Report of Georgia Senator Nancy Schaefer on CPS Corruption
Note from the Fight CPS webmaster: This is a very important report written by a Senator in Georgia. Please read the entire report, download the PDF, print it to give to your lawyers, caseworkers, local newspaper editors, state and federal senators and congressmen, CASA workers in your area, and whoever else you believe might benefit from reading the truth about CPS from the viewpoint of a Senator. Though this Senator is from Georgia, her report is about all state child protective services agencies. Thank-you, Senator Schaefer, for investigating and writing this report! - ljm
Click here to download an original copy of Senator Schaefer’s report in pdf format
From the legislative desk of Senator Nancy Schaefer 50th District of Georgia
November 16, 2007
THE CORRUPT BUSINESS OF CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES
BY: Nancy Schaefer
Senator, 50th District
My introduction into child protective service cases was due to a grandmother in an adjoining state who called me with her tragic story. Her two granddaughters had been taken from her daughter who lived in my district. Her daughter was told wrongly that if she wanted to see her children again she should sign a paper and give up her children. Frightened and young, the daughter did. I have since discovered that parents are often threatened into cooperation of permanent separation of their children.
The children were taken to another county and placed in foster care. The foster parents were told wrongly that they could adopt the children. The grandmother then jumped through every hoop known to man in order to get her granddaughters. When the case finally came to court it was made evident by one of the foster parent’s children that the foster parents had, at any given time, 18 foster children and that the foster mother had an inappropriate relationship with the caseworker.
In the courtroom, the juvenile judge, acted as though she was shocked and said the two girls would be removed quickly. They were not removed. Finally, after much pressure being applied to the Department of Family and Children Services of Georgia (DFCS), the children were driven to South Georgia to meet their grandmother who gladly drove to meet them. After being with their grandmother two or three days, the judge, quite out of the blue, wrote up a new order to send the girls to their father, who previously had no interest in the case and who lived on the West Coast. The father was in “adult entertainment”. His girlfriend worked as an “escort” and his brother, who also worked in the business, had a sexual charge brought against him.
Within a couple of days the father was knocking on the grandmother’s door and took the girls kicking and screaming to California.
The father developed an unusual relationship with the former foster parents and soon moved back to the southeast, and the foster parents began driving to the father’s residence and picking up the little girls for visits. The oldest child had told her mother and grandmother on two different occasions that the foster father molested her.
To this day after five years, this loving, caring blood relative grandmother does not even have visitation privileges with the children. The little girls are in my opinion permanently traumatized and the young mother of the girls was so traumatized with shock when the girls were first removed from her that she has not recovered.
Throughout this case and through the process of dealing with multiple other mismanaged cases of the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS), I have worked with other desperate parents and children across the state because they have no rights and no one with whom to turn. I have witnessed ruthless behavior from many caseworkers, social workers, investigators, lawyers, judges, therapists, and others such as those who “pick up” the children. I have been stunned by what I have seen and heard from victims all over the sta te of Georgia.
In this report, I am focusing on the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS). However, I believe Child Protective Services nationwide has become corrupt and that the entire system is broken almost beyond repair. I am convinced parents and families should be warned of the dangers.
The Department of Child Protective Services, known as the Department of Family and Children Service (DFCS) in Georgia and other titles in other states, has become a “protected empire” built on taking children and separating families. This is not to say that there are not those children who do need to be removed from wretched situations and need protection. This report is concerned with the children and parents caught up in “legal kidnapping,” ineffective policies, and DFCS who do does not remove a child or children when a child is enduring torment and abuse. (See Exhibit A and Exhibit B)
In one county in my District, I arranged a meeting for thirty-seven families to speak freely and without fear. These poor parents and grandparents spoke of their painful, heart wrenching encounters with DFCS. Their suffering was overwhelming. They wept and cried. Some did not know where their children were and had not seen them in years. I had witnessed the “Gestapo” at work and I witnessed the deceitful conditions under which children were taken in the middle of the night, out of hospitals, off of school uses, and out of homes. In one county a private drug testing business was operating within the DFCS department that required many, many drug tests from parents and individuals for profit. In another county children were not removed when they were enduring the worst possible abuse. Due to being exposed, several employees in a particular DFCS office were fired. However, they have now been rehired either in neighboring counties or in the same county again. According to the calls I am now receiving, the conditions in that county are returning to the same practices that they had before the light was shown on their deeds. Having worked with probably 300 cases statewide, I am convinced there is no responsibility and no accountability in the system.
I have come to the conclusion:
· that poor parents often times are targeted to lose their children because they do not have the where-with-all to hire lawyers and fight the system. Being poor does not mean you are not a good parent or that you do not love your child, or that your child should be removed and placed with strangers;
· that all parents are capable of making mistakes and that making a mistake does not mean your children are always to be removed from the home. Even if the home is not perfect, it is home; and that’s where a child is the safest and where he or she wants to be, with family;
· that parenting classes, anger management classes, counseling referrals, therapy classes and on and on are demanded of parents with no compassion by the system even while they are at work and while their children are separated from them. This can take months or even years and it emotionally devastates both children and parents. Parents are victimized by “the system” that makes a profit for holding children longer and “bonuses” for not returning children;
· that caseworkers and social workers are oftentimes guilty of fraud. They withhold evidence. They fabricate evidence and they seek to terminate parental rights. However, when charges are made against them, the charges are ignored;
· that the separation of families is growing as a business because local governments have grown accustomed to having taxpayer dollars to balance their ever-expanding budgets;
· that Child Protective Service and Juvenile Court can always hide behind a confidentiality clause in order to protect their decisions and keep the funds flowing. There should be open records and “court watches”! Look who is being paid! There are state employees, lawyers, court investigators, court personnel, and judges. There are psychologists, and psychiatrists, counselors, caseworkers, therapists, foster parents, adoptive parents, and on and on. All are looking to the children in state custody to provide job security. Parents do not realize that social workers are the glue that holds “the system” together that funds the court, the child’s attorney, and the multiple other jobs including DFCS’s attorney.
