FightCPS does not advocate or condone violence or illiegal activities of any kind.
FightCPS is intended to help people learn enough about the law to be able to successfully defend themselves and their families against false accusations using legal documents and strategies that put parents in a stronger position when they go back to court.
For more information, see the FAQ.
Child Protective Services, CPS, has devastated and destroyed hundreds of thousands of families in America during the last thirty years leaving a trail of broken hearts, broken dreams, and shattered childhoods.
Rather than helping families, government agents have used unconstitutional laws in Juvenile Court to rip children away from their loving parents, break asunder God-given, natural, parent-child bonds, and adopt the children of the grieving out to others who profit financially with large monthly adoption subsidy payments.
Child Protective Services must be stopped! The law that started this, CAPTA, must be repealed. We must work tirelessly to inform the public of this very dangerous travesty of justice. We must keep faith knowing that if there is a God, there is an answer and a way to end this heartache.
Child Protective Services Agents - please come to your senses! Family destruction on false or trivial grounds is wrong, reprehensible, and inhumane.
Fosterers - be aware that for the money you get you are holding much-loved children away from their grieving families while the parents are forced to perform a service plan that is anything but a service to them. I call this hostage holding for the government. This is not kindness - to help misguided government agents destroy family relationships and break loving bonds.
CPS workers and fosterers - I ask that you now let the children of the innocent return to their homes where they are truly valued, adored, and loved by the parents God gave them.
Family rights are God-given rights. And they should not be ignored or postponed. Every moment these loving parents and children spend separated from one another is a torment beyond what anyone should ever have to bear.
It is unworthy of human dignity to allow this terrorism and torture of families to go on without saying something, speaking out, and trying to make a change.
Site mission: To provide information and support for families attacked by Child Protective Services and child welfare agents, especially those families facing false or trivial accusations of child abuse or neglect; and for researchers working to protect natural family rights.
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Fighting Child Protective Services False Accusations
September 1, 2009
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My ex-wife has reported me to DSS twenty two times since 2004. I was clearded of all alledged allegations at that time in 2006. My ex-wife was found to be unfit and alienating me from my then eleven year old son. We have four children. I have not been alone with eldest son fifteen nor any of my family members since August 2005. In April 2006 Buncombe County DSS said if I would not “enforce” the court order then they would close their case. Fast forward three years later and now my fourteen year old son is being “led” by my ex-wife and several adults to make a claim to DSS. He has been grounded and lost privileged to his TV and games but I allowed him to visit his mom at which time she tried to keep him but once he came home he was not the same kid. She had given him a cell phone and was in constant contact until four days later when he walked down the street to the sheriff’s office and made his claim. By court order my ex-wife was to only call by phone once per week and only during certain times. My son has been grounded twice recently for very inappropriate behavior and placed in a diversion contract by a juvenile counselor so he could learn that there are consequences to his actions and my techniques were not getting thru to him because of the influence of my very wealthy ex-wife. DSS empowered my fourteen year old son by letting him decide where he would stay since he did not want to go home. I requested a therapeutic setting but DSS wanted kinship placement which I did not agree with and all my relatives were aware of my sons behavior and due to their professional backgrounds felt a therapeutic setting was best for my son also. My parents would have taken him but my son said no and DSS said they would not force him. DSS in open court stated my son would stay in the school he was attending to the judge until court in September. Three days later my wealthy ex-wife was able to change DSS to allow for him to switch schools. DSS tells a court one thing then does another. DSS told the judge I could visit my child once per week supervised at their office. i called and scheduled last week, showed up but I was told my son”opted out” of his visit. Strangely my son has been privately interviewed by DSS fifteen times since 2004 and as recently as June 2009 and has never made such a claim of any kind against me.
Comment by Marvin Michalove — September 1, 2009 @ 7:45 am
Please watch the following video on YouTube, about the sad story of an AUTISTIC MOM who LOSES CUSTODY OF HER TWO AUTISTIC GIRLS 10 & 12 IN SAN DIEGO,CA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fPKMzM1n8g
Comment by Nancy Hey — September 1, 2009 @ 9:56 am
is there a recent case where an Orange county, CA sued CPS and won. Please refer to the lawyer if true
Thanks
Tom
Comment by Tom — September 1, 2009 @ 2:33 pm
I Have been involved with dhs for three years. I have a seven year old daughter who has some learning disabilites and i have a five year old daughter who was born with cataracts on both eyes and also a four year old son who had a stroke in utero. It doesn’t matter what I do and it doesn’t matter what I say its not good enough. They always think I’m lying to them. My attorney hasn’t done anything for me and I’m looking for help. I have my kids right now. Their father and I spilt up two years ago in hope to make this work. But nothing I do is good enough and they don’t like the guy I have dated since I was with their father. I also have a worker that goes by my home daily to see if anyone is here and then she will call me and ask me who is here.
Comment by Jessica — September 1, 2009 @ 5:53 pm
DSS is the most disfunctional system that I have ever seen in my life. I live in South Carolina. I have become personally involved in a removable that was unjustified. They are not my children but they were living in my home with mother. Because they were living in my home, DSS has made me a party to the action & are trying to put me on the Central Registry. I want to do what I can to help other families that have had their lives ruined based on false accusations. If there is a chapter of Fight CPS in South Carolina, please let me know. I am trying to get the word out because these horror stories need to be told. Thank you!
Comment by Abby Webb — September 2, 2009 @ 6:31 am
This is just a very short summary of our lifes hell under constant cps attack
Following over 15 mos of lies having a host of all our civil rights violated in a long trail of attempts to cover their mistakes and malicious workers misconduct and false allegations…That were withdrawn and or dismissed..(of which we have proof) Our 13 year old daughter was taken from psych hospital-by cps in may . after being there approx 1 week admitted for suicidal and homicidal idealizations by child crises,we were not allowed visits phone calls treatment info whereabouts all we were told is that she was on 24/7 suicide/homicide watch in a treatment facility,2 months later she writes a malicious statement about us and refuses to accept visits with older sis just younger siblings. after court she made passing suicidal remarks and monitoring was increased by outside wraparound therapeutic organization 3 days after court after being left alone several hours to nap she was found with a plastic bag over her head with the words I’m sorry written on hand its been 1 month since her death her siblings are struggling immensely from this 1 is even contemplating suicide himself..who cps also has in a medical facility and violating his rights and wants.theyhave denied him contact with stepdad who has raised him for 8 years as his own and at times with his oldest siste.r I have a court report for 9/7/09 that a supervisor typed up to dismiss her case since she’s gone that is also full of lies,but admittedly in the report they say that she was put on anhigher watch but was still left alone by “theraputic facility”for several hours with access to a plastic bag and possibly extra meds.wrote several suicide notes we still havn’t recieved and wheras 1 supervisor said she died with plastic bag 3 days later the other reported to us she took too much of her meds by saving them up when confronted by my husband as to the different causes of death the second spervisor said öh! I’m not so ’sure it wasn’t both!
much much more and in closing CPS did pay for the funeral fly my mom out and eldest son as well as biological father.
her obituary and picture are on a website she is also on her school website and as of 2 days ago we were notified there is a video on you tube of her saying goodbye to classmates
we can barely function!
Comment by john & shawn — September 2, 2009 @ 7:41 am
we need help
Comment by john & shawn — September 2, 2009 @ 7:43 am
i cannot believe the state of michigan has done what they have done. my daughter and her husband were stationed in this little town a year ago. In march of ‘08 my son inl law noticed what he thought was a spider bite on her big toe. they took the child to the ER. the ER nurse thought is was strange and so did the DR, the contacted child protective services and notified them that is was possible child abuse. needless to say, the child doctor does not think it was child abuse, the social worker from child protective services did not think it was child abuse and they founded that no abuse nor neglect occurred. the officer who was to investigate this charged my daughter and son in law with child abuse and neglect, because, and this is what they stated, my daughter and her husband could not tell them EXACTLY what happened. they told the idiots, that her foot was caught in the radiator the day before, but that it looked fine when that day. no one knows what happened. her foot. the biggest mistake they made was over reacting. so, they were not charged criminally because there is no evidence, but the officer persued this case in civil court. it’s insane! the prosecuting attorney wanted to have a worker and a parenting counselor come in every week, and my daughter did this; they had psychological evaluations done and nothing was out of wack; they jumped through evey hoop the judge wanted. and they were not even found guilty. the judge said he wanted to see what kind of parents they were. so today,t hey went to court, the judge was going to dismiss all charges. the prosecuting attorney said that they wanted longer examination of the family because, she said, they could be “FAKING’ their behavior. they now have continued the case for three more months, so they can freakin prove to this battle axe that they did not do what they are accusing them of. i cannot believe the money this has cost, 7500. for a lawyer, the pain it has caused everyone in this family, the names they have ruined by accusations that are extremely false. I cannot believe for one second that they cannot be held accountable for the grossly mislead and confused accusatiions, when every “specialist” they get, says there is no sign of abuse or neglect. what the heck has happened to tthe united states of america? we now live in fear of the dreaded child abuse and neglect accusations, not even found guilty my child is jumping through hoops for the court system to prove she is a “good mother”, and the case continues. wth, seems the “vendors”, i.e. the child parenting counselor, the psychologist, etc. are feeding off my family. i wonder jjust how much one child abuse case actually costs the state of michigan? i wonder, how much the children’s lawyer gets paid, i wonder, how many more months of insanity will my family have to endure? can’t i sue them????>????????
Comment by grneweene — September 2, 2009 @ 7:51 am
Child “protection” is one of the biggest businesses in the country. We spend $12 billion a year on it.
The money goes to tens of thousands of a) state employees, b) collateral professionals, such as lawyers, court personnel, court investigators, evaluators and guardians, judges, and c) DSS contracted vendors such as counselors, therapists, more “evaluators” , junk psychologists, residential facilities, foster parents, adoptive parents, MSPCC, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, YMCA, etc. This newspaper is not big enough to list all of the people in this state who have a job, draw a paycheck, or make their profits off the kids in DSS custody.
In this article I explain the financial infrastructure that provides the motivation for DSS to take people’s children – and not give them back.
In 1974 Walter Mondale promoted the Child Abuse and Prevention Act which began feeding massive amounts of federal funding to states to set up programs to combat child abuse and neglect. From that came Child “Protective” Services, as we know it today. After the bill passed, Mondale himself expressed concerns that it could be misused. He worried that it could lead states to create a “business” in dealing with children.
