[pandasmyl]

This will probably be kinda long so please bear with me. I just received a call today that my 2 neices and my nephew have been placed in fostercare. My brother, the father, is in prison for life for double homocide. The mother is very irresponsible and has basically played child ping pong with my mother. My mom had custody of the kid for a year and the mother took custody back and moved to Texas (we live in Florida). She stayed with her mom who doesn't get along with her anyways and then decided she didn't want the kids again. She left the children with her mom who then placed the children in fostercare. Evidently the mother of the children appeared in court today and told them she didn't want the children but also didn't know anyone who could take the kids (even though me or my mother would've taken custody). My mom (who was unclear on the details) said that she will be trying to get custody again and there has been a priority ITCT (don't know what that is). I am not really comfortable with the information from my mother (too many details to go into but my mom has lied about things in the past) and I want to find a way to speak directly to the children's social worker if possible and find out the details and if they match. Can anyone advise me as to what steps I should take to find out what I have to do to get custody of these kids? Thanks

~Sarah

[alwaysus]

I have no advice for you, but I'm sorry that the kids are going through this. I wish you the very best and will pray for your family.

[Cobb]

The county in TX where the kids are located should have a website. On it you can find the phone number for Child Protective Services. When you call explain who you are and ask if you can speak to the children's caseworker. When you talk to him/her make sure to say that you understand that they can't share info with you, but you are a concerned family member and want to be of assisstance. Going in with that attitude will make them more likely to talk with you. And, in general the CWers want info about available family members, you will be saving them some work.

BTW, I went through something very similar. I wasn't even sure if my cousins were in foster care, but since I knew what county they were in, I was able to make a series of phone calls and reached the right person. Good luck, if you have other questions, let me know. Not sure if I'll have the answers, but I'll try. Also, I have a good idea of how your feeling right now.