Just a reminder… there’s a request by the owner of another family rights website for letters to be sent to President Obama and his wife. Here’s what I received in email:

This afternoon I looked at a Squidoo lens about Open Letters… and of course CPS came to mind. If I was to write and complain about anything, it would have to be about CPS!

So here’s a plan. We can all write these open letters…. then I’ll gladly publish them on the front page of this site so long as they are about CPS (on topic) and clean/non-abusive. I can’t publish anything that would bring bad vibes to this site in the form of angry public officials demanding retractions… but perhaps with names removed you could tell a few people off.

Anyhow, you’re welcome to write your open letter and send it to me at: webmaster -at- fightcps.com … and please let me know if you want me to make up a fake name, or publish your real name. Either way is fine with me but if you have an open CPS case I recommend anonymity.

I look forward to reading some great letters. Please everyone, participate! This could be fun and at the same time will be a good way to get some strong feelings off your chest.

If I get enough of these letters, I can put them together in an e-book we could give to all sorts of people needing CPS information … wouldn’t that be cool?

So who will you write to? Your social worker? The foster parent? The Juvenile Court Referee? The psychologist?

Be as creative as you like. Illustrations welcome!

California residents:

I received this in email this morning, and reviewed the letter. You may be able to help parents undergoing termination of parental rights hearings:

If you are a California resident, please email me at:
aleo966 at yahoo.com

A Petition for Review is being sent to the CA Supreme Court. This is part of a legal process and therefore they are required to read it. It is not an online petition. If they grant this review there could be new case law that will help anyone in dependency proceedings in California or anyone who enters it in the future.

You will be asked to sign a letter which I will email to you. You must provide your name and address below the signature. The letter will be mailed to the CA Supreme Court and 5 copies will go to: the Appeals court, the superior court, county counsel, and others.

This letter must be signed and mailed in the next 30 days or so. The sooner you respond to me the better. I cannot post this letter online because I don’t want just anyone to send it or rewrite it. That could cause more harm than good.

So please email me ASAP and I will forward you the letter.

Thanks,
aleo966 at yahoo.com

Thanks to an Obama supporter, we’ve got contact information:

Here is his Senate office address:

Obama, Barack- (D - IL) Class III
713 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2854
Web Form: http://obama.senate.gov/contact/

From http://www.senate.gov

And here is his campaign ‘contact us’ info:

http://answercenter.barackobama.com/cgi-bin/barackobama.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php

. . . . .

After you write your letter please post it here in comments.

Let’s keep our letters together, and keep them on the internet and see how much change we get.

Please remember that a handwritten letter on paper will probably get more attention than an email. Legislators often delete emails unread, or just scan the subject lines.

I just got an email from Cindy (last name withheld) who subscribed by email to this site’s blog postings. She read my last post - the one about parents and drugs, and had this question, “…Don’t you think it is time that we mandate random drug screening for all CPS workers and contractors?”

That’s so true, Cindy. It is LONG past time. And I believe we can do something about this.

CPS caseworkers and social workers DO need to be tested for drugs. They also need psychological testing. They need to be screened for past legal offenses. They also need to be licensed.

Who agrees with that?

So here’s what we can do. Let’s go to work writing letters to our state legislators asking them to introduce legislation requiring that all CPS employees having any contact with children be investigated for past legal problems, psychologically tested, drug tested regularly, and licensed.

Let’s tell our state legislators that we’ve been victims of bad social workers who should be screened out if they have psychological or drug problems. Any social worker or caseworker that lies in a report to the court is obviously mentally unstable. These people should be weeded out of the social services jobs, just as we wouldn’t want unstable people getting law enforcement jobs.

Tell your state legislators to read the comments on the guestbook pages here on Fight CPS so they can see what a huge problem false accusations are. Nobody tells it better than the hundreds of people who come to this site due to victimization by bad social services agents.

Any suggestions or comments on this writing campaign are welcome.

If you write a letter to your state legislators, you’re welcome to post a copy of it here in the comments section.

Keep it brief and to the point. Your legislators are more likely to read a short letter than one that is many pages long.

LET’S KEEP THE HEAT ON THEM until something is done about this travesty of unstable and incompetent social services caseworkers. Only our state legislators can help us on this one. I’ll remember to bring it up from time to time and hope that many of you will get positive responses from your state legislators that you can share with us.

Is there anyone here capable of drafting sample legislation that we can send to our legislators for consideration? If so, email me at the webmaster link at the bottom of this page.

To find out who your state legislators are, see the Write To Your Legislators page here at Fight CPS. And remember, we’re targeting STATE legislators, not federal.