Then in 1997 President Clinton passed the “Adoption and Safe Families Act.” The public relations campaign promoted it as a way to help abused and neglected children who languished in foster care for years, often being shuffled among dozens of foster homes, never having a real home and family. In a press release from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services dated November 24, 1999, it refers to “President Clinton’s initiative to double by 2002 the number of children in foster care who are adopted or otherwise permanently placed.”
It all sounded so heartwarming. We, the American public, are so easily led. We love to buy stereotypes; we just eat them up, no questions asked. But, my mother, bless her heart, taught me from the time I was young to “consider the source.” In the stereotype that we’ve been sold about kids in foster care, we picture a forlorn, hollow-eyed child, thin and pale, looking up at us beseechingly through a dirt streaked face. Unconsciously, we pull up old pictures from Life magazine of children in Appalachia in the 1930s. We think of orphans and children abandoned by parents who look like Manson family members. We play a nostalgic movie in our heads of the little fellow shyly walking across an emerald green, manicured lawn to meet Ward and June Cleaver, his new adoptive parents, who lead him into their lovely suburban home. We imagine the little tyke’s eyes growing as big as saucers as the Cleavers show him his very own room, full of toys and sports gear. And we just feel so gosh darn good about ourselves.
Now it’s time to wake up to the reality of the adoption business.
Very few children who are being used to supply the adoption market are hollow-eyed tykes from Appalachia. Very few are crack babies from the projects. [Oh… you thought those were the children they were saving? Think again]. When you are marketing a product you have to provide a desirable product that sells. In the adoption business that would be nice kids with reasonably good genetics who clean up good. An interesting point is that the Cape Cod & Islands office leads the state in terms of processing kids into the system and having them adopted out. More than the inner city areas, the projects, Mission Hill, Brockton, Lynn, etc. Interesting…
With the implementation of the Adoption and Safe Families Act, President Clinton tried to make himself look like a humanitarian who is responsible for saving the abused and neglected children. The drive of this initiative is to offer cash “bonuses” to states for every child they have adopted out of foster care, with the goal of doubling their adoptions by 2002, and sustaining that for each subsequent year. They actually call them “adoption incentive bonuses,” to promote the adoption of children.
Where to Find the Children
A whole new industry was put into motion. A sweet marketing scheme that even Bill Gates could envy. Now, if you have a basket of apples, and people start giving you $100 per apple, what are you going to do? Make sure that you have an unlimited supply of apples, right?
The United States Department of Health & Human Services administers Child Protective Services. To accompany the ASF Act, the President requested, by executive memorandum, an initiative entitled Adoption 2002, to be implemented and managed by Health & Human Services. The initiative not only gives the cash adoption bonuses to the states, it also provides cash adoption subsidies to adoptive parents until the children turn eighteen.
Everybody makes money. If anyone really believes that these people are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts, then I’ve got some bad news for you. The fact that this program is run by HHS, ordered from the very top, explains why the citizens who are victims of DSS get no response from their legislators. It explains why no one in the Administration cares about the abuse and fatalities of children in the “care” of DSS, and no one wants to hear about the broken arms, verbal abuse, or rapes. They are just business casualties. It explains why the legislators I’ve talked to for the past three years look at me with pity. Because I’m preaching to the already damned.
The legislators have forgotten who funds their paychecks and who they need to account to, as has the Governor. Because it isn’t the President. It’s us.
How DSS Is Helped
The way that the adoption bonuses work is that each state is given a baseline number of expected adoptions based on population.
For every child that DSS can get adopted, there is a bonus of $4,000 to $6,000.
But that is just the starting figure in a complex mathematical formula in which each bonus is multiplied by the percentage that the state has managed to exceed its baseline adoption number. The states must maintain this increase in each successive year. [Like compound interest.] The bill reads: “$4,000 to $6,000 will be multiplied by the amount (if any) by which the number of foster child adoptions in the State exceeds the base number of foster child adoptions for the State for the fiscal year.” In the “technical assistance” section of the bill it states that, “the Secretary [of HHS] may, directly or through grants or contracts, provide technical assistance to assist states and local communities to reach their targets for increased numbers of adoptions for children in foster care.” The technical assistance is to support “the goal of encouraging more adoptions out of the foster care system; the development of best practice guidelines for expediting the termination of parental rights; the development of special units and expertise in moving children toward adoption as a permanent goal; models to encourage the fast tracking of children who have not attained 1 year of age into pre-adoptive placements; and the development of programs that place children into pre-adoptive placements without waiting for termination of parental rights.”
In the November press release from HHS it continues, ” HHS awarded the first ever adoption bonuses to States for increases in the adoption of children from the public foster care system.” Some of the other incentives offered are “innovative grants” to reduce barriers to adoption [i.e., parents], more State support for adoptive families, making adoption affordable for families by providing cash subsides and tax credits.
A report from a private think tank, the National Center for Policy Analysis, reads: “The way the federal government reimburses States rewards a growth in the size of the program instead of the effective care of children.” Another incentive being promoted is the use of the Internet to make adoption easier. Clinton directed HHS to develop an Internet site to “link children in foster care with adoptive families.” So we will be able to window shop for children on a government web site. If you don’t find anything you like there, you can surf on over to the “Adopt Shoppe.”
If you prefer to actually be able to kick tires instead of just looking at pictures you could attend one of DSS’s quaint “Adoption Fairs,” where live children are put on display and you can walk around and browse. Like a flea market to sell kids. If one of them begs you to take him home you can always say, “Sorry. Just looking.” The incentives for government child snatching are so good that I’m surprised we don’t have government agents breaking down people’s doors and just shooting the parents in the heads and grabbing the kids. But then, if you need more apples you don’t chop down your apple trees.
Benefits for Foster Parents
That covers the goodies the State gets. Now let’s have a look at how the Cleavers make out financially after the adoption is finalized.
After the adoption is finalized, the State and federal subsidies continue. The adoptive parents may collect cash subsidies until the child is 18. If the child stays in school, subsidies continue to the age of 22. There are State funded subsidies as well as federal funds through the Title IV-E section of the Social Security Act. The daily rate for State funds is the same as the foster care payments, which range from $410-$486 per month per child. Unless the child can be designated “special needs,” which of course, they all can.
According to the NAATRIN State Subsidy profile from DSS, “special needs” may be defined as: “Physical disability, mental disability, emotional disturbance; a significant emotional tie with the foster parents where the child has resided with the foster parents for one or more years and separation would adversely affect the child’s development if not adopted by them.” [But their significant emotional ties with their parents, since birth, never enter the equation.]
Additional “special needs” designations are: a child twelve years of age or older; racial or ethnic factors; child having siblings or half-siblings. In their report on the State of the Children, Boston’s Institute for Children says: “In part because the States can garner extra federal funds for special needs children the designation has been broadened so far as to become meaningless. ” “Special needs” children may also get an additional Social Security check.
The adoptive parents also receive Medicaid for the child, a clothing allowance and reimbursement for adoption costs such as adoption fees, court and attorney fees, cost of adoption home study, and “reasonable costs of food and lodging for the child and adoptive parents when necessary to complete the adoption process.” Under Title XX of the Social Security Act adoptive parents are also entitled to post adoption services “that may be helpful in keeping the family intact,” including “daycare, specialized daycare, respite care, in-house support services such as housekeeping, and personal care, counseling, and other child welfare services”. [Wow! Everything short of being knighted by the Queen!]
The subsidy profile actually states that it does not include money to remodel the home to accommodate the child. But, as subsidies can be negotiated, remodeling could possibly be accomplished under the “innovative incentives to remove barriers to adoption” section. The subsidy regulations read that “adoption assistance is based solely on the needs of the child without regard to the income of the family.” What an interesting government policy when compared to the welfare program that the same child’s mother may have been on before losing her children, and in which she may not own anything, must prove that she has no money in the bank; no boats, real estate, stocks or bonds; and cannot even own a car that is safe to drive worth over $1000. This is all so she can collect $539 per month for herself and two children. The foster parent who gets her children gets $820 plus. We spit on the mother on welfare as a parasite who is bleeding the taxpayers, yet we hold the foster and adoptive parents [who are bleeding ten times as much from the taxpayers] up as saints. The adoptive and foster parents aren’t subjected to psychological evaluations, ink blot tests, MMPI’s, drug & alcohol evaluations, or urine screens as the parents are.
Adoption subsidies may be negotiated on a case by case basis. [Anyone ever tried to "negotiate" with the Welfare Department?] There are many e-mail lists and books published to teach adoptive parents how to negotiate to maximize their subsidies. As one pro writes on an e-mail list: “We receive a subsidy for our kids of $1,900 per month plus another $500 from the State of Florida. We are trying to adopt three more teens and we will get subsidies for them, too. It sure helps out with the bills.”
I can’t help but wonder why we don’t give this same level of support to the children’s parents in the first place? According to Cornell University, about 68% of all child protective cases “do not involve child maltreatment. ” The largest percentage of CPS/DSS cases are for “deprivation of necessities” due to poverty. So, if the natural parents were given the incredible incentives and services listed above that are provided to the adoptive parents, wouldn’t it stand to reason that the causes for removing children in the first place would be eliminated? How many less children would enter foster care in the first place? The child protective budget would be reduced from $12 billion to around $4 billion. Granted, tens of thousands of social workers, administrators, lawyers, juvenile court personnel, therapists, and foster parents would be out of business, but we would have safe, healthy, intact families, which are the foundation of any society.
That’s just a fantasy, of course. The reality is that maybe we will see Kathleen Crowley’s children on the government home-shopping- for-children web site and some one out there can buy them.
Posted by State Senator Pam Roach at 10:12 AM
Comment by Robbie — September 2, 2009 @ 11:22 am
I am so frustrated, so upset. It seems the DCFS case workers are indifferent to their charter. Why can they make allegations without being accountable for their facts ?
Why are there no government watchdogs to control and oversee these government employees and challenge the processes, ie: a family of three requiring three lawyers ? arranging court dates without notification ? What can we do ?
Comment by D J Montez — September 2, 2009 @ 12:28 pm
Andy Webb-
Check your state’s statutes. In some states only a person legally responsible for the children can be put on the registry.
Comment by MaggieC — September 3, 2009 @ 4:20 am
At the very least do research, and if at all possible get some legal consultation. It’s really hard to know what to do, and whether or not someone is violating your rights if you don’t know exactly what they are.
