CPS drama part 4

So now we are onto June and our next court date. We went in hoping we would get the kids back not knowing that MI law is 6 months minimum so obviously we had our hopes squashed big time once again. Nothing big was really discussed that time around and the judge did tell us we were doing good and we would return in 3 months. It was brought up that at one point we had gone 22 days without seeing our kids other than 1 or 2 here and there at doctors visits. He did complain that we were not seeing our kids enough but left it as "DHS discretion" on how our visits would be handled. He did say they better start happening more often and for longer periods of time since we are on a reunification track. He also ordered they hire someone to cover these visits since obviously the current worker is incapable of doing her job. The worker was also chastised that he had ordered we attend certain things before getting the kids home and at the time we weren't even enrolled which hurt our chances immensely on any consideration of more visitation or anything to that point. We left with our tails between our legs knowing nothing would change for the next 3 months until we would return to court again. It truly sucked especially since our court date was also the first day of summer break for the kids.

Amazingly they listened and did hire someone. We started being able to spend time at the park and other places with the kids and usually for 2-3 hours instead of the 1 we were getting. For a short time things were going as good as can be under the circumstances and then she too started cancelling on us. At this point we are lucky to see them every other week if even that. Thankfully we have recently started a parenting class that the kids are at also but that's still only 1 hour per week and cannot be counted as visitation time.

Now it's September 7th and almost 6 months since the kids were removed. This time we knew they were requesting no changes but hoped the judge would do otherwise. Unluckily for us nothing was changed. He did tell Sarah that they still were not living up to his expectations on our visits and that it better change but once again did not change the official orders. Nothing has changed since other than it getting worse. We left again but this time feeling a bit better since her only reasonings for not returning them this time was lack of money (they have scott court ordered not to work and I am disabled) and my lack of insurance aka meds and doctors. I ironically had court 2 days later for my SSI/SSD and he said that would be a key turning point in what happens when we return in December. He also said he doubted I would get a letter in time but I had it 11 days later.

Oh I did forget one HUGE thing in here somehow. During the summer months, it was determined that Ashleigh and the foster mom's daughter were not getting along well enough and Ashleigh would have to be moved. She spent 3 weeks in the temporary place and is now in a home as the only foster child along with the couples 3 biological children and doing tons better.

Ever since Ashleigh was moved, there have been issues with the other 3. Good case in point would be at one of our visits, they had us at a park with no bathroom after I told them many times there was no potty there but no one would listen. Sure enough Kaylee ends up having an accident which shouldn't be too surprising with the closest bathroom 5-10 minutes away. When the foster mom arrived to get them, she was NOT happy at all about this. She literally threw a pair of pants at Kaylee and when Kaylee asked for help getting her current pair unbuttoned the foster mom told her point blank "no way you are way too disgusting" even though the visitation worker had gotten her cleaned up and into new underwear etc. She was made to change her pants in the middle of a parking lot in front of lots of people even though nothing at all was even on her pants. I understand the foster mom has health issues (almost identical to mine) and is a germaphobe from hell BUT you do NOT speak to a child that way. I figured this would be dealt with and quickly since obviously one of their workers, along with us and Scott's mom all heard this.

This was on a Friday so I had to wait until Monday and call about it. I called the worker first and was informed she had quit which we were never informed of and to call the new worker which we did. He asked a few questions but mainly leading to why we didn't help her etc which we did immediately when Kaylee said she needed help unbuttoning her pants. He did not seem concerned about the (I feel) mental abuse of a child that already has significant problems so I went above his head to Deb or Chaz as you will see her referred to from here on out. She also seemed unconcerned. I then called her supervisor threatening to call the news, politicians etc if something wasn't done and never got a call back. I did call all of the above and truly no one will do anything. We had a meeting here with the new worker and asked him if they won't do anything, what do we do. Our child is being abused and treated 10 times worse than when she was here. He told us we could call the police but that would end badly for us. We did call the report line for CPS but as soon as they found out that it was one of their foster workers they said they would investigate but you could tell nothing would happen. Sure enough nothing did and still has not although this was back in September now I believe.

Since all of this, Kaylee has retreated into her shell more and more. She shows definite signs of abuse and is once again back to having accidents and issues at the foster home after a bit of time of things going smoother. She also at one point was having to tell us every naughty thing she had done each week during their phone calls but thankfully at least that much she was told to stop doing. Ashleigh has also told his mom (they cannot tell us anything) that Kaylee has spent full weekends in bed and hours with her nose against a wall etc. No one will take the time to talk to Ashleigh including the court appointed CASA worker which is supposed to be an advocate for the kids. Thankfully the kids are about to be removed from that situation which I will get to in the next post which is related to yesterdays bullshit meeting.