Write letters - hand written letters will be fine, or type them. Don’t send emails as they are too easily deleted.

Thanks to everyone who takes part in this letter writing campaign.

P.S. - THANKS, CINDY, for the great idea!

…
Written by Linda Martin for Fight CPS.

If you would like to contribute your writing to the front page here at FightCPS, please read the following instructions carefully.

Writers Guidelines for FightCPS

1. To write directly to this front page, you must send me an email using the webmaster link at the bottom of the page, explaining who you are and why you would like to write for FightCPS. Your account status cannot be increased to include writer’s privileges until this is done.

2. No cut-and-paste articles from other sites are allowed, unless of course, it is something you have written. If you want to write about someone else’s site or article, that’s fine, but don’t copy anything except perhaps a brief occasional quote. Then link to the site where you found the information.

3. You can write about your case however be aware that this might have negative consequences, so I don’t advise it if the case is still open. When you write, avoid naming the people involved, such as social workers, psychologists, judges, etc. if they are mentioned in a negative manner. This is because in the past I’ve had to delete articles for people who were mentioned, and it was a lot of extra work for me, which I don’t need.

4. Articles that will be helpful to others involved in the child welfare system are especially needed.

5. Articles from caseworkers, fosterers, and others working in the system are allowed, but be aware that they will not be posted if they are at all insulting to the people who come to this site for help. If you want to write an article that is helpful, with tips on how to get through the system successfully and get the kids back, that would be appreciated. If you are working within the system please tell people what you do within the first paragraph.

6. You do not need to use your real name for public postings. I understand why many would prefer not to let others know who they are. But I do expect that you’ll tell me who you really are in the email you send me.

7. Do not write with all caps. Use capital letters where needed. Use good grammar. I will correct some grammatical and spelling errors but if your article is full of them, it is likely it will never get posted because there’s a limit on how much work I can do on getting an article ready for publication.

8. I will notify you if I can’t use your article or if it needs more editing than I’m willing or able to do. If I reject an article, please revise it or write something new.

9. Articles should be between 300 and 2000 words. If you have a photo to submit, there’s a way to upload them in the writing window. Photos should be no larger than 300 pixels wide. If you need help with a photo, write your article first, then email me about it.

We have two months before the next election. Do you know who’s running for public office in your state?

The only way to get bad child welfare laws changed is to get better legislators in Washington DC. We need to know how our legislators voted on child welfare issues in the past, and to either contact them for clarification of their opinions on our issues, or use their voting record to show that they’re either for or against families.

After we verify their stance on child welfare issues, we need to take this information to the public. There are thousands of people in your area who have been harmed by CPS agencies, who would like to know who not to vote for. It is up to us, each individually, to campaign for or against the people we want in office.

Find out who is running for office, and tell them what you need as a commitment for family preservation in order to vote for them. Attend meetings, town halls, and campaign functions where you can speak out about the dangers of child welfare. Write letters to editors of papers in your state telling people who to vote for if they are tired of worrying about CPS showing up at their doors and snatching their children.

It is really up to us to do this. I’m hoping that people with other ideas along these lines will brainstorm with me in the comment area. What can we do to get the right people into public office?

The following article was written by a dear friend of mine in 1995. She told me then I could circulate this, but asked that I don’t use her name. I know the file is online elsewhere with her name, but I’ll exclude it because she asked me not to use it, at the time. I met her when she started using computer bulletin board systems to get information helpful to her CPS case. I owned a computer bulletin board system (using FidoNet) at the time. She lived only a few miles from me and we got together and became friends before I left the Bay Area. She worked mainly with VOCAL and some attorneys to get her step-child home from foster care, so you’ll see references to NASVO and VOCAL in the following article. I don’t know if the NASVO contact phone number is still useful as this is now a twelve year old article! However it contains some good information, and I’d like to know what you think of the suggestions she gives. - LJM

Don’ts and Dos when Falsely Accused of Child Abuse or Neglect

Don’t Invite Law Enforcement or Social Services Into Your Home Without a Warrant

This action waives your right under illegal search and seizure under the Constitution. This will allow them to come into your home at ANY TIME and search and seize your children or belongings.

Don’t Speak To Anyone About Your Case Without First Consulting A Lawyer. Everything You Say Can and Will Be Used Against You

If you cannot afford a lawyer one will be appointed to you if you are arrested. No attorney will be appointed to you if this is a civil case (family law). In some states, attorneys are appointed to parents in juvenile dependency court. You should call the local Bar Association or legal information service nearest you for this information.

