HRS took newborn,need advice quick

[DesperateMom21]

HRS took newborn,need advice quick(UPDATE POSTED)

What is the name of your state? Michigan,but info is for a friend in Florida.

A friend gave birth this past friday to a beautiful baby girl.They were both released from the hospital and as my friend was preparing to take her new baby home HRS came in and said that they were taking the baby.She has two other children that the state took away from her about a year ago because she made alot of bad choices and was on drugs.She has since cleaned up her act and is currently fighting to regain custody of her two oldest children.My question is.How can HRS just come in and take this baby from her?She is a good mother.She has just made some bad choices in the past.She has to be in court at 130 tomorrow.She loves all of her children and wants them all.

 

[JaneyS4]

FIrst of all, lets face facts here. If she was on drugs and making bad choices, she was not a good mother. She may be now, but at the time, she was not. Not tryng to be nasty, just don't try whitewash the situation. It won't help the kids or your friend to try and pretend its any less bad than it is.

Secondly, HRS basically does what ever they want, and if they've already got the baby, there isn't much you can do about it.

Your friend needs a lawyer, and a good one. NOT a court appointed one, which generally work with HRS officials behind the scenes. She needs someone who deals with HRS and doesn't take any crap when they try and flex their muscles.

www.cpswatch.com

Go to this site, there are links on there that will lead you to HRS experienced lawyers in her area.

Expect an uphill battle. Expect to be dragged through the mud. Expect to lied to, lied about, and conned. HRS, CPS, DFCS, whatever name they go by, are about as corrupt and crooked as they come.

 

[JaneyS4]

I owe you an apology...

I was not myself when I posted that last post, and I was not really helpful. After going back and rereading it, and my response, I noticed you said court tomorrow.

I urge you that if there is any way your friend can get an attorney, go first thing in the morning and hire one. A lawyer could at least get a continuance of the case so that he or she could get the time to get a defense together.

There are things I could tell you that might help, but with a court date tomorrow, its irrelevant. Do you know what the hearing is for specifically? TPR? The placement of the baby? A desicion on whether or not to give her back the kids?

 

[DesperateMom21]

I agree with your first post completely.But she has worked hard to get it together.I think tomorrow is just TPR.

 

[JaneyS4]

TPR is not JUST TPR. Its termination of parental rights. Thats not good. IF she happens to make it through it today without losing her kids, come on back and we'll see if we can help her. Good luck to her. And come on back and let us know anyway if you can.

 

[DesperateMom21]

I just talked to the babies father and he said that the reason the baby was taken was because the caseworker had come to their house several times to check it out and make sure the baby would have everything she needed.That is an out right lie,there is no way that caseworker came to their house,the caseworker is trying to say that no one was home when she was there.There is always someone home at that house.There is an elderly man that lives there that never leaves.I'm so glad I got out of florida!

 

[KCMR]

Does the father have any say in a case like this?

Omg...I am so sorry. I'll say a prayer for her today. I really hope that she can truly get her life back in order again.

 

[JaneyS4]

This is in florida? OH Lord! We're talking the absolute worst state for HRS.

You never did tell me if your friend has a lawyer or not. What county is this going on it. I happen to know a few in Duval County and one in Osceola that might help her.

 

[kat1963]

I don't know girls, I think I'm going to have to flip you for who has the worst HRS, SS, CPS, ect in the country.

That is really quick for a TPR hearing. The father of this baby needs to file for custody today and she needs to get a lawyer right this minute (did the state not appoint her one)?

They can't just come in & take the baby. The need a court order to do so. I wish she would have learned her rights before this mess happened...but then again, she shouldn't have made a mess of her life to begin with. IF it was even as bad as CPS makes it out to be...those vipers. None the less, she does have rights. Someone else pointed out cpswatch.com up in the upper right hand corner is a parent's guide to the system, please read it and inform her of what she can do to stop this mess.

I'm not sure how long the other children have been in foster care, but after 15 months, under Federal Law, they can be adopted out. She will then be powerless to do anything. Is there another relative, say her parents who can help fight for custody & reunification?

KAT

 

[JaneyS4]

Your right Kat, about them not being able to just come take the baby. The problem is, they speak to parents in such a way that the parents believe they are being given no choice, and end up surrendering the child. Then its too late to back pedal.

I am impatiently waiting for some word of what happened in this case. I would love to be able to help, but with a hearing the same day, I can't offer anything until they get past it.

As for who has the worse CPS, how bout we just say CPS sux as a whole.

 

[DesperateMom21]

Well unfortunatley for my friend she doesn't know her rights.As she has been told that in this country she has none.She is here from Germany and doesn't know very much about her rights here.She was basically bulldogged by HRS and now is suffering for it.The father is trying to get the baby,but his past is an obstacle for him.They cannot afford to hire an attorney,as both are rather poor.They have enough money to get by on.Short of the bad choices my friend has made she is a wonderful mother.Her two oldest daughters are as smart as can be and oh so well behaved.I know how awful Florida is,that's why I got the hell out of there.I will post an update as soon as I get one.Please keep my friend and her baby in your prayers!It's in hillsborough county

 

[stealth2]

To be honest..... they'd have the money for a lawyer if they hadn't wasted all of it on drugs. But I guess then they wouldn't be in this mess. Somehow, her girls are probably doing as well as they are in spite of their parents. I realize that sounds harsh, but the parents made the choices they made - and now there are consequences.

 

[DesperateMom21]

Good News

Well all went well at the court hearing.They will get the baby back in about a week.HRS has to actually show up at the house and check it out then they get to bring baby Brianna home.The judge told the caseworker that he didn't care what she thought,that it was his decision and he wants the baby where she belongs.And criticized the woman for removing the child without merit.Said she had nothing to base her judgement on,therefore had no right to take the child.The mother had proof that she had been through court ordered parenting classes and DACO.So she more than proved to the judge that she wants to do the right thing.Thank you all for your help on this matter.Hopefully my friend won't royally screw up anymore so that she won't have this to worry about anymore!And can focus on what is most important!

 

[cattx01]

I'm glad things seem to be looking up--but they are definitely not out of the woods.

Sad to say, sometimes it takes something drastic to get people to turn their lives around. I hope this shows them the path to a better life.

I'll definitely keep your friend in my thoughts.

cattx

 

[JaneyS4]

Wow! I sure wish we'd get this judge for my niece's case. Your friend is very lucky to get one who actually cares enough to find out whats going on! Good luck to her!

BTW, did they find out anything about the other two children?