|
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 The law that started this, CAPTA, must be repealed.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
December 21, 2008
On Friday, December 19, Arkansas legislators listened to the grievances of grandparents seeking visitation with children whose parents lost parental rights in TPR hearings. State employees attended the meeting to inform relatives they can file a petition requesting visitation.
The article doesn’t explain how this is done; it sounds like they were advised to take the matter back to court. I hope this works and would like to hear from any relative that has gone to court for visitation of a child after TPR – especially if the petition was granted!
Source: Grandparents Seek Visitation with Grandkids by Pete Thompson, published with VIDEO on December 19, 2008, at the KARK 4 News website.
…
I’d like to thank Marina, one of the moderators on our message board forum, for posting about this article in the “In The News” section of the message board. She’s done a wonderful job, keeping us informed about CPS news and much more. I found this article on the message board earlier today. Thank you so much, Marina!
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Please do not leave LONG comments. We don't need to know your last name, the details of your case, or the names of the social workers or judges. Do not leave any self-incriminatory statements on this blog. Please read the privacy policy before posting. All comments are approved before posting as of 2010. Excessively long comments or comments in all-caps will not be approved.
Privacy Policy - please read before posting anything to this site. (Link opens in another window or tab.)
Copyright Notice: According to US Copyright law, copyright vests initially in the author(s) of the work. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted material herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have an interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: Title 17, Sec.107. If you are the copyright holder and choose to have your work removed from this website, email the webmaster and it will be done. However we here at fightcps.com hope you prefer that our researchers continue to benefit from access to your work.
Broken Links: Because many old news articles are taken offline you will find broken links in the archives of this weblog. There's nothing we can do to prevent this problem.
|
All those who are not a part of the message forum should seek to join. Marina posts news articles there very very often. She has the “pulse” of the news community on CPS issues.
While I do not support grandparent visitation when disgruntled grandparents sue fit and able parents, I do support grandparent visitation when those grandparents are fighting the state.
In NY, grandparent visitation does survive adoption, even stranger adoption.
However, sadly, the only time I have found that grandparents win such rights are when the children are adopted by step parents and live in normal, healthy households. The grandparents rarely win against the state.
But, the statute in of itself is sound . If there are any grandparents here in Arkansas or elsewhere seeking to utilize grandparent visitation when parents rights are terminated, I suggest strongly to look to NY’s statutes for guidance.
Comment by MaggieC — December 21, 2008 @ 9:02 pm
One good thing to come from AR is that GRANDPARENTS ARE NOW ACTING AS A GROUP TO VISIT THE LEGISLATURE.
Kin also recently had Open Hearings held in CT. Around 140 folks showed up to testify to the CT legislature.
So, folks you are doing the right things by acting TOGETHER.
Thanks Maria & Linda for delving into news from ALL STATES.
The study from MIT highlighted the AWFUL OUTCOMES FOR children in *stranger foster care.*
Comment by Fern — December 22, 2008 @ 7:50 am
Does any one have any more information about this TPR in Arkansas. My mother and has been trying to fight for visitation for 6 years and has gone to lawyers and no one will take her case. We knew nothing about this! THe article and video does not really say much on HOW to go about getting those visits. Does anyone know who to speak with or contact in the state of ARKANSAS! We had a hearing in Nov. 2008 and all the judge would tell is is there is other ways to go about getting visits but filing a reprevlin was not it and he did not tell us any more. Does any one have anything they could help me with.
Comment by Janelle — December 22, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
I am positive that Arkansas has grteandparent visitation statutes.
I agree, Take a different avenue.
Comment by MaggieC — December 22, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
Arkansas probably has an OMBUDSMAN.
Write a letter, telling your interest in the case.
Also, there is a group in NY who might be interested in class actioning AR.
http://www.childrensrights.org
They state they will now handle selected, individual cases, but it seems that AK HAS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM.
Either way, you cannot lose by putting your family’s case in words.
Happy holiday F
Comment by Fern — December 23, 2008 @ 8:08 am
Thanks for the info…..I looked up what a Ombudsman means…. Interesting never heard of that. Just wondering who to contact as a group in Arkansas but will start digging thanks for your help anymore you can give I will take!!
Happy Holiday to all!
Comment by Janelle — December 24, 2008 @ 2:43 pm
My wife and I helped intiate the Grandparents Intervention law but, as one state senator stated, the judges do not have to follow thru.