· that The Adoption and the Safe Families Act, set in motion by President Bill Clinton, offered cash “bonuses” to the states for every child they adopted out of foster care. In order to receive the “adoption incentive bonuses” local child protective services need more children. They must have merchandise (children) that sell and you must have plenty of them so the buyer can choose. Some counties are known to give a $4,000 bonus for each child adopted and an additional $2,000 for a “special needs” child. Employees work to keep the federal dollars flowing;
· that there is double dipping. The funding continues as long as the child is out of the home. When a child in foster care is placed with a new family then “adoption bonus funds” are available. When a child is placed in a mental health facility and is on 16 drugs per day, like two children of a constituent of mine, more funds are involved;
· that there are no financial resources and no real drive to unite a family and help keep them together;
· that the incentive for social workers to return children to their parents quickly after taking them has disappeared and who in protective services will step up to the plate and say, “This must end! No one, because they are all in the system together and a system with no leader and no clear policies will always fail the children. Look at the waste in government that is forced upon the tax payer;
· that the “Policy Manuel” is considered “the last word” for DFCS. However, it is too long, too confusing, poorly written and does not take the law into consideration;
· that if the lives of children were improved by removing them from their homes, there might be a greater need for protective services, but today all children are not always safer. Children, of whom I am aware, have been raped and impregnated in foster care and the head of a Foster Parents Association in my District was recently arrested because of child molestation;
· that some parents are even told if they want to see their children or grandchildren, they must divorce their spouse. Many, who are under privileged, feeling they have no option, will divorce and then just continue to live together. This is an anti-family policy, but parents will do anything to get their children home with them.
· fathers, (non-custodial parents) I must add, are oftentimes treated as criminals without access to their own children and have child support payments strangling the very life out of them;
· that the Foster Parents Bill of Rights does not bring out that a foster parent is there only to care for a child until the child can be returned home. Many Foster Parents today use the Foster Parent Bill of Rights to hire a lawyer and seek to adopt the child from the real parents, who are desperately trying to get their child home and out of the system;
· that tax dollars are being used to keep this gigantic system afloat, yet the victims,
parents, grandparents, guardians and especially the children, are charged for the
system’s services.
· that grandparents have called from all over the State of Georgia trying to get custody of their grandchildren. DFCS claims relatives are contacted, but there are cases that prove differently. Grandparents who lose their grandchildren to strangers have lost their own flesh and blood. The children lose their family heritage and grandparents, and parents too, lose all connections to their heirs.
· that The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect in 1998 reported that six times as many children died in foster care than in the general public and that once removed to official “safety”, these children are far more likely to suffer abuse, including sexual molestation than in the general population.
· That according to the California Little Hoover Commission Report in 2003, 30% to 70% of the children in California group homes do not belong there and should not have been removed from their homes.
FINAL REMARKS
On my desk are scores of cases of exhausted families and troubled children. It has been beyond me to turn my back on these suffering, crying, and sometimes beaten down individuals. We are mistreating the most innocent. Child Protective Services have become adult centered to the detriment of children. No longer is judgment based on what the child needs or who the child wants to be with or what is really best for the whole family; it is some adult or bureaucrat who makes the decisions, based often on just hearsay, without ever consulting a family member, or just what is convenient, profitable, or less troublesome for a director of DFCS.
I have witnessed such injustice and harm brought to these families that I am not sure if I even believe reform of the system is possible! The system cannot be trusted. It does not serve the people. It obliterates families and children simply because it has the power to do so. Children deserve better. Families deserve better. It’s time to pull back the curtain and set our children and families free.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and the needy” Proverbs 31:8-9
Please continue to read:
Recommendations
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Call for an independent audit of the Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS) to expose corruption and fraud.
2. Activate immediate change. Every day that passes means more families and children are subject to being held hostage.
3. End the financial incentives that separate families.
4. Grant to parents their rights in writing.
5. Mandate a search for family members to be given the opportunity to adopt their own relatives.
6. Mandate a jury trial where every piece of evidence is presented before removing a child from his or her parents.
7. Require a warrant or a positive emergency circumstance before removing children from their parents. (Judge Arthur G. Christean, Utah Bar Journal, January, 1997 reported that “except in emergency circumstances, including the need for immediate medical care, require warrants upon affidavits of probable cause before entry upon private property is permitted for the forcible removal of children from their parents.”)
8. Uphold the laws when someone fabricates or presents false evidence. If a parent alleges fraud, hold a hearing with the right to discovery of all evidence.
Senator Nancy Schaefer
50th District of Georgia
EXHIBIT A
December 5, 2006
Jeremy’s Story
( Some names withheld due to future hearings)
As told to Senator Nancy Schaefer by Sandra (XXXX), a foster parent of Jeremy for 2 ½ years.
