular mailed a letter to the 700 Club and have gotten no response so far. I’ll try that link you sent though!
According to ‘typical’ lesbians, Pat gives lesbians a bad name for looking & dressing like a man! If one is gonna take on the appearance of a man, then their sex partner ought to just be with a man! Char, you made an excellent point about CPS Nazis not being required to take a psych eval! I bet most of Fremont County DHS is on more meds than I am, & I know for a FACT that my mother’s partner, Pat takes Lexapro & Xanax. I only take Celexa!
Comment by Susan — September 28, 2007 @ 8:57 am
I was in treatment for 60 day’s and was abole to talk to my kids 3 times. It was court ordered that my kids have visits with me and that never happen.
Comment by Regina — October 1, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
I Have been clean for 8 months.
I wanted to get clean. I did it. Please I want my kids back.
Comment by Regina — October 1, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
I have talked to many state representatives, social workers supervisors,attorney’s, and anyone else who would listen. My daughter lost her children to July 6, due to an argument with her boy friend, and being evicted. I tried to pay her rent but the transition housing place would not let me!
10 years ago I was a drug addict and alcoholic, I am now in recovery and doing very well even through the railroading we are getting from DHS. We have court in Linn County Thursday 10/04/07. DHS Is condemning me for a pass drug charge from 10 years ago, and saying my house is unfit for my grandchildren.
Well, in that case my grand daughters we’re never abused, bitten ,that left scares
switch marks six inches long, we have too much evidence so we are no longer allowed to take picture, record conversations, or check the girls for bruising or they end the visit immediately. Now their telling my daughter, they are going to take her unborn child also. This happens every day in the sixth district in Iowa, but nobody seems to care. Most people give up from thr stress, but I’m one hardcore grandma and like I told DHS, I will never stop fighting for my granddaughters
until I am dead.
So any suggestions or help you can give would be greatly appreciated by my Attorney’s, my daughter, my signification other of 13 years, and me Leona the grandma herself. thank you for your time and understaning, have a great day
Comment by Leona Ackerson — October 2, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
i reported a crime of sex abuse on my child not comitted in my home and they made me sign my kids to someone else
Comment by lorraine — October 2, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
Leona, I am so sorry to hear that that has happened to your whole family. That is horrible. Keep your head up and keep fighting for those babies. It is just a shame how they take and rip everyones families apart for no reason and that they are given the permission to do such horrible things and especially to take children from a good family and put them somewhere they are abused. There has been way too much evidence and proof that kids are in more danger in Foster care in most cases, then they are in their own homes. My Prayers are with you. And lorraine that is no reason for them to take your child out of your care, you keep fighting too. If you had not reported it then that would make you responsible if you knew and did not do anything about it….uggghhh what is goin on with our system??
Comment by Ronni — October 2, 2007 @ 11:58 pm
I heard back from my assemblyman’s office today. The secretary called CWS and spoke to the department head. That woman (someone I have spoken to) gave her different information than she gave me, and implied that they might keep my daughter up to eighteen months (more than six months longer than they have been promising me).
However, things should smooth out after this. I am doing everything I have been ordered to do and then some, even though the allegations have proven false. They still don’t want to return my daughter and they harrass my other children and I.
I am to call his secretary back immediately if the retaliate, and to call her back in two months to update her about my case. If need be, I will authorize their office to see my file. This is something I am sure my county doesn’t want. It’s a waste of $100,000 in tax payer monies because of my daughter’s level of care. This is the first time in 10 months anyone with real authority has listened to me.
Thank you Linda for the courage to do this.
Comment by Char McKeon — October 3, 2007 @ 2:50 am
Don’t trust CPS. This is a book ref that was key for me!
ISBN 159800736x
Imminent Risk: The Child Welfare State
Comment by kevin Marks — October 4, 2007 @ 8:16 am
Need to know why I get two conflicting stories from cps and the case is a false acqusation on all parts. Please advise me. Thank You, Jamie Frisenda
Comment by Jamie Frisenda — October 4, 2007 @ 10:53 am
Unfortunately, I did this several times. But, I never got a responce. I even complained to the Attorney General in Massachusetts about the pyschologist who did not have her license to practice. They wrote back saying that they couldn’t take complaints because she worked for the state. You think they would want people with the correct credentials to work in the state. Guess not. No help what so ever. Not only have I lost my children, but my home is being foreclosed because I lost my job being at trial for so long.
Comment by Sabena — October 6, 2007 @ 3:01 am
I think we all should pay attention.
I have not seen my mom in almost three years and the DHS never presented a case against my mother.
In opposite of the rule, Burden of Proof in on the Court, the DHS said, “There are indications of child abuse or neglect but no reasonable cause to believe child abuse or neglect has occurred”, which is the definition of UNABLE TO DETERMINE. That disposition was assigned the case and a completed assessment filed prior to the face-to-face with me when there were no supervisory extensions filed to allow further time, which made that face-to-face illegal.
A fax was sent to my dad after an illegal assessment that was not accompanied by a sound police investigation. After that the caseworker lied and then said, “Major Safety Threat” when the report was not responded to and she also said, “We don’t need police involvement”.
Comment by Bleu — October 8, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
if yah have trouble with a neighbor being nozy and calling dcs and cps kick there fucking asses and they will leave you alone thats what i did
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Comment by solution family proactiv — September 20, 2008 @ 2:31 pm