My nightmare started months ago. One night a third party that was keeping my kids for the night called me claiming my daughter had told her she had been "touched" by my boyfriend. When I went to see about my kids, my daughter would not talk to me at all. I took her to the hospital thinking they would do an examination and I would have defanite answers one way or the other. No exam was done, but dhr and the police were called. When entering the room, the dhr worker immediately made the statement that my children would not be going home with me. She advised me to sign a "safety plan" to allow my children to return to the babysitters so they would not go to the state. In shock, and not knowing that I really had any other option, I signed it. (I know NOW, that was a huge mistake).
The next day, I went to dhr first thing in the morning to try to figure out what was going to happen. I was given the name of my caseworker, but did not speak to her in person. She called me later that morning and we talked briefly. She asked me to come by and sign some paperwork the next day so my kids could be interviewed. I asked her when my children were coming home, and she mentioned physical exams needed to be done but told me they had not been scheduled yet. I went by the next day to sign the paperwork. Not only was I not given anything to sign, but was forced to leave the property. I called later in the day to ask again about the return of my children, and she told me as long as the accused was in my home, my kids would not be returned. I assured her he was no longer there, that I had made him leave two days earlier. She said she would have to come verify that before my kids could come home. But there was no visit to my home.
The next day (4 days after this started) physical exams were done, which I was not allowed to be present for, and the results were inconclusive. I asked again about the return of my children. She said she had been informed by my ex that the accused was still in my home. (My ex and I had separated on bad terms and i had a protection order on him to prevent him from coming around my home). She also said that she needed an address for the accused. I was'nt aware of it at this time, but later learned, she already had an address. She had interviewed him that same day. I told her I was truly concerned about my children remaining with the babysitter. (I had learned things about her in the previous 2 days from her neighbor that I did not know. Plus, I had seen for myself from going to her home to see my children that there was nearly no supervision and they were not being fed until 9 at night.) My worker told me there was no need to be concerned, but she would not even go check on them.
The next day, I returned to dhr to try once more to get some answers. I did not speak to my actual caseworker, whom had set up a meeting with me, but wasn't there. I asked for the specific reason they would not return my children, and was told that could not be discussed with me. I was asked to sign something so they could extend the safety plan, and I refused. I repeated my request for a valid reason in writing as to why they refused to allow my children to come home. I also brought up that I had consulted a attorney. At this point, for the first time, she mentioned concern of drug use in my home. I volunteered to take a drug test, and immediately did, which was negative.
After the first week, the 'babysitter' started avoiding my requests to see my children or making excuses as to why I couldn't come see them. Also, when I did go see them (the first week only) they asked about "the accused", asking me to please tell him they loved him and missed him. They also begged to come home, and cried when I told them I couldn't take them with me. (I know now, I should have brought them home. I had no idea that nothing could have been done to me considering there was no court order.)
The second week, I was given some paperwork to sign, but I didn't sign it because it stated that I had that right and not to sign it if it was blank, which it was. Dhr later referred to this as me being uncooperative. They also requested a hair drug test, which I did, and was negative. They made the allegation that I had not been taking my kids to the doctor, and I provided up-to-date shot records.
The next week, they filed a petition for custody and were granted temporary custody. Without my knowledge, they had removed my children from the babysitter and placed them elsewhere. I was only granted supervised (by dhr only) visitation one hour a week.
Since then, I have taken 4 more drug tests, all negative, yet they say i have a substance abuse problem. They have accused me of saying horrible things to my children but I have recorded my visitations to prove thats not true. They have questioned my youngest about alot of things, but not my oldest. And they just placed my oldest with her father that has a history of drug use and a criminal background, to include several domestic charges.
They clearly are doing everything they can to try to make me look bad and have no intention of giving me my children back, even though there is absolutely nothing wrong with me. I can not get anyone to really help me, but I know I have a good case. My children have repeatedly asked to come home, and our relationship is being ruined with every day that passes. Can someone please contact me in order to assist me in getting my kids back?
The next day, I went to dhr first thing in the morning to try to figure out what was going to happen. I was given the name of my caseworker, but did not speak to her in person. She called me later that morning and we talked briefly. She asked me to come by and sign some paperwork the next day so my kids could be interviewed. I asked her when my children were coming home, and she mentioned physical exams needed to be done but told me they had not been scheduled yet. I went by the next day to sign the paperwork. Not only was I not given anything to sign, but was forced to leave the property. I called later in the day to ask again about the return of my children, and she told me as long as the accused was in my home, my kids would not be returned. I assured her he was no longer there, that I had made him leave two days earlier. She said she would have to come verify that before my kids could come home. But there was no visit to my home.
The next day (4 days after this started) physical exams were done, which I was not allowed to be present for, and the results were inconclusive. I asked again about the return of my children. She said she had been informed by my ex that the accused was still in my home. (My ex and I had separated on bad terms and i had a protection order on him to prevent him from coming around my home). She also said that she needed an address for the accused. I was'nt aware of it at this time, but later learned, she already had an address. She had interviewed him that same day. I told her I was truly concerned about my children remaining with the babysitter. (I had learned things about her in the previous 2 days from her neighbor that I did not know. Plus, I had seen for myself from going to her home to see my children that there was nearly no supervision and they were not being fed until 9 at night.) My worker told me there was no need to be concerned, but she would not even go check on them.
The next day, I returned to dhr to try once more to get some answers. I did not speak to my actual caseworker, whom had set up a meeting with me, but wasn't there. I asked for the specific reason they would not return my children, and was told that could not be discussed with me. I was asked to sign something so they could extend the safety plan, and I refused. I repeated my request for a valid reason in writing as to why they refused to allow my children to come home. I also brought up that I had consulted a attorney. At this point, for the first time, she mentioned concern of drug use in my home. I volunteered to take a drug test, and immediately did, which was negative.
After the first week, the 'babysitter' started avoiding my requests to see my children or making excuses as to why I couldn't come see them. Also, when I did go see them (the first week only) they asked about "the accused", asking me to please tell him they loved him and missed him. They also begged to come home, and cried when I told them I couldn't take them with me. (I know now, I should have brought them home. I had no idea that nothing could have been done to me considering there was no court order.)
The second week, I was given some paperwork to sign, but I didn't sign it because it stated that I had that right and not to sign it if it was blank, which it was. Dhr later referred to this as me being uncooperative. They also requested a hair drug test, which I did, and was negative. They made the allegation that I had not been taking my kids to the doctor, and I provided up-to-date shot records.
The next week, they filed a petition for custody and were granted temporary custody. Without my knowledge, they had removed my children from the babysitter and placed them elsewhere. I was only granted supervised (by dhr only) visitation one hour a week.
Since then, I have taken 4 more drug tests, all negative, yet they say i have a substance abuse problem. They have accused me of saying horrible things to my children but I have recorded my visitations to prove thats not true. They have questioned my youngest about alot of things, but not my oldest. And they just placed my oldest with her father that has a history of drug use and a criminal background, to include several domestic charges.
They clearly are doing everything they can to try to make me look bad and have no intention of giving me my children back, even though there is absolutely nothing wrong with me. I can not get anyone to really help me, but I know I have a good case. My children have repeatedly asked to come home, and our relationship is being ruined with every day that passes. Can someone please contact me in order to assist me in getting my kids back?