My husband and I received Jeremy when he was 2 weeks old and we have been the only parents he has really ever known. He lived with us for 27 months. (XXXX) is the grandfather of Jeremy, and he is known for molesting his own children, for molesting Jeremy and has been court ordered not to be around Jeremy. (XXXX) is the mother of Jeremy, who has been diagnosed to be mentally ill, and also is known to have molested Jeremy. (XXXX) and Jeremy’s uncle is a registered sex offender and (XXXX) is the biological father, who is a drug addict and alcoholic and who continues to be in and out of jail. Having just described Jeremy’s world, all of these adults are not to be any part of Jeremy’s life, yet for years DFCS has known that they are. DFCS had to test (XXXX) (the grandfather) and his son (XXXX) (the uncle) and (XXXX) to determine the real father. (XXXX) is the biological father although any of them might have been. In court, it appeared from the case study, that everyone involved knew that this little boy had been molested by family members, even by his own mother, (XXXX). In court, (XXX), the mother of Jeremy, admitted to having had sex with (XXXX) (the grandfather) and (XXXX) (her own brother) that morning. Judge (XXXX) and DFCS gave Jeremy to his grandmother that same day. (XXXX), the grandmother, is over 300 lbs., is unable to drive, and is unable to take care of Jeremy due to physical problems. She also has been in a mental hospital several times due to her behavior. Even though it was ordered by the court that the grandfather (XXXX), the uncle (XXXX) (a convicted sex offender), (XXXX) his mother who molested him and (XXXX) his biological father, a convicted drug addict, were not to have anything to do with the child, they all continue to come and go as they please at (XXXX address), where Jeremy has been “sentenced to live” for years. This residence has no bathroom and little heat. The front door and the windows are boarded. (See pictures) This home should have been condemned years ago. I have been in this home. No child should ever have to live like this or with such people. Jeremy was taken from us at age 2 ½ years after (XXXX) obtained attorney (XXXX), who was the same attorney who represented him in a large settlement from an auto accident. I am told, that attorney (XXXX), as grandfather’s attorney, is known to have repeatedly gotten (XXXX) off of several criminal charges in White County. This is a matter of record and is known by many in White County. I have copies of some records. (XXXX grandfather), through (XXXX attorney’s) work, got (XXXX), the grandmother of Jeremy, legal custody of Jeremy. (XXXX grandfather) who cannot read or write also got his daughter (XXXX) and son (XXXX) diagnosed by government agencies as mentally ill. (XXXX grandfather), through legal channels, has taken upon himself all control of the family and is able to take possession of any government funding coming to these people.
It was during this time that Jeremy was to have a six-month transitional period between (XXXX grandmother) and my family as we were to give him up. The court ordered agreement was to have been 4 days at our house and 3 days at (XXXX grandmother). DFCS stopped the visits within 2 weeks. The reason given by DFCS was the child was too traumatized going back and forth. In truth, Jeremy begged us and screamed never to be taken back to (XXXX his grandmother) house, which we have on video. We, as a family, have seen Jeremy in stores time to time with (XXXX grandmother) and the very people he is not to be around. At each meeting Jeremy continues to run to us wherever he sees us and it is clear he is suffering. This child is in a desperate situation and this is why I am writing, and begging you Senator Schaefer, to do something in this child’s behalf. Jeremy can clearly describe in detail his sexual molestation by every member of this family and this sexual abuse continues to this day.
When Jeremy was 5 years of age I took him to Dr. (XXXX) of Habersham County who did indeed agree that Jeremy’s rectum was black and blue and the physical damage to the child was clearly a case of sexual molestation.
Early in Jeremy’s life, when he was in such bad physical condition, we took him to Egleston Children Hospital where at two months of age therapy was to begin three times a week. DFCS decided that the (XXXX grandparent family) should participate in his therapy. However, the therapist complained over and over that the (XXXX grandparent family) would not even wash their hands and would cause Jeremy to cry during these sessions. (XXXX the grandmother), after receiving custody no longer allowed the therapy because it was an inconvenience. The therapist reported that this would be a terrible thing to do to this child. Therapy was stopped and it was detrimental to the health of Jeremy. During (XXXX grandmother) custody, (XXXX uncle) has shot Jeremy with a BB gun and there is a report at (XXXX) County Sheriff’s office. There are several amber alerts at Cornelia Wal-Mart, Commerce Wal-Mart, and a 911 report from (XXXX) County Sheriff’s Department when Jeremy was lost. (XXXX grandmother), to teach Jeremy a lesson, took thorn bush limbs and beat the bottoms of his feet. Jeremy’s feet got infected and his feet had to be lanced by Dr. (XXXX). Then Judy called me to pick him up after about 4 days to take back him to the doctor because of intense pain. I took Jeremy to Dr. (XXXX) in Gainesville. Dr. (XXXX) said surgery was needed immediately and a cast was added. After returning home, (XXXX), his grandfather and (XXXX), his uncle, took him into the hog lot and allowed him to walk in the filth.
Jeremy’s feet became so infected for a 2nd time that he was again taken back to Dr. (XXXX) and the hospital. No one in the hospital could believe this child’s living conditions. Jeremy is threatened to keep quiet and not say anything to anyone. I have videos, reports, arrest records and almost anything you might need to help Jeremy. Please call my husband, Wendell, or me at any time.
Sandra and (XXXX) husband (XXXX)
EXHIBIT B
Failure of DFCS to remove six desperate children
A brief report regarding six children that Habersham County DFCS director failed to remove as disclosed to Senator Nancy Schaefer by Sheriff Deray Fincher of Habersham County.
Sheriff Deray Fincher, Chief of Police Don Ford and Chief Investigator Lt. Greg Bowen Chief called me to meet with them immediately, which I did on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 Sheriff Fincher, after contacting the Director of Habersham County DFCS several times to remove six children from being horribly abused, finally had to get a court order to remove the children himself with the help of two police officers.
The children, four boys and two girls, were not just being abused; they were being tortured by a monster father.
The six children and a live in girl friend were terrified of this man, the abuser. The children never slept in a bed, but always on the floor. The place where they lived was unfit for human habitation.
The father on one occasion hit one of the boys across his head with a bat and cut the boy’s head open. The father then proceeded to hold the boy down and sew up the child’s head with a needle and red thread. However, even with beatings and burnings, this is only a fraction of what the father did to these children and to the live-in girlfriend.
Sheriff Fincher has pictures of the abuse and condition of one of the boys and at the writing of this report, he has the father in jail in Habersham County.
It should be noted that when the DFCS director found out that Sheriff Fincher was going to remove the children, she called the father and warned him to flee.
This is not the only time this DFCS director failed to remove a child when she needed to do so. (See Exhibit A)
The egregious acts and abhorrent behavior of officials who are supposed to protect children can no longer be tolerated.
