A question about Child Services experiences?

Question

A friend of mine just called me up venting and angry about a Department of Children and Families case worker. I suppose I'll start from the beginning, a couple months ago a couple got angry at my friend's neighbors (these neighbors are her aunt, Clare, and her aunt's boyfriend, Rick) because they drive quads in the yard and don't like it. There is nothing this couple can do because the yards connecting the two homes are both privately owned and that is where Rick rides his quads. One day while I was there this couple started a huge fight with Clare and Rick. No more than a week later my friend had this lady dragging her three year old daughter up to the door and stated that she had been in the road. My friend had been watching from the window, her child never came close to the road but was at the end of the yard picking flowers off a tree. Despite this the woman called DCF, a worker came out spoke to my friend, her parents, her aunt, her cousin, myself, and a couple other friends.

Despite us all telling this worker how the child is always being supervised she substansiated the claim of physical neglect and now my friend's name will be on a list of other parents that have abused or neglected their children. There is absolutely no reason to believe my friend abused nor neglected her child in any way. She has sense sent in an appeal form and is waiting to hear back but this case worker is what is getting on her nerves. She never returns phone calls, blows off appointments, shows up un announced when my friend already requested that she call ahead of time. My friend has decided to no longer cooperate with this particular person and will be calling her supervisor. My question is has anyone else had experiences like this, being wrongfully accused by an incompetent state worker?

Is there any way to have this worker's case history examined for other mistakes? My friend wants this worker to be disciplined in some way. This worker claims that she has returned every call my friend made, I know for a fact she hasn't and she stated that today she did not blow my friend off, the worker says she would try to get out to her house this morning but never said it was definite - though I firmly believe this woman should have called my friend and let her know that she would not be able to make it. Now this worker is transfering the case to another woman and telling this other worker that my friend is being difficult.

As for the child being out of her mother's reach - her mother is never more than 15-20 feet away and we both believe three years old is a good time to start teaching our children independence. She does not want her daughter to be afraid to play by herself or to go outside without her mother up her a.ss (figuratively speaking of course). Neither of my friends children have ever so much as been late to a doctor's appointment, they've never been sick with anything more than a common cold or once they both got an ear infection, they've never had more than a few minor scrapes.

The first worker that came out is named Katrin Keating she works for the Connecticut Deapart of Children and Families. She has reassigned another worker named Carley but did not give my friend her number. My friend called again to tell me she has canceled all her plans for the rest of the day just to try to reach this new worker and have her come out as soon as possible. She also talked to some of our other friends and all of them will back up that the incompetent worker never returned any phone calls until she needed something answered.

Answer 1

Tell your friend to give the new worker a fresh start; regardless of what her co-worker has told her, she might be more willing to extend the same courtesy of a fresh start to your friend if she's nice. It sounds like this other worker has been a pill to deal with, but keep in mind (and ask your friend to remember this as well) that these case workers deal with some crappy people. My mom is a social worker, and sure, she has some clients that she's been glad she could help but more often than not, she's dealt with people who are manipulating the system and lying. She has to verify everything, and it sounds like this woman was erring on the side of caution for the child in her mind. I think it's unfair that your friend is unjustly accused and assumed guilty, but this worker has probably seen far more negligent parents than positive role models. Tell your friend to try to stay level-headed. By the way, the unannounced visits are often how they judge a person's true parenting nature; if they always call ahead they're not as likely to get the whole picture. For example, if they do suspect someone is letting their child play too close to the road, then coming unannounced, the worker might catch that with their own eyes and corroborate the story.

Answer 2

I have a situation that sounds similar to your friends. My mom luckily was able to keep my duaghter while I was investgated. My then neighbors said I let my daughter run around out side in a diaper play in the creek and near the road. All b/c they thought I reported thier drug use (I could have cared less.)

I got a lawyer and several witness on my behalf, jumped the hoops and it took a while, but my daughter thought it was fun to stay at my moms and I could stay there when ever I wanted. But I was finally able to clear my name.

Not sure about getting the other files reviewed but I know your friend can call the board director and request a change of social worker, which she might want to do.

Her case workers name isn't Ina Meade is it?

Answer 3

I've never had issues like that but your friend had better get an Attorney quick. If the neighbor lied and the case worker substantiated the event then there is no telling what the neighbor will lie about now.

Answer 4

This is the crappy thing about this system. There is no oversight and no right to due process. Meanwhile, truly abused children are going overlooked, and workers who really want to actually help people have their hands tied. Their funding is tied to how many children they can get adopted into new homes, so they have a lot of pressure to do what they can to get parental rights terminated, especially for "highly attractive" children.

Answer 5

My best advise is to get an attorney IMMEDIATELY! If your state is anything like Missouri DCF your gonna need one. My children were in the system (their grown now) and it destroyed our family. Your lucky you mom has your daughter. I wasnt that lucky. My children were taken from their father and I was never notified; they were immediately taken to foster care. Then they told me I owe child support. Now I am in a battle with Missouri DCF. Get an ATTORNEY IMMEDIATELY do not wait for things to straighten themselves out.

Answer 6

First, 3 years old is a little young to be anywhere not within an adults quick reach within seconds. Second, if your friend doesn't cooperate it could make the situation worse. My mother works for child services and her friend was falsely accused of neglect. Just be patient, eventually it will go away.