Andrea

January 21 DHR took custody of my daughter she is five years old. I made a plan to move out of my ex’s home and to stay with a Christian woman whom I had known for about a year. I needed to stay with her for two weeks before I got my taxes. I was planning on moving out of state so I left my daughter with her for two days while I went and found a place and job ext. The day I came back into town I had a car wreck and the women was avoiding me and wouldn’t tell me where her and my daughter was. I went to the police they told me DHR had a hold on my child. In which I hadn’t been informed of. I lost my temper with the DHR worker and was asked to take a drug test which I did and I passed it. When it went to court they said my mental status was in question the judge placed my daughter in foster care. I took a mental evaluation and came out of that with flying colors. I have managed to get a home of my own and car and more than one job! Court was cancelled due to weather. Instead of it being pushed back one week is has been pushed back almost two months!!! I have everything in order DHR and I are in good standings they have approved my home, car and work. I only get to see my child for one hour a week in their office. Which to me isn’t fair due to the fact there was no drug or abuse involved I was simply in a hard place and blindsided. I don’t fully understand my rights and even writing this concerns me. But I feel as though it is only within my rights to have her home seeing how much I have accomplished and done to follow their rules!!! I don’t know what to do and these stories scare me I have never been without my daughter and I have a good mother How can I speed up this process and get her home!???

Ashley

My children were taken because I allowed them to stay with their father, seeing how he went 6 months without seeing them. My ex was not watching them like he needed to. So now I’m the one who has been fighting DHR to get my kids back. For almost 2 years now I have had to do drug test twice a month. My kids where just recently taken from my parents and placed with my ex-husband who has no relation to them.

Jeff

I just want my daughter home. I was a single dad with no motherly influence in my daughter’s life. I was charged with a DUI and because they failed to contact my mother they had to place my child in custody. My mother is fighting to get my child home with her until I get up on my feet. They are giving her a hard time and I hope something comes of this soon. I have my own place now and a strong job and all they want to do is talk about what I need to do and pay in order to get my child home.

Zina

I came here in 2005 after hurricane Katrina. My son was molested by a school teacher/youth minister and when I found out I filled charges. Later in 2010 I returned back to Alabama because I thought it would be hard for them to get my child. I stayed with some people of the church that called themselves ministers and they called themselves trying to help me and my son. These people told all kind of lies on me and had my son to do it also DHR investigator Leigh Ann Jackson came to my mother’s house when my son called them. We had a meeting and Leigh Ann Jackson told them that they were fighting me for my son. Later on DHR took their side I was told that everything they told her I had done and they believed them. I told them that they did me the same thing. When we went to our last meeting the case worker (Jamie York) and the case aid took their side. The case was supposed to come and pick me up never did so my therapist picked me up. Later we went to court for the hearing and judge Brent Craig of Decatur, Alabama let these people walk all over him. They did nothing the courts told them to do. My appointed attorney and the gal got together and decider that were not going to fight to get my son away from these people. DHR got me to sign papers letting him go back over there by threatening me to sign them but the next day I retreated about the papers. Now I don’t have my son anymore but every attorney has told me that it wasn’t my fault about my son being molested and the people he is with are crazy. I don’t know where to turn to for help. I asked for help when I needed it and I’ve been kicked down ever since. Basically I have been at fault for working and taking care of my son. The church said I gave him too much. So what do you do with that when his father hates you and your family so much all he wants to see is me suffering?

Malisa

I was wronged by Baldwin County DHR and Summerdale police dept. I am single mom who’s raising 12 special medical needs child who I will not put in Baldwin county public schools where they abused him over n over again where I have had enough .our home burnt to ground so we were staying in a 32ft Elmont camper 1972 were i completely remodeling it sheet rock walls ceilings ran low on funds so i waited to finish plumbing the bathroom mind you were in a public camp ground with public showers n toilets for community campers. We had three dogs one turtle n two cats for over 11 & 16yrs in our family. Another 12 other camper hook ups where only one side had sewer n running water there was four of us on the side who did not but We did Have electrical pole hook ups for each of our campers. Another resident of this camp ground had sexual rape convictions of minor children ….which i was unaware of until one night one of those other residents broke in our home! So happens he’s a convicted child rapist for little boys at a flea market For families & children that the public goes to .six registered offenders .i call the Summerdale police.” they told me they were not gonna arrest him for standing over me while i sleep ..I have proof video & audio this takes place again, once again. the police told me if had wanted raymond burk steenhttp://www.homefacts.com/offender-detail/AL8c11b355-d094-4c45-b176-df9152581234/Raymond-Burk-Steen.html

to go in file criminal trespasses charges but he’s in my home & I’m unaware he’s standing over me until i awaken to him .i freaked out ..calling police who did nothing about a rapists broke in my home.so i file complaint against police on wed.  On Fri. DHR of Baldwin County Robertsdale, AL n police in my camper waking my son up who the babysitters right next in the camper besides us .telling my son he can’t call go right next to us .have pics of this n videos, .took my minor son into custody and interrogate him without legal guardians there. They made him poop on himself. it unconstitutional what they’re doing. I have videos & audio of police. .on DHR of. Baldwin county made up lies of the camper unclean as well as abandonment .the people they spoke with are registered sex offenders. .what’s wrong with society law enforcement of Summerdale AL as well as soon as this happens they take my minor child to Summerdale police dept. integrate him without his father or i for five hours .they never notified me they were @ my house babysitters freaking out ..i call non-emergency line over n over left voice message where a SRGT finally calls me threatening put my son in foster care without contacting legal father who i share joint custodial rights with. I have this on audio as well… On jan 28 2015 police reports were made ..,I took pics & posted to Facebook as well as neighbors called on Jan. 292015 11:16pm police reports on this were made again ..Now they don’t exists@ police dept. in Summerdale AL …somebody please help me.