Senator Nancy Schaefer
50th District of Georgia
(originally posted 12/5/07 at FightCPS.Com)
Thank God for this Senator! We finally have somebody who is telling the public the truth about this outrage known as CPS! I’ve already sent her an email with my story & she wrote back saying she received it. The mainstream media needs to stand up and take notice of this bureaucratic abuse and justice needs to be served for all the children and parents who are victims!
Comment by Susan — December 6, 2007 @ 7:53 am
I just wanted to thank Senator Schaefer for paying attention to the details of these cases and hope she can do something to change this from ever happening again to these poor families. I have to agree with her that most are targeted because they have no money, but just look what it does to the children and the parents. What an injustice to them all, and uncalled for. They are putting these children in harms way and it needs to stop now!..Thank you.
Comment by Michele — December 6, 2007 @ 8:14 am
This has been an issue for as long as CPS existed. I experienced dealing with them once when a guy who was angry that I wouldn’t go out with them, called CPS on me and lied to the hilt.
CPS showed up at my door, but she could clearly see my kids were fine and fed.
Comment by Charmaine — December 6, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
I agree! Thank goodness someone in the government is telling it like it is! We know CPS is a corrupt system; now others should know it, too. Hopefully, Senator Schaefer can raise more awareness in the Senate with this report. I am going to share my story with her. I only hope those poor children in the report are still alive.
Comment by Valerie — December 6, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
This was such a blessing to see that there is someone in government who sees what is going on with CPS. I keep asking myself if we are really living in America because it sure doesn’t feel like it. Please help the parents and grandparents with federal legislation and reform. I live in Texas and it is the same here.
Comment by Sandy Runion — December 6, 2007 @ 10:57 pm
i have emailed this senator and list her responses here:
Subject: Re: cps injustice
Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2007 22:15:57 -0500
You are doing a lot.
Thank you, and thank you for writing.
CPS is completely out of control.
It needs to be abolished.
Keep doing what you are doing.
God bless you.
Nancy Schaefer
Senator Nancy Schaefer
50th District
P.O. Box 294
Turnerville, Georgia 30580
706-754-1998 Phone
706-754-1803 Fax
323 B CLOB
18 Capitol Square, SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
404-463-1367
Tel: 706-754-1998
Fax: 706-754-1803
323- A Coverdell Office Bldg.
18 Capitol Square,S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Tel: 404-463-1367
Fax: 404-463-1388
—– Original Message —–
From: “stetson623″
To: “Senator Nancy Schaefer”
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 3:53 AM
Subject: Re: cps injustice
> How can I help? I realize I am not from your distrcit,
> I was curious if there are any other senators who
> share your views (particularly from New York) I have
> several web sites and blog groups dedicated to
> fighting CPS and many families interested in persuing
> change to this system. what more can we do?
>
> sincerely
> Robert T Podlaski
>
> — Senator Nancy Schaefer
> wrote:
>
>> Thank you for writing to me.
>> God bless you.
>>
>>
>>
>> Senator Nancy Schaefer
>> 50th District
>> P.O. Box 294
>> Turnerville, Georgia 30580
>> 706-754-1998 Phone
>> 706-754-1803 Fax
>>
>> 323 B CLOB
>> 18 Capitol Square, SW
>> Atlanta, Georgia 30334
>> 404-463-1367
>> Tel: 706-754-1998
>> Fax: 706-754-1803
>>
>> 323- A Coverdell Office Bldg.
>> 18 Capitol Square,S.W.
>> Atlanta, Georgia 30334
>> Tel: 404-463-1367
>> Fax: 404-463-1388
>>
>> —– Original Message —–
>> From: “stetson623″
>> To:
>> Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2007 2:19 AM
>> Subject: cps injustice
>>
>>
>> > thank you for supporting those of us who face the
>> > challenges of this corrupt arm of the government.
>> I
>> > have emailed my senator as well but as of yet have
>> > recieved no response. I vow I will vote for no man
>> or
>> > woman who does not publicly support reform or
>> > investigation of these gestapo warriors who only
>> wish
>> > to gain more federal grant money from the mondale
>> act
>> > of 1974 and the later adoption grants. Please keep
>> us
>> > in you mind and heart when on the floor and help
>> us
>> > change so other families will not have to endure
>> what
>> > I have had to suffer for 8 months, and the ongoing
>> > trial which was adjourned until december 28th.
>> Yes, I
>> > do not get to spend christmas with my family.
>> >
>> > please read the following article:
>> >
>> > http://www.jbs.org/node/4632
>> >
>> > i can attest to the truthfullness of this report.
>> >
>> > sincerely,
>> >
>> > Robert T Podlaski
>> > .
>> > Rochester, NY 14608
>> > 585-xxx-xxxx
>> >
>> > god bless your support, i will not forget your
>> > interest and pray you champion our cause.
Comment by Robert Podlaski — December 7, 2007 @ 1:50 am
The Georgia State Senator has a link to a contribution fund on her Website.
I am seriously thinking of sending her a check or a VISA donation.
Take a look—-top left.
Comment by Fern — December 7, 2007 @ 6:39 am
Rabun county dfac has harrassed me to the extent that I want a hearing before a judge. I am a disabled veteran that has a V.A. Prescription and the case worker counted a drug screen as positive for the medication even after I volunteered and showed them my meds prior to the drug screen. When I stated that They couldn’t count it as a positive test the reply was Oh yes We can. This is the second round with them and I passed the screens before during the first nightmare and they said we are new caseworkers and that those previous test don’t count. I caught the c/w in an outright fabrication of a statement made by my mother-in-law that was witnessed by three family members and when I asked her why she turned the facts around she would not answer me. She has pounded on my door after being asked to knock softly and said That I come from a military background that is how I knock. We have a 7 month old baby and they are contantly threatening us with well we will get a court hearing if you don’t do as we say. Nothing has changed in Rabun. I also am a volunteer firefighter for over 8 years and a basic life support instructor for American Heart Assoc. and do not deserve to be treated like a criminal. They are the criminals so lets all stand together and fight a corrupt dfcs…
Comment by Tim Shankle — December 7, 2007 @ 7:43 am
My son has been in the system in California for 8 years now. My efforts to regain custody were met with my imprisonment and torture TWICE. I live in Canada and don’t plan to return, especially since airport police taser Polish people to death and Catholics are still persecuted (i.e, Kennedys) (I am of Polish ancestry). I believe there is more to the picture than meets the eye. Nothing has changed as far as the nazis agenda….it only changed countries.
