[V8 Momma]

Hi. I am a foster mom in Indiana. My husband and I have been doing this for two years.

Something has recently come to my attention that you need to be aware of. There is a bill in the State House that has passed and is now headed to the Senate. It is called HB1001. Basically, the proposed law requires the Juvenile Judges to follow the recommendations made by the Department of Child Services. If the Judges do not follow the recommendations than the Judge would be ordered to give an explanation why and then the County would be responsible for any costs.

What does this mean?

Judges are going to be strong-armed into doing whatever the County office (Dept. of Child Services) recommends. We all know that the county's goal is reunification, and many of us have seen that goal take priority over what is best for the child. Not all the time, but they have a job to do, ya know? If the Judge decides to make a ruling against what the county recommends, then he has to take the time to submit in writing his reasons for going against the county office. I have worked around attorneys enough to know that the courts are overwhelmed with caseload and the Judges do NOT have the time to do all this extra paperwork. They were hired (voted into office) to do a job, one that weighs what is right and just, and now that power is going to be taken away from them and given to the county office??? This is really scary people-

What can we do???

This has already passed the House and is in the Senate. Everyone please contact their senator and voice your opinion. You can find how to contact the Senator by going to AccessIndiana at this link: http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/

you can read the bill (it's long) by going to this link:

http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2006&session=1&request=getBill&docty pe=HB&docno=1001

And if you do not live in Indiana, please pray- this could catch on and head to your state next.

V8Momma

[pez collector]

Thank you for this information!

[luv2scrap]

V8Momma,
Thanks for the information. I am in Indiana in the indy area. Where are you at?
kim

[luv2scrap]

pez collector,
are you in indiana too? If so what city are you in?we are in indianapolis
kim

[lakin11]

Wow, just read....part of me wonders if this might be a good thing. I've read too many cases, of judges not taking into consideration the kids and going against DFC's recommendation to remove. I've been told about more judges reuniting than DFC/SW's are recommending.
Shannon

[gregorysparents]

V8Momma,

I am going to start by saying that I tried to read this proposed law and I just couldn't make "heads or tails out of it" this morning. So.....I am going to take you for your word and trust (until I can read it myself) that your impression of this proposed law is accurate.

Having said the above - I think it's a GREAT proposal. Why do we want ONE person - a Judge - to keep making decisions that deal with the lives of children? Wouldn't it be better to have a Judge make his rulings based on info. from the recommendations that the DCS has provided him/her?

In most cases, when the DCS makes a recommendation to the court - it's because of the following: they have spoken with some or all of the following - birth parents, foster parents, CASA or GAL, family members, other professionals and etc. Furthermore, in most cases these recommendations are ran past a "team" that consists of other caseworkers in their office, a supervisor and maybe the DCS director of their county. These caseworkers are trained in what to look for. They see these children and families in their own homes - the Judge doesn't.

When a Judge makes a decision that goes against the recommendations of the DCS - what gives him/her the right? What gives them the right to play God? I mean, they don't see the children in their homes (birth parents homes and foster homes), they don't interview family members and other professionals that are involved in these cases. And, they shouldn't have to. This is why we have the DCS.

In our case - EVERY and I mean EVERY recommendation that has been given to the courts have said, "DO NOT RETURN THE CHILD TO THE BIRTH PARENTS." This includes: DCS, CASA and two to three Psychiatrists. But what happened - the Judge went against every recommendation and is returning Gregory to his birth parents.

So.....there are at least two sides to every situation. I just think that instead of having one person - a Judge - make a decision that involves a child's life, why not require that the Judge use the recommendations that are presented to him/her?

Thanks so much for making me aware that this proposed law is even out there. I will try to find more info. on it - but as of this time - I am in favor of passing this law!!!

Christina

[naca]

I'm with Christina on this one.. I think this could be a halfways decent law.. DCS is initially for reunification but they seem to know what they are doing. At least the ones I've worked with.. Yes they have to follow all the laws but there are several cases that I've read about where DCS said to TPR and the judge denied it..

[V8 Momma]

wow- sounds like the county I work with is so much different than others....

The county I work with the most has used their "power" and actually threatened foster parents that they will remove every child from their care if they make any waves (like asking for a GAL, as an example), Including their bio children. They have taken reports from other in-home workers on the case and pretty much thrown them out and come up with their own idea of what is right. They have worked with one family for YEARS and spent God-knows how much money on in-home services to keep the kids in the home- and thru it one boy was sexually abused by mom's boyfriend and another ended up in the emergency room with a skull fracture (the same family)... this is the way DFC thinks cases should be handled.

On the other hand, the judge over this area hears input from the workers (social workers from agencies that do in-home services), the foster parents, and of course the DFC. I have sat in his court and heard the county make recommendations and the Judge question it and re-set hearings in order to find out more information about a situation (especially where there is a criminal matter pending in a different court). He seems very thourough and fair in his findings.

For this area, this law could be disasterous. I can only draw conclusions from the experiences that I have had. I wish I had more confidence in their integrity.

Thanks for telling me how your different areas worked. I'm glad to know that everywhere is not like this. The burn-out rate in this area is pretty high for foster parents. The system is killing us off slowly......

pray for us.

[lakin11]

wow v8......where are you from? I live in Marion Co and from what I hear the judges around here are pretty good. I know our SW is good too. She's been very helpful to us and has no patience for bmom and the crap she's tried to pull. She says while reunification is the goal right now, don't look for it to stay that way. Maybe here they are so overwhelmed with kids, they just don't put up with the crap. I know I used to live in a smaller area and I agree, SW's bent over backwards for the bparents. Maybe it all depends on where you are!
Shannon

[gregorysparents]

V8 Momma,

Check out this website:
http://www.adoptioninchildtime.org/index.php

I know of several people from this forum that have used this site and have found it useful.

Also, contact the Indiana Foster Care and Adoption Association (IFCAA) @ www.ifcaa.org

The above websites should provide you some valuable info. If you contact any of these people - please feel free to use my name.

Also, email me at gregorysparents@yahoo.com if you want to share some more info.

Hope the above helps. Now, after reading some of our posts, what do you think about the proposed law?

Please let me (us) know your thoughts and let us know if any of the above has helped.

Praying for you and everyone else struggling to put the rights of the children first.

Christina

[iss36]

V8momm
I sent you an email.

[naca]

V8Momm, I'd also like to know what county you are working with - so I can avoid them! Eeek sounds like horrible circumstances! If you'd be more comfortable, please feel free to email me privately (canate@verizon.net)


Thanks!!

[lakin11]

Any word on what happened with this bill?!

[gregorysparents]

I called two weeks ago and was told that it passed the House. It was on it's way to be "re-worked" so it could be presented to the Senate.

Does anyone have a "CLEAR understanding" of this proposed bill?

Christina

[lakin11]

Haha Christina, does anyone EVER have a clear idea on how ANY bill is supposed to work?
Shannon