Alyse

My daughter K—- and I are victims to \’legal\’ kidnapping by Jefferson County Colorado and an unlawful TPR motion that I lost. Judge Ann Meinster completely disregarded the Divisions unlawful and unethical conduct throughout the course of the case. The Division with-held visits from me in an excess of 60 days which was in violation of the court ordered treatment plan and yet nothing was done to resolve this. I paid for my own services for 5 months in order to comply with the court ordered treatment plan when the Division failed to provide me with services that were also court ordered. The courts enforced a child support order that was so excessive I was only making $30 to $40 a month from my earned wages and paying out to the Division $1000 a month. They even garnished my SSDI payments. The case worker said “I do not recall” over fifty times on stand at my TPR trial when questioned about the services and efforts made by the Division during the course of the case and yet still the judge ruled in favor of the termination citing mental health as the reason. The only testimony about my mental health presented other than the case workers narrative of lies was from a doctor at Cedar Springs who testified that it only took me four days of being put on the right medications before I made a complete turnaround, talking about an inpatient hospital stay a year prior to the trial. Meanwhile I was not allowed to introduce a letter from my current mental health providers stating that I was not only stable, but also had sought out services all my own and paid for on my own, and additionally were never once contacted by the case worker even after my mental health providers reached out to her on several occasions. The GAL refused to allow my daughters play therapist to be introduced as a witness unlawfully using LAN to withhold information from the court about what was in my daughters best interest. Please Help! My little girl was stolen from me by Jefferson County Colorado so they could make money from adopting her out. I have filed an appeal that is still waiting to be reviewed. I have not seen my daughter since Jan. 30 2015 where I was forced to tell her she could never see me again.

Heather

My child was taking because I allowed her to go stay the night with my grandmother.My grandmother forgot where to meet me am=nd left her with my first cousins wife they called the police said I abused her but had no bruises then they came to my home two days later for a home check and said my apartment looked great and I had plenty of food beds for the kids everything they needed.They called me that Wednesday morning and told me I could go pick her up at my aunts in Hamilton, Al then as I was on my way they called me right back and said I would have to wait until the next day and they would call me the next morning they never called so i called them and they told me they were sorry but my aunt had went to a lawyer and got temporary custody from the judge my daughter didnt even know her aunt or any of that side of the family then my aunt gave my daughter to her daughter whom is my first cousin who cannot concieve…

Jennifer

Geneva County DHR is so corrupted I don’t know how people can keep turning their heads. What if it were their kids? What if someone was lying on them and causing their kids to be put in a unsafe environment? What if they got told numerous times they were unfit , yet every penny they had was spent trying to prove how much love they had for the kids? What if they raised their kids by themselves and the father abandoned the kid but the kid was taken and given to the father who knows nothing about the child? What if they knew in their heart they had not done any drugs but were made to do drug tests and lies were told on them saying they failed the drug tests but they went to a professional drug testing clinic and paid out of their pocket for a nail drug test that goes back one year and I showed negative for drugs ? What if their kid w as calling them crying asking to come home? What if no one believed anything they said because DHR and the system work hand in glove? What if they spent every waking hour worried about the safety and health of their kids because they can’t talk to or see their kids? What if they had no more self pride or respect from anyone because DHR is so corrupt they will do ANYTHING to look right? WELL IM TIRED OF THE “WHAT IF’S”!!!! It’s time that my kids get their justice! I don’t care if I have to fight them alone! I WILL NOT STOP ,GIVE UP,OR BE CONTENT UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE TO THESE SO CALLED WORKERS ! Our kids don’t deserve this and I know the mother I am dont try to brain wash me to thinking something different . I will not stop!!!!! My kids are my life and I will never give up on them . Anyone that reads this and is interested in making DHR be held accountable for what they are doing please contact me. I will go to the President of the United States if that’s what it takes. I’ m heart broken but I’m also mad and ready for whatever it takes to get justice for my girls . I hope all in Geneva County read this and know I’m serious and will not rest until jobs are taken from these monster demons AKA DHR!! Please pray for the safety and well being for my girls and I will do the same for all of you . So sorry your having to endure this nightmare just know your not alone but together we can make it change !! God bless you all and your precious little ones!

Virginia

My granddaughter was taken by Arapahoe County Colorado CPS in 2010, they told me I had no rights as a grandmother, I fought them on my own because we could not afford an attorney, they never sent me any court documents, never did a home visit or back ground check! I found out yesterday she was adopted outside the family in April 2013….My heart is broken..I would never hurt her..Where is the justice?