The problem is not with just DCFS, it also lies in the courtroom. Until these lawmakers realize that constitutional rights are being violated behind closed doors, with the courts permission, then no law will ever be upheld in DCFS custody hearings, especially for the grandparents.
And if you, as grandparents, are not recognized as parties in this hearing, then you can forget about any rights or fair treatrment what-so-ever.
They call closed hearings, oust you from the courtrom, make false accusations about you and your character and determine you are unfit, as a grandparent to raise your grandchildren, let alone see them.
When you do find a way to complain, their lawful answer is that you were present at all the hearings. When, in fact, you were banned from the courtroom after answering present during roll call.
In our case, the judge had already stated that “Grandparents intervention was a waste of her courts time”.
Then whatever the court has on record, is passed to the higher court when an appeal is filed. This higher court only sees what went on behind closed doors, without any clear and convincing evidence against the grandparents, no statements given by the grandparents in their defense, mainly because they weren’t able to hear these accusations from ooutside the courtroom or able to confront their accusers, asnd the higher court sides with the lower courts deciseion. Everything presented to the higher court is presented as if a fair and impartial hearing actually took place.
You can pass whatever laws you want to, but actually getting them enforced is another whole can of worms.
It is not in the best interest of the children as to why these hearings are not held in open court. It is for the best interest of the presiding judge and DCFS. The majority of these”DCFS/Court” protected children are never in the courtroom.
You want a statement form my family, I have nearly a hundred copies all ready to send to our state lawmakers.
But, to tell you the truth, I don;t think it will do any of us any good. There is too much money and politics involved. Too much room for the on-going corruption and the desamation of our constitutional rights behind closed doors.
We have touched every corner possible in the last 11 years and this system is still going strong.
Until you can convince lawmakers and citizens that these DCFS court hearings are being held in an ‘unconstitutional environment’ then I wouldn’t hold my breath and wave a flag on any law enacted by Arkansas lawmakers.
Change the way these cases are heard and investigated, give the grandparents the right to amswer to false accusations given by incompetent caseworkers and make sure that the Federal Laws are upheld in relative search and placement before dolling out the millions of dollars in bounty money both the court system and DCFS recieves for every child placed into foster care.
Then and only then will you ever have clear and convincing evidence to determine placement or visitation with grandparents or relatives for the children involved.
Comment by Alan Burt — January 15, 2009 @ 10:22 am
Well Alan Burt! I dont think I could have said it better……..I know my mother who has been trying to help my brother fight for his daughters and her rights as a grandparent went through everything you just said……..It’s a crime……
Comment by Janelle — January 18, 2009 @ 7:01 pm
Alan I just read your appeal on the ASC web site…….I would like to be able to contact if I can. Maybe we can help one another and work in numbers.
Comment by Janelle — January 18, 2009 @ 7:25 pm
I have just recently been placed in this situation and not only devastated but now i am mad. are there any advocates for this cause and can i join! this is hard to believe the taxpayers and upright citizens have no rights in these cases.
Comment by teresa — January 26, 2009 @ 6:53 pm
Are you in Arkansas Teresa?
Comment by Janelle — February 4, 2009 @ 5:03 pm
NEW FEDERAL LAW PROVIDES FAMILY MUST BE NOTIFIED IF CHILD TAKEN BY CPS.
Enacted October, 2008
Read this:
Grandchildren Adopted Out of the Family
By Amy Goyer | February 24, 2009
Reader Question: Our family has been ripped apart because our grandchildren were adopted outside the family. This has been very traumatic for all of us as we have tried very hard to get the authorities to allow us to adopt them. We feel the system has failed our entire family in this matter. How do we get people to listen? And what can we do to keep going? We want everyone to be aware of the laws in our state and what they can do to prevent this from happening to them. Where do we start?
Many grandparents are willing to step up to the plate and gain custody or adopt grandchildren when parents can’t raise them – for whatever reason. Unfortunately, your situation is all too common. Family members may be the last to know when a child is available for adoption. The good news is that after many years of advocating for grandparents in this kind of situation, on Oct. 7, 2008 the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act was signed into law. This new law directly addresses the tragic issue you and many others face. It mandates that state child welfare agencies provide notice to all adult grandparents and other relatives within 30 days of a child being removed from a parent’s custody. Most states have already had notification policies on the books, but in reality those policies were not always enforced. This new law makes it compulsory, with few exceptions, and it also makes it easier for child welfare agencies to find families members.