I was court ordered not to talk about my case, so now I make YouTube music videos. How can they forbid me to put photos together with music without any speaking?
Comment by Diane Booth — December 7, 2007 @ 9:32 am
This has happened to me, sort of. My mother is trying to get custody of my children. DSS and the judge said once I signed my rights away, hers went with it. It is funny that family is suppose to come first, but it really isn’t the truth.
Comment by Sabena — December 8, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
hello how do i email the senator that did this story???? Nancy Schaefer
Comment by Michelle Stanley — December 10, 2007 @ 11:04 am
I read this about a week ago. I am so excited. She dont know how many families will benefit from this. THANK GOD. this is only the first of millions to come GOD BLESS
Comment by kwanie — December 15, 2007 @ 10:56 am
Wow, if you read the “exhibits,” it sounds like they actually need a stronger CPS in Georgia.
Comment by Perch — December 15, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
I’m going thru similar situation…only it’s the court-appointed Guadian ad Litem from hell who also works at the CPS. She used her power to voice her personal opinions of me in court when I couldn’t afford an attorney to be present. Of course the judge took it for the gospel and now I haven’t seen my daughter in a year. I had full custody for 9 years and was dumb enough to sign a paper to let her stay 2 school years in Colorado with her father and he screwed me over and worked the system and kept her now 4 years. This GAL and his attorney took full advantage of the fact I didn’t have the funds to hire an attorney. I have a 2nd older daughter that is not his that misses her sissy terribly and this GAL from hell doesn’t give a hoot. I even had teachers, counselor, other professionals state that my daughter was only to spend 2 years there and not forever to no prevail. This GAL is prejudiced against single moms and has clearly favored the married father. That is why I’m researching info on the net and found this. Thank God for people like this senator.
Comment by Tricia — December 18, 2007 @ 10:44 am
Dear Senator I was raised to similar but not as bad of parents and situations similar to these that you have witnessed and described in your report. I was not sexually abused by family so I am quite familiar with different forms of abuse and succeeded in 2005 to get enough petitions signed to get OCGA 42-1-12 and had to get drug dependant and homeless people to address the pedophile issues to get Megans Law updated in Georgia which still is not enough. I am relieved from drug and alcohol abuse now and am of sober mind because now is the time God appointed for me to make a difference. I am designing an organization called CAPASCAM which stands for Citizens Association of Parents Against Sexual Crimes Against Minors and I am wanting to get other sober minded, hardworking and concerned people involved with this organization due to it emphasizing the importance of our rights under the Constitution. Many people do not know the facts that abuse of certain agencies and officials are so corrupt that they allow this kind of abuse to happen so legislation supports the construction of more Juvenile Detention Centers for children like these when they get older as well as preparing a place in prison for them when they become adults and criminals. I have over 33 years of door to door sales experience in which I am willing to transform my talent into raising money needed to resolve these and similar issues. OPERATION PREDATOR BEWARE is another program that I am designing to inform the communities of this state and I need anybodies and everybodies input on the design of these associations as well as motivated people that are ready to do something logical and constitutional to resolve many of abuses of government agencies and or their agents. We need to realise that one of the guidelines to treason is exploitation of children and destruction of families that are innocent to state allegations but firm legislation is needed to strengthen the penalties to the guilty ones including government officials. If not our society will increase in confused and disarrayed criminals in the years to come and our country will diminish right before our very eyes worse and faster than what it is as time goes by. Bigger and more jails and prisons are not the answer to these problems. The Constitution and common law is. When an adult abuses a child then thats childs God-given rights are violated and common law criminals need to be in prison under common law sentences. Not the average Joe that made a statutory mistake is a criminal unless he committed a real offense against another person or property. Immunity must be demolished in favor of the people, not the elected officials and attorneys.
Comment by charles rogers — December 19, 2007 @ 11:12 am
Another comment that I would like to make is the people would be astonished to discovering alot of children ripped away from their families through DFCS wind up sexually abused but yet not all such allegations of such abuse is true. But the child needs to be in custody of their families unless due process proves otherwise.
Comment by charles rogers — December 19, 2007 @ 11:21 am
Research FROM FREEDOM TO FASCISM
Comment by charles rogers — December 19, 2007 @ 11:24 am
We are grandparents living in Florida. Our daughter is in an abusive relationship and there is drug use involved. We have had her 8 year old daughter for roughly 7 years now. On Feb 5, 2007 Tifton County, Ga CPS workers called me and asked me to p/u her other 3 children or they would be placed in the foster care system. By the time I got there (3 1/2 hour drive) the other grandmother had p/u’ed the 4 year old and 1 month old leaving behind the 11 mo old. We took him home. The children were removed from the other grandmother 3/5/07 and placed in foster care. It took us until 8/17/07 to get the 4 year old out and placed in our home. The baby is still in foster care. The mistakes that have taken place are unbelievable, everything from her name being left off of ICP paperwork to everything under the sun. They told us last week we could bring her home for Christmas and we told the children and went shopping to prepare for this special visitation. Yesterday when we called for directions to pick her up for the Christmas visit we were told it couldn’t happen. Now I have two crying children who Christmas is ruined for. I believe the foster mom wants to adopt and has become too attached to Breonna. I keep being reassured that this will not happen and that the paperwork is a long process but after doing some research I have become very concerned. Our home has been approved through Florida, we are only in our 40’s and want to keep the children together. Noone can believe that grandparents already in the system can have this kind of problem getting their flesh and blood out of the foster care system. Someone please help.