Steven

We were wronged by baldwin county DHR, please go to our facebook site and hit the like button.. Its called citizens against baldwin county DHR

Cynthia

Today begins my journey to fight jefferson county DHR in Alabama. They accused us of insufficient supervision (my 17 yr old son wanted to have “relations” with a 15 yr old girl, we wouldnt allow it and he ran away from home )did an investigation and found us not guilty but yet they will not return my son. We were told the not guilty determination did not matter. We were told we had to be submissive and obedient in order to get my son back..they have fabricated lies on us, lied to the judge, and smeared my name all over my community (foster parent and daughter posted pics on facebook and twitter and fundraising for my son)..The CASA worker is an utter joke and is out to put the final nail in the coffin.. This is against our constitutional rights as parents not to mention the fact they are making us pay child support and we PAY LOTS OF TAXES!!! This is a government agency, plus we shouldn’t have to pay child support when we were found not guilty.

Catina

one of my daughters x friends I suspect called and said my husband and I were manufacturing meth. they set a swat team and of course nothing my husband is retred army ranger with hand gun permit and I am well respected business owner with A+ RATING WITH B.B.B. PLUS TORCH AWARD FOR BUSINESS ETHICS. WE ARE BOTH FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT AND ATTEND CHURCH. D.H.R. WAS CALLED OUT ON RUTINE WHEN KIDS ARE AROUND WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT GETS CALLED IN, NO PROPLEM .I MET WITH LADY SHE SAID FINE I HAVE 6 KIDS 4 ARE DISABLED PLUS MY GRAND BABY. SHE SAID COUPLE MOE VISITS AND IT WOULD BE CLOSED OUT. NEXT TIME I MET HER AT BURGER KING FINE AGAIN. AT THAT TIME SHE ASK WHO THE LITTLE ONE WAS I TOLD HER I KEEP HER MY OLDEST WAS ALWAYS AWAY. COUPLE WEEKS PASSEDEED EASTER CAME AND MY DAUGHER SAID SHE WAS COMING HOME SHE HAD A DYING LADY HOUSE TO CLEAN OUT AND IT WOULD BE MORE CONVIENT TO BE AT HOME, GREAT.THE NIGHT SHE WAS FINISHING THE LADYS HOUSE I MET HER AT A NEER BY KRIGER WE SPENT ABOUT 45 MIN IN STORE. THEN SHE SAID SHE HAD NOT MUCH TO FINISH ,FEW THINGS OF GARABAGE THEN WIPE DOWN AND VAC. SHE WANTED TO TAKE CALI THEN COME ON HOME SURE NO PROPLEM. WHEN I GOT HOME SHE CALLED PANICKED AND SID POLICE HAD CALI. I WENT TO THE ADDRESS SHE GAVE AND HAD TO WAIT TODO ANYTHING FINALY DHR SHOWED UP AND FINALY TALKED TO ME. SHE SAID SHE HAD TO TAKE CALI TO HOSPITAL TO MAKE SURE SHE WAS CLEAN IF SHE WAS SHE COULD GO HOME WITH ME. I HOPPED IN AMBULANCE ,MY HUSBAND MEET ME AT HOSPITAL WE WERE THER TILL 3 AM THEN DHR WORKER INFORMES ME CALI WAS GOING WITH HER THREW HER IN BACK OF HER CAR NO CAR SEAT AND SAID THERE WAS A COURT ORDE +THAT CALI COULN’T BE LEFT WITH MOM UNSUPERVISED. LIES STARTED THER THEN SHE SAID NO OTHER FAMILY THER ONLY MOM AND SHE WAS BEING TAKEN TO JAIL .NONE OF THIS HAPPENED AND I WAS THERE.TH E LIES JUST KEEP GETTING BIGGER ONE WORKER CORY WILLUIAMS MIGHT END UP TELLING TRUTH SO I CAN GET CALI HOME I FEEL HE WAS PUSHED BY HIGHER UPS DONT KNOW THOUGH I PRAY HELL DO WHATS RIGHT HE KNOWS HOW MUCH I LOVE CALI PLZ PRAY FOR US TOO.

I SUMITTED PART OF OUR STORY JUST ALITTLE WHILE BACK. WITH A LOT OF PHONE CALLING I FINALLY GOT DHR TO SAY THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE LIERS INTERNLEY, BUT THEY COULDN’T DO ANY THING ABOUT WHERE MY GRAND BABY WAS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOW OUT OF PICTURE. ITS BEEN 17 MONTHS SINCE THEY TOOK HER. THE JUDGE DOESN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT ALL HAS GONE ON AND ALL THE LIES THAT WERE TOLD. I’VE TALKED TO HEAD OF D.H.R. THEN HE TALKED TO DEPARTMENT HEAD. SHE FINALLY GOT BACK TO ME AND WAS REAL NICE ON PHONE BUT SAID ITS NOW UP TO COURT SYSTEM. WHAT DO I DO NOW. PLEASE GOD HELP US!!!

Marie

On 6/30/13, mother reported child abuse against father. On the same day, police report, medical exam have both prove injury to the kid. However, DCFS took the kid away from mother without any explanation.

DCFS and Children’s court had predesigned the case against mother and in favor of father. Father has been to jail many times, but he’s been to law school, his family is strongly rooted in the city hall and hold tight tie in the upper level politicians.

As a result, court accuse mother of coaching and bipolar.

Mother is a teacher with highest attendance at school. She is beloved by her students because she is patient and nice. However, she is Asian, who knows how to teacher, but nothing about the system.

She has been taking good care of her kid with good food, good clothing, tutoring, activities, music, and sports. In the abusive situation, she has been constantly stay strong and provide counseling to the kid. In the foster family, her son cried out and said, “… I have them all (toys mother delivered to him), but you are the most important thing!”

