[Faith41]

Has anyone lost an older child back into the system. I had my foster daughter whom I was going to adopt for almost two years. She is now 13.5 years old and residing in a group home. They made her an orphan of the state. She was removed from her previous adoptive home before me and placed with me at age 11. She had alot of issues and I had to fight to get help for her with very little to no help from the social workers. They told me that my daughter and I were taking too much of her time. My daughter has been in a total of 8 placements since she was 9 years old. I hired an attorney to get defacto status and lost. They told me I was to have no further contact with my daughter because I have no legal rights. My daughter has called and asks for help and for me not to give up on her. I believe they have fought me so hard because I know the system and the law since I am a therapist and have worked in the system as a county social worker in the past. I also got emotional when my daughter was first hospitalized and the social workers were not supportive at all. My daughter's rights have been so violated and they want me to stay quiet and keep me from her. They built a case against me where there isn't any. My attorney cannot believe what has happened and that we lost a child to the system for good. My fear is because of her mental and emotional instability, her total disconnection with the outside world and anyone who cares about her and drugged out of her mind - we many end up losing her totally. She did feel attached to me and was some times clingy and the social workers thought that was wrong and I should have no more contact with her. Does anyone have any further suggestions? I have even gone to the state with my concerns as well as several other individuals who know myself and my daughter have written letters and spoken to people at the state. Three therapist have written letters to the court and all were ignored. This has been a total nightmare. My daughter has an attorney who really doesn't fight for her. Here I am trying to help an older child who has been very difficult and exhausting but I do love her and she will continue to be difficult to manage. She has had several abandonment issues which the system just intensified. Please I would appreciate any responses since I have been dealing with this for 6 months already. Can anyone one help or relate???

[HappyMomAnna]

I am so sorry to hear of this situation you are in.....I wish I could offer you some help--the only thing I can do is answer hear and hope by doing so your thread will come back to the top and someone who has good advice will see it............so very sorry.