On Friday, September 19th, 2008, there was an emergency court hearing held to grant Children and Youth temporary custody (until the next hearing, which is on October 22nd) of my brothers. At that time, the caseworker, T, and her supervisor, J, assured both my mother’s lawyer and myself, verbally, face to face, that I would be allowed to have kinship care of my youngest brother (my thirteen year old would be enrolled in a residential boarding school the following week). All I would have to do is fill out the necessary paperwork for a child abuse clearance and a criminal background check, and have my fingerprints taken and checked against/added to the FBI database.
On Monday, September 22nd, 2008, I was again told that so long as those things cleared (which they would), and I passed a home inspection (which I would) and signed up for foster parenting classes, I would be able to have kinship care of my youngest brother. Again, this was said to my mother and I in person on both occasions.
Later that same day my mother and I presented the social worker, T, with a written statement, informing her that under no circumstance were either of my brothers to be interviewed, questioned or ask to provide any type of written statement to her or anyone with Children and Youth, if my mother, myself or our attorney was not present. We gave it to her in front of several of the staff members of the residential boarding school present, and asked her to sign it (which she did).
Tuesday afternoon I received a phone call from T and her supervisor J, informing me that my kinship care request had been turned down. The basis? Supposedly I failed to follow a safety plan this last February. At that time my thirteen year old brother spent twelve days with me. At the end of the twelve days my mother and I were given verbal permission from C&Y to take him home, and so my mother did.
All of a sudden now C&Y is trying to say that no permission was given, they knew nothing about him being home until they saw for themselves at the next meeting.
I’m sorry, but it isn’t adding up. First of all, my mother and I were given permission. Like I said to T and J on the phone, are we really stupid enough to break one of their “safety plans”? I think not.
And secondly, if for some reason we did, wouldn’t it warrant enough concern to be addressed immediately (in other words, as soon as they found out my thirteen year old brother returned home)? It isn’t something to sit on and then bring out SEVEN MONTHS LATER.
I’m sorry, but it seems a little too coincidental that Children & Youth was all gung-ho about me having kinship care of my youngest brother, until I stepped up to the plate, went to bat for my mom and spent several days helping her learn her legal rights and what we could do (including asserting ourselves in the form of informing them in a written, signed statement that they may not speak to the boys without our presence or the presence of our lawyer).
So, what do you think?
I think… this is all hoax.
Lol, to avoid confusion I’m not calling you a lier. I’m referring to Children & Youth.
Terrible situation though. My heart goes out to you.
Supposedly I failed to follow a safety plan this last February. At that time my thirteen year old brother spent twelve days with me. At the end of the twelve days my mother and I were given verbal permission from C&Y to take him home, and so my mother did.
All of a sudden now C&Y is trying to say that no permission was given, they knew nothing about him being home until they saw for themselves at the next meeting.
Lesson learned…ask for everything in writing and to be signed. That way you have your proof.
Secondly, doesn’t that make them look more stupid than it does put any blame on you. They didn’t know? Well, where have they been all this time? Why were they not monitoring the situation if the children were under their supervision?
You don’t not know where a child is. You don’t put them somewhere other than back with the parents and close the case unless you have signed paperwork in place. I’m going to say this one more time. THERE HAS TO BE A LONG TERM CARE PLAN IN PLACE with all children. If there isn’t then something is wrong. If there is, they have to go over it with all parties.
If they did not go over a long term care plan with your mother at the time that they returned the children to her then they are right the kids should have stayed with you, but they should have been working with YOU all this time to do something. To return them, or whatever. If you have kinship care or even a temporary placement you should be treated like a foster parent. Some states wave the classes for relatives.
Also, CPS should have been paying you kinship care rate daily for the time that your brothers resided with you. I bet if you bring this up and then mention you are suing them for the balance they may start cooperating.
I think they are making themselves look stupid myself.
One thing I have noted with CYS – they “offer” kinship care to the family members but will find ANY reason, no matter how retarded, to keep the family members from taking the kids. The reason is usually that they don’t want the parent they were removed from being able to have unrestricted access to the child. I’ve seen it before. They’re grasping at straws to keep you from getting custody because they didn’t want you to have it and they didn’t expect you to try and get it.
Does CPS have nothing better to do with their time?? How about trying to help kids that really DO need help! This is seriously ridiculous, and I feel so, so bad for your family.