I believe DCFS has seen the truth, but they work for themselves, and protect themselves. The sw has to follow instructions, and she has to make a living.

The abused kid is not only a victim of father, but also his relatives and their ties.

Save this kid! He has been inhumanly abused since he is a baby! Father walk him to school in broken, dirty clothes, 2-size larger shoes, messy hair without any worry. Because he is covered.

Maegan

June 2012 the weekend of Fathers day, my son, fiance and my pregnant self went camping at Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham Al. During that time I had received a phone call from my Mother stating she was coming to town to see her father who lives very close to where I do. She had asked to see my son while she was in town. I told her she could when we got back from our camping trip. She showed up around 9 pm at my father’s house where I was staying at the time and we were all very tired from camping. She asked to see my son and if he could ride down the road with her and stay at my grandparents with her. I said sure and that I would be there in the morning to visit with them and pick my son up.

The next day I went to my grandparents as planned, but when I arrived neither my Mother nor my son was there. My grandparents informed me they were highly upset that my Mother had left early in the morning without even saying goodbye. Well, that didn’t sound right, because supposedly she had drove down to see her father, but all she did was steal my son. I then tried calling her several times but got no answer. She knew I was very sick from being pregnant and not able to drive for long distances because of dizziness and motion sickness. She had taken my son over 2 hours away without my permission. I then called the police where she lives and they got her on the phone whereupon she told me she would bring Branson back, but she just thought I wouldn’t mind her keeping him since I was in the middle of moving and he would just be in the way. I told her that I did not agree to that and I wanted her to bring him back to which she agreed that she would allow me to see him for a couple of days and she convinced me that it would make moving easier and I could surprise him with his new bedroom. I agreed. Little did I know she had hired a lawyer and filed lies about me which the court automatically awarded her temporary custody based on those lies without even knowing if they were true. Because she lives so far away and in another county than I do they set the case there where she lives making it impossible for me to do anything because DHR there refuses to work with me and they demand that I move to their county. Also, they demand that I end my relationship with my fiance because he has depression and my Mother claimed that he was mental and dangerous even though he had never harmed my son and my son says he loves him. Also, she claimed I had abandoned my son, been in jail since his birth and had a dishonorable discharge from the military all which ARE lies. My son has lived with me since birth, I have an honorable discharge from the military and I have been going to college.

They gave me a court appointed attorney who did nothing to help me, but in fact made things worse. When we went to court the first time they gave us drug tests of which I passed and have always passed, but my Mother failed and they took my son and put him in foster care. Then, because my Mom lives in their county they decided to give her my son and work with her and not me. I have done everything the courts have asked me to do but they keep taking all my rights away only giving me a few hours once a month with my son even though I have never harmed him or did anything wrong. They make it so hard for me to see him because of the distance and me having a newborn and not being allowed to bring my husband with me because they say he has mental issues and is not allowed around my son. I do not understand how someone can steal my son from my home, make false allegations against me and keep me from my son. I know this is against the law and my rights as a parent. I tried to get the news involved, I have even wrote some people including the President of the United States. I feel so angry. They have caused me so many issues with my son, my family and my relationship. They have ruined my life; caused my pregnancy to be miserable and to lose my home. They refuse to work with me because I do not live in that county and continue to intimidate me because I do not have money for a lawyer and they think and act like they can walk all over me because I do not know what to do to change it. I am tired of asking them to work with me and being ignored or threaten me when I tell the truth about things. DHR has lied in court about me and have ignored my pleas for help and my request for more visitation and they purposely make things hard on me and restrict me when I tell on my Mother for abusing her drugs. The fact is I am the mother of the minor child they should work with me, not her. The case should of never been opened in that county and should have been moved to the county in which I live and they refuse to do that. I have done nothing wrong for this to happen but try to go to school and they use that against me saying I should not do that and work and until I have my own house and a job they will not consider letting my son come visit me in the county in which I live. I need help and I want to sue them for violating my fourth and fourteenth amendment. Also, I want them fired for alienating me from my child and lying under oath. I am sure there are more things to add to this but to sum it up they have no viable reasoning for what they have done to me and it has been over a year and things have only gotten worse.

Jessie

My son was taking from me by DHR in Dothan AL 3 years ago.my sister called them telling them i had a pill problem when i was ran over by a car i was on pain medicine.she told them i was over taking my medicine.I NEVER ONCE FELL A DRUG TEST!!!They told me to do all this classes and iop and parenting classes.i did EVERYTHING plus some.went back to the courts to get him back.my sister was getting ready to leave to kansAS her husband is in the military.they let him go and DHR dropped my case.so another year went by she wont give him back.now she wont even let me see him.They did me wrong.i didnt do anything to get him taking away from me.the only reason she called is because she cant have kids and its a cheap way to her there family.now there married is falling apart they drink everyday fighting in front of him.he told me the last time i saw him my sister puts pillow over his face when he screams and gets mad.im freaking out tryung to save all the money possible for a lawyer.not to mention her husband was smoking when he was on miltary leave with my family member.im scared to deaTH and its all because i was treated unfairly by DHR.they should of look m0ore into my case and the home they were going to put him in.

