After months of harassment and threats, Lancaster County’s Children & Youth agency secured a court order based on false accusations, fabrications and outright lies, and took my brothers (ages thirteen and ten) from my mother on the evening of September 18th, 2008.
The two accusations listed as a reason for the emergency court order/physical custody of my brothers are:
Accusation: On September 11th, 2008, the boys were seen playing alone outside of my mother’s house.
The truth: My mother’s next door neighbor was babysitting my brothers, and when CYS pulled up at my mother’s home for an unannounced visit, she was sitting in her front porch — within eyesight of my brothers — with her daughter, while her son played alongside my brothers.
Accusation: On September 17th, 2008, my ten year old brother was illegally absent from school.
The truth: My ten year old brother was absent from school because he was suspended due to an incident the week before. A written, signed letter from the school principal herself ordered my brother to stay out of school until a psychological evaluation was administered (ironically, this pysch. eval was done on September 18th, the day the boys were removed from my mother’s care).
Children & Youth never asked, never looked for paperwork, never sought out the benefit of the doubt. They assumed the worst, and promptly took action. When presented with rebuttals and evidence to the above accusations at a custody court hearing on the morning of September 19th, 2008, they replied with a half-hearted apology, but made no offer to drop the petition right then and there.
The blog post below this one is from my mother, and details everything that has happened, what has been said, done, and how scary the power Children & Youth and other child protective agencies have.
Please read, and please promote this blog entry. We are hoping that between knowing and exercising our legal rights, including the right to see all paperwork, make statements and prevent CYS from questioning my brothers without our presence, having a lawyer to work with us, aligning ourselves with the various agencies that know my mother and brothers, and by speaking publicly to the media and to the internet, that we can resolve this horrible, nightmarish situation as soon as possible, and have my brothers home where they belong.
Even if you cannot offer any advice or tips, spreading the word about this blog and forwarding and posting its URL wherever you can would be of a great help.
Thank you!!!
I’m really confused. Why isn’t a 13-year-old boy able to be outside by himself? In many states, the legal age to babysit is 13. In theory, the older boy could have been watching the younger one. According to this website, Pennsylvania doesn’t have a minimum age for Home Alone kids. Lancaster County, however, might. You should look into that.
I’ve taken Child Abuse & Neglect courses in school while working towards my ECE degree. They always told us that CPS agencies would only remove the child from the home if there was evidence that their life was in danger – normally they just work with the family to remedy the situation, since removing the child can do a lot of emotional damage. So, it seems odd that they would swoop in and remove the children for those kinds of issues. I’m definitely thinking you have a case and are doing the right thing by seeking legal advice from an attorney.
I’m thinking the same things Brook. I think an actual skilled lawyer is going to have a field day with these people. I’ve been in the system. I’ve been a foster parent who has dealt with two states and a mother who was less than perfect. You can’t tell me that the PA system is so strict that they don’t attempt to keep the child with their family when every other state I have worked with will give chance after chance?
At most, I could have seen CPS reopening their case and just watching or making house visits to your mother’s house for a period of 3 months. Your 13 year old brother can really come and go as he pleases. These boys have way too many issues to be stripped from the home and not know what their future is.
How are the boys holding up? Is this taking an obvious toll on them?
Media is a GREAT way to get the word out. Contact all your local TV news stations and newspapers.
I have both pages, put them onto StumbleUpon.com and blogged about this. I have also sent this and the other page to Fax news at foxnews@foxnews.com . I hope the internet gets roaring with this and spreads it out for all to see.
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My God- That is insanity. How can they be so cruel?
I was kind of abused, and I’ve stayed home alone since I was 7!
What the heck is this?
They should at least question you. Especially if he got SUSPENDED.
I’m spreading the word about this, you deserve your kids
ALLAH WITH US & THE 2 BOYS WILL BE BACK .. HOME ..EN-SHAA-ALLAH.VERY. SOON…. YA RAB YA KAREEM.