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So how on earth does kin, who isn't getting information from the parents of the children, let a worker know they are there if needed?
There is a relative, by adoption, who CPS took custody of. They left him (and his half siblings) in the care of the relative they've been with most of their lives temporarily. Well, it turns out that this relative may not be approved (which really really stinks for these kids). I'm not aware of another family member who can take all the kids though will admit that someone they know could be best for them.
But *if* they are going to placed into a foster home, I feel that should be here. First, we *are* related to the one child. Second, the other two should be kept with the one child. And third, we are a licensed foster home so could have gotten the call anyway (Many region 4 kids end up in region 3 foster homes).
So I have limited contact with any adults involved. I really don't think they would give me the information I need. I think it is more likely they would downplay or deny the situation (though in their small town, that is pretty hard to do since everyone knows everyone's business).
So I called the general number up in that county and they said that investigations are being done from a nearby place. She gave me the number for the investigative supervisor, who of course is very busy so not just sitting at her desk waiting for my phone call. I then used that number to figure out that main number there and just asked for "someone in CPS investigations." I left a detailed message on that person's voicemail also. I don't know that it hasn't moved to an ongoing worker though either. The original person I talked to who gave me the one phone number suggested I call the hotline, but when I went to the hotline page, it really details that it is really for reporting neglect, abuse, and exploitation (which is what I thought).
I don't expect anyone to give me information about the case. I just want to give them MY information so that the children will be here, with kin, if they can't stay with people they know.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to get the information of someone who I can share our information with? The docket isn't up on [url=http://www.courts.state.tx.us/cpdockets/Courts.aspx]Texas Courts Online | Child Protection Court Dockets[/url] . Those are often detailed enough to give information, but for some reason it isn't there (most counties aren't, but this one used to be).
I do know the information for one of the lawyers who handles CPS cases up there. Most likely, she was assigned for the children or the parents. So maybe I could contact her? What about contacting CASA in general up there and just asking for them to give my information to the CASA worker assigned to the children?
I really don't know. I'm afraid the kids are going to get split up. The system is over run with kids right now and they can't place many sibling groups all together :(
Any ideas are greatly appreciated. The kids are in region 4, in an area that isn't currently doing their own investigations but having them done by another county (I don't know how common that is, but it seems weird to me).
Thanks in Advance for any ideas/help :)
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It seems like short of going to the CPS office personally you have covered all the bases. I don't know what else could be doing.
It does seem weird they would leave the kids with a family that might not get approved. It would be ashame if they kids have to move from what is familiar to them, when that is not the place where abuse/neglect is happening, but it is great that you could take them.
Do you have any contact with the family where the children are currently living? Have you let them know that you could help them out, if necessary, instead of letting them go to strangers and most likely split up?
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IME, it isn't weird at all that they leave kids with just about anyone to start with. * our first kids, fictive kin, years ago. We had the kids, mom wanted them for the evening. I argued that, but they were her kids (so she reminded me). Stuff happened that night and CPS called the next morning asking if we wanted the kids back. They brought them to us, looked where they would be sleeping and took enough info to be able to check up on us. But they just left them in the meantime.*We've had foster kids that way also. One little boy we had was staying with a relative per mom's suggestion. CPS did the homestudy and found she had some issues herself. We got the placement. He has since been adopted by another family in our agency :)These children have always been or at least VERY regularly been with this relative as far as I can tell. There have been other cases, but none where CPS took custody. Now that they have custody, they are responsible for where the kids are so have to do the homestudy. They don't have grounds to not leave the kids there without it. I'm actually HOPING, for the kids' sakes, that it isn't as bad as it sounded and that the family is approved as long as they can keep the kids safe and healthy. The kids can be with family they know well, stay in their same school, etc. Really, very little has to change for them if they can stay put. Second best option is if there is another family member up there they know well who can take them. But if that isn't the case, I want them here. So a friend gave me the name and number of another investigator from the county that does the investigations for this county. She said she would probably help me. At least then I have a cell number (her vm at work says she doesn't check it much since she is always in the field so call the cell, but I didn't want to do that on a Sunday). And I did email the lawyer. She responded that she will let the CPS worker know, thanked me for being available, and that she'd be in touch. I feel better having made contact with someone! No doubt the other people I left voicemails with will get those by today or tomorrow as I'm sure they don't get multiple days off in a row often. I really can't go through the family for any information. I did get ahold of someone. They completely played it off. I expected that, but it just isn't helpful. Is it because they really don't think anything will come of it? This person should know better. Is it because they are in denial? Again, of all people, this person should know better. Or maybe they don't want to deal with it. But being an ostrich never helped anyone. These kids deserve ALL of the adults in their lives to step up.And though a stranger in most ways, we *are* on the outskirts of their lives...and we're willing to step up should we be needed.
IME, it isn't weird at all that they leave kids with just about anyone to start with.