Don’t Contact the Alleged Victim, Their Family, or Prosecution Witnesses

Any and all such contact will be construed as an attempt to bribe or threaten the alleged victim into silence or recantation. Such contact must be done through a PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR who will work through or with your attorney.

Don’t Turn To Drugs or Alcohol

Such substances are habit forming and are depressants. They can cause you to jeopardize your case.

Do Go Attorney Shopping

Seek out an attorney who is EXPERIENCED IN CHILD ABUSE CASES (specifically false cases). For assistance, contact your local VOCAL or call NASVO at (916) 863-7470. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you in criminal court. If you are in civil court (family), you must pay for your own attorney. Depending on the state, you may or may not be appointed an attorney in juvenile dependency court.

Do Hire A Private Investigator

Some attorneys have their own in house investigators. Some do not, and IT IS CRUCIAL THAT AN INVESTIGATOR BE IMMEDIATELY ASSIGNED TO YOUR CASE. If your attorney does not provide one, call NASVO for references.

Do Keep A Daily Journal

Such a journal should document everything you do or where you go and people who see you or are with you. Keep receipts of purchases to keep evidence of activities. Back date a journal by going through canceled checks, photos, letters and holiday experiences. Try to remember and reconstruct everything you did and where you were at the time of the allegation. Give this information to your investigator (and attorney). This can provide evidence.

Do Strip Search the Child’s Room, if the Accusing Child Lived in Your Home

This can provide proof as to your child’s activities and sexual and social habits. Look for notes, letters, diaries, photos, telephone numbers, drug or sexual paraphernalia. Provide findings to your investigator (and your attorney).

Do Keep Active

Physical and social activity are healthy and will assist in keeping depression at bay.

Do Pay Your Attorney or Investigator

The people you hire for your defense are professionals and will work toward finding a solid defense. It is advisable to ALWAYS ENTER INTO A CONTRACT AGREEMENT FOR FEES. This sets the boundaries of your agreement and protects both you and your defense professional from failure. If you have problems about your proposed contract, call NASVO.

I found this press release online today and decided to share it with you. I live in a town dominated by and divided by a tribe. I’ve had people who had to deal with the tribal child welfare agents complain to me about the way they were treated. It used to be that we believed the Indian Child Welfare Act could help some families, but now it seems to be just another way for tribes to make money. I can tell you, the tribe here has been applying for grant money for years; recently receiving over 2 million dollars in grants. It is a huge money-grab, and child welfare money is certainly part of it.

I checked out the site mentioned at the end of the following article and read some heart-breaking stories. One story mentioned that a certain tribe had only 5,000 members, but they held over 1,000 children in foster homes. - LJM

Children’s Lives Destroyed by ICWA, Says CAICW

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Across America, children that have never been near a reservation nor involved in tribal customs are routinely being removed from homes they love and placed with strangers chosen by tribes.

Though proponents of the ICWA argue that the act has safeguards to prevent misuse, scores of multi-racial children are being negativelyaffected by application of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).

Over decades, numerous tribal members have married non-members and moved off the reservations. Many chose to leave because they didn’t want their children raised amid the dangers rampant in Indian Country.

However, ICWA authorizes tribal jurisdiction over any child who is a member of a tribe, or eligible for membership and the biological child of a member. Tribal governments determine their own membership and most require only 1/4 blood quantum, The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma goes further and claims jurisdiction over any child with ancestry tracing back to the Dawes Rolls no matter how minute the blood quantum. Making matters worse, some states have recently passed laws barring courts from considering whether a child or his family have any real connection to the tribe. As a result, the following occurs:

“… it was discovered she (the birthmother) is 1/128th Cherokee. That makes my son 1/256 or .0039% Native American and 99.9961% not…. His mother…was very adamant about the Cherokee Nation NOT raising her child and the court records show this. In April of 2006, we were notified of the Cherokee Nation’s intent to take us to court and remove our son from our home…. Since then, we have been in a constant state of panic….”

Any emotionally healthy child, no matter their heritage, is devastated when taken from home and forced to live with strangers. Even children of 100% tribal heritage are devastated if they’re taken from non-tribal families they love and placed with strangers they know nothing about.

The Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW) is the only national organization advocating for families who have lost or are at risk of losing children due to misapplied and sometimes illegal application of the ICWA. The CAICW will be at the National Press Club at 12 noon, Tuesday, September 4, 2007, with affected families sharing about this growing problem.

Letters from birth parents, grandparents, foster families, pre-adoptive families, and tribal members themselves can be read at http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html.

icwa indian child welfare act child welfare children