Barring a VALID reason not to, should the state place a child with the father, rather than foster care?

Question

This case involes a father who has current child support, but whose visitation to the 13 YO girl has been blocked by the mother. Dividing his court/attorney costs by the number of times he's seen her, it averages out to $1900.00 per visit.

Until recently, he hasn't seen the girl for six months. He saw her by waiting near her school when she called to asked that he be there.

At the time, she informed him that her mother was wanting a baby, so she's been using a turkey baster to put her boyfriend's semen in her. The father called the police, but rather than have him take the child to a hospital, family services told the police to take her to be examined than put her in a temporary holding center for children in need. Than, despite his requests, they placed her in a foster care home, 200 miles away, as there were no local spots available.

To add insult to injury, they filed for an increase in his child support to pay for it. The mother and boyfriend fled the state.

Most states have fought any regulations requiring the father be considered when a child is removed from the home of a divorced/single mother.

Plus, by putting the child in foster care, the state receives a $40,000 grant from the Feds under the Mondale Act of 1974.

green_clovers66
According to the study, Survey of Absentee Parents, done by the HHS, 60% of fathers are denied access to their children, and will lose all contact within five years. In Missouri, it has been a Class C felony since 1989 to deny the court ordered visitation rights of the separated parent (MSRS 565.156 Sub. 5). It has not been enforced even once, while they enforce the felony child support law thousands of times very month. The reason given is that they will not jail mothers for such a minor offense.

Answer 1

In most states you can file a petition in family court (without a lawyer) to take custody of the child. Usually, if there aren't any problems they will place that child with a "fit" parent rather than foster care. But, you HAVE TO go through the courts....they won't just give you the child because there was a problem in the other home.

Answer 2

Child support laws in the United States are not working. They were designed to help the children. Yes sometimes that second income for a single mother to help support that child actually goes to the childs needs. When were these laws made?
How many single moms throughout your adult life did you notice was just as bad as the mother in this article. I have come across many. I am a woman myself and I admit the fathers get backed into corners with child support and custody rights.
Many men can not make enough money to support themselves and make support. When payments aren't made they get jailed, eventually lose their jobs and maybe even prision time.
I am also writing from my own experience. My husband of twenty years is staying home and raising our five children. I work. He had a child while in highschool. The mother of now this young woman, never went back to work, lived off the state and also got a college degree. My husband on the other hand was jailed twice for failure to make support payments and lost a job.
Not once was he granted visitation. Could not afford an attorney to fight for visitation.
That's when I stepped in a paid all past support and kept it current. The Judge then told him he had to have a job or he would be in contempt and be jailed. Why? God only knows.
These laws were made in the days when the social norm was that mom was the best choice for the child. This is now showing that its not true.

Answer 3

Being that it is a child, the court is keeping her isolated from the father as not to bias any testimony any statements that could be made. The defense attorney for the abusive mother and stepfather could use this as an opening ..."your daddy told you to say that, didn't he?". If there is no contact with the natural father while the case is pending, this will give the state a better opportunity to slam them in court. MOst likely children will not be allowed to testify, but she will be taken to a psychologist who will evaluate her, and there will be medical evidence as well that can be used i court. Since the freaks fled the state, it will add to their guilt. I am sure the dad is tormented right now, and wants to be there for his daughter, but in the long run it is for the better. If the father is proven fit to care for the child (which he will not have to worry about if he has never been proven unfit), she will be placed with him for sure. Tell him to keep in touch with the police, and make sure charges are filed against these people.

Answer 4

There obviously is a reason the father did not have visitation with the child. The philosophy of the courts are that both parents have a right to the child and it is a very serious issue when a court takes visitation away from a bilogical parent. So, in this case, without more information it is diffucult to answer this.

Answer 5

Situations similar to this happen in the US also. Perhaps the foster care system should be held liable. In my case as a foster parent, one of the young boys went home and his mother was living with a very young boyfriend, she was 35 and he was 19. Mom was told to stay away from the boyfriend. She lied about him living there. She regained custody of two of her three children. A 9 year old who is low functioning, due to being strapped in his car seat and being beat with a toilet brush at 2 months old, among many other situations, and his five year old brother. She first lost custody when the boys were 7 and 3 for having sex with two men while the boys sat on the couch and watched. Long story short--- the boys went home. Mama's young boyfriend showed the older disabled boy how to do a flame thrower with a hairspray can. The older boy burnt the younger boy from head to toes while he slept. Can you believe mom gave up custody of the older boy and the younger one continues to live with her. Perhaps foster care needs to be reformed before the adoption system is.

Answer 6

The father gets the shaft cause they want the money, plain and simple. Its better than getting the police to meet a quota of speeding tickets. Pathetic, I feel for all fathers out there that act according to the law and then watch their child disappear into a system that really looks at them no worse than the mother who waits for her TANF, a "paycheck".

Answer 7

from what i know when a child has suspicion of being abused physically or *** they will remove the right s of both parents until a full investigaition is completed now he should go down and talk to the courts to find out why they are not giving him more information on what he has to due in order to take custody of his child

Answer 8

ok, im a little confused.. Why was the father not granted the child? I think we will need a little more info on the father to answer this better. If the father was not proven to be an unfit parent and has no records, then I would think it to be unfair that the child is not with her natural father... now the part that confuses me it the part with the turkey baster...the girl was being injected with the mothers boyfriends semen??? WTF??? She is going to need some serious counseling. I hope the girl is ok. Please advise if she is ok.

Answer 9

I do not understand this at all. If the daughter is old enough to speak her mind, she can ask to live with the father...And the judge should consider this.. You may have a case plan first where they see if you are serious .. and to make sure you can provide, the child is safe,her enviroment can create growth and nuturing loving atomosphere...Talk to your local state ..We have childern and families, Here in Jax FL...Good luck....I hope this helped.....

Answer 10

this is the worst travesty of justice that i have heard of,instead of arresting the mother and her boyfriend they treat the father as a criminal.they are causing the girl a lot of emotional harm,she should be with her father,it does not surprise me about the courts,they are run mainly by women that hate men.there is an organization called fathers rights,get in contact with them.