* our first kids, fictive kin, years ago. We had the kids, mom wanted them for the evening. I argued that, but they were her kids (so she reminded me). Stuff happened that night and CPS called the next morning asking if we wanted the kids back. They brought them to us, looked where they would be sleeping and took enough info to be able to check up on us. But they just left them in the meantime.
*We've had foster kids that way also. One little boy we had was staying with a relative per mom's suggestion. CPS did the homestudy and found she had some issues herself. We got the placement. He has since been adopted by another family in our agency :)
These children have always been or at least VERY regularly been with this relative as far as I can tell. There have been other cases, but none where CPS took custody. Now that they have custody, they are responsible for where the kids are so have to do the homestudy. They don't have grounds to not leave the kids there without it.
I'm actually HOPING, for the kids' sakes, that it isn't as bad as it sounded and that the family is approved as long as they can keep the kids safe and healthy. The kids can be with family they know well, stay in their same school, etc. Really, very little has to change for them if they can stay put. Second best option is if there is another family member up there they know well who can take them.
But if that isn't the case, I want them here.
So a friend gave me the name and number of another investigator from the county that does the investigations for this county. She said she would probably help me. At least then I have a cell number (her vm at work says she doesn't check it much since she is always in the field so call the cell, but I didn't want to do that on a Sunday).
And I did email the lawyer. She responded that she will let the CPS worker know, thanked me for being available, and that she'd be in touch. I feel better having made contact with someone!
No doubt the other people I left voicemails with will get those by today or tomorrow as I'm sure they don't get multiple days off in a row often.
I really can't go through the family for any information. I did get ahold of someone. They completely played it off. I expected that, but it just isn't helpful. Is it because they really don't think anything will come of it? This person should know better. Is it because they are in denial? Again, of all people, this person should know better. Or maybe they don't want to deal with it. But being an ostrich never helped anyone. These kids deserve ALL of the adults in their lives to step up.
And though a stranger in most ways, we *are* on the outskirts of their lives...and we're willing to step up should we be needed.
Oh, and I wrote some people in our agency asking them that if they see these specific children with family name X come through, to PLEASE submit us, explaining our relationship, and then to call me. I figure that I've probably done all I really can do. But it is kinda irritating that someone like me who knows the system has to work SO hard at it. I could look up the regional information. I have contacts because of prior experience. That sort of thing.The average relative of a child who is in the system or might be in the system doesn't have nearly as much information about the system works, who to contact, the breakup of regions or counties or anything like that. They really would be quite blind in a way we just aren't. There probably needs to be an easier way for kin to inquire about family member's children.
Oh, and I wrote some people in our agency asking them that if they see these specific children with family name X come through, to PLEASE submit us, explaining our relationship, and then to call me.
I figure that I've probably done all I really can do.
But it is kinda irritating that someone like me who knows the system has to work SO hard at it. I could look up the regional information. I have contacts because of prior experience. That sort of thing.
The average relative of a child who is in the system or might be in the system doesn't have nearly as much information about the system works, who to contact, the breakup of regions or counties or anything like that. They really would be quite blind in a way we just aren't.
There probably needs to be an easier way for kin to inquire about family member's children.
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UPDATE: Worker called this morning and said they found "significant concerns" regarding the kinship placement. Asked if we were still willing to take the children. I told her yes. She said they were removing the kids, but she didn't know exactly when. She took my agency information. We haven't heard anything further. Just waiting.
UPDATE: Worker called this morning and said they found "significant concerns" regarding the kinship placement. Asked if we were still willing to take the children. I told her yes. She said they were removing the kids, but she didn't know exactly when. She took my agency information. We haven't heard anything further.
Just waiting.
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Mn, I find that so weird. If it is so bad they need to be removed, then shouldn't you just do it? As of last night, they had what they needed to remove the kids, but the child placement people had trouble getting ahold of our agency (weird as we're only the largest branch of the 3rd largest agency in the state so they use us plenty). Anyway, that was fixed last night so removal should be today. My three are a bit anxious. I think they are excited about the new three, but I think it also brings up a lot of feelings about their own final removal (police, hysterics, running, etc). I think they also are anxious because there has been background discussion for so long and then "they are coming" for a couple days. Dragging it out is hard on kids.So we are saying bye to our respite guy this morning and then we'll spend time together, do something special, etc before getting the new three.
Mn, I find that so weird. If it is so bad they need to be removed, then shouldn't you just do it?
As of last night, they had what they needed to remove the kids, but the child placement people had trouble getting ahold of our agency (weird as we're only the largest branch of the 3rd largest agency in the state so they use us plenty). Anyway, that was fixed last night so removal should be today.
My three are a bit anxious. I think they are excited about the new three, but I think it also brings up a lot of feelings about their own final removal (police, hysterics, running, etc). I think they also are anxious because there has been background discussion for so long and then "they are coming" for a couple days. Dragging it out is hard on kids.
So we are saying bye to our respite guy this morning and then we'll spend time together, do something special, etc before getting the new three.