It saddens me to hear you’re going through it, and I’ll offer whatever help I can.
Comment by Joe — September 3, 2009 @ 2:06 pm
Dear DJ Montez,
I ask the same question as you have. Only by coming together in masses will be attract attention. For example their was a national celebrity that was invited to speak on a local television show. The celebirty agree under one condition that they would not ask or discuss an unfortunate incident that was experience by one of his friends. So the celebrity did the show and after the second interview question the subject of his friend was brought up. The celebrity politely reminded them that they had agree not to discuss the incident. However, the host continue asking. After the show the celebrity went on his website and asked all of his fans to write a letter and fax or email it into the station. As a result the station computer servers and fax machines became so overloaded that the manager of the station told the host that he would have to make a public apology or he would be dismissed. So the next day the reporter embarrassed, apologized on air.
Can’t we do the same? Pick a National Tv Station like CNN and a date and on that date everyone email or fax their nightmare with cps.
Comment by fancy — September 4, 2009 @ 10:15 pm
I have been reported to Texas CPS twice Once by our family physician, who informed me that he doesnt inform cps of all cases of Urinary tract infection the state will take his license away. Another by our apartment management who told people who were behind on there rent they would be allowed to stay if they lied. They wouldnt tell us the name of the people who reported us. They tried to force us to take ivasive drug tests, and when we refused, they assumed we were guilty. This agency was created and tasked with the responsibilty to find and rescue abused children, and when they cant, they make abuse up. After all, without abused children, you cant have a Child Protective Service
Comment by Matthew — September 6, 2009 @ 8:21 pm
Looking for feedback, advocates and representation regarding the predjudicial manner in which CPS or DCFS undertake due process. I have had a 2 year old child under my care since birth and under approved guardianship since April. Adoption proceedings were initiated August where an interrogation was conducted and the child removed from my arms. I was not allowed support or counsel nor was the child. Allegations from a referral were verbalized I was not provided any proper references to defend myself . I later learned a negative referral may have been submitted with the assistance of a former DCFS or CPS employee, written to cause rejection. Case worker feels empowered to use own crieria for creation of families. How does one protect ones self and child against CPS & DCFS, who have no procedure or use ethics or common sense ? The child is on fast track now to be etrnally seperated from the loving and caring family she knows and misses.
Comment by D J — September 7, 2009 @ 8:11 am
What can we do to get national attention to the abuse of power by Child Welfare agencies. My son and daughter-in-law have been accused of abusing their twins. The babies were born premature and have metabolic bone disease and other medical conditions that were not due to non-accidental trauma. The first case was dismissed but after only being home 3 weeks, my son’s monster-in-law called and filed a report stating my son was abusing the babies. The babies were removed again even though the police said there was no evidence of abuse or neglect. My focus is to create watchdog organizations to fight the abuse of power and the institutional bias that runs rampant in Child Welfare systems across this country. What can we do to accomplish this?
Comment by Delfy Roach — September 7, 2009 @ 5:45 pm
Greetings. Since the last week of August I have been in a state of fear and anxiety due to CPS. My daughter turned blue for the second time within 2 hours due to excessive spit up and I, being a first time parent, decided to call an ambulance. The previous day I had been prescribed some pain medications for back problems I’ve had on/off most of my life. I decided to take 2 medications together as one is for nerve pain and the other for general muscular pain. By the time we had reached the hospital the medications began to hit me and, due to my inexperience with one of them, I became intoxicated. I remember my daughter being fine and asking one of the nurses where the bathroom was and the next thing I know their are a few people in the bathroom getting me up off the floor! My fiance’ arrived to the hospital from a job he had been on for only one day. By this time the baby was fine, no spitting up, nothing. He asked the staff if it would be o.k. to bring me home and if he could go back to work, they told him it was fine. We go back to the hospital and I am told that CPS had been called because we left our child there! CPS ordered each of us to take a drug test which we both passed, of course my medications were found. Well, my daughter was not released to me but to her Grandmother and I had “permission” to stay at the house over the weekend. Monday she went home with me and two days later a CPS worker showed up at my house unannounced, I let her in, she had me sign some document that I can’t even recall what it was because I was so nervous. I also signed a medical release so that they could get my medical information. She wanted to count my meds to make sure I wasn’t abusing them! They were all in my Fiance’s car so it didn’t happen. She told me that they would be coming to the house 2x a month for 6 months! I don’t know what to do! I really need some advice a.s.a.p. I have given 2 children up for adoption, my baby girl is very extra special to me!!! PLEASE HELP, I can’t sleep! I will be in pain and get off of the medication if I have to! Email me @ Freedomisafarce at hushmail.com
Comment by Roze — September 7, 2009 @ 11:30 pm
Well, I posted my story last night to try to get some help and they you guys deleted it. Care to give an explanation?
Comment by Roze — September 8, 2009 @ 9:28 am
Please read the article “The Horrifying American Roots of Nazi Eugenics by Edwin Black: http://hnn.us/articles/1796, This is the basic beginnings of CPS where they actually made the decisions of whether a child should be put to death or live depending on the child’s physical or mental handicap.
Comment by Betty Watson — September 8, 2009 @ 9:28 am
I’ve been dealing with CPS for over a year now. They first took my kids due to ‘environmental neglect’ which was because I was trying to fix damage my abusive ex husband had made to their rooms. When they took them, they gave them to their father who made wild accusations against me including that I was crazy and off my meds. After a psych eval they determined that I was fine but that he was in fact the one that needed meds. Not to long after that the kids started talking about the abuse he put us through. Still, they left the kids with him. He had a mental break in front of them and I couldn’t do anything to stop it, and still they left the kids with him. About 6 months ago he assaulted me. He was arrested. THEN they decided the kids should be with me. BUT now the judge thinks ex is the better parent so DCFS’ request to return custody to me was denied. Instead, joint custody was arranged. I have a protective order I have for him makes exchanges difficult. He has to take them while I work… DCFS originally didn’t want me to have the kids at all until I got a job, well, now that he doesn’t have a job they don’t see it as a problem because he has family support. So, I’m screwed all because someone decided to take advantage of the system… A mother trying to repair damage in 2 bedrooms is in no way neglect, while all the stories I’ve been told by the kids about what ex does while he’s alone with them is worse than neglect. It’s abuse and I’m powerless to stop it. DCFS isn’t going to stop it either. All I can hope for right now is that they will close the case and leave us alone so I can go back to court and fight for custody with a judge that is going to look at the evidence of the abuse and psychological issues and see that the kids really should be with their mother and not with him.
It was a mistake on DCFS’ part for taking the kids on the fly without doing a thorough investigation on both sides to SEE that the kids were in more danger with the abusive man I left trying to protect them.
Comment by Fed Up — September 8, 2009 @ 3:51 pm
Roze, your comment wasn’t deleted — it just wasn’t approved yet. Sorry but I need to approve them all… because of some of the comments left here in the past.
Comment by LindaJoMartin — September 8, 2009 @ 5:43 pm
For all the parents that have gonr through TPR(Termination of Parental Rights) at the hands of CPS do not give up hope on reuniting with your children. Do not stop looking for them . My children were taken and sold by CPS ten years ago. My Children were 3yrs and 6 months at the time. My oldest was injured at the sitters and when my husband picked them up he noticed small teeth print on my childs ear and he was very groggy, The sitter replied her son had bitten him and my son was just waking up from a nap. My husband took my son home and no sooner than they got thru the door my son had dry heaves and lost consciousness. He took him to the er where he was diagnosed with a tear in his bowels. I left work and raced to er as fast as I could. Upon arriving I tried talking to the doctor who was cold and extremely rude. He made statements about our age, we were both 19 . After surgery a lady came to the door and stated she was CPS and they had recieved a report from ER doc that my son was abused. We were both in shock and could not comprehend her statement. SHe went over the days events with us and then spoke with the DOC . Shortky there after she returned again with older gentleman who stated he was a police officer and needed to take a statement from us . We set a time to come down to the dept later that day. My sister wanted to stay with my son while we went to dept . not long after we left the CPS worker returned , made my sister leave the room and stated she needed to speak with my son. Oh did I mention my son who had just been medicated thru his IV. At that same time the police officer stated he knew who unjured my son and my son just told the CPS worker, no tape no , video no witness, NOTHING. Thus began a 5 year battle to have my children returned. After they bullied and threatened if you do this your kids can come home, if your husband leaves your kids can home yada yada yada. If only i had known that is typical tactic they use. Classes, Evals, more classes… my husband sgrred to a plea so the kids could come home, we also found out that the sitter let my son play with 12 year olds in the parking witha shopping cart, and apparently it tipped over pinning my 3 year old underneath with thte older boys on top. We found out from the apt manager, who stated the sitter told her and was afraid to say anything to the police because she had prior cps incidents. We told the cps worker and the police det. neither batted an eye, 5 years of court heariongs, motions, holding state in contempt , new cps workers… They filled for tpr saying my husband took a plea and therefore whenn he returned home I would not be able to protect my children.. They sold my children , and there last names were changed. I still kept looking for them , blogs, myspace, facebook you name it, a few times I thought I found them but it turned out not to be. !0 years and Im still searching not giving up , then one day I recieve call from another state , my son was put back into foster care and a new law passed says they have to seek kinship. My son stated tothe worker all he wanted was to find me he wanted his mom. The family kept my daughter and returned my son. I was livid beyond livid how could they put him back in care!!!!!!!apparently he did not fit in well with there family. All he wanted was to go home. He was 16 by this time. The worker contacted me and let me know what was going on. I tols the worker please send my baby home where he belongs. Long story short my baby ison his way home, then we are hoping for the same with my daughter . SO PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP THERER IS HOPE
Comment by radula — September 9, 2009 @ 5:52 am
.I haven’t written in a while, mainly because I’m still waiting to adopt my daughter. But that’s not why I’m writing today. Yes I have dealt with DSS for awhile. Once with a CPS issue and now with the adoption process. But as far as the adoption we have had a very fair caseworker. It’s just frustrating because of all the policies and protocol. But as I said I’m not writing concerning that.
