Please tell me it's going to be ok.

[Thandiwe]

I just read a story going around on Facebook from our home state, namely my old community. A little girl was killed by her dad and stepmom. CPS sent her home...and she died. This is not the first case in that area; we had this happen (similar story) a few years back, and there are countless others.

Please tell me this is going to be ok. Lie to me. Promise me anything. I am really feeling so afraid. The state KNOWS there are serious safety issues in our case and does not feel prepared to hand over custody. The state, backed by other professionals, wants to end this "risk" over baby's life. But the legal system won't back it up.

Promise me I am not watching a freight train barreling at me. Please.

[queenjane]

I just had a thought. Maybe this little girl's death will actually help your case, in that they may be more likely now to err on the side of caution because right now the spotlight is on DHS and the judges who sent that little girl home. Maybe that will be in the back of the ref.'s mind when he is weighing the pros and cons of this case??? I mean....we can hope right???

[pumpkingirl71]

I am so sorry you are living with this fear. My own daughter almost died because cps did not remove her. I can't tell you how conflicted I am over this. There are days that I hate cps for not doing their job. There are days I feel that my daughter belongs with her birthfamily and she would be better off with substandard parenting from them. Most days I recognize that life is complicated and things have worked out for the best. I pray that you come to a place where things turn out for the best.

[SundayCrepes]

I also think this little girl's death may help your case. Everyone is under scrutiny. Also, these are human beings. How can they not be touched by this little girl? No guarantees on anything, but I think this will be to your benefit.

[Mamacitac]

Oh my! how freakin' sad What a sad, sad system.
I just don't know what these "parents" get from making the same mistake over and over again. You think they would LEARN. That poor baby girl.

[Mamacitac]

Originally Posted by SundayCrepes

I also think this little girl's death may help your case. Everyone is under scrutiny. Also, these are human beings. How can they not be touched by this little girl? No guarantees on anything, but I think this will be to your benefit.

So true, sadly. But this little girl may help save the lives of some other little ones now. Let's hope!

[Sierra]

I am with those who think there is some chance for increased scrutiny=increased caution about sending kids home.

[Thandiwe]

I don't know much of the back story; from my understanding everything about her legal background is being kept hush hush since CPS has been attacked in this matter. It's being taken to the Ombudsman for review. But I have a friend who's dad helped arrange the rallies surrounding this case in front of the court house. He lives to the family. There is suspicion about a death of an 8 mos baby of theirs just a year ago, and there was CPS involvement and - to my understanding - she was "returned home to die," according to the signs at the rallies.

And of course on the heels of this today, I got another "update" from our caseworker. I kind of wish I wouldn't; the more I know the more I fear for the future. As suspected, things are continuing down the same path. Parent is "walking" the plan, but yet again a professional is clearly assessing that it's not actually clicking. Still blaming e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e else for this case going on. Everyone but themself.

I hope this little girl's death, a mere three years old, stands for something. I hope they can make some serious changes. Our state has been under fire the last couple of years because they have failed to protect kids, both in care and prior to care. They have settled a major lawsuit and made new implementations, and to my understanding they are required to keep things transparent to be sure the implementations are working. I don't know the entire story, but from what I've heard from a close neighbor of the family, this isn't good for our state's progress. Or actually it is, in the long run.

And then there's the legal mess CPS faces, too. In our case alone, they have made several recommendations, two major ones, that were not upheld by the courts. DHS/CPS saw the case clearly in the beginning and has the exact same opinions now, nearly two years later. There are so many factors that affect it. I'm not saying the state was flawless here, I just don't know. However, if our case came to the point where the state petitioned against a return and a judge ordered it anyways - not far off from reality right now - how could I blame the state? A court order is a court order.

Prhaze, who's life was cut short and who's memory will hopefully save other little ones from an awful death

[tiffani]

Originally Posted by Thandiwe

Prhaze, who's life was cut short and who's memory will hopefully save other little ones from an awful death