Victoria

My children were taken from me by dhr for abuse and neglect in oct 2010 they did not start a case til november 2010 and by decmeber of 2010 i had been cleared of all aligations it is now 2013 and i still do not have my children back my case is closed with no findingsi literally have the documentation from the state clearing me of all charges and i also have documentation that i did everything asked of me and the dhr found my home to be adequate and safe. I continue to go to court after court judge after judge out of my own pocket i am now in debit i’ve spent over 13,000 dollars in legal fees court cost etc and no one will help us no one cares and no one has answers they treat me as if i tried to kill someone. in a few more days it will be 1 year and 6 months since i last heard or seen from my kids my parental rights h ave not been terminated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Birmingham,AL

Theresa

I am a foster mom in the state of Wisconsin. I do sympathize with families who are torn apart on both sides. Some parents do not deserve to have their children yet still get them back while others did no wrong and will never get them back. I lost my son who I have had since he was only 48 hours old . The birth family saw him on occasion, and did absolutely nothing to get him or his sister back. In fact, the birth mother stated openly in court that she did not want the children unless the birth father was there with her. Our son turned three and a month later was ripped out of our home and placed with his birth family because he birth fathers adopted mother, moved into their home and was willing to agree to take the kids in so she could collect a check. She had my sons older sister for a few months and the child continued to h ave failure to thrive then she tossed her out of her home and never saw my son or his sister again until she came to court and said she was such an amazing person and deserved to have another chance. (Not to mention the FIVE separate times she was asked to take the children throughout their lives and each time rejected) Then serious safety concerns surfaced yet a Milwaukee County judge ruled in favor of placing our son and his sister with strangers who chose to not be in his life where they were in serious danger.

Angela

State Of Alabama Child Support Enforcement Division Here in Covington County Andalusia Alabama 36420 have been taking payments made to my case with my case number and putting it towards another case. William Bill Vines states that the DHR can do this. Well I talk to a case worker in Montgomery Alabama and she stated that the DHR nor Case Worker can take payments made to my case number and put it on another case. They have been doing me like this every since 2012 and the other child have a case from another County and Mr. Vines stated why they have been doing this is they waiting on the other case to get a case number and its not right. Then they changed from the father owing me arrears money to him owing them $9,169.37 of the arrears due to me. They have lied stating I have been getting Welfare and had other children 1989 a nd 1991 and this also a lie. I feel that this DHR need to be held for the wrong they are doing here to more people then just me. they make my brother go to court every month and even raised the amount he pay to arrears his daughter is grown in her late twenties and they take my money and will not even send in a court order for the other child and this i feel is against the law to take a court ordered case and put the payments some where else. I have proff of everything. I need help for I want to file a civil action lawsuit against them.

Covington County Department Of Human Resources Office In Andalusia Alabama is corrupted. My son father pay arrears to my son that he left owing for child support payments that was not paid and interest. Well there have been a court order to with held payments from his job with my case number and the job sends in the payment. Well my case worker William Bill Vines stated that they take child support money from my case to give to another case cause the child is under age. Well I contacted DHR in Montgomery Ala, A case worker and told her what was going on and she stated DHR can not take my payments and give to another case and it have my case number on it. It should come to me but Mr. Vines told me they can and will take it give to the child first and then I get the remaining. I got a $4.38 payment after they took my other money and I have gotten 64.52 54.52 and they take $225.00 for my case and when there is 3 payments made in a month I should get $550.00 but thats not how they do it here they hold that money and put it in your account when they want to. The money go to them on Thursday every 2 weeks and they would have it put in the account by Monday now they wait because I have filed so many complaints against them to the head office in Montgomery Alabama and I had ask for an hearing and they refused to give me one. They have also lied to keep money of mines by stating I have other children born in 1989,1991 and this is a lie and also they stating that part of my arrears $9,169.37 is owed to welfare interest and this is a lie for if it was so I had gotten two income taxes adding up to almost this amount in 2007 and they did not keep the money. They did this because they took part of my money before and this was not on the statement I want help to bring justice to this county and I am not th e only one who is being did like this.

Catina

DHR HAS LIED FROM THE BEGINNING THEY SAID I WASNT THER WHEN BABY WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL SO THEY HAD TO TAKE BABY INTO CARE WHEN IN FACT I RODE WITH BABY TO HOSPITAL IN AMBULANCE,THEY SAID IF SHE WAS CLEAN SHE BE RELEASED TO US BUT THEY KEPT HER, THEY THEN SAID A SAFTY PLAN WAS IN PLACE FOR NO UNSUPERVISED VISITS BETWEEN MY DAUGHTER AND GRAND CHILD THAT DOESNT EVEN MAKE SINCE, THEN THEY NEVER NOTIFIED MY DAUGHTER OF WHEN AND WHERE EMERGENCY HEARING WAS GOING TO BE BY TIME SHE MADE IT HEARING WAS OVER,AND YES THEY KNEW HOW TO REACH HER SHE KEPT TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM. THEY THEN PUT HER WITH FATURNAL GRAND PARENT (MOM)WHO IS AN HABITUAL FELLONY OFFENDER LIVING IN PROJECTS.MY HUSBAND IS RETIRED ARMY RANGER WITH GUN PERMIT (57YOLD) AND MYSELF (56YOLD) ONLY ARESTED ONCE FOR BANK FUNDS NOT THERE IT JUST GOES ON AN D ON PLEASE IF YOU KNOW HOW TO HELP(###)###-#### PLEASE

Story has been edited to exclude phone number.