I’m a home daycare provider and last week a young mother came to me in need of daycare for her special needs child. The problem wasn’t meeting the needs of the child, as I have training and experience in that area because of my own autistic son. (now 27 years old). No, the problem was DSS. The young mother was single, working 30 hours a week and trying to put herself through school. The child’s daycare would be paid by DSS. In the past I have had subsidized children in my care and dealing with DSS is always a joy. They place the child but never send the forms for reimbursement. And if the forms aren’t filed in time you do not get reimbursement. (you can’t file if you don’t have the forms). Because of this most providers do not accept subsidized children. I knew this and was still willing to accept the child. However the mother was having a difficult time with the case worker returning her phone calls. She asked me to call her. I knew this would upset the case worker and informed the mother that she should go to the office in person instead. But the young mother needed to start school and was disparate, so against my better judgment, I called and left a message for the caseworker. I was polite and professional.
I was surprised that she returned my call, frankly I did not believe she would. But she quickly started with her upper handedness.
I endured this attitude for the sake of this very special child needing care. But I was informed that I would have to be approved by her, before I could begin to care for the child. That she, wanted to know everything about me, my daycare, and the children I now cared for etc. Then she accused me of lying about my licensee. According to her she had looked me up and I wasn’t licensed. I explained I have been licensed for 18 years and as I spoke to her I went on line and found my information through the department of social services. I explained that I was looking at it as we spoke, After some more searching on her part she found it. Whether out of embarrassment or just because she felt she had the authority she kept talking down to me. Like I was less than her because I cared for children for a living.
I still put up with her mistreatment because I knew this child was not going to be accepted in any conventional daycare setting. He needed our daycare. But I was then informed that she made the discussion on whether or not I was approved to care for the child.
She said she would send an application for me to apply for their program to watch subsidized children. (As I said I’ve cared for subsidized children before, all that’s required is a state licensee for daycare).
I explained the mother was in need now, but this just brought more tongue lashing.
In the end I had to call the mother and explain that I may not be able to care for her child. Because I may not be approved. If I wasn’t approved. Because I’m license I would not be able to care for a child from DSS if I wasn’t approved to do so. And the approval rested with this one caseworker.
As it stood this young mother had worn out all possibilities. The child’s disability was to a degree, that no other provider would accept him.
I told the mother to apply for SSI and the Medicaid Wavier program. If approved, could offer the services she needed, and she would not have to rely on DSS. However the problem is, the paper work, It takes time, something she doesn’t have.
In my opinion DSS failed this mother in need. Because they couldn’t put their self in the place of this young mother, she may lose her job and placement in school. What then CPS to the rescue?
Comment by fran — September 9, 2009 @ 10:31 am
I don’t know what I’m looking for, maybe just to vent. About 6 weeks ago DHS/child welfare showed up at my door with a cop. They beat around the bush for a while then told me that one of my sons friends had made an allegation against me. They wanted to interview my 7 year old son on the spot and when we could not produce him they demanded to know where he was. 45 minutes later he arrived home from a birthday party and was interviewed by the DHS worker. To this day I do not know exactly what was asked. I was told by the DHS worker that he didn’t think I did it, but that for my own protection I should not be alone with my kids. He left, then called back and stated that his superviser told him that because we had a baby in the house my wife could not “supervise me” well enough. I was told I would have to leave nights for a few days, but I could be there during the day. Two days later he shows up again and tells me that I will have to stay out of the house until the investigation is complete, again because my wife could not watch me with the baby in the house. When I asked how long I was told no more that 30 days. That was 6 weeks ago. When they called my cell, my wifes cell and the home I am staying at, we called my attorney like we thought we were supposed to do. We did not return their calls ourselves. The next day the DHS worker showed up with CPS and the police and started asking my son questions about when he saw me last and where. They were trying to determine if I had returned to the house and were prepared to take them on the spot. All because we had not called them back fast enough for their liking. My son is afraid of the police and afraid to sleep in his own bed because he thinks DHS will come and take him away. He keeps asking me when I will come home. My wife is beyond tired but afraid to sleep because the time could be spent cleaning in case they come back and use that as an excuse to take the kids. I can only see my family in public places and we have run out of those. The rainy season is starting here in Oregon so parks are almost out of the picture. How sad is it that “family time” is a 2 hour visit to the big box home stores? Anyhow, thanks for listening.
Aaron
Comment by Aaron — September 9, 2009 @ 10:53 am
radula, I am so happy to hear your son is on his way home. This brings tears to my eyes. Thirteen years of their cruelty, and you’re getting to see your son again, and he will get to be with his parents. These poor kids… that they go through!
Comment by LindaJoMartin — September 9, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
Dear Aaron
I’m so sorry this happened to you. Your story is all too familiar. You said you had a lawyer? Have your lawyer keep on them about when you can return home. They have 30 days to complete their investigation. Sounds to me like they are trying to build a case and have no evidence, don’t give them time to make it up. You haven’t done anything wrong and your lawyer needs to push for them to drop the case, and let you go home.
My prayers will be with you and your family. Fran
Comment by fran — September 10, 2009 @ 5:40 am
I am about to have my first ever encounter with CPS/ DCS. I left my oldest 2 childrens father in 2003 and we finally got divorced 14 months later. very ugly divorce. in 2007 we went back to court because of our parenting plan and joint custody. He got the changes he wanted, and he became primary residential parent ( PRP) with joint everything. He died last Monday morning and the Grandparents took kids. they ran to an attorney and started a custody suite against me. In Tennessee Grand parents have limited to no right. So to get what they wanted they alleged abuse by me against the kids. Talk about a quick response before the father was even out at the funeral home for viewing i was being served with papers to take my kids away. we got into court 6 days later and I am now being investigated by DCS/ CPS. Politics and money talk here. The courts appointed the children a GAL who never spoke to me but did talk to the Grandparents and the kids and the Step- mother who is also asking for custody. The bias is already running rampant here. so now i sit on pins and needles for this home study and to see what trick are up the sleeves of my X inlaws and when I will get to see my kids. Got to love our justice system. Guilty till proven innocent. So my question is what can I expect, what can the see/do in my home and what are my rights? what are thier rights? I need help. Oh and for the record I do not abuse my kids. I love them and have rules. That seems to be an issue with my 13 year old daughter who does not want to leave her Dads house, he is dead. nor does she want to leave her friends cause that is her whole life. I have a 3 year old in my home full time, not abused either and now she may be @ risk also?
Comment by april heatherly — September 10, 2009 @ 5:24 pm
Good Friday to all
I believe that the lady that adopted our grandchildren could possibly have been associated with cps: such as a worker, contractor. Does anyone know what steps I can take to find out?
Comment by jean — September 11, 2009 @ 7:46 am
When my divorce is final I will proudly be Beth Owen again. My soon to be ex sister in law made a false report to dfcs alleging drug abuse and that my children were kept in dirty conditions…I have refused the hair screenings they are attempting to get from me, but I did allow them in my home to see the report was obviously bogus. My children are extremely attached to me, especially considering I removed them and myself from a very violent marriage. I am nervously awaiting Brooks county, Georgia dfcs’s next move on my home.
Comment by Beth Yale — September 11, 2009 @ 8:25 am
I have a 5 year old who started kindergarten this year.He started august 19th of this year.He is having behavioral issues at school and we have been trying hard to work with the teacher to help him to settl down.Now she is telling me to expect a phone call from the school social worker next week.what should I expect and what can I do?thanks!
Comment by dawn peters — September 11, 2009 @ 12:37 pm
April, possibly the social worker will see that the charges are false and will return the children home to you. Don’t be too defensive, just try to get the caseworker to see that they are doing this in hopes of getting custody of the kids, not because you are a bad mom.
Comment by LindaJoMartin — September 11, 2009 @ 1:49 pm
Dawn,
The school social worker is not CPS. The school social worker “could” call CPS.
Here is what I would do; take your son to his doctor and discuss the issues he is having in school. When the school social worker calls; let her talk. Don’t offer anything except, I have taken him or are taking him to his doctor to discuss these matters.
Thank you for reaching out to me. Etc etc-
Let her give her insight BUT don’t pour your heart out to her.
Comment by MaggieC — September 11, 2009 @ 2:41 pm
Jean,
I think you must first establish “standing” to intervene, contest the adoption or if your state has same; to petition for grandparent visitation. Some states have statutes that provide for same even after a stranger (not step-parent) adoption.
That in of itself would give you some sort of standing, at least.
Go to an attorney for a consult. The AARP does offer or did offer assistance in referrals to attorneys skilled in this area.
Comment by MaggieC — September 11, 2009 @ 2:44 pm
CPS came and took my 11 year old disabled son two weeks ago. Their basis is missed medical appointments and possible drug use. I have passed two u.a.’s and spoken to the main doctor’s that are shocked at their actions. It has been two weeks and I still do not have an action plan and now I am being told that not only are my visitations going to be supervised but that his siblings cant see him either. My ex husband whom is very verbally abusive started all of this because I started enforcing the parenting plan. I am so angry, frustrated and scared. It seems as though the cps workers are power hungry. Why didn’t they just provide me with the services to help instead of just taking him. I am a single mother of 5 that works only part time to make ends meet and instead of helping I am being punished.
Comment by Jodie — September 11, 2009 @ 8:08 pm
I have been dealing with CPS in MI for several years, my case initially was opened in 2006 when I went to the police after my roommate molested my two young daughters, after 3 months a case with the courts was opoened because I would not take my children in for a sex abuse exam, no one would clue me in to what would happen to them or what they would go through, I assumed it was very similar to a rape exam, my court appointed lawyer was not very good and often told us one thing and then changed the plan when we would get to court, usually to appease the prosecutor and workers. after struggeling with housing and employment my case was closed about 9 months later, my children remained in my home the entire time. We moved out of state and then moved back a year later, a few months after moving back we became homeless and spent two summer months “camping” in a 40′ camper. Just before finally moving out of this jobless state someone called cps and the state police showed up, we went to the ER my children were healthy, not hungry (though they tried to feed them they didnt want it) and a little dirty, as children get. A cps worker came to the ER, made me leave the room and then talked to my 5 and 6 year old daughters, we also had a 6 month old son, after which she told me that the children said their grandfather, who is a registered sex offender, was living with us, in her report to the courts she even qouted them saying names and words they never used in their general vocabular. We immediately moved into my grandmothers and were told to stay there because she had to check the house to make sure it was appropriate, she showed up at 4:55 the next day with an order to remove my children, the have been in care since. Recently, though we have struggled to accomplish the service plan, have worked most of the time they have been in care, and maintained housing, though were evicted this march and relocated ourselves to a new home, we were to have a limited gaurdianship yesterday for my mohter to take them, there has been so many screw ups, lies and workers I am unsure what to do next or who to trust can i get some help?