Some of the strongest advocates for this law were grandparents who are unable to have a relationship with a grandchild because adoptive families chose not to allow the child to see – or even know about – their relatives. There is still a need for more advocacy. Spread the word that this new law exists, and hold your state agencies accountable to it. Start a discussion about this topic here on Grandparents.com. Grandparents, if the child welfare system is involved in your grandchild’s life, make sure that those on the case know you exist and how to reach you. Sadly, this law comes into effect too late for this family, and many others. But it does shed a ray of hope for the thousands of grandparents who will face a situation like this down the road.
Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
* Digg
* del.icio.us
* Furl
* Netscape
* NewsVine
* Reddit
* scuttle
* StumbleUpon
* Technorati
* YahooMyWeb
Share/Save/Bookmark
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Adoption, Child Welfare, Custody, Grandparent adoptions, Grandparents raising grandchildren, Legal, National Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, Notification of relatives. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a trackback: Trackback URL.
« Staying Connected with Long Distance Grandchildren
Raising Relatives’ Children »
Post a Comment
Your email is never published nor shared. Required fields are marked *
Name *
Email Address *
Comment
Comment by Fern — March 9, 2009 @ 6:57 am
Fern…I understand this law now. But what can you do when they have already ripped your kids COMPLETE away from any FAMILY member and the children have been split up and adopted? What can we do to get our children back after this has happened? It has been 6 years now that we have been trying to get a lawyer to HELP us fight for them back and they all tell us its TO LATE. MOVE ON! We dont want to move on we want these children to know that we have ALL been here and YET DHS told us we were NOT allowed to adopt the children because once the parents rights were terminated we had no right to the children. DHS lied to us. WE want them BACK and I know teenagers now want to come home!
Comment by Janelle — March 21, 2009 @ 11:35 am
Janelle – you have my most heartfelt sympathy! Yes, you must move on.. but I would put up a huge website explaining the whole case so that someday your children will google their names on the web and find out the truth of the matter. I am so sorry that your family has been devastated by the corruptness in our government.
If you do a website, please let me know… I will want to link to it from here. In fact, a huge network of links from each similar website would make us all more powerful in the search engine results. I’ve always encouraged people to put their links in the comments on this site… I use the do-follow plugin which should create a good link for each of you.
Comment by LindaJoMartin — March 21, 2009 @ 2:27 pm
Linda Jo always has excellent advice.
Thanks, Linda for your unflagging devotion to families.
Her suggestion that you put up a Website is on point.
Desirable children are viewed as a commodity by Child Protective Services.
Again, California has a wonderful advocate in Linda Jo.
Take away message is: Think GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY.
Parents can always meet with legislators in groups in Arkansas. That is another avenue to take.
Comment by Fern — March 30, 2009 @ 4:52 am
The court/Judge destroyed our family. My daughters baby was taken from her at 8 month of age because grandparents were restricted but she allowed us to see our grandbaby. She is a good mother, never harmed the baby, gave her good care, and was very attached to her. The baby’s father and his family never even acknowleged the baby for the first 5 weeks of her life! They didn’t wan the divorce but his mother demanded it so she could get the baby! Venue was 3 hrs away where he lived! We knew no attorneys or anybody! A huge disadvantage! He didn’t live there either, he lied about his address to have it in that court for some reason! To this day, he was never ordered to pay child support! In Court, she was asked questions that insinuated she was bad, if she tried to defend herself she was told to only say yes or no! The opposing attorney was educated in these cases but the attorney my daughter had just sat there and never defended her once!! The papers state it was a default judgement because no answer was filed! The Judge gave custody to the father who lives about 50 ft from his moms chicken house in a worn out trailer.He had warrants out on him on the day of court even! His mom controls everything!! He is on supervised probation for theft on his job. His sister who babysits the baby has 3 felonies for commercial burglary, theft of cash and 5000 pain pills from the pharmacy she works at. (Had sold half of them before they caught her! She only got probation and still has her small children! This family is disliked by everyone in their town and they display attitudes of hate! His 4 sisters were brutally raped by their uncle and his mom nor sisters have reached out for therapy! Its now been 11 months the baby is 19 month old and displays violent outbursts, tries to squeeze her moms breasts and has very disturbing other behaviors! Shows up with dried up feces on her bottom! My daughter was only getting 8 hrs a month supervised