[CrystalCorbin]

After fighting for two years to get TPR we thought we were close. Last month we were in court for TPR advisory and to accept adoption case plan. Case was moved to November due to the fact that the attorney quit and new council needed to be found for bio mom - again. Today we learned that bio-moms new attorney was in court yesterday with a motion to transfer the case to another county, 2 hours away, thus taking the two kids out of the home they have been in for a year and a half.

We got the call today that the judge accepted this yesterday, this is the first we are hearing about it. Not only that, but when we were faxed the order it says that DCF filed a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal of their Petition of Termination of Parental Rights. The foster family nor the extended family that have been involved in this case ever heard that. Just 3 weeks ago we were told they were pursuing TPR.

We have tried to talk to DCF. No one is talking to us. Is there anything to do?

http://www.newszapforums.com/forum58/97647.html

[MamaS]

Consult a lawyer asap.

[bethy724]

Call every paper & news station-name the judge, name the case worker, GAL & whoever is involved.
Get their voices heard.

[KelleyF]

Unbelievable! Just keep climbing the ladder until you get someone who will listen. Don't give up! Good luck.

[ABJones]

BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD? That sounds like BEST INTEREST OF BMOM...that is ridiculous! I agree with everyone else. Get an attorney see what your options are. Make a big stink until someone decides to listen to you!

[CrystalCorbin]

Thank you guys! We talked to the media today and they are giving our story to an investigative reporter, one step closer to getting the word out there. We, the family, have been told repeatedly that we have no "legal standing" in Florida, but we have the paper work to request an emergency hearing. I am not sure what good it will do since the order has already signed, but we will file it tomorrow.

I dont know if people are aware of this, but DCF in Florida issues a new "Strategic Plan" every few years, and this year started a new one. In it one of the goals is to "safely reduce out of home care by 50% by 2012". 50% seems huge to me considering there is no way to predict the type of cases they will have in the future. Back in January when this Strategic Plan took effect our case took a dramatic 180 and it has been a constant fight ever since

[newatthisfl]

I am in Florida too and know a few people in the system (who are personal friends). What county are you in??

[CrystalCorbin]

We are in small rural Okeechobee

[CrystalCorbin]

Alright, so a new "intermediate" caseworker called us today. She said she has taken over the case from the original caseworker, and she is located in our county. She also told us that there was a hearing in Miami about this case. The DCF office in our county are saying they weren't notified about this, even though we were told on Friday that they would be having hearing this week and they would let us know which day and time. They have NO information about what happened in the hearing.

We also found out that DCF in our county lost their lease on the building they were in. They are now crammed into this TINY office, caseworkers working out of their own cars. We weren't told they changed offices, we showed up and found out when they weren't there.


What is going on????