Comment by CAREY GODWIN — December 21, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
To Carey Godwin:
There are groups in FL. Try going onto Yahoogroups.com
And using the initials DCF somewhere in the Yahoogroups. groups menu.
There should be a division of DCFS in FL which works within Interstate studies.
ICPC ( Interstate Compact Placement of Children) Name of law which deals with such situations.
Also there are active groups and folks in GA who have dealt with such situations. Again, Google is your friend.
Try inserting the DFCS or DCFS or whatever into a search engine.
And of course, young children are THE MOST DESIRABLE.
Please register on Message Boards here for more info.
Happy holidays!
F,
Comment by Fern — December 24, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
Some light has been shed on this disgraceful agency finally. My baby girl has been gone for 2 years now and in Texas this behavior is still tolerated with judicial backing. I am so pleased to have a well informed Senator in our corner. Maybe there will be some change.
Comment by Barbara — December 26, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
I would love to tell you my story,I live in Michigan I wanted to get Two of my cousins out of foster care in Brunswick Georgia but the only way my husbend I could due that was to get a foster care licence to adoption after a year one of the children was 11 months old when we got her after all we had to adore with getting a licence,she was not up dated on shots had not been to a doctor in 8 months I was really upset on this matter! The social workers in Georgia did not care about this matter we was told after 6 months we would be able to adopt this child well that never happened,we received another cousin of mine when he was 3 months old we was told we would be able to adopt him with in a year.. Never happened,on March 23,2007 I had c.p.s. on my door step telling me they had allegations that my husbend was abusing me and the children.Which was not try at 5:10 p.m. they came back and sold the children they told me Georgia is the ones who told them to take them I was lost for words I had had this children i my home for almost a year I loved them like my own,they had the same blood in their veins as I do….I got to see the children 3 days later at the c.p.s. office in Michigan they were placed in a different home while my husbend and I was beening investagated, I saw Shellbi the 18 month old with bruses all over her face and Gregory which was 8 months at the time wit diaper rash so bad he was bleeding,I wanted to file a complaint agaist this foster home,I was told no! I decided to call Brunswick Georgia I was told not to worry about it fro mWendy Hullett the social worker for the children there,so I decided to call Atlanta c.p.s. and they made a complaint against this home after that was done I never got to see the children again!! The children were sent back to Georgia on April 19,2007 almost a month of beening in that home I got a phone call from a hosiptal the day before and was told Gregory had been in there and I was suppost to bring in his ins. card I had no idea of this happening,nor did I know why he was in there,I called Wendy Hullett again in Georgia I was told to mind my on bussiness! I got a lawyer and I wanted to fight for cusitidy of the children to get them out of foster care,in July of this year we were denided after being cleared of all the allegations for some reason the c.p.s. worker and head c.p.s. worker both quit their job.Why may I ask did they hide something? Yes they did.we found out my husbend and I did not need a foster care license we could have gotten cusitidy of the children and they hid it from us,still fighting for the children I got Mrs.Harvey from Atlanta on my side to get the children back,after she e-mail me that she was trying to get the children back to us,she stop taking my phone calls and e-mails and got her ass. to call me and tell me to stop fighting for the children they were being adopted by someone outside the family!! I want to know who got to her,and why are they doing this to my blood??? All I did was love my children,they where not in harms way until they was taken out of my home!! Why would they givethem to total strangers if it is true,or are they being SOLD to highest bidder??? I will keep woking on this till I find out the TRUTH!
Comment by odessa gilland — December 30, 2007 @ 8:49 am
The monster of the six children is my ex. Not only is he a monster, he is a demon. He abused me, and has abused several other women that have come into his path. He is not someone who is safe to be around, nor is he someone that I would EVER trust with my children. He father my older son and then fathered another son with another woman, that I later retrieved out of Foster Care in Ohio and adopted.
Put the Monster in Jail for Life!
Comment by Jenn — January 3, 2008 @ 7:17 pm
I am devistated by the lack of accountablility within the child welfare system. I have been involved for only 4.5mo, and although I have been cleared in regards to my 17 yr old, I have been asked to assist in supervising my 14 yr old, and still I am asked to have supervised visitation with my 4yr old and 4.5mo old. Although they have admitted wrong doing from the first cps worker, who came from Georgia, and acknowledged that there are problems with the present foster father. My 4 yr old is becoming so confused, because they are only allowed contact with my family, who my teens refuse to be around because the family speaks so poorly of me. Still my babies have been left with these people who have no loyalty to their own blood. I truely believe they plan to try to adopt my baby out. DHS does not try to reunite, but only to split and destroy families. There must be a way to put a stop to them. If there is anyone in Oregon with information please post.
Comment by ajl — January 3, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
To Michelle Stanley:
I have put her website on the space for website when you post a comment. It should take you there if you click on my name. You can find her email address there. I did not want to post it here because I do not want her spammed.
Comment by Karen — January 5, 2008 @ 3:18 pm
Yes I do see the point of many of these replies. However, what about the children it has helped and saved from very bad and hammerful living conditions. About 2 years ago I heard of a case that DFACS was involved in trying to remove a 2 year old boy from his home because the father was abusing him. The case worker, plead the case in court. The court felt that if was unfounded and returned the boy to his home. Later the same day the local police where responed to a 911 call from the boys home and when they arrived they found the boys life less body laying on the floor, beaten, bloody, and dead! The Father when asked respones was “my boy dumped jucie on the floor so I picked him up and slamed him into the wall” Now here is a case of many lifes ruined. a Son dead and a Father in jail for life and DFCS tried their best but could save him.
