What is the name of your state? Rhode Island
Step-family of four (Me, 2nd wife, my son, our daughter) advised by LICSW to 1) move from family home that I had rented for the past 13 years because of a recent in-law situation (mother/property owner moved in demanding to live for free) and the stresses it was causing, and 2) seek mental help for my son because of issues he has. Advice was followed and mother/landlord who was planning on retiring rent/utility free to an in-law above the garage was VERY upset. The plan had been for me to purchase the house the year of her retirement (2011).
Son was included in a residential treatment program at the advice of professionals who evaluated him. Everyone began adjusting to the new home and routines. Unknown to me, one month into his stay at Butler Hospital, my mother began visiting my son. He was told to keep this secret. At the same time (according to hospital papers / DCYF report) stories of the abuse he suffered while living with me began to surface and grow. Shortly after this I became aware of a DCYF investigation (because of these allegations), a restraining order my mother had pulled on me the day after I moved out, and the fact that my mother and ex-wife were working to have my son released from the hospital and into the care of my mother. My son had been told that he would be "severely punished" by me and my wife if he came back to live with us. He was also told by my mother that we had gotten a two bedroom apartment to prevent him from coming home (no place for him) and that all of his belongings had been thrown out. He also began leaving messages for the Child Protective Services investigator daily (sometimes 3-4 x / day) about "additional information" whenever my mother visited with my son, Happy Meal in hand. On the flip side, my mother made promises of candy and XBOX 360s, stripped my daughter's former room down and redid it for him, and essentially promised him the world if he lived with her.
At this same time, my mother was spending time with my ex-wife and telling her that my son's soiling issues were caused by being locked in his room all day and night and that we had been beating and starving him. This convinced my ex that it was in his best interest to help her get custody of him.
Fortunately, the CPS investigator concluded the allegations were "unfounded" (all of my mother's claims were disproven instantly) and even went further, telling both me and the hospital officials that he believed that my son was being "fed" stories, manipulated by my mother. During the same period, I went to court to answer the restraining order. In court, my mother asked for a 1 -2 year continuance of the order because she feared for her safety because she felt things would escalate as she fought for custody of "her child". A custody fight she said was necessary because of the allegations of abuse against me (ALLEGATIONS CREATED BY HER). The restraining order was dropped by the court.
The worst of it is that in reading my son's evaluations from the hospital, it becomes clear that the focus shifted from his problems (those issues that we sought help for) to the false allegations of abuse / danger of abuse. His care and treatment shifted to address the lies being perpetrated by my mother. We are again seeking help for him. My wife and daughter were subjected to poor treatment, investigations, and allegations. This episode almost led to my wife leaving me to get away from all of the problems created by this. It has been a nightmare.
Do I have any recourse? Thanks so much for any help that can be offered.
Step-family of four (Me, 2nd wife, my son, our daughter) advised by LICSW to 1) move from family home that I had rented for the past 13 years because of a recent in-law situation (mother/property owner moved in demanding to live for free) and the stresses it was causing, and 2) seek mental help for my son because of issues he has. Advice was followed and mother/landlord who was planning on retiring rent/utility free to an in-law above the garage was VERY upset. The plan had been for me to purchase the house the year of her retirement (2011).
Son was included in a residential treatment program at the advice of professionals who evaluated him. Everyone began adjusting to the new home and routines. Unknown to me, one month into his stay at Butler Hospital, my mother began visiting my son. He was told to keep this secret. At the same time (according to hospital papers / DCYF report) stories of the abuse he suffered while living with me began to surface and grow. Shortly after this I became aware of a DCYF investigation (because of these allegations), a restraining order my mother had pulled on me the day after I moved out, and the fact that my mother and ex-wife were working to have my son released from the hospital and into the care of my mother. My son had been told that he would be "severely punished" by me and my wife if he came back to live with us. He was also told by my mother that we had gotten a two bedroom apartment to prevent him from coming home (no place for him) and that all of his belongings had been thrown out. He also began leaving messages for the Child Protective Services investigator daily (sometimes 3-4 x / day) about "additional information" whenever my mother visited with my son, Happy Meal in hand. On the flip side, my mother made promises of candy and XBOX 360s, stripped my daughter's former room down and redid it for him, and essentially promised him the world if he lived with her.
At this same time, my mother was spending time with my ex-wife and telling her that my son's soiling issues were caused by being locked in his room all day and night and that we had been beating and starving him. This convinced my ex that it was in his best interest to help her get custody of him.
Fortunately, the CPS investigator concluded the allegations were "unfounded" (all of my mother's claims were disproven instantly) and even went further, telling both me and the hospital officials that he believed that my son was being "fed" stories, manipulated by my mother. During the same period, I went to court to answer the restraining order. In court, my mother asked for a 1 -2 year continuance of the order because she feared for her safety because she felt things would escalate as she fought for custody of "her child". A custody fight she said was necessary because of the allegations of abuse against me (ALLEGATIONS CREATED BY HER). The restraining order was dropped by the court.
The worst of it is that in reading my son's evaluations from the hospital, it becomes clear that the focus shifted from his problems (those issues that we sought help for) to the false allegations of abuse / danger of abuse. His care and treatment shifted to address the lies being perpetrated by my mother. We are again seeking help for him. My wife and daughter were subjected to poor treatment, investigations, and allegations. This episode almost led to my wife leaving me to get away from all of the problems created by this. It has been a nightmare.
Do I have any recourse? Thanks so much for any help that can be offered.