This needs to be fought using their weapons – lawyers. Tape records during all conversations would also help. I am praying for you and your family, all members of your family.
[...] is a loving family for children to be in, why are the children being forced to be in foster care? Is it not abuse to deny children the love of a family? To me that is abuse. Unnecessary abuse when the kids are obviously loved and wanted. What is with [...]
Abusing the children that they are supposed to protect is just sick. They need to go to jail. I thought the foster care systems in all states were in trouble and needed the kids to find families. I do not understand these people.
I know this, that very few welfare workers are willing to tell the truth. Most of them are LIARS and not to be trusted. They SAY they are doing everything for the welfare of the children. Thats crap. I don’t know who they’re doing things for but it is not always the children. Granted, there are times when they should step in but not when the kids are getting the care they need. This is ridiculous and harmful to the kids. I was told once that the welfare people’s prime duty is to try and keep the family together, trying with everything it takes. It is NOT their aim to spit families apart. RIGHT…yeah we believe that.
We have found that welfare people can be more abusive than those they are after. How can children be “protected” if they put them into crowded, unfeeling foster care homes that do not have enough room? How can children get the feeling of love when they get ripped from their homes by strangers, then put into glorified boarding houses with people who’s only interest is to get the money the state pays to the foster care people?
We sympathize with your problem. I am willing to blog about this because your children need their family and Mom. They do not need more and more upsets with strangers and more strangers. I am angry that once more, a state funded agency is tearing a family apart and telling people that it is necessary when it is obvious that they are lying even to the judge. That should cost some people their jobs right there.
Hopefully, this nightmare will end for you. But the only way it will is if the court makes the decision for you and orders the welfare people to leave you alone.
Wow. I mean, just, what!? I don’t understand how they can do this. I’m sure there are children being abused in your area, but your brothers do not sound like they are to be included in this group. Maybe CYS should be more focused on those children who do need that help.
I’ve read through all of the posts, and it sounds like your mother is going to extraordinary lengths to provide your brother with all the care and help they need. Your mother is to be commended, not incriminated. I don’t know what I can do to help, but I’ll do whatever I can. Write letters to state local representatives or media outlets, whatever route you guys feel is best to pursue. But one thing is sure, some one (if not everyone) needs to know about this atrocity that is happening. It just seems like some one is on an awful power trip, and is having a horrible effect on innocent people’s lives.
Tilly,
How can children get the feeling of love when they get ripped from their homes by strangers, then put into glorified boarding houses with people who’s only interest is to get the money the state pays to the foster care people?
Well, hopefully children would feel love while in foster care, at least that was my goal. I know there are horror stories, but please don’t lump anyone into that whole get the money from the kids from the state deal. It’s not worth it. I can’t see anyone getting kids for money. I make more monthly blogging than I would from one foster child, and if I had the maximum amount which is 4 that barely equals a weeks paycheck for most jobs. Secondly, don’t the boarding places usually hire people to work minimum wage to take care of these kids? Those are some of the most selfless people ever. I agree there are problems, but it’s 90% with the system and workers.
Charity,
One thing I have noted with CYS – they “offer” kinship care to the family members but will find ANY reason, no matter how retarded, to keep the family members from taking the kids.
Sadly in Indiana this isn’t the case. We have to put kids in kinship care as much as possible because we have so many kids that need it. Almost every single person in my foster training class was a kinship placement, they were mostly grandparents.
I can see both sides of this. In Jenn’s case I don’t think anything was done wrong and I think she should have her brother in her care right now. I think her mom should have already been given what she needs to do to get him back so she could be completing that. They are dragging their heals badly.
In my own personal case kinship care would have been toxic with close relatives. It’s not always a good idea. In Jenn’s case I think it is.
What a horrible story.
This is terribly sad, and these boys do not need to be going through this.
I’m from Canada, but we have our version of CPS here which is CAS (Children’s Aid Society) and I’ve never seen them do any good. I’ve never been involved, but I could only imagine what you all must be going through.
My thoughts are with you all, and I hope this gets resolved, and resolved quickly. On top of all the problems the boys have on their own – this isn’t something they need to be adding to it. ugh.
[...] everyone who is willing to listen). In the case of my brothers, it really IS about power and money. This post shows proof enough of [...]
[...] it a coincidence that this comes on the heels of my phone conversation with Children & Youth last week, during which I informed them that they couldn’t dictate what goes on with my brother and his [...]