Tatjana

Our story is much like any tragic DHR story where they have overstepped their boundaries. Our story begins on May 1, 2013.

Our son, who is now 6 months old, went to his normal pediatrician on May 1, 2013 for a weight check and follow-up for his ear infection. The pediatrician stated our son needed to be admitted in the hospital due to “Failure to Thrive.” Our son was born 7 lbs 13 oz. He had been admitted to the hospital twice before this admission. The first time he was 3 weeks old with ear infections and an upper respiratory infection, and the second time a week later making him a month old, for RSV and ear infections. He had ear infections constantly. Due to all this and possibly more, he had only gained a little weight. He weighed in at 11.1 lbs at Helen Keller Hospital the day he was admitted. He was eating a lot for a little guy, but he just wasn’t putting on the weight. The next day, after speaking to the doctor about his treatment, we thought it would be best for our son to go to the Children’s Hospital in Huntsville, Al. The doctor didn’t want to transfer him so I signed the “discharged against medical advice” form and I drove straight to Children’s hospital not stopping in between.

Our son was admitted into their pediatric unit immediately and started on IV fluids. He was also having test after test done. On May 3, 2013, a Franklin County DHR social worker came by our son’s room around 3 pm. She started off seeming as though she cared about our son, then she threw it out there, “We are taking your son and placing him in Foster care.” I couldn’t believe what I heard, and I called my husband and told him what she had just told me. The social worker claimed she received a report from the pediatrician that our son’s diagnosis of “Failure to Thrive” was based on us, the parents, neglecting our son.

On May 6, 2013, we appeared at our 72 hour hearing before the judge. We were served our papers minutes prior to the hearing and had just met the lawyer appointed to us. We had no chance to explain ourselves, nonetheless, to explain what was happening. A bunch of lies were told by DHR on behalf of the doctor. The judge ordered our 5 month old son (at the time) was to be placed in Foster Care, and we were advised our visitation with him would be 1 hour once a week. We left court and drove straight back to our son in the hospital. On our way, we received a call from the social worker stating we could continue to stay with our son while he was in the hospital until he was discharged. He was discharged the next day, May 7, 2013.

Huntsville Children’s hospital changed our son’s formula and put him on another strict diet of 6 oz every 3 hours. We were never given that opportunity to continue that diet at our home before he was taken from us. We have hired a lawyer since then, and he has advised us (in his opinion) that the pediatrician reported us as negligent because 1) they weren’t properly treating our son and 2) they were mad because we took him somewhere better. He also advised us that we should have had the opportunity to testify at the first hearing. So far, he has raised questions that have proved fear in DHR’s eyes.

My mother-in-law and her husband have gone through so many twists and turns to have our son placed in their care that it is ridiculous. After a month, she still doesn’t have our son, and we still have no idea when she will.

After a month, our son has gained approximately 2 lbs. He is now 6 months old. He is still in Foster Care.

My husband and I gathered all the medical records from the time our son was born until he left Children’s hospital. We noticed a trend with his blood work and a few other things that didn’t add up with what the doctor was reporting to us each time. Then it hit us when we read the notes from Children’s hospital, where the pediatrician claimed to the Children’s hospital doctor our son had only been diagnosed 1 time (at 3 weeks old) with an ear infection and that we did not follow the diet they put our son on. We knew then the pediatrician was covering their butt due to not accurately informing another doctor of our son’s medical history.

After a month, we have only had one ISP which was just last Tuesday. At that ISP, our lawyer questioned why we were never given the opportunity to follow Children’s hospital’s diet. The look on DHR’s faces including their lawyer was priceless and their answer to it was even more interesting. They had no answer. Our lawyer posed the question as to why our son was placed in Foster care instead of a relative (mother-in-law) who was readily available and wanting to take our son in. They tried to claim our son was in imminent danger and that is why he was placed in Foster care. If that were the case, why were we allowed to stay at both hospitals with him and take care of him? They had no answer.

Since that ISP, our visitation has slightly changed. I have a total of 3 hours a week with my son, and my husband has still only 1 hour a week. The 2 hour visitation was moved from the DHR building to our home due to it being after hours. I was advised by my lawyer to ask if I could go to my son’s doctor appointments, so I did. The social worker agreed that I could go, as we found out from our lawyer that we had that right from the beginning. Since I have asked that question, I have been left out of the so-called loop of information with DHR. Prior to that, the new social worker and Foster mother were always being informative, now, nothing.

Before this last ISP we were given no instructions as to what we needed to do to have custody of our son back. I had started going to parenting classes, and at that ISP is when they told us we needed to take parenting classes, do drug tests and have psych evaluations.

Now, with all this said in regards to DHR and our son, we have four other children. Our daughter who lives with us is still in our custody. DHR hasn’t even been concerned with her or our other children who come stay with us every other weekend.

Our son was taken from us for no reason. Franklin County DHR and Tennessee Valley Pediatrics have falsely accused us of negligence and unjustly took our son.

Anna

jackson county dhr took both me and my now 13 month old daughter away from a loving home and separated us. they placed my daughter with her abusive father. i will be 18 in december but they wont let me leave their custody until im 21. DHR needs to be shut down because all they do is destroy families.