Comment by Jamie — September 12, 2009 @ 8:34 am
Linda I got a interesting e-mail from Nancy Scaefer I would like to know how I can forward to this website for other people to see it and somebody sent me something interesting about DHS how do I send it to you or to the website.
Comment by Terri Rote — September 12, 2009 @ 8:40 am
Terri - there’s an email link at the bottom of the page. My email is webmaster at fightcps.com.
Comment by LindaJoMartin — September 12, 2009 @ 11:29 pm
My 3 children were taken from my husband and I on Aug.6,2009 because I took my daughter(shes a twin) to the ER for a seizure. We only live a block away so I didnt call the ambulance. While there they found a massive brain bleed and several older bleeds(over 1 month old). My twins were born almost 2 months premature and in the NICU for 1 month. Then the bleeds had to have began in the NICU but the doctors keep saying I shook her. She was 2 months old at the time and weighed 8pds! They also said she had a large bruise across her butt….ITS A MONGOLIAN SPOT. SHES BLACK AND MEXICAN! They are so ignorant! My other 2 children are perfectly healthy and on track. CPS is ridiculous. They only take on false cases to pay themselves and foster parents. My oldest son is 17months and he looks sad at every visitation. Its horrible what DCS and the police do to poor innocent children and happy families! I WANT MY BABIES BACK!
Comment by Summer B. — September 13, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
This came in a PRR comment and I decided to pull it forward. This is a 2007 Iowa case. It is interesting to note that they have licensed CPS workers there. One Spokane grandfather has been asking for licensure after the state took his…you guessed it…3 year-old, cute, non-drug affected granddaughter.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Social worker charged with perjury
By JOSH NELSON, Courier Staff Writer
INDEPENDENCE — A Buchanan County social worker was charged last week with three counts of perjury for allegedly filing false child welfare reports to the court.
Marie Mahler, 39, of Cedar Falls, filed three reports between Aug. 27, 2004, and Oct. 7, 2004, used in a juvenile court case that she “knew or reasonably should have known were false” and that the reports would be used by a judge to make a decision in the case, according to court records obtained by the Courier.
Mahler entered a written plea of not guilty Thursday.
According to court records, the case was to determine whether or not a mother’s parental rights should be terminated. Mahler repeatedly included misrepresentations of conversations, events and relationships of the people involved with the case, according to court records.
Court records say she claimed that Jesup police officers were called to the mother’s home for a drug investigation in August 2004. Records indicate an officer was called to the home not for drugs, but to prevent an altercation between two siblings. No signs of drugs were found.
Roger Munns, spokesman for the Iowa Department of Human Services, confirmed Mahler is an employee of the department. Mahler received her social work license in 1998. She has no record of disciplinary action and still is on active duty, according to department records. She has been a social worker in Buchanan County since 1998.
In a parental rights termination case, the decision is made by a judge, Munns said. People involved in the case, like biological parents, adoptive parents or social workers, can give input to help the judge’s decision, he said. It’s rare to have people charged with such a crime in these cases, Munns said.
“This is really quite unusual,” he said.
Munns did not comment further on the case.
Delaware County Attorney John Bernau has been appointed special prosecutor to the case because of a conflict of interest. The Buchanan County Attorney’s Office has represented Mahler in juvenile court proceedings.
Bernau said he couldn’t comment on specifics about the case, but said perjury charges often are hard to investigate.
While the offenses occurred in 2004, Bernau said Mahler is exempt from Iowa’s statute of limitations law because she is still a state employee. In most felony cases, charges have to be filed within three years of the offense. However, that three-year period begins for state employees only after they are no longer working for the state.
Perjury is a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
Contact Josh Nelson at (319) 291-1565 or josh.nelson@ wcfcourier. com.
Comment by Robbie — September 14, 2009 @ 10:16 am
WASHINGTON STATE RESIDENTS:
There are 2 groups active in WA. Google Washington DSHS to get to the list.
Each one has an active leader.
Also, Washington has PAM ROACH. Legislator who as a GM also has feelings for families who have received NO CONSIDERATION FROM CPS.
F.
Comment by fern — September 15, 2009 @ 6:20 am
Hi, My name is Ann Swire,. fighting a 4 years long battled to get my grandchildren out of the foster system.
After more than $12,000+, the local judge ruled in favor of the foster families.
August 26, 2009. A 74 years old widowed foster woman, was granted adoption rights, to my now 3 years old granddaughter.
My now 5 years old grandson is granted adoption to this 74 years old widowed foster woman’s daughter.
My granddaughter was neglected by this 74 years old widowed foster woman, yet! she is granted the rights to adopt, over blood family!
I am a law abiding citizen, worked in the nursing field, never caused or harm a living sole, yet! I was denied rights to my grandchildren.
This 74 years old widowed foster woman, would allowed this child to lay in her feces, causing opened areas to peri/buttocks, Children & Youth covered it up! case closed.
My grandson tell of his abuse in the foster home, yet! it fell on deaf ears,
The adoption was to silent the children! leaving pain, suffering, heart aches, loss of hope for these children, & families.
These children had a relationship with us
I have never experienced anything like this, children are being seperated, shredded of their identity, cultural,heritage, blood ties, as if they are orphanages. Where is Justice!!!
Lies & Deception from start! told by children & Youth agency and all in the name of the “Almighty Dollars” Children & Youth agency are a “rip -off” of human rights both to children & families.
If you need to hear more about this heart wrenching story,you can e-mail at peachsynap41 at aol.com
I would appreciated any comments, advice, & prayers.
Sincerely,
Swire Families
570 394-4081
Comment by ANN SWIRE — September 15, 2009 @ 10:46 am
Ann, I’m so sorry… and I’m so tempted to contact you and write more about your situation. The people need to know that even Kinship Care laws and regulations are being denied.
Comment by LindaJoMartin — September 15, 2009 @ 8:58 pm
My entire story as well as a few others is available on my website. However, I just want to say that I am behind the idea for full on reform of the CPS system and will advocate for it with every breath I have. There is so much corruption within this system it’s despicable. The bonuses that workers get for adopting children out I am sure was started to motivate workers to find needy children good homes, but it has become motive to take children from loving homes and ignore children in true need. People need to step up and say something or nothing will ever change.
Comment by Amanda — September 16, 2009 @ 11:48 am
DCF in Mass has been to my home. They found that I (but not my fiance) have been neglectful of my kids, and opened a case. The social worker has been here twice. Now my fiance’s personal counselor tells me they are ready to come get the kids. They will not tell her or us what the problem is. Granted, our home is not the cleanest, but it is not unsafe. If they want it cleaner, all they have to do is tell us what they want done, and we will do it. We are both disabled, so it isn’t easy, but we take good care of our kids. They are clean and good kids.
Why do they want to do this? Why will they not tell me what is wrong? I will do anything, ANYTHING for my children. I don’t do drugs except for prescriptions (one pain killer for my burst discs which doesn’t do much and my asthma meds), and I rarely touch alcohol, maybe having a drink once every other month.
I am at my wits end. How can they threaten to take my children when they can not even tell me what is wrong, or how I have been neglectful. There has been no service plan, nothing but the occasional interview. I need help! I am currently unemployed (the woman we were taking care of died recently), and I can not afford a lawyer. I am a good person, educated (masters degree) and I love my kids, never have I ever hit them, or done anything to endanger them. I won’t even use a baby sitter or trust them with anyone else. I need help.
Comment by Stan — September 16, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
Stan, you need a lawyer. Getting one right away will help. If they take the kids you will go to court and get a social workers report - usually full of misunderstandings or even occasionally outright lies. You’ll be coerced into pleading some kind of guilt to the charges, making a stipulation, etc… but if the charges aren’t true you could be better off requesting a full trial to force the social worker to prove the allegations. I am not a lawyer and can’t help in that way. You can get feedback on your case from other CPS victims on the message board here. Read: http://www.fightcps.com/articles/whattodo.html
Comment by LindaJoMartin — September 16, 2009 @ 2:00 pm
Dear Ann
I’m in the process of adopting my niece. It’s been difficult. We followed every letter of the law but to date we still haven’t finished the requirments. It’s a matter of state laws and DSS regs butting heads. So I’ll keep you in my prays and I ask the same from you. God Bless
Comment by fran — September 16, 2009 @ 5:17 pm
I am a single mom of sevenkids and cps and the inhomework destroyed my life.I went through everything they wanted me to do and beyond, also so did the man i left.
Our best waasn’t good enough we still lost the two youngest kids to be adopt by my kids dads aunt if it wasnt for my kids dad the kids wouldnt be close to me now.So his aunt took our kids in out of the kindness of her heart she now has them at her home so im in no shape for any other relationships at this time my doctor said dont date and that alone has men scared .My story goes back to 2003 until now,it is a story waiting to be heard.I just think cps don’t care about nothing.They got their kids and some don’t have kids and try to tell you what to do. a lot of us think it is enough.i hait white people now and will never trust any man
Comment by tonya bell — September 17, 2009 @ 3:18 am
Dear Tonya
I understand your pain. But white people suffer at the hands of CPS as well. The bottom line for CPS is money. If they think they can take your children, place them in foster care and subject them to therapist (of their choosing), they will…to make money. And they think the child is adoptable, all the better,…more money. I’m sorry for your pain. You will find supportive caring people on this site. Just for the record the CPS workers that went after us were black. I don’t hate black people. It wasn’t their ethnic group that caused us such pain. It was two CPS workers, with a bottom line, to make money off the pain of others. God Bless
Comment by fran — September 19, 2009 @ 2:52 pm
We lost our adoption case for our grandchildren, the judge ruled against us and in favor of a stranger. The adoptive mother called and left a message that she is willing to give yearly reports on them and that she has changed their first names. The number was blocked on caller id and she left no number. How insensitive is that? What can I do? Our state AZ grandparents rights are dissolved after adoption.
any suggestions from anyone. This pain is too much to bear.
Comment by Jean — September 20, 2009 @ 5:06 am
(((Jean))) I’m so sorry. Did you appeal the court’s ruling?