The bottom line:
1) why is a system being jepordized by a few letters sent to a Senator.
2) This letter from the Senator caused a “heads to roll” theat to all employees of the DFAS orginization.
3) Do the people mentioned in the letter from the senator have a real case. Meaning they are asking for help but what is their back ground. I know I would help, but if they are a 3 time convicted drug dealer I would have to say this is not a good place a child should be in.
I believe that DFAS wants to and will develop a strong and viable system to serve all walks of life. Is the system broken YES! however the problem does not lie with the case workers which I have found the avg case worker only last 2 years before either they are forced to resign or out right Fired! This procedure is done time and time again to protect County coodinator’s and personal manager’s so when question about a spesific case comes up they can say “that person no longer works for DFAS”.
Which in fact if a case is miss managed lies soley on Leadership.
Leadership is the corner stone of success! Any orginzation with out good sold leadship will never work. You can fire the hole case worker staff from every county and hire new to replace and you will be still faced with the same problem if leadership not fixed.
It’s a knowin fact and you can ask any CEO of a major company when work force is staple and long term their growth is staple and long term.
The bottom line:
If leadership is the issue FIX IT! and when something doesn’t go right for a family train for it! and Lead from the top down and maybe we can save alot of 2 year old boys in the future.
Comment by Mark Williams — January 7, 2008 @ 9:44 pm
I personally do not dispute the fact that CPS has helped some children. BUT the problem is they are hurting more kids and their families then they are helping. And they are doing this illegally they have no respect for the laws of this country or the rights of the children and parents and they have virtually no accountability for their wrong doings. They falsify statements and lie to judges and so on. This is not a leadership problem it is a system wide problem. I do not care how much money I made a year on a job I would not lie or cheat to find someone guilty just to get funding and those are mostly the caseworkers that are being fired, the ones that won’t do that. A lot of caseworkers quit because they get fed up with it all and I don’t blame them. I used to feel sorry for caseworkers, having to rummage through all the calls, a high percentage of them being revenge calls. However after my own experiences and those of friends and family and others I have seen I no longer feel sorry for them. CPS has problems all the way across the board. From removing kids illegally, tearing apart families, to not paying attention to the legitimate cases where the kids really are in danger, to not providing promised support to family members who obtain custody of their nieces, nephews, grandkids, etc that have been removed from parental care by CPS. Case and point. My Aunt assumed custody of her 4 grandchildren, one of them being a special needs child, after CPS took them from their mother (which should have happened years ago in my opinion). CPS promised my Aunt help with day care and utility bills for at least the first few months of her having custody because they knew that taking on 4 children would be a finacial strain. CPS denied the help with day care because my Aunt put them in an after school program at their schools and CPS said they could not pay for that. The caseworker knew my Aunt was doing this and didn’t tell her they would not pay for that type of care because she claims she did not know. CPS promised help with the utility bills, that help never came and they used that against her. CPS withheld the special needs child’s SSI check ($660.00 a month) from my Aunt even though CPS was not incurring any cost for her care because she was in my Aunt’s care. This went on for 5 months. CPS in return took my Aunt’s grandchildren away because they were concerned about her financial stability. Which if CPS would have helped like they promised to there would have been no need for concern. This is part of what their funding is for so if it is not being used for this what is it being used for?
My recommendation would be for law enforcement to handle all claims of child abuse and based on the criminal justice system findings send CPS in ONLY to provide services such as counseling, parenting classes, etc.
Comment by Karen — January 8, 2008 @ 9:06 am
Its about time. Truth to be known to the World, as Truth will be seen as always. Truth cannot be hidden, but rather exposed. It always does. The power is the Truth. The Evil cannot hide the Truth. As you know this one story is sickening, and evil of what CPS Do to Families is really sick. It is happening to all families in the World, not just one place, or area. I cannot see how they can just carry on like it never happened, and hurt families like that, it is in sadistic form, and they are all Sadistis. No feelings or emotions/remorse whatosever. But when the Truth shows, they will fail. Thank God for Senator to expose one truth and it shall all ripple to all around the World. I hope the people who impose evil on the poor and realize what they did and change before it is too late. God is watching them. God said some day, the truth will come out and the poor will be helped! THIS IS THE DAY!!!!! The Prophesy has come true.
God Bless ALL!
Comment by Frustrated — January 15, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
Quick, folks.
Georgia DFCS head blasts her OWN agency when they accuse her of harming her child.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/fayette/stories/2008/01/17/cylenthia_0117.html
She is using her Website to raise $$$ for her own defense. This will be removed. Shows how unconstitutional CPS is.
Representative, speak to this Mom and CPS head honcho.
All Georgia folk should fwd this URL
Comment by Fern — January 17, 2008 @ 8:48 am
Big meeting to be held in Fayette, GA
January 21—to probe conduct of DFCS there.
http://unseenscars.com/wwwunseenscarscom.aspx
This meeting was called by an accused party of DFCS, ( and she is also an EMPLOYEE OF HIGH STANDING WITH DFCS). Will she reveal all she knows?
please fwd to anyone living in Georgia.
Comment by Fern — January 17, 2008 @ 9:09 am
I have seen this some time ago. There is corruption in all parts of our justice system here in Georgia. Search “kerry walker story” and then contact me and I will tell you how you can help bring change.
Comment by Kerry Craig Walker — January 20, 2008 @ 12:52 am
This georgia DCFS employee is the exception to the rule. Most governmental employees and agencies are protected by their corrupt employers and these agencies conspire to cover up any unlawful activity within their departments. I do, however,feel sympathy for anyone forced to deal with the ‘child protective agencies’. It is expensive and stressful dealing with these “people” if they would follow the rules. (written laws, etc.) Anyone involved with these ‘people’/agencies knows first hand that these government employees and agencies routinely violate many laws during their intrervention. The corruption and incompetence of these employees and agencies during their interraction with families often destroys good familes and forever damages al family members involved. I commend the Georgia Senator for her attempt to bring the DCS corruption to the attention of the public and legislatures of her State.
