Blogs by Deborah K. Frontiera
Fighting CPS
12/6/2015 11:05:30 AM
The purpose of this blog has been to provide updates on some of the cases I reported in my book (Fighting CPS: Guilty Until Proven Innocent of Child Protective Services Charges ISBN 9-780-9800061-6-2) that had not been resolved when the book went to press, and to report other cases where CPS is not working up to par. I’d also like to hear about cases in which Child Protective Services did the right thing so those cases can serve as examples of what should be done. Occasionally, I will report helpful tips and web sites with advice on fighting CPS. To comment on this blog, or to tell your story, email Deborah Frontiera at frontiera.fightingcps.deborah.gmail.com
Winners in the Long Haul
I meet many people while doing book signings in Kroger stores in the greater Houston area, and some share their stories of Fighting CPS with me. Here is one such story that while it was frustrating for this family to go through, did have a happy ending. This family shows us that CPS even hassles their potential, approved adoptive parents!
“My husband and I became foster parents through Casa de Esperanza de los Ninos in 2004 after almost 5 years of infertility treatments including IUI and IVF. In February 2005, twin boys were placed in our home (not in CPS custody). In June 2005, we received a phone call at 4:00 in the afternoon that a 5 week old boy in CPS custody needed emergency placement due to a drowning at his current placement. I needed to pick him up by 5:00.
“I said yes, hopped in the car, and went to pick him up. On the way, I arranged for a crib to be brought to my house and was given a car seat from Casa. I was also on the phone hearing about how he had effects of prenatal drug use. We were told that he was labeled as a child who would be adopted by a nonfamily member. We were told we could call him the name we wanted to use when we adopted him, Gabriel. In the beginning, he cried for hours every night. He had reflux and had to use special formula. He received OT and PT services 4 hours a week in our home. He had torticollis that resulted in a flat head that we began to correct with a helmet.
“His birthmother was granted one supervised visit. On that day, when the visit was over, she took off running down the street with him, and had to be forced to give him back. I was told to not drive directly home, but to drive in the opposite direction of my home to make sure no one was following me. I drove for hours in rush hour traffic with three babies in the car.
“A few months after placement, I was asked to take him to have a paternity test performed. The man tested was the father (a man with a record and drug abuser), and his mother decided she wanted the baby. CPS did an immediate change of plan and said they wanted to place him with the grandmother.
“We hired a lawyer with Casa’s consent, and began to fight CPS. CPS came and did home visits, and made disparaging remarks about our home to my face (this was a home built in 2002 with a nursery we had created for Gabriel). As each court visit came, we had to jump through more hoops – grandmother had to be invited to each doctor appointment and therapy appointment. In December 2005, CPS threatened to take all the children they had placed with Casa out of Casa homes, and to put the story on the local news (I was a teacher, and knew they would not speak kindly of me). This included my caseworker’s son who was born with CP and requires around the clock care. Casa officially withdrew their support, and the first week of January, Gabriel went to live with his grandmother who has since adopted him. I went with the twins to a doctor visit shortly afterwards and was told that Gabriel was no longer wearing his helmet to correct his head shape and no longer getting therapy.
“The good news is…in March 2006, a beautiful healthy baby boy whose birthmother met me was placed with us. She relinquished her rights after 48 hours, and two weeks later the twins’ birthmother relinquished her rights and the father’s rights were terminated in June. We adopted all three boys on March 9, 2007. Casa is a wonderful organization with fantastic people working for them. I would definitely work with them again, but would never recommend working with CPS in any way.”
I wish to thank this adoptive mother, Tamara, for sharing her story with me, and with you, my blog readers. In an additional note, Tamara and her husband, who were fostering to adopt, were NOT provided the usual “fees” for foster parents. They assumed all the costs of raising their CPS-placed child (They did have WIC funds and Medicaid, though.) and then “lost” the child they were promised.
May you all have a Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year.
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