Comment by LindaJoMartin — September 20, 2009 @ 9:06 am
I have posted here before but CPS came back in my life a few days ago. I moved here to florida from colorado. I was pregnant with twins and i thought the nightmare with cps was over. apperently not. I delievered my twins at 30-31 weeks gestation. They have been in the NICU since birth. One of my daughters has had a rough start. Every complication shes had is something they hosptial expected since she is a premie. The hospital had moved her to tampa general because she had a fluid build up and was possibly needing surgery. She ended up getting the shunt put in and they moved her back to the other hospital with her sister.
Things seemed fine and I was notified on friday that the younger twin who also had the surgery was able to come home. I started to clean and pack everything and get stuff situated for her. Well a hour later the social worker calls me and says shes not being released to me. He said that the hospital feels i havent shown enough attention to the twins. he even stated that he knew we had transportation problems but me not being up there enough showed i didnt “care” for them.
I went to court yesterday (yes on a saturday) to dicuss what has gone on. I read the points on my old case and the last few paragraphs on my report were saying the hospital offered me transportation and i refused to use it. Now honestly if i knew i had transportation… I WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE!!! yet they never told me nor did this social worker.
I also like how this new social worker took his time to delicatly review my old case and this one. it was no typo but he infact called my daughter a boy 4 different times. he also mispelled my last name and doesnt know the proper age of my other daughter.
I feel harassed and i feel like i cant have my own family. they had to go as far as to dig up stuff from the past to use on me even though i was screwed in the past.
Comment by Karina — September 20, 2009 @ 11:58 am
Dear Jean
I’m so sorry. We are in the process of adopting my niece. We have been through a lot and we still haven’t been able to adopt. The problem, the state and DSS have different policies. So if you meet state regulations, you still have to meet DSS policies. It’s difficult. I will pray for you and your grandchildren.
It’s upsetting that the adoptive mother is changing their first names. That’s part of their identity, part of who they are. I hope she changes her mind because I think that would be cruel.
Comment by fran — September 20, 2009 @ 12:50 pm
M,
Your situation is not unique. Teenagers falsely accuse alot. There are dire reprecussions to these false accusations.
Please join the forum. I may be able to help particularly if you are in NY.
If you are not in NY, don’t despair as I am in touch with many families across the country undergoing the same circumstances.
Comment by MaggieC — September 21, 2009 @ 6:48 pm
M,
P.S. please ask the webmaster to delete your comments. This is important and necessary.
Then, please, join the forum.
Comment by MaggieC — September 21, 2009 @ 6:50 pm
Dear Ms M
I understand your fear. My brother was always in trouble. My parents would correct him, and the behavior would stop. But then a friend told him about CPS. After that my brothers behavior was out of control and my parents powerless to do anything about it. That was 35 years ago, since then he has spent most of his life behind bars. Unlike my parents, the police weren’t affraid of CPS. When he turned 18 he was an adult. CPS wasn’t there anymore. Since the age of 13 he has been in and out of JV detention centers and now jail. It’s sad your daughter can’t see the long term out come. Your daughter is digging her own grave and you may just have to hand her the shovel and save the rest of your children.
Comment by fran — September 22, 2009 @ 4:48 am
http://media.causes.com/584471?
Comment by Nancy Hey — September 23, 2009 @ 7:44 am
M-
Do not give great detail about your case or case to be on this site. cps trolls this site to build their cases up against people!!!
Please request webmaster to delete your comments rights away.
Now onto your perdicament…I can relate having a 14 year old going on 30. She used the “I’ll call CPS” crap all the time. “I’ll kill myself if I don’t get what I want. So I beat her to the punch and dialed CRISIS. Put her in crisis counseling within 1 hour!!!!
Then one night she carried it too far, and crisis was not available. She started the I’ll kill myself crap and this time I called 911 saying she was a threat to herself. After all, thats what she said, right? I had to take her seriously. What if she HAD done it or tried to do it? I could be held negligent if the state wanted to make life miserable.
She sooooo messed up and 1 cop saw right thru her crap. She was arrested for criminal damage and spent 2 days in detention then 2 days in CPS shelter; this time AT MY HANDS. I WAS THE VICTIM!!!
She can’t get her way anymore. EVERYONE now sees thru her crap. If she starts anything…I turn her into her P.Officer or the police, whichever applies.
Congrats CPS. This is what 3 years in the system taught my grandigrl…how to manipulate me and other family members!!!!!
Comment by Cheryl — September 23, 2009 @ 9:53 am
FYI - It is also at MY DISCRESTION when or if she gets off probabtion and how many UA’s per week she gets.
And she knows I won’t hesitate to turn her A** in if she messes with me again. I’ve prooved it twice now.
Gotta love it!
Comment by Cheryl — September 23, 2009 @ 9:56 am
Dear Karina
Was your first case unfounded? I only ask because I recently had a problem with an unfounded case coming back to haunt me. I thought if it’s unfounded with no other problems, than everything would be okay. But it did come up when we were attempting to adopt my niece. I had spoke to my attorney, even got a second attorney to agree that an unfounded case could not be brought up. But DSS has their own policies that are separate from state laws.
I know it’s easier said than done, but you need a lawyer. The twins medical problems weren’t caused by anything you did. There was no reason for the hospital to involve CPS. The amount of time you did or did not spend with the children is not a reason to call CPS. Most parents have to work and, trying to maintain employment when you have a family medical crises is hard. You have to do what you can in order to keep your job. I’m sure like any other mother you wanted to spend every moment with the twins. That’s just not possible when you have to worry about keeping your job. God Bless
Comment by fran — September 23, 2009 @ 12:12 pm
My 4 yr old grandson told me during a supervised visit at a coffee shop that his foster mom was driving and a car crashed into her. The case worker was talking to his mother (my daughter) as well as my mom when he made this statement to me so the caseworker did not hear this. I decided not to say anything at the visit because I don’t trust cps. case workers. About a month earlier the 4 yr old was put on top of a bunk bed in a camper. He said he asked foster dad to get him down and foster dad told him to wait a minute. So the 4 yr old tries to get himself down and hits his mouth so hard that a tooth is now pushed up inside his gum. there have been other incidents too numerous to mention.
So i guess I am just looking for advice. For starters My mom and I are going to the sherrifs department to see if an accident report was filed with foster moms name. So now we have a lot of questions like does the case worker know about this and is not telling us or are the foster parents hiding this from cps.
These people want to adopt my two grandsons . and the goal has been changed to adoption. Does any one have any ideas how to find out more about this car crash my grandson was talking about I am very concerned about their safety and do not want them adopted by these people.
Comment by lilypearl — September 24, 2009 @ 1:28 am
ATTENTION: It seems to me that there are a lot of people on here that believe we need a consolidated voice to fight CPS. Indeed we do. It is hard to get anyone to take on the ‘System’ because as previously noted, this is simply a money-making scheme and goes way beyond state borders. This goes all the way to Washington DC. Here we all are, indigent or barely getting by and no attorney is willing to fight this system because of the enormity and far reaching scope of this travesty.
This is truly a Criminal and Civil Class Action Suit because it involves the entire nation. I am not sure but I think each state has public tax records of the funds they generate and where they came from.
I propose this: either getting designated as a charity (there are websites such as GoodSearch that will pay the charity when people use the Yahoo search engine, or shops at the on-line stores); and/or starting a trust fund for the children where each one of us contribute at least $1.00. With so many grieving parents and loved ones, this would get us started on a good amount.
Another thing is getting national attention. I don’t mean the kind that involves individual cases, but one that exposes our entire site as evidence of the nationwide corruption. I’m not sure of the process that would make up a charity; however, GoodSearch will contact the Web-Master or the people involved and deem it a legitimate charity, especially if it is strictly for the children. We have ‘feed the children’ and other sites on the web. Why not have ‘FREE the children?’
I noticed we had a million visitors to the site. Maybe I have done a terrible thing but I contacted ABC and Nancy Grace and begged them to at least check out this site.
There is also the option of appealing to Movie Stars that will not be afraid to champion our cause. It sounds strange but I think we could get some great exposure that way.
We can all sit here and want help and can’t afford it, or can’t find an attorney or attorneys to take on the scope of this heinous corruption, OR we can take action.
It may not be much, but it would at least make us feel better to be pro-active in some way. I propose starting a legitimate petition to send to Washington, DC. Just think of the scores of people that would be able to sign it, including friends and families of each of us and anyone else that could follow a link to it. We need national exposure and we need to put our heads together to find a way to make that possible. It’s like the saying goes: ‘How do you eat an elephant?’ ‘One piece at a time.’
A charity and/or special trust fund could be set up in such a way that it benefits the children, all the children. Not aimed at the parents, but strictly to the children. With permission we could also advertise our charity/trust and/or this site, in our emails and other places where it would draw attention. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. They can’t ignore ALL of us if we present a unified front. I am checking into sites that allow people to create legitimate petitions. Hopefully I will be able to start that soon. It could be sent to the House of Representatives and the Senate; and most importantly, the President; and perhaps bring it to the media’s attention.
Another thing we could try for is to get a law passed that allowed the children to have a voice in the courts. To let us have a voice in the courts.
If anyone has any ideas you can email me at n8tivenc at yahoo.com.
