I live in Utah, My best friend has a grandaughter that was removed from thier care (she is handicapped)?

Question

because her mother was on drugs. Well my friend took care of that child for 6 years (the grandma) all of a sudden last September the dcfs took her away and put her with another family member. The childs physican told them the child had bonded with her grandmothr and she worried she might just give up and die if seperated from her grandma. Well both dcfs and the judge ignored the physicals letter, 4 and 1/2 mothes later the child after recieving a clean bill of health of Friday suddenly died on Sunday. I am so angry that not one person will be held accountable for this. I don't think any branch of our government should be free of a system of checks and balances. Shouldn't a question be raised on what would make a judge or uneducated social worker think they know more than a lkiscensed physican? How could they justify a childs life because they thought they knew more than a dr? They should be held accountable shouldn't they?

Answer 1

I can see no reason why the state should have become involved with your friend's case in the first place. The child was being looked after and was being fed and being kept clean and all of her needs met then why did the state become involved?

I am in the same boat, I am raising a 3 year old grandson that I have had since he was 3 months old and a 2 year old granddaughter who I have had since she came home from the hospital. The state has never been involved except to give them Medicaid. That is all I get from the state. But I will tell you that if the state removed them from me without just cause, and something like that happened to them, every news paper and t.v. station would hear about it. I would get an attorney and sue the state. No it would not get the child back but it would get a worker fired and might even bring down the judge.

Tell your friend that I am so sorry for her loss and I wish that I could do more.

Answer 2

Ok, first let me say I am a licensed social worker with experience in Children's protective services, I conducted investigations. My degree is in Social Work so I am not like some people who have the title but not the education or values of a true social worker, not fair to lump all together in any area of life.
Now from what I am reading your friend's grandchild had the illness due to the mother's drug use right? Anyways what I know for a fact (I am currently training family members and potential foster/adoptive families) is that Fed laws have changed. Children are placed with safe, competent family members whenever possible now, not to long ago that wasn't the case. Anyways...kids are not to be moved around for just any reason, especialy against medical orders. There isinformation that is missing. Perhaps family called on the grandmotehr and reported abuse or neglect and an investigation was done and you are not aware of that. No Dr. I have ever worked with would say a chld over the age of 6 will die of "failure to thrive" Was the child seriously ill due to the drug abuse, that may be another contributing factor. The state corroner will have conducted a very extensive investigation as well as children's services because the child was in their custody and any infant/child death not natural causes is not let go. This is probably still being looked into and if the agency is to blame believe me they will be held accountable. If your friend is not being given any info she needs to ask family or seek an attorney. I never petitioned the court for custody, I always found famly and kept the legal system uninvolved when possible, I truly believe family is best when at all possible.
It's tragic but terrible things have happened and will continue. Perhaps this is one of those cases where things went so wrong that it's unbelievable but I really think there is more to the story that you are not being told. Maybe the Dr. reported because he knew the child was not doing well and was terminal? Believe me, I have heard every lie and excuse under the Sun and few and far between ever admit or accept that the child was removed for justifible reasons. One last thing, stories like this cause people to not call when they need to. Services are improving and any suspected abuse should be called in.

Answer 3

I live in Canada and it is the same here. I know a little boy that almost died because a social worker forced a mother to try antipsychotics. I've heard other stories where kids have died.
I think we are being over even doubled taxed where child services are concerned.
Social Workers are regular people that make the same human errors. I say let the police handle the abusive parents and leave the medical issues up to the parent/grandparent or even a guardian and their doctor.

OH Yeah! The funding formula rewards the Child Protection Agency financially with every apprehension and if your child has a mental issue they're worth more.

Answer 4

Unfortunately, a lot of it is generalizing. they see a handicapped woman then automatically think that she cannot care for a child. Sometimes we need to take a good look and get a deeper understanding of each individual since we are all different as our situations are as well. Thing is, judges and DCF dont have that kinda time. The best you can do is make sure they are informed of the childs' death and if they have any conscious at all, living with it will have to be punishment enough.

Answer 5

Kids do not just die. There is way more here than you are telling. There had to be something wrong with this child And with a Mother on drugs, who knows what could have happened. By the way, I hope this mother feels a ton of remorse. Time to grow up and put down the pipe when there are kids around. She and everyone like her should be sterilized and never be allowed to bear children again. This of course after she serves plenty of prison time.

Answer 6

i think what may have been the case was the little girl was ill to a point where she needed more care then the grandmother could give .but at a point where hospitalization would have been fruitless.we often forget that a disabled or sick person may look fine.i often get aggatated because people refuse to aknowdledge me as disabled.cause i'm 6'3"and 200#and they can't see my disability .but i'm a grandmal epileptic{also tonic-clonic}and one bonk on the head and the siezure's come.thier may have been alot going on inside that you didnt see.

Answer 7

Social workers either have too little power or way too much power. They really don't care about a child's life or who really loves them or not; just who would dare buck their authority. At least the baby is safe from them now in God's hands and nobody will harm her again.

Answer 8

I can't believe the judge didn't heed the physicians advice. I've never heard anything like it. Are you sure there weren't any circumstances you aren't aware of?
But I do agree with you; someone should be held accountable.

Answer 9

A healthy child does not die of separation anxiety. You're either making it all up or you're severely misinformed about something...