[KT08]

Hi, just curious if anyone has taken a newborn placement born to unmarried couple living in a shelter. No drug issues. In my county, I believe these are automatic neglect cases since the parents have no means of supporting the baby.

If you have taken in a neglect case, esp a homeless case, what was your experience like?

[lakin11]

Here, that would not be the only reason to remove a child. Otherwise, sorry, can't help!

[mom2fabtwins]

For my current placement, the bioparents were almost homeless. They were in the process of being evicted. The landlord gave them a 2 day extension due to the birth. Ultimately the children were taken because they could not offer safe shelter. BUT I also think that past history with HHS had a fair amount to due with the case. On the initial ChIPs order - lack of shelter was the first listed reason for the removal. I picked the babies up from the hospital.

[Hadley2]

I'm sorry I have nothing helpful to offer by way of experience. As an aside, though, that sounds horrible. How can nonoffending parents lose their child? Where are the social supports for families? I thought that as a country we had gotten past making poverty a crime. The state should not be in the business of breaking children's loving attachments and making them lose their parents, family, and possibly origins and identity because of hard times in this country. If that is happening, the toll on this generation over the next year or so will be widespread and take a lifetime for the country to pay. If that is truly the case in your placement's case, that is simply shameful. If it is and it were me, I would think I would want to develop some kind of close relationship with these parents and support their and social services' efforts to get them and their child together again as quickly as possible in a more stable situation. Especially to remove an infant during such critical hours and days of development, that is the real crime, IMO. Really, I just think people--and most especially the children--in a situation like that need immediate help to stay together, not be torn apart. Sorry to go on. I'm just having trouble wrapping my brain around it.

I hope all works out as well as possible for everyone involved, including you and your family. I guess it may be a real gift of opportunity for your caring and generosity of spirit. Good luck in this.

[amy_b]

I, for one, would hope that CPS would not remove a newborn just based on the fact that the parents were living in a shelter. Families are allowed to live at the shelter and people have older children there, what is the difference? My guess would be that there are other circumstances that have contributed to the homelessness, such as mental illness, substance abuse, etc. I know these are not the only reasons people become homeless but MANY times this is the case.

[calimomX3]

My last placements bio's were homeless or very close to it. I think they may have been living with some friends. They were un-married but thats only because the law says you can not marry a family member. And they are half siblings. But when I first met them it was hard for me. Only because most of the time we see people on the streets, but we do not usually stop and talk with them like they are our buddys. When I had taken our foster baby for a visit I was shocked, I knew they didnt have much. But didn't expect what I saw. They were flithy to say the least and bio-dad came in holding a garbage bag full of his things. The baby was taken for various reasons, I am not sure they even took into consideration the living arrangements due to the wide ranges of other issue's for why the child wasnt with them. Thankfully she will never be with them, she is now with her siblings in an adotptive home, which was not in her best interest as well. But thats a whole different topic.

[greenmama]

Here they would find a way to help the parents get shelter, financial support and other assistance to help them keep their child. A parent should NOT be penalized by losing their child for being poor. How awful.

[athikers]

Here they would not remove a child if the parents can provide shelter (which CAN be in a homeless shelter). That should not be the sole reason for removal, imho.

[saranbr]

I'm sure the CPS standards change somewhat area to area, but I highly doubt that the ONLY reason for taking the child is that his parents are dwelling in a homeless shelter. I have discharged many infants from the hospital, both healthy newborns and NICU babies, and I have never seen an even nearly healthy infant kept from parents in a shelter. In fact, I've discharged any number knowingly (and at times with CPS involvement) to the shelter with their parents. The only exception (assuming that the parents don't have other drug/abuse/mental health issues that preclude placement with them) have been some premature infants that need extensive ongoing care and follow up which clearly cannot be provided for in a shelter arrangement.

[calimomX3]

I re-read my post, I did not mean cause they were homeless/living in shelter that they were not able to care for their children. I meant in my case Thank God they dont have the children. Like I stated for various other reasons. Sorry just wanted to clarify it was not cause of their home style. Was also trying to put into my words how it was hard for me to see people like the ones I came into contact with. I had a very tough day after my first visit with them. It was sad to say the least.

[myangels]

Originally Posted by lakin11

Here, that would not be the only reason to remove a child. Otherwise, sorry, can't help!

as it shouldnt be.

[meshsgrl]

the bmother of 3 of my children is "homeless" and that is the main reason they took her kids. Noy living on the streets homeless but she has no home, she moved from one friends house to the next. She was told from day one, find a home, and a job and you get your kids back. They took the kids from her because she was living with a friend and they had 9 people plus this woman and her 9mo old, her 2 yr old, and her 3 yr old.
Now they can't find her half the time for hearings etc...

[EandDmom]

Originally Posted by calimomX3

I re-read my post, I did not mean cause they were homeless/living in shelter that they were not able to care for their children. I meant in my case Thank God they dont have the children. Like I stated for various other reasons. Sorry just wanted to clarify it was not cause of their home style. Was also trying to put into my words how it was hard for me to see people like the ones I came into contact with. I had a very tough day after my first visit with them. It was sad to say the least.

Thanks for clarifying..I like everyone else was appalled that they would take a baby just for the parents having no money or home.

[Prettyboicris]

I know here in NYC there is a world of resources for pregnant mothers and if the mother were to go into a hospital while she was pregnant the social worker is mandated to refer her for services. Usually a child is taken from a homeless couple if they appear to be "homeless by choice" meaning that they refuse to utilize different resources available to them. Plus if the Bmom never went for prenatal care that constitues as neglect and that is enough for a child to be removed. They have all sorts of FREE care for Pregnant women here in NYC so for a pregnant woman to not seek prenatal care or support services is seen as irresponsible and poor judgement which would lead to the safety of the child being in question. Plus if the biomom was not responsible in going for prenatal care then the concern is that she will not take the baby in for important vaccinations and appointments. NYC does have a population of professional squaters and if a bmom was a professional squater but still took her baby in for necessary appointments she would be able to keep her child. I think sometimes there are other facts that come into play that we may/ may not consider when it comes to such situations.

[Mkap]

our first placement was an 8 year old girl, her parents were living in a shelter. CSB removed the child and two weeks later the judge ruled that poverty is NOT a crime and that parents needed to get stable housing and income and child could return. She was reunified within three months.