Comment by Terena Hancock Powell — September 28, 2009 @ 8:15 am
I am so relieved that a site like this exists…it’s nice to know that feelings of helplessness can be counteracted through the efforts of everyone else out there who is going through the same thing. Our story is pretty simple compared to some of the circumstances cited here, yet all is still “in limbo” with our case. My husband and I are classical musicians/thespians/educators and live on a 2 acre ranch in Ojai, a small arts town near Ventura, CA. We have a 7 yr old high-functioning autistic son who was taken by CPS in May of this year. We had no prior contact with the system until a family member, with good intentions but bad insight, called CPS to tell them we couldn’t keep our house clean. Our son also has sensory processing disorder, which caused him to sometimes get up in the middle of the night(kids with autism have irregular sleep patterns) and dump sugar and flour and coffee grounds “sifting” for tactile stimulation(if you know about SPD this will sound familiar)…we would be sleep deprived and overworked trying to keep up with cleaning as well as our work schedules. I have fibromyalgia and my husband has COPD and we are both somewhat older parents, 50 and 42. I was also taking care of my dying mother at home through all of this, meanwhile the clutter was building up here and there, but nowhere near like what you’d see on Hoarders(now that’s scary). I was also taking prescription pain medication for my fibromyalgia. When CPS filed their report it was full of lies, exaggerations, and innuendo, but we all know that’s the norm with them. The case plan states we are in the “Family Reunification process” and we both have to attend various classes and counseling, which we have complied with for months. The plan states the “case plan goal” which is for our son to return home and the “projected date” in the paperwork for that to happen is November 25. They were supposed to grant us extended visitations like overnight and weekends(we see him for 2 hours a day now).However, our social worker says they are planning to “extend” the plan for another 6 months at our next court date, which is a “6 month review”. There was no abuse here, just an allegation of a messy house(oh, and docile farm animals such as sheep and chickens “roaming free”). I have never even used illegal drugs or alcohol in my life and neither has my husband. We were denied a public defender at our first hearing in May because our income falls just above the limit for these services but we cannot afford exorbitant attorney fees. We are getting a consultation this week from a private attorney who specializes in clients with autistic children. They have placed my son, who is energetic, bright, gifted, loving, and musical, in a special needs home with non-ambulatory cerebral palsy kids and he is regressing. He was just in the middle of the potty training process and had been getting early interventional ABA and social skills therapy at home since he was 15 months old, when he was first diagnosed with autism and SPD. We have always provided for him and the only thing we are guilty of is spending quality time with him instead of expending energy cleaning all day long. After many weeks of advocating on his behalf they finally got his therapies back on track at the foster home. Since they yanked him out of his local school program, he was placed in a special needs classroom at a school near his foster home. I have met with all his providers and we are on top of everything that goes on, documenting and recording anything pertinent which can help his return home. If anyone can give me some feedback on how to approach their stalling of his return and how best to deal with this particular case I’d appreciate any feedback…God bless you all…
Comment by Marianna and David — September 28, 2009 @ 11:31 am
Fran
My old case had so much of the “he said she said”. Nothing in the case was ever proven to be true nor was it ever investigated enough. It started off with a false call to court to them being placed in different homes. just quick like that. It was 1 week that this all happened. Obviously people saying what they did didnt help me much.
I went to court a week ago and this is what happened. The father shows up and thinks this is between him and i. Oh no no I knew better than this. I just knew it was between DCF and I. I hated how they kept saying “One twin has a serious medical condition that needs doctor care constantly”. Ok if anyone knows about hydrocephalus you would understand what I mean. A dr who did her surgery explained everything to me. I researched it and I know why and whats going on with her. Its not something that would hurt her. They just need to make sure her head isnt growing due to fluid build up and her shut is still in place. Well we get there and the judge ask me if I had a job. I stated no and I had no source of income. The father stated he sells chicken eggs and that he lives off his grandma. So after the judge explained everything he ordered mediation and an ICPC evaluation on the father and his living enviroment. If i said that wrong sorry :). My attorney there had mentioned that this case is OLD why is it being brought up and yet no real reason why was ever said.
Anyways they want to give the father custody of my girls and we have to work on arrangments for visitation. What made me mad was how the father had not been here at all the whole time they were born and he gets his way. Hes the one who showed a lack of attention to his girls. Yet Im getting slammed. Oh also I guess according to CPS if you havent parented a child in X amount of years then your not fit to parent a child. ARE YOU KIDDING ME GUYS REALLY?! There is NO manual on how to be a parent and you NEVER forget.
Comment by Karina — September 28, 2009 @ 7:45 pm
is there a recent case where an Orange county, CA sued CPS and won. Please refer to the lawyer if true
Thanks
Tom
Comment by wer — September 28, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
Dear Karina
I wanted to respond to you quicker, but I’m in the middle of this adoption. Please forgive me. I understand how you feel. I know what your going through. That is why this site is here.
What infuriates me, in your case is this was a medical issue and it shouldn’t have involved CPS. Many Twins have problems at birth.(I have twin nieces) My nieces were on monitors until they were 6 months old (they stopped breathing). They also had several surgeries on their eyes. The hospital knows these things. The twins are now 26 years old. One is a teacher, the other a nurse. They maintained honor role all through school and Deans list. I only tell you this because they over came all their medical problems.
As far as the twin with hydrocephalus. Sometimes twins do have this condition where fluid builds up, and surgery is needed to relieve the pressure. It sound like you are informed and doing exactly what you need to be do for her.
I feel sometimes the judge only skims over the report because he/she has so many cases before them. What hurts us as parents is that we have no voice in the matter. The judge probably doesn’t know enough about this condition and can’t bother to check it out.
I will be going to court soon and I swear, I’d love to be able to take my laptop so I could goggle the information for judge.
However that’s not going to happen. The judge listens to the S/W report and bases his opinion on that. It’s not fair.
I also have a child with a serious medical condition Neurofibromatosis. It’s a condition that many doctors aren’t familiar with. And caused us a lot of problems because the doctors didn’t understand. To compound it, his NF is a mutated form. His medical problems are caused by this. In 1996 he had a brain tumor on the brain stem and spinal cord. He could have died. He had an excellent surgeon. However he still has medical problems as a result of the NF. He has a long scar the front and back of his neck. I was actually reported because “a concerned citizen” felt the surgery was unnecessary. He would have died without it, who cares if there’s a scar, he is alive today because of the surgery.
He also has Lujans Syndrome. It’s extremely rare and causes his behavioral problems. There are only a few cases reported. On this disorder. I goggled to find a doctor and we emailed back and forth.
Judges are only interested in the report. They don’t see the “what’s and why’s”. We were lucky to have a good lawyer, but I will forever have a history with DSS. I feel that history is preventing my adoption.
Those who have never had to deal with CPS, will never understand the pain. It’s been a long time since our report, but I haven’t forgotten the pain it caused.
I will pray for your family, and those beautiful twins. You’re a good Mom, don’t let anyone ever tell you your not. God Bless
Comment by fran — October 2, 2009 @ 6:19 am
I am at a loss. I am trying to figure out if I should appeal Thursdays dicision. We have been fighting CPS since Dec. 08. My children were wrongfully removed. My baby was returned April 3rd 09, and then my boyfriend was allowed to move back in 11 days later. The caseworker continues the wrongful removal of my older girls’ due to her unfair bias with my ex-mother-in-law. On Thursday we had a review hearing. The orders are for my boyfriend and I to continue with our couple’s counseling, that the visitation with my older girls run with the custody arrangement in my divorce which is I get them one week, and my ex gets them one week, that we continue with our parenting sessions each week, and that we allow for numerous random drop ins and let the cw speak to my girls in private. This is until Dec. 10th, and if all goes well our cases are supposed to be closed.
The problem is, we have never abused my children. We got into a single fight. The cw testified on Thursday “no adjucatory harm!” They have repeatedly said “no physical abuse, just threat of emotional harm!” The threat of emotional harm is no longer a fight my children vaguely remember, but it is being told by their own grandmother (where they are now) “Joe had to move out, mommy got the baby back, but not you guys!” and the cw says to my 5 year old “was Joe mean, was Joe mean, tell me the truth or I’ll keep you from your mother longer!”
Our constitutional rights are being GROSSLY Violated (as of course I know many other families are going through this very same thing) We want these people out of our lives, there is no reason for them to be involved in our lives. We want help suing them. I want to know if it would be wise to appeal the judges decision on Thursday, because they have no real legal reason to keep this up, they only want to see how long they can keep this going. How do I make them stop?
Comment by Diane — October 3, 2009 @ 8:41 pm
Fran,
I wish you the best. There is a history of Neurofibromatosis in my family and as such I am rather familar with same.
People who do not have to deal with this disorder are often judgmental.
Comment by MaggieC — October 7, 2009 @ 6:01 am
I am yet another victim of corruption in the CPS system. This site has been extremely helpful to me and I thank all involved in its construction and operation.
Comment by Michelle Kristine Gunn — October 7, 2009 @ 3:15 pm
Still tearing families apart in Arlington - by Barbara Hollingsworth
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/Still-tearing-families-apart-in-Arlington-8371555-64038062.html
Peacefully Yours, Nancy A. Hey
Comment by Nancy Hey — October 15, 2009 @ 7:56 am
First let me say, the stories I have read on this site have made me cry and made me sick to my stomach. In March 2009, my stepdaughter who has many different disorders and mental health issues was questioned by the school counselor about a bruise on her arm - a bruise she had come home from school with two days prior. The child allegedly said her father beat her up, since we were not there when she was questioned we cannot confirm her statement. Three of my children were detained at the school for 1 hour and 20 minutes after the end of the school day without our knowledge. We called the school and the bus company trying to locate our children, my husband was driving around the neighborhood, and I was trying to gather the troops to find our children since no one knew where they were. The school counselor told me CPS had my children, which came as a shock as you might imagine. I immediately called CPS and was told there was no report on my children - within 5 minutes of dailing the phone a social worker and four police officers arrived in front of my home. I was told they had three of my kids and they were here to get the other three - I don’t remember much from this point on, but I remember them telling me no accusations were made against me and I asked why can’t the children stay with me and my husband would leave voluntarily - they said the children had already been delcared. They took two teens and my five year old from me saying if I did not cooperate I would go to jail for interfering. One of five children (we are a blended family) said there was a problem but was distressed that she could not come home and they remove all the children before even meeting with my husband and I? We have since been diagnosed with PTSD, completed their “Family Preservation” program, graduated the program and NOW we have a new referral - same child, but by the ex-wife who fully supported us during the initial referral. Now CPS wants to come into my home again, my children are terrified, and I am physically ill. This is just a brief synopsis of the events we have endured this year, but I do believe we have become a target for the Department. I don’t know what we are going to do, but I hope to find some guidance on this sanity saving site. Thank you and God Bless each and every one of you.
Comment by Kelly — October 16, 2009 @ 2:05 pm
Our CV 2008- case has been moved from Az State Court, to Federal Court now. Things are starting to move along fast! I am seeing one more HouseBill make it to the top of the discussion at the legislature, and I am sure the lawsuit is the only reason WHY they are moving on it now. The Gov has signed 3 into law already this year…in an effort to end some of CPS corruption. Now they not only have to finds relatives…they have to PROVE they looked, and the parents have to sign off as proof, too.
Getting some places with this. Slow and steady.