visitation at this point. She refiled for custody modification. The attorney (just like the previous one) told her it was a good case, he really gave her hope. But after he spoke to the opposing attorney, he changed completely! Told her she shouldn’t take it back to court and she needed to just ask for more visitation instead!! She did as he advised out of fear. Now she gets standard visitation. The attorneys she used all turned on her after meeting with the opposing attorney. We feel she is either telling lies to them or something corrupt is going on!!!! How do you prove it!!! Now, for us as grandparents. The baby’s father knows we are good people, but his mother is a hate person. She never would speak to us nor try to get to know us with our efforts to. My husband inappropriately touched my daughter for a period of 4 yrs when she was young. When she told me, immediately we did the right thing! He turned himself in and we all sought in depth therapy! This was 13 yrs ago. He is now a fine christian man that strives to do his best in life, one day at a time! I hated him for what he did! But in time, our whole family healed including our daughter! In Court they made me appear as if I condoned what he did and offered no protection for my daughter! I tried to defend myself but couldn’t! Then the rest of the questioning was about I job at a Law Firm I had years ago!!! ??? They beat my daughter up with the tragedy that happened to her, put my husband on the stand and told him to go into detail of everything and beat him up!!! We have a very nice home, good careers, our kids have had successful active lives with a good loving home (except of course during the abuse) when we tried to get the lawyer to defend us, we were told we were not a party to the case!!?? My daughter is being punished for no reason and it clearly has affected the child!!! She cries for and won’t let go of her on exchanges. My daughter is suffering from PTSD from it and seeking help! We had a strong, healthy bond with our granddaughter the first 8 months of her life and then after Court for 5 months, the daddy felt bad about it and let us see her (he had to hide it from his mom) then since January, with his permission We have seen her some. She knows us and loves us. Reaches for us and doesn’t want us to leave! There is a bond!! I cry in pain as does our entire family we hold on to our faith that God will search our hearts and let her go back to her mommy and be able to be with us and all of our family who love her but she is being deprived of. They won’t even alllow my daughter to leave her county!! They told her to disown us! They don’t even know us and won’t hear us!! They think we are crazy to think my husband could change and that therapy and a christian life could rehabilitate him! I have done nothing but good things in my life but they degrade me for not killing my husband! I am a christian, therefore I think and act like one! Oh and we had about 10 character witnesses in Court and they were only asked if they felt our granddaughter would be safe with us to which they all said yes! Wrong answer we were told! Then they were finished with them! Nobody asked us or our witnesses about the care or concerns of the child! The Pediatrician even came and she was treated the same way, when she tried to say what she needed, the judge told her to be quiet and only answer what was asked!! After $20,000 we are still nowhere! We feel it was unjust!!!!! We want to fight for grandparents rights in which the father has no problem with, his mom just controls him and everything! My daughter deserves her baby back full time too! Sorry for the lengthiness but ii wanted to state the whole story for advice. Any body able to recommend a good, caring, tough attorney and what are your thoughts on things??
Comment by Kay Strickland — May 1, 2009 @ 12:08 am
This is Arkansas by the way.
Comment by Kay Strickland — May 1, 2009 @ 12:14 am
And we did experience CPS!! They added their own personal feelings to the reports and even lied in 2 of them to make our tragedy appear far more and degrade me despite my extreme pain!!!! They said all I spoke about was money!!! A lie!! I was so scared, angry n hurt I was shaking and crying uncontrollably……they figured I would just take what they did and I had to because they are trusted by the courts! One social worker interviewed my daughter alone and assured me it was being videotaped! Well when she wrote further accusations that were not true in the report, I demanded to see the video but I was told she didn’t realize it wasn’t on!!!!! My daughter point blank denied what CPS said!!Those reports were brought to the Judge and seen as being true! They told me I was lying because CPS has the positon of helping families in all honesty for the best interests of the children!!! RIIGHT!!!!!! I can’t delete their lies because they are viewed as truth! I just have to live with it!! I know of another family that DHS took their one day.oldi nfant from them and for 5 yrs they fought and it finally was discovered the baby was hurt during delivery! The child never got to bond with his parents, they destroyed the first five years of his and their life! They thrive on fiction, NOT truth. I guess they feel it makes them look like heroes to do this and cause drama to draw attention to “their” work! Pathetic!!!!!!
Comment by Kay Strickland — May 1, 2009 @ 9:38 pm