exposing the dark side of adoption
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I would like this opportunity to post my story.

My 2 yr old granddaughter has been in Foster Care for about a year and a half.  The Baxter county DHS became involved when my daughter was living in that county at the time with her grandmother. They got into an altercation and DHS was called because my daughter could not get a hold of me at the time of the incident , so her and the baby had no where to go. My daughter was put in jail for domestic battery and the child was taken by them.  She was returned shortly thereafter and was able to provide a home. Upon one visit, the social worker found the home to be unfit....my grandaughter was place back in foster care...dependent neglect.  My daughter then moved to Pope County where I live so that I can assist her.

Since that time my daughter followed the court's case plan sucessfully. We were mislead into believing that we would get my granddaughter back...however, the judge, or the Baxter County DHS ofc rather,  changed their mind and told my daughter that she had to show financial reliability herself in order to get her daughter back, that I can no longer be the one supporting her financially, she had to go on Welfare instead.

In May of this year, my daughter gave birth to my beautiful twin grandsons.  One of the twins was diagnosed with Failure To Thrive soon after coming home from the hospital, it was not found to be Environmental. So, Pope County DHS took both of them claiming false allegations. We proved the allegations were false at the judication hearing and the case was closed.

One month later, the healthy twin died of SIDS.  DHS was in the emergency room at the time of his death and took the other twin. Hearing is not until January, the coroner's final report came after this judication hearing, so now we have to wait.

My grandson was placed in the same Foster Care Home as his sister...a 320mile round trip from us, making it difficult for my daughter to  visit. Now it seems the Baxter County judge/social workers changed their minds once again. They have informed my daughter that if she voluntarily gives up her right's to her daughter, she will be successful in getting back her infant son.  If it is done involuntarily, she will not have a chance to get her son back.  I believe this is called 'blackmail'.

We are only told that this is the law.

 I may add that a supervisor was fired after the death of my grandson, they alledge that it was because she allowed the twins to return to their mother and therefore, this resulted in his death.  I believe otherwise...she was fired because she made many wrong decisions in our case.  Initially, EVERY allegation made by the dept. was proven wrong.

I might also add that I feel my daugher has an intellect disability and this has been used against her instead of  the department trying to help her. Aside from the environmental conditions that caused all this, my daughter is a good mother and loves her children dearly. We are so heartbroken, and now my daugher is suffering from depression and post traumatic disorder.  I've tried so hard to help, but I'm just the grandmother.

I've lost hope that the 2 court appointed attorneys involved in this case will be of any help in getting the children back. There is no trust anymore.   Who can we go to??!!!!

by jprochazka on Saturday, 06 November 2010