Comment by Cheryl — October 16, 2009 @ 3:25 pm
my name is john keller,and my daughter, bethany delores keller, is in state of michigan foster care because me and my girlfriend couldnt get along. i had babys mom removed from my home after she got me arrested for dv for defending myself by pushing her away. because of that and the fact that we were fighting because she would not let me see my child, they used my 10 year old marijuana/alcohol past against me and said the home wasn’t safe. i have completed their service plan since, and it has only been just under 6 months, my attorney does not send me monthly reports regarding my completion of these things and does not fully represent me, and still they say i can’t have her back for quite some time. i have never, repeat never had a violent past and they played some major dirty ball. i would love any info on how i can get my attorney to work for me, and any info on how to get her back on a bs technicality would be wonderful. god bless and i hope this home wrecking industry is blown wide open and harshly punished for what they do to good people.
Comment by John — October 17, 2009 @ 8:26 am
Well it’s finally happened! after months of going back and forth with DHS. We were finally able to adopt our niece. She’s our daughter for real now! She’s ours! Thanks be to God!
Comment by Fran — October 20, 2009 @ 4:01 am
Fran, Congratulations!!!! I am so glad to hear your niece will continue to be a part of her own family!
Comment by LindaJoMartin — October 21, 2009 @ 6:37 am
Thank you Linda, We are so happy! It was a difficult process.
Yesterday we had a situation come up and I don’t know what to think about it. The adoption is final and I live in VA. Medicaid in PA called my mothers home in PA looking for my brother. (He is in jail). They left a very nasty message for my brother stating he had better call them. And said “NO ONE ELSE should be listening to the message.
Problem: It’s my mother home and her phone, of course she is going to listen to her messages. My brother doesn’t, and has never lived there. (Retirement home). My mom is elderly and doesn’t remember the whole conversation other than they were nasty, and erased it. But I traced it by the phone number. It was Medicaid. My daughter has Medicaid now but will soon be on our primary insurance. Not that they ever covered anything anyhow. But it concerned me because of the adoption and the only connection I could make was this. Does this sound familiar?
Comment by Fran — October 21, 2009 @ 8:41 am
Congratulations, Fran. May all good things come to you and yours.
Comment by MaggieC — October 21, 2009 @ 10:46 am
Linda, I wrote earlier that Medicaid called my mother in PA to talk with my brother. (who is in jail). I since discovered that number is also for DHS.
Also I received my nieces renewal form from Medicaid today, I called to ask if I needed to re-enroll. She will be on our family insurance in about 30 days. (paper work with the insurance company takes about 30 days)
The caseworker asked if my niece had ever had a CPS case. This struck me as odd. I was calling to discuss Medicaid, and I explained this to the caseworker. I remained calm, and pleasant, but did not directly answer her question.
I did explain that my niece was not, and never had been in the a foster care system. She informed me that just because she wasn’t a foster child, didn’t mean that she had never had a CPS case.
Now I know that these agencies work hand and hand. This caseworker told me she had been transferred from CPS to Medicaid eligibility.
Now I’m really concerned about the phone call my mom received.
The caseworker did tell me I had 30 days before the forms were due, so we should be fine as far as insurance goes.
But I found it unsettling that she asked me about CPS issues, when I was asking a Medicaid question.
This with the phone call my mother received from DHS. If you have any idea please let me know, but please delete this post.
Comment by Fran — October 21, 2009 @ 5:38 pm
Don’t worry about this call, Fran. Just get your child on your insurance plan and off social services ASAP. You’re doing the right thing.
Comment by LindaJoMartin — October 23, 2009 @ 12:39 am
Thanks Linda, I called and had her added to primary. Her Medicaid will run out at the end of Nov.
I was just surprised that the caseworker admitted she used work for CPS. (she was transferred) I thought they were two different areas. It was like she was fishing for problems. I acted stupid, and said “I think I may have dialed the wrong number ? I need to speak to someone about dis-enrolling my child from Medicaid”.
She said “No I’m the new caseworker, I was transferred from CPS” and went on to ask about any CPS issues my child may be involved in. But I was pleasant, and kept the conversation to insurance talk.
Thanks for all the advice. I’m enjoying being able to finally say, she’s my daughter, and be done with DSS, home studies, and all that mess. I’m finally able to sleep through the night. Thank you and God Bless
Comment by Fran — October 23, 2009 @ 4:29 am
Thank you Maggie. I love your name, it’s my sister in laws name and we are very close. We had so much fun when we were younger, but she lives in another state now and we can only see each other once or twice a year. It’s my opinon all Maggie’s have a good heart. God Bless.
Comment by Fran — October 23, 2009 @ 8:40 am
I have two adopted children. One of them has been with us for 6 years and is doing very well. My other son was older when we adopted him and had spent over ten years in foster care. During that time he experienced abuse including physical and sexual abuse. He has a diagnosis of ADHD and an Attachment Disorder. He has only been with us for two years. I have a background as a counselor so I am familiar with all of these issues and know what I’m talking about. This summer my son ran away which he has a long history of doing and has done many times since living with us. He usually went to the park down the street from our house. After and hour, my other son and went to try and get him, he refused to come with us. Someone driving by called the police and reported that a man was trying to get a kid into a car. The police pick him up. During his four hour interigation at the police station he finally said that I had sexually abused him when he moved in with us two years prior and that I kept trying to make him “cuddle” and he didn’t like it. They called CPS who asked me to leave the house. My world was rocked because none of it was true. Exactly two weeks prior, he had said to me “Will you love me no matter what I do”, and I said “Of course I will.” My son almost immediately recannted his story. CPS refused to hear him for nine days and kept me out of my home for that entire time. Only after our attorney got involved did they finally agree to hear him. They then allowed me to move home. I thought it was over. I was wrong. We received a letter two weeks later stating that we had both been indicated for maltreatment. So we contacted the case worker and her response was that she could not get us for abuse so she had to get us for maltreatment. We now have to go through a lengthy legal process and we still might not be cleared. Thankfully our family has fairly deep pockets so we can pay for a legal representation. Right now we are waiting to hear from the commissioner to determine if she agrees with the finding. If she does we have to go to a fair hearing, which then allows us to present our side, including my son’s history (which the CPS worker told me was not important to her investigation), his diagnosis, and documented reccanting of his story. Does anyone have any ideas about what we should be doing to prepare for a hearing?
Comment by Scott — October 27, 2009 @ 9:27 am
Scott - to prepare for a hearing I usually write a declaration of facts presenting my side of the case. It helps if you can get references from the law or regulations to support your case. Also a written statement from your son might help.
See: http://fightcps.com/2008/05/12/filing-for-an-state-administrative-hearing/
Comment by LindaJoMartin — October 27, 2009 @ 4:10 pm
False accusations in order to stay illegally in the country:
a few years ago I met a young filipina woman with her daughter on a dating website and felt pitty for them. My idea was to help her daughter whose father disappeared and finally I was able to bring them to the US on a K1 (fiancee) visa. This visa is good for 90 days unless the person actually gets married. A few days later this lady got upset because I still talk to my ex wife and she was accusing me that I was still dating her. After a few days she moved out and told me that the reason was a “lack of food in my house”. About a month later she told me that she had talked to a lawyer und then suddenly she came up with new accusations “my daughter told me that you touched her private parts”
What I learned later was that the CIS has a special visa category for victims of a crime and obviously that was what the lawyer told her. Since she was determined to stay in the US (as she had explained to me “I am not going back to the Philippines…”) she accused me of a crime against her daughter. I am not a child molestor or pedophile and when I took a polygraph test (”lie detector test”) which indicated that I was saying the truth the interviewer told me that a 50 year old man who never had anything to do with child molestation before typically does not wake up one morning as a pedophile.
I submitted the polygraph report to CPS (Phoenix) until now they never sent me a copy of their report or told me what substantiated their accusations. I did not request a hearing because my lawyer told me that the mandatory sentence is 17 years in jail. One wrong word that could be misinterpreted could mean the rest of my life in jail. So I decided not to request the hearing. The police has never arrested me and my lawyer told me that they don’t wait long to arrest someone if there is any kind of evidence. CPS Phoenix put me on their list as a child molestor, it is rediculous, obviously the word of any emotionally hurt woman who tries to qualify for the “victim visa category” is taken as the absolute truth for them.
What I learned from this is that i am going to stay away from any children for the rest of my life. If i see a child dying on the street i will turn around and walk away. Otherwise maybe later its “you touched that child…”
Good work CPS !
Comment by Steve — October 28, 2009 @ 2:57 am
Scott, what state are you in? If you are in NY, I have a great deal of info that may help you.
Comment by MaggieC — October 28, 2009 @ 8:53 am
My daughters 5 month baby boy who was breast and bottled fed,was taken by cps worker on 10/17/09 from a licensed child care provider.A false police report to the Staunton VA, police was called around 11am sat the 17 th of oct. the report stated that 3 children were left at home including this 5 month old baby,which was a Lie..We need help. my daughter is a single mother of 4 boys ages 12,10,3, and 5 months. She has been through Hell in the past year and a half with DSS…her court appointed attorney is well hasn’t done anything to help her. This is an outrage,the cps worker has lied and has gotten away with it. She needs to be INvestigated,how or who can I contact? PLease Please Help us..I am the grand mother of these children.
Comment by Pam Reed — October 29, 2009 @ 9:30 am
Pam:
Make Your Court Appointed Lawyer Work for YOU
How to file for a state administrative hearing
As grandparent, you should have kinship care rights. Not having the child is grounds for an administrative hearing. Also the social worker’s lie should be brought to the attention of the state.
Check out the legal document library to write a declaration and objections to the social worker report.
Comment by LindaJoMartin — October 30, 2009 @ 3:06 pm
Pam,
As a grandparent who has spent 17 months fighting to enforce the kinship care rights,,,,and won,,,I say hang in there. It is very important that you attend every single CFT meeting and every last court date. If for no other reason, just to get your name on the minute entry as “in attendence”. it shows you have a “relationship with the child”.
While you will not be given any oppurtunity to speak and are not “a party to the cause”, if you are in attendence, you can use that as reasonable cause later to get the boys with YOUR OWN ATTORNEY to represent you in guardianship or adoption. This is extremely important!!!!!!! It will be YOUR case later.
When it all comes to pass, they will look to see “if the grandparents have an active relationship with the children”. If they feel you don’t, they will try to adopt these kids out.
Enforce your visition. Be there for every minute they give you. I can;t stress this enough. It will help you keep these kids in your family.
It can be done,,,you can win this thing.
Comment by Cheryl — November 2, 2009 @ 7:05 am