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EMERGENCY Please read and pass on.

1K views 9 replies 5 participants last post by  embers 
#1 ·
Hi there,

This has been posted on the OR section of the tribal areas. At this point we need VA to get in on this as well. Please pass this along with links to Steph's blog about this situation to any or all news outlets in VA.

This is to all of the people that care about our family or the basic rights of a child;

It has been explained to me that Monday, there are people from Virginia coming here to Portland. Tuesday morning, some representatives from the state of Virginia and possibly law enforcement will be coming to our home to forcefully take Tavvi and Connor back to Virginia. This is after years of living with us here in Oregon. This is against Connor and Tavvi's direct wishes stated in court, and against the recommendation of several DHS workers here in Oregon, therapists, evaluators, and doctors. This is a horrible situation.

Their plan is to take Tavvi (age 9) and Connor (age 12) back to Virginia to be placed in two separate foster homes (with people they do not know) for an undetermined amount of time until one of their biological parents completes drug, alcohol, and abusive action rehabilitation and shows a stable home and income. Their biological parents have not yet done any of this work, and there is no projection on how long it could take. Their has not been contact between them and our children, and it is Connor and Tavvi's wish (communicated by them in court) to remain in no contact. None the less, and to the astonishment to all of the people involved (DHS locally, the children's legal representatives, etc) they are going to try to take Connor and Tavvi from their family, split them up from their siblings and each other, and move them across country away from their lives and support network.

I cannot begin to explain what we are going through right now. The fear, the panic, the anger, and the terror. Connor and Tavvi wish to refuse to leave with any and all effort that they can. What we are reaching out for is support.

Please, any families and individuals that care about our family and are available, I am reaching out. We want to surround ourselves in our home with our community and those we love, and hopefully gain strength. We are going to keep this mellow, low drama, and very simple; Tavvi and Connor are NOT leaving. This is going to be a 100% peaceful and collected situation, or at least that is the only way we think that we can succeed in the face of such injustice. The energy behind this will be there so Connor and Tavvi can advocate for themselves in the face of a scary situation and know that they are supported, loved, and taken seriously. The message that we will send is that there is a whole community that loves and values these two children and our family. I am really scared that we just cannot do this on our own.

What I am asking for is ideas.... and also action. We would love to be around people over the weekend and Monday while we clean and organize our home (putting grounding "we belong here" energy into our house) and collect and reflect. Then, we want to have a house party of such on Tuesday. Starting as early as 5am and lasting all day and evening, we want people here. We want to cook together, play together, make music and have conversation.

If you can think of any resources that will help in this situation, please let us know.

Also, letters... If anyone wishes to write letters, all voices of support are encouraged with high gratitude.

Monday:
I will not be going into work Monday or Tuesday. Monday, we will go to school (Village Free School) during the day. I will be there all day. They kids want to go to school because they love their community so much and in this time of fear the most comforting idea is that of being with their friends and in that environment. If anyone would like to connect with us after school, we really want the connection and support right now. Monday is going to be a scary day for us...

The We Love Connor and Tavvi Party

* When: Tuesday morning at 5am and all day
* Where: 14894 SE Hemmen Ave, Clackamas Oregon
* CALL: 503-658-6362

Come, bring the family, bring food and games and musical instruments! We are going to come together in play, music, and support. Our home is very accommodating for children of all ages.

PLEASE pass this on. Word-of-mouth... friends of friends and distant acquaintances are still our COMMUNITY.

Here's a link to the current discussion in the OR tribal area. http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1012305
 
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#3 ·
I wish I could help. This is so screwed up!
 
#4 ·
Thanks.

Bumped to include contact info.

In the links I posted at the start of this thread you will be able to find more information and the latest concerning this case.

DHS VA is here in OR as we speak. For those of you in VA contacting the media there with this story would be greatly appreciated. Steph has already been in contact with a few of the local stations here in OR. They really need the media's help at this point. Here are some more contacts that news outlets may need.

Katie Wargo - 971-678-8290
Katie is Tavvi's therapist and works directly with DHS in both states, speaks weekly to the biological parents, and has spoken and submitted recommendations to court. She would be the FIRST person to contact, in my opinion, as she can be a little more open with her communication and information than some others involved.

Jennifer is one of Tavvi's therapeutic mentors. 503-729-2431
Kinsey is one of Tavvi's therapeutic mentors. 715-499-1199
These women have been a DAILY part of our lives for a year now.

Kelly Ingles
Social Service Specialist-Permanency
Beaverton-CW/SDA 16
Phone: (503) 277-6655
She is our case worker in Oregon and has been for a long time. She is appalled at this situation and is working to shake anything loose that she can in the way of a stall, emergency hearing, injunction, or better advocacy for the children. Kelly is very professional and practices boundaries based on her job fist, feelings and opinions second, but for that very reason is trusted by our family and we hold her in very high regard.

Case # is HN18847 "Joanna Enderlin"

Judge name: E. ******* Grissom
Presiding Judge Chesapeake Circuit Court

The children's GAL, Pat Cannon, can be reached at 757-409-8189 cell, e-mail pc_sharkbite@yahoo.com. She is a legal advocate for the kids in the state of Virginia, and she opposed this decision to move the children.

The school which the children attend is Village Free School. http://villagefreeschool.com/
Their phone number is 503-788-3935. The staff here know our children very well and the community support is huge.
 
#6 ·
The story and the efforts for Tavvi and Connor

New information, updates, and a call to action to KEEP them HOME!


Bravo and power to the people! If anyone ever had doubts about NVC, eh I don't know what to say. lol I have to be honest that I was pleased to see an example of NVC in one of the most intense situations work and work well. Okay I'm rambling.

Anyway, what we need now is jurisdiction transfered back to Oregon. We need any and all folks who know these kids, have seen their progress to write letters on their behalf (some of us have already done that and are on record with OR DHS, but need to do it again).

We need to be loud, assertive, respectful, and peaceful. Please mail letters to Pat Cannon the children's GAL, who is fighting this fight by herself in VA. She needs as much support as we can muster in OR. Anyone who doesn't know the kids, but are moved by this story please write an opinion piece and send it to Pat Cannon. She needs all of this for court. Anyone who have any ideas for legal support, community awareness now is the time even more than before for action. We want to keep these kids home.

You can e-mail letters to Pat Cannon.

pc_sharkbite@yahoo.com

I will come back and post Pat's snail mail addy later.
 
#7 ·
I am concerned that my participation on this forum is being supervised and possibly used out of context in ways that can harm myself and my family. I really don't like going through and removing my posts (it is so isolating and sad!) but I am defering to something so very much more important right now.
 
#10 ·
I am concerned that my participation on this forum is being supervised and possibly used out of context in ways that can harm myself and my family. I really don't like going through and removing my posts (it is so isolating and sad!) but I am defering to something so very much more important right now.
 
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