Fear of taking legal action against DHS

[Benita]

DHS, department of human services has hurt my family in many ways, In the beginning a case worker recommended to the judge that (“The children be placed in protective custody due to the mothers mental problem posing a threat to their safety.”) and also recommended to the judge that (“The mother (me) be ordered by the court to engage in services, so I could receive the kind of help I needed, for my mental condition, such as a possible change in my medication” )
Important Detail: I had never been diagnosed with, nor had, or even had a person who ever knew me say or question my mental state. And their was no medication.

For a year and a half now my kids have been living out of a suitcase. They are 12 and 17 now. And this has been most harmful to them. Our lives are destroyed now. We live in a small town and people begin to wonder. “Their must be a reason why DHS would keep our kids from us for so long.” And financially, they sucked so much money out that there is nothing left and then some. Our property was paid for, but they taped into the value of out property and they are sucking that away to.

Everyone wonders, why have we not taken some legal stand against them. Well, are you aware that they hold are kids hostage, and threaten to not return them ever. And threaten to take away are visitation if we do not cooperate. They say if we take any kind of legal action. That would be deemed as not being in cooperation. We must say and do everything they say or they will say we are being uncooperative.
So we live in fear, with the strong threat hanging over our head. And failed to stand up for our rights because of it. We where lead to believe that are cooperation would be the quickest way to get our girls back home. at is the name of your state
PS: I should mention that before DHS, Our girls have always been well cared for, happy, healthy, secure, never harmed in anyway, they had a good life.

 

[tranquility]

Why did DHS get involved in the first place?

 

[Proserpina]

Why did DHS get involved in the first place?

This is a critical question.

Along with, "Which US State?".

Edited: And, did you comply with DHS's requirements? If not, why not?

 

[Benita]

info update

Oregon

yes I have done, and I am doing everything they have told me.

here are some of the things. They signed me up for an phycological evaluation/ IQ test. Which it took them 8 months to scheduale the apointments, so I could complete the test.
THe results of the test showed I have an 140 IQ and after the kids being out of home and watching all that they went throught. I was diagnosed with "Borderline anxirty depression do to separation disorder" which the doctor said this is normal under the sercomstancs.

now they have me going to a councelor, It took me several months to set this up because I had to go threw my own insurance. and the insurance does not cover these kinds of apointments unless there is a need for it. I hounded for an apointment and finally got in. Im still going.
and a DBT class that is for people that are suicidle. Its really stupid, cause Ive never been suicidle.

Anyway I would of done cart wheels threw there parking lot nacked to get my girls home. Yes, ive done everything they have told me

 

[Proserpina]

Oregon

yes I have done, and I am doing everything they have told me.

here are some of the things. They signed me up for an phycological evaluation/ IQ test. Which it took them 8 months to scheduale the apointments, so I could complete the test.

Why were they called in the first place?

THe results of the test showed I have an 140 IQ and after the kids being out of home and watching all that they went throught. I was diagnosed with "Borderline anxirty depression do to separation disorder" which the doctor said this is normal under the sercomstancs.

now they have me going to a councelor, It took me several months to set this up because I had to go threw my own insurance. and the insurance does not cover these kinds of apointments unless there is a need for it. I hounded for an apointment and finally got in. Im still going.
and a DBT class that is for people that are suicidle. Its really stupid, cause Ive never been suicidle.

Anyway I would of done cart wheels threw there parking lot nacked to get my girls home. Yes, ive done everything they have told me

So you have NOT yet completed the plan - correct?

 

[NellieBly]

Since you call it DHS, is it safe to assume this is in Iowa? If so, you can request their reports in writing.

Can you get Legal Aid to help you out?

 

[Antigone*]

Since the OP started another thread and has indicated that she is going to delete that thread, I will ask my question again (the same question that others have also asked but have yet to be answered).

I find it very difficult to believe that DHS would swoop into a secure, happy, healthy family where the children are well-cared for and yank the children from their home. What reason did they give you for taking the children initially?

 

[Proserpina]

Since you call it DHS, is it safe to assume this is in Iowa? If so, you can request their reports in writing.

Can you get Legal Aid to help you out?

What are you talking about?

DHS is the common term in many places.

And OP stated she was in Oregon.

 

[Benita]

info apdate 2

First question:
The copes came to the house one day and said they were under order to remove the girls because it was reported that my daughter 15 at the time, was dirty and smelly, someone had reported this to DHS the copes said.