Cathy

My nephews were taken from my sister in law for good reason, but what I don’t understand is why DHR won’t allow us to see them???? She has signed letter after letter that we are supposed to get them for one weekend out of the month. she is incarcerated and the boys are with other family. DHR keeps refusing her requests to let us visit with our nephews and won’t tell us why. They won’t even return our calls. I have left 19 messages with the boys case worker and even been to the office. He sends me away and will not speak to me nor will he return my calls. This is ridiculous. How can they do that? The boys are under a “safety plan”. My sister in law still has custody. Aren’t they supposed to still obey her wishes??? There is no risk in my home. they say they are all about the well being and safety of the children but how does keeping them away from family that loves them and they trust help?? They placed the boys with family that were like strangers. The house they are in is a madhouse 24/7 and there is drug activity there all the time. DHR refuses to drug test that household. They are backwards and moronic and don’t give two s***s about the children involved in any case. Someone needs to do a complete overhaul of the system. And we wonder why our children end up so messed up nowadays. DHR is the reason. They are demons that need to be cast out.

Paul

Is their anyone that is not afraid or affiliated with dhr to start a class action lawsuit, I am willing to put some funding to do so. I know there are more than just a few of us. I have talked to attorneys to file suit but in most cases they tell me they wont bite the hand that feeds them. Surely enough of us can pool together and hire an out of town attorney.

Tamil

well i have been under dhr for almost 5 years and now they have my son and they just want let me live my life im finna be 18 but they want leave me and my son alone they find anything to come back into my life and for tha 2nd time they have tooken my son away from me and will not give me any chance to raise my son and wen they first took him he was only 7 weeks old and now that hes one they have taken him again and i just made a bond with my son this year this is really ruining my life i cant even go to college or get a job to support my son god i wish they would just leave me alone

Amber

Lauderdale county dhr are crooked an do NOT care about childrens best Interest. They believe false
Lies anybody makes up. They really DO just DestroyHomesRelentlessly!!! Children are suffering because of them!!! Something needs to be done about this injustice:( My kids have been gone for a year!!! Me an my kids have been trampled on by this corrupt an evil nonjust system

Sarah

I am 17 years old and my 19 year old brother and I have been in DHR custody for 5 years of our lives. During this time, DHR has put lies in our file about our mother (Just look up the Caselberry case I’m sure you’ll find a ton), they’ve completely misappropriated funds. OUR money. Benjamin and I are receiving SSI from both of our parents and we have NEVER seen a dime of it. DHR take checks that have been made out to US and have done God knows what with it. Whenever I ask my Social Worker (Beverly Spears, Calhoun County office) to see some receipts because I’d like to now where our money is going she would tense up and tell me “Oh, you don’t need to see that you have no right to.” That isn’t even have of what these people have put me and my family through. The MAIN reason I am complaining is because my social worke r is trying to hire a professional to hack into my electronics. My tablet, phone..and that CAN NOT be legal.

June

My kids were given to their dad by Morgan co. Dhr as part of a ” safety” plan. My kids were NOT in any danger!! I don’t even spank my kids!!! This just happened 2days ago on 4/23 that she came to my work..1st time I even met the case worker!!! And this all started 3/8!!! She’s never been to my home!!!!! I dont do drugs… or beat my kids.. nothing!!!!! My kids were interviewed by her without my permission or knowledge!!! And all my kids said I was a good mom and they felt safe around me!!! I feel so mistreated!!! To actually take my kids… and their dad is an x meth head…who use to hit me!!! She said that was a few years ago…really????? I want to sue them and the school for not notifying me about Dhr!!!! Let’s stop them!!!! I’m not going to back down!!!!

Alexis

I have been lied to and wronged by DHR over the past many years. When my mother died I was taken to foster care and ripped away from my dad WHO HAS DONE NOTHING. THEY LET US LIVE WITH HIM FOR YEARS AND JUST NOW DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING SO THEY CAN GET THEIR PAYCHECK. We have tried and tried and TRIED to contact my social worker who claims “to call if their is any problems or questions” and who refused to answer any emails, phone calls, or letters. All their phones are either “private” or “disconnected”. And when we finally got in touch with her she said “I’ll talk to you at the next court date.” and three months later when court rolls around DHR says we aren’t aloud to go!!!

Kandi

DEKALB COUNTY DHR HAS TRIED TO RUIN MY LIFE. I WAS UNAWARE THAT THEY HAD A CAN REPORT ON ME FOR NEGLECT FROM 2000 WHEN MY HUSBAND TURNED HIMSELF IN FOR HAVING A DRINKING PROBLEM AND MOLESTING MY 12 YR OLD DAUGHTER. MY HUSBAND WENT TO PRISON AND I WENT ON WITH LIFE RAISING 4 KIDS AS A SINGLE MOM AND DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF IT. THE CRAZY THING IS THIS DHR GAVE ME A LICENSENS FOR HOME DAY CARE 6 MONTHS AFTER THE INCIDENT OF ABUSE IN WHICH IT WAS PROVEN I HAD BEEN IN NOWAY NEGLECTFUL I HAD A GROUP DHR LICESEND DAY CARE FOR 12 YEARS,DURING THIS TIME I WENT TO JSU AND GOT MY BSW AND MY MASTERS.I WAS SO PLEASED TO GET OUT OF DAY CARE AND AS FAR AWAY FORM DEKALB DHR AS POSSIBLE. IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A SOCIAL WORKER I SAW AND NEW SO MUCH CORRUPTION AND WOULD NEVER CONSIDER WORKING FOR THIS COUNTY. HOWEVER JUST RECENTLY I HAD A VERY JOB I WAS GOING INTO BUT WAS STOPPED IN MY TRACKS BECAUSE DEKALB COUNTY DHR HAS A CAN REPORT OF NEGLECT ON ME AND THEY REFUSE MY PHONE CALLS TO QUESTION THEM AS TO WHY THEY ISSUED ME A LICENCE IN 2000 AND RENEWED THAT LICENCE EVERY 2 YEARS WHEN THEY HAVE FALSLEY MIRED MY NAME AND BLOCKING ME FROM THE PROFESSION I HAVE WORKED SO HARD FOR TO BECOME A MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR.

