Oh! Update!

[ColleenSwerb]

There was a breakthrough last week while the site was down with my friend and the little boy.

After we found out that someone (most likely the person from the courts who was there the week before to speak with the little boy) filed complaints of abuse and neglect on his mom and her husband, we thought things would be going in the right direction.

My friend wasn't informed of anything during the week. Repeated calls to CPS were met with "I can't tell you anything else." The boys mother called thursday night to arrange the visitation for this weekend and said to him "We're going to have a long talk." Which, we all took to mean that they were going to beat him for telling anyone they beat him. ::sigh:: I was appalled that CPS would knowingly force him back into such a horrible situation.

Friday morning, he was still supposed to go on the scheduled visitation. My friend spent all morning frantically calling CPS to get some sort of update, while praying she didn't have to send him with them. She finally went over the CPS officers head and spoke with her supervisor. The supervisor has cancelled all visitations until the matter is settled. THANK GOODNESS.

The original CPS officer is majorly PO'd that my friend went over her head. They scheduled a meeting this thursday for all parties involved. Fingers crossed they discontinue visitations for the time being until the custody case is settled.

Unfortunately, since almost all of the agencies are set up to keep the child with the birth mother, it's still going to be an uphill battle. My friend is heartbroken that after all this, she still might not keep him from the horrible life he'll end up with if he stays with his mother.

So the battle isn't over yet. I just wanted to update everyone.

 

[Tracie Stroud]

Wow! Thanks for the update. I hope everything turns out ok.

 

[scarletsierra]

Thanks for the update, Col. I've been thinking about this situation so much. Having done a 3 year internship at DCFS in WA State in college, I have seen the priority of reunification enforced and emphasized in situations like these far too many times.

Parenting without abusing isn't something people should get endless chances to "get right" IMO. And I'm hoping hard that his mother's chances are finally up. Enough is enough.

 

[Paula]

Wow! I'm glad she went over the CPS officer's head because it sounded like he wasn't gonna do jack about it.

 

[Jennifer]

Thanks for the update. I'll be keeping this family in my prayers.

 

[Megan Turnidge]

Ugh. This is so sad. I hope everything turns out alright!

 

[kscwgirl]

Ugh. I hope everything turns out okay!!!

 

[my4boys]

Thanks for the update...I was just thinking about this yesterday too!! I hope things get moving now that your friend went over the CPS's head...YEAH for her!!!!! Let us know what happens, P & T coming that way for all of you.

 

[DawnMarch]

I sure hope they can get this worked out quickly. That poor little guy needs stability in his life and obviously needs to be away from those abusive people permanently!

 

[ColleenSwerb]

Thanks for the kind words, and thoughts and prayers everyone. I really appreciate it. I'll update everyone at the end of the week with how this meeting goes. Hopefully, it goes in "our" favor!

 

[pbumbaca]

Thanks for the update Col! I will keep the little guy in my thoughts and hope they do right by him!

 

[lizzyfizzy]

thanks for the update, col! he will still be in my prayers that he ends up in a loving place where he can met his full potential in life!! hugs to that lil sugar and your sweet friend!!

 

[Kat Stokes]

Thanks for the update Col! My heart breaks for this little boy. I really, really hope CPS keeps him away from his mom.

 

[rach3975]

I must have missed the original story, but I'm hoping the meeting goes in your friends' favor, along with the rest of the investigation and decision!

 

[Dottie]

Thanks for the update, hope everything goes well.

 

[wildblueeyez]

Oh how heartbreaking for everyone involved, esp your friend!! will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers!!

 

[scrappychic]

I didn't see the original post, but I hope things turn out for the best - that your friend will be able to keep him. So sad she has to go through all this, specially for the little boy.

 

[junebug]

i hope they get him out of that home for good! i know its always good to keep kids with their birth mother, but not if she BEATS him!!! are they stupid???? the system needs to be overhauled so innocent kids stop being put in abusive homes.

 

[joelsgirl]

Thanks for the update Col. I hope somebody with power does what is best for the little boy.

 

[ColleenSwerb]

Another update!
So apparently, CPS wanted to send someone up to investigate my friends home. But since they live in another county, they had to have someone from that county stop by. Apparently they stopped by on saturday but no one was home. So my friend got a call yesterday asking to come over this morning before the little boy went to school, to talk to everyone.

So she came this morning, and checked out my friends house and then spoke with the little boy (my friend was present for that) and my friend. She asked what my friend wanted (she's ok with supervised visitations for a LONG time to build trust with the mother - mostly cuz she knows the mom is not capable of staying clean that long). Then she talked wtih the little boy and asked him what he wanted (he said "I want to stay here with my parents.") and then asked him about his birth mom. He told her EVERYTHING, lol. Including that the only reason he wants to go down there at all is to protect his 2 little sisters from his mom and her husband, and that his mom's husband "has a lot of punks around all the time" (kids say the darndest things! LOL!).

The woman is going to send her report to Baltimore City, and it'll be gone over on thursday at this meeting. Whatever judgement is made down there, will be sent to the custody court up here, and the judge will follow the recommendation regarding the custody case.

So, things are looking up for right now!!

 

[Joan]

Oh, man, crossing my fingers that the powers that be do the right thing, Col!