Comment by Jim Gerhardt — January 22, 2008 @ 4:46 pm
Does anyone else think Georgia has a secret? The secret in some county DFCS and schools seems to be, in order to keep the “numbers down”; child abuse will not be reported, nor investigated. How long have we heard there will be centralized computers so that each report is not the “first report.” It takes the death of a child for the local media to get the files out of the hidden places. I heard Dr. Michael Baden say on Fox News that he wants to see law enforcement take back the investigations of abuse and child deaths. They can be held accountable. They have training.
How can police officers in this area believe that CPS has more power than law enforcement?
There is something that can be done to return value and justice to our children: LET THE POLICE INVESTIGATE ALL ABUSE AND CHILD DEATHS.
Do our children have no value in Georgia? All the funding required to run DFCS; conferences, seminars, training, employee turn-over, “merging departments” needs to be spent on law enforcement protecting our children. Maybe Foster Care wouldn’t be in such a sad state. I’d like to hear from those who have seen the side that DFCS won’t investigate child abuse.
Comment by Cpt. M.D. Justice — January 22, 2008 @ 7:18 pm
Thank you Senator Nancy Schaefer!! After reading your article I can only hope and pray more Senators across this nation will finally have the courage to wake up and quit ignoring this issue. The corruption within DCPS needs to be addressed and dealt with now. DCPS has devasted too many families. The suffering needs to stop. I too was involved in a case in California. Everything you stated is true, doesn’t matter what state you live in. I have written to legislators in my state and have got no response. I have proof that caseworkers fabricated & misconstrued details in my case but you do not have the right to due process in a juvenile court of law. How wrong is this? It’s definately time for a change.
Comment by Kat — January 29, 2008 @ 12:11 pm
We have a interview with Nancy on our website
Looking for more cases of abuse of the state
Hokforkids
Comment by Bif Guenthen — February 10, 2008 @ 11:48 pm
Theese stories are soo heart wrenching omg!!
Comment by momz_luvv — February 13, 2008 @ 7:03 am
There is a mother here in maine…who actually stole her kid..from the foster care…to let them know she wanted her kid and she will go to any extent to have her……well guess what she won!!!!! And now theres another on the news the other day saying she will steal her kid back too….the foster parents whom adopted her child tried to put papers on the real parent….but 2 judges denied it!!!! GOOO MOMS!!!
Comment by momz_luvv — February 13, 2008 @ 7:28 am
Someone with power hs seen the corruprtion of the DCF now lets see if anything is done. I donot have the money or the means to make a big difference,but I have wrote to and spoke to my state senator about my case and everything is still the same.But I will never quit until this “system is brought down”. If we cant beat them in court then where can we beat them. I propose marches and protests on the DCF,s front lawn,let them sweat little, god nows I have. Thank you Senator.
Comment by Unjustice system — February 20, 2008 @ 5:54 pm
it’s taken me 5 yrs. to find others who have educated themselves, when public defenders, judges, and cps are working for $$$adoptions$$$
and cps said i was not accepting responsibility for why my sons were kidnapped and adopted to ex foster family with allegations against me that were impeached by police report and pix, but somehow a warrantless emergency placement was necessary when they were in her care
i would tell my story to accuantances and family ( some testified against me with lies and assumptions because of what they believed to be true. cps said i was neglectful so it has to true) and i know they thought i was full of @$$^
Comment by jamie joel — February 26, 2008 @ 1:33 pm
I recently won againest Rabun County Ga. DFAC. They had lied to a Judge, an Asst State Attorney and to the Agency itself. The courts will appoint an Attorney for you to fight these gestapo storm troopers who feel they are above the law if you ask. So please don’t feel lost in the corrupt system instead stand up and fight for the rights of your children and yourselves. Senator Nancy Schaefer is not doing this for election votes but out of true heart felt obligation to the citizens of Georgia. The truth is that the caseworkers cannot be held accountable in court for the illegal kidnapping of our kids so the recourse we have is to get them FIRED from their jobs. Not all of the employees of DFAC or CPS are corrupt but the system is in dire need of restructuring.Look up on the Web site for georgia child and family services review and see for yourself the substandard review they recieved on Sept. 5th 2007. I’m sure you will be shocked at how poorly they are operating.I will today appear before the general assembly in atlanta ga. befrore the news media in my attempt to have a full scale investigation conducted by the media into the Illegal kidnapping of My 8 month old son whom while in DFAC custody recieved a bruise across his entire forehead as well as above his left temple and was never taken to a doctor to be checked.We were told he fell forward from a sitting posisition which our pediatrician says had to result from a fall of 3-4 feet. So lets all bond together and put an end to these GESTAPO STORM TROOPERS.
Comment by Tim Shankle — February 27, 2008 @ 6:21 am
I live in AZ and our family has been the victims of CPS false accusations. We have not seen our 3 grandsons since Apr. 13, 2007. They were adopted out of foster care to stangers and we are not allowed to have any communication with them. We were told by the CPS worker to have a memorial service for them and get on with our lifes because we were never going to be allowed to adopt. This was an act of revenge because in 1999 we fought them and won and showed them to be liars and thieves. We had custody of our grandsons for over 9 months when CPS showed up and took them with no warning. Then came the accusations of neglect, molestation, and abuse. The abuse was thrown out, they said the neglect was possible but they didn’t prove we did anything just that it could have happened. The sheriff found the molestation charges to be false and recommended the children be returned to us, but CPS told the judge they wouldn’t recommend us because a molestation had occured in our home. When we tried to tell the judge they were lying under oath we were ejected from the court room. The CPS workers interviewed the oldest boy(age 5 at the time) for over 3 hours 4 different times before they called the sheriff.
Comment by Cheryl Boggs — May 4, 2008 @ 8:37 pm