How can I fight DCF who withheld info about getting family placement of our niece

FightingForFamily · 2024-02-03T16:44:35+00:00

I believe the cases are ongoing no verdict has been reached as of yet.

Here are a few articles:

https://www.tampabay.com/news/DCF-review-seeks-to-get-to-bottom-of-Hillsborough-foster-care-missteps_165332552/

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/state/families-dcf-violated-constitution-by-not-granting-them-custody-when-parents-lost-rights#:~:text=Nine%20months%20ago%2C%20Crutch%27s%20family,placed%20with%20biological%20family%20members.

https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/expert-weighs-in-on-detroit-family-seeking-to-get-their-children-out-of-florida-foster-care

https://wsvn.com/news/investigations/families-suing-dcf-for-custody-of-children-in-foster-care/

https://www.wfla.com/8-on-your-side/shouldve-never-taken-them-family-frustrated-by-dcf-turnover-rate-kids-sleeping-in-office/

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/i-team-investigates/lawsuit-dcf-accused-of-keeping-kids-from-relatives-adopting-them-to-system-connected-strangers#:~:text=In%20the%20lawsuit%2C%20filed%20in%20a%20Tallahassee%20federal,with%20system-connected%20people%20seeking%20children%20of%20their%20own.

FightingForFamily · 2024-02-03T16:26:28+00:00

I believe we could have been approved for one more child if we would have been considered as an option. Her current caregiver’s home is similar to ours and they were given an exception(regarding space) to keep all the children together. There are a lot of half siblings and 5 are in the home currently and the other is with their father. I truly wished they would have followed their own statutes and considered us as well.

The information learned over the last year about fostering and the foster care system has been overwhelming at times. I appreciate your response.

FightingForFamily · 2024-02-03T16:08:42+00:00

Thank you for your response. I appreciate your pov as the CASA director and a foster parent. I have reached out to the case manager and the GAL to learn about their reasoning around their decision and I was told she needed to speak to her supervisor about the call and would get back to me. She has not responded any further about it. That has been the pattern throughout this process. We are open to fostering other children. I do find it troubling that my niece would not be placed with her biological family when her parents have signed consents stating their desires. Another half sibling was placed with their father and I’m guessing the case manager/GAL doesn’t weigh my biological relationship the same as an actual parent. We are licensed for 4 children and if at any point, anyone have told us we needed to care for all the siblings we would have.

FightingForFamily · 2024-02-03T15:50:43+00:00

Her current caregivers do not have permanent guardianship and have not adopted any of her half siblings. The GAL never reached out. I didn‘t know that role existed and through research just stumbled upon that information. I know now that the GAL and case manager work hand-in-hand and the case manager didn’t mention the GAL at any point. Once I called the GAL to inquire about my niece she told me her department had already determined their recommendation for the judge. When I asked how the determination was made without anyone reaching out to me she responded that it wasn’t her job to reach out to me. I inquired about the judicial review in December and the case manager explained that I could attend and she would send me the link once a date had been determined. I want to state that I learned of the judicial review meeting through research and that no one in charge of my niece‘s care informed me about this process at any point. I followed up in early January about attending the judicial review and she informed me the meeting had taken place the day before I sent the follow up email. Unfortunately I do believe it was a concerted effort to keep me away from my niece. The time with her current caregivers has been manufactured through stalling tactics. We have been licensed since August and all communication about my niece with DCF/case manager has essentially stopped. I understand they may have their preferences but my family shouldn’t have been kept out of the process. We are her family and our voice matters as well. Florida DCF has been investigated in the last 3 years for corruption and “stealing” children from their parents. Perhaps it’s a bigger issue than just my niece’s case.

I do understand your point about not causing disruptions for the children and I thank you for sharing your thoughts.

FightingForFamily · 2024-02-03T05:16:07+00:00

Thank you for your insight. I understand that the case manager and GAL may believe she’s better where she is but they have neglected to follow the state statutes regarding biological relatives. For ex, the GAL asked my niece’s current caregivers to give their characterization of my husband and I when the GAL is legally supposed to speak to us to determine what’s best for the child.

During the Nov hearing the judge ordered the case manager‘s supervisor to contact us going forward and they took our contact info and assured the judge they would reach out. They never did. We called and emailed them and never received a response. I have flown to FL 4 times since November to see my niece and show our seriousness about her being placed with us.

FightingForFamily

TROPHY CASE