I lined up people from our church and comunity that had seen us reqularly over the years. so they could varify that my girls always were dressed very nicely. But then we did not go to court on that isue, because the court doesnt feel that is an important enough issue. So those witnesses were cancelled. and then when I went to what I thought was a meeting, but It was held in front of a judge. That was the first I heard of me ever having a mental problem. The DHS worker recomended to the judge my girls be placed in protective custody. Such as I stated in the begining of this thread.

-This was the families first contact with the police of any kind ever.
-My girls have always dressed very nicely
And for the next question... Have I completed there plan?
It took them several months, to even come up with a plan. The first had to get me evaluated to see what was wrong with me. and yes it showed slight anxiety, so the plane was for me to go to councelling, it took me awhile to get into councelling, and because of everything going on for over a year. I would agree I have anxiety over this. because its been so slow. My counceller that Ive been going to, has finally gotten a copy of my phyco test. and that took over a year and a half.
So the plan has been to showe them im not mentally ill. how do you do this? Well the plan now is to monitor me.

 

[Proserpina]

You need an attorney.

I'm sorry, but it's extremely unlikely that the kids would be removed based upon a single report that your daughter had been reported dirty and/or smelly.

 

[Isis1]

First question:
The copes came to the house one day and said they were under order to remove the girls because it was reported that my daughter 15 at the time, was dirty and smelly, someone had reported this to DHS the copes said.

I lined up people from our church and comunity that had seen us reqularly over the years. so they could varify that my girls always were dressed very nicely. But then we did not go to court on that isue, because the court doesnt feel that is an important enough issue. So those witnesses were cancelled. and then when I went to what I thought was a meeting, but It was held in front of a judge. That was the first I heard of me ever having a mental problem. The DHS worker recomended to the judge my girls be placed in protective custody. Such as I stated in the begining of this thread.

-This was the families first contact with the police of any kind ever.
-My girls have always dressed very nicely
And for the next question... Have I completed there plan?
It took them several months, to even come up with a plan. The first had to get me evaluated to see what was wrong with me. and yes it showed slight anxiety, so the plane was for me to go to councelling, it took me awhile to get into councelling, and because of everything going on for over a year. I would agree I have anxiety over this. because its been so slow. My counceller that Ive been going to, has finally gotten a copy of my phyco test. and that took over a year and a half.
So the plan has been to showe them im not mentally ill. how do you do this? Well the plan now is to monitor me.

do you have visitation with your children?

was your daughter dirty and smelly when DHS came to visit the first time?

 

[Benita]

Yes I would agree

yes I agree it is very unlikely, which is why it has been very trumadic on us all. They did drop and switch quickly frome the dirty child report; to the me having a mental problem.

I am working on Proving that I dont and never have had a problem. which is hard to prove and a very lenghty process.

 

[Benita]

answeres to questions

Yes we have visitation. We drive 3 hours one way. to pick up kids and bring them to visit every week end. Sometimes we stay down there if they have a special girl scouts special activity. They enjoy having me shaprone the groups of girls. I think this being on the road 6 hours every weekend is not good for the girl. but thats all they look forward to. is to spend time with us.

a DHS worker said she got a report that Mollie was dirty. so she went down to verify it. and said she did.
But from talking to mollie and her school mates. they said a lady did come to the doorway of the class room and asked to talk to mollie. Mollie asked her teacher if the lady that wanted to talk to her was a teacher, because she did not know her. Mollie did not go out in the hall to talk to the lady. The lady told mollies teacher. Thats ok, ill catch up to her at home.
The dHS lady never did come to the home intill 3 weeks after there removal.
The copes showed up at the house a few minutes after she was home.

 

[st-kitts]

They did drop and switch quickly frome the dirty child report; to the me having a mental problem.

I am working on Proving that I dont and never have had a problem. which is hard to prove and a very lenghty process.

I am sure this is difficult, and no one here can guess your mental state or condition. It is noteworthy however, that part of the nature of mental illness is that often the person that is suffering from the illness is unaware and can not believe or accept that their mental state is different than a normal state.

Many people with very serious mental illness are in denial that there is a problem. This may not be your case. But it can be and sometimes is the case.

good luck

 

[Benita]

yes I agree

Yes I agree that the one crazy is the last to know it. and can go totally unaware of there condition. But in this case, I did get a phyco evaluation. It does not showe any condition other then. This was the final results: Borderline anxiety, depression due to separation disorder. The doctor giving the final report said this was normal under the cercumstances.

Ive even asked people I know and family members. if I have ever done anything that some one would concider strang.