Margaret

MY NAME IS MARGARET,I LIVE IN COLBERT COUNTY,AL..FOR OVER TWO YEARS,I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR MY FOUR GRANDCHILDEN,THEY WERE PICK UP BY D.H.R IN OCT 2010,,,I HAVE SPEND THROUSANDS OF DOLLORS IN LEGAL FEES,HAVE BEEN TO APPEALS CORTH AND HAVE BEEN DENITED,,,I HAVE SEEN THESE CHILDREN IN TWO YEARS,THE ONLY REASON THEY TELL ME, IS THAT I HAD A CAN FROM 1994, WHICH I WAS UNAWARE OF,MY X HUSBAND MADE UNTRUE STATEMENT TO D.H.R IN FRANKLIN CO,, DURING A BITTER DIVORSE,THEY ALSO SAID BECAUSE I WAS AWARE OF THE INSIDENTS IN MY DAUGHTER HOME WHERE THE CHILDREN,AT THAT TIME I WORKED OUT OF TOWN A LOT AND DID NO ALL THAT WAS GOING ON IN HER HOME,I FEEL THAT THE STYSTEM HAD GREATLY FAILED IN THIS ORDEAL,,TWO OLDER CHILDREM HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH ANOTHER GRANDMOTHER AND STEP GRANDFATHER, WHICH HAS BEEN,HEARTBRECKING,THE 14 YEAR OLD GRANDAUGHTER HAS RUN AWAY,HAD HER BOYGRIEND CHARGED WITH RAPE AND TRIED TO TAKE HER OWN LIFE,THE OTHER CHILD IS BEENING KELP OM MEDICATION,,THE OTHER TWO ARE IN FOSTOR CARE,MAY EVER BE ADOPTED OUT IF THIS IS HOW D.H.R AND CORTH SYSTEM WORKS, THAN WE ARE ALL IN TROUBLE HERE IN NORTH ALA,I AM A BUSINESS PERSON WITH MY OWN HOME,THESE CHILDREN NEEDED TO BE WITH ME AND KEPT IN SCHOOL AND CHURCH,,,,,BUT I HAVE BEEN TREATED LIKE A OUTSIDER,,,MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON THE PEOPLE WHOM WE INTRUST OUR CHILDREN TO,THANK YOU, MARGARET MILLER

Dave

I have been studying law for 17 years and have a lot of information to help. Do you have very many active members? It is takes about the same time to teach 100 as it is 1. Most people do not have clue about what is really going on. The court is a private company and for profit corporation and the so called Judge is a Lawyer-member of the Bar,your STATE is a Federal business, and none of it is in Law and in Code outside the Constitution. Essentially it’s all deception. Blessings

Tony

My name is Tony and I have a dear friend Pat (75) that lives in Eufaula, AL. One year ago (4/3/12) Barbour County DHR and (former) Probate Judge Nancy Robertson took Pat from her home, made her a ward of the state, and was put into Crown’s Psych ward for 1 month and then an additional month in a rehab wing. Crown’s medical staff stated Pat DID NOT belong there and she was moved into an apartment (NOT BACK INTO HER HOME). Sheriff Leroy Upshaw was made the custodian/gardian and payee (of her Social Security). During those 2 months at Crown – Pat’s home was boken into 3 times and thousands of dollars of her jewelery and other property (washer/dry, bose system, window ac unit, riding lawn mower, etc.).

At no time was a mandated inventory of her assests conducted. At no time was she served papers to have a hearing by Robertson or afforded her constitutional and civil rights at any so-called "hearing" (she was told it was merely a meeting with the judge). Pat was deprived every aspect of DUE PROCESS OF LAW!

Almost a year later a new Probate Judge Susan Shorter order her released as a ward of the state – but, thousands of dollars of her Social Security is unaccounted for and the nightmare continues. The DHR worker that was instrumental in making Pat a ward of the state has been calling her up (after her release) threating her by stating things like, "I’m watching you Pat" and "I’m going to get you again"!

If you feel your civil rights have been violated you can file a complaint at this site: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/complaints/index.html

That or call your county DHR and find out how to file a complaint.

GOOD LUCK

Becky

This is a follow up to the story that I posted earlier.

When Judge Billy Jackson made the decision to return my granddaughter to a mother that had been charged with DUI and child endangerment. My attorney filed an appeal the next day and Judge Jackson was supposed to make a decision and reschedule the hearing within 2 weeks. When he made the decision to rehear the case he scheduled the hearing for 6 weeks later. Not my fault he didn’t know his job or how the law pretained to my case. After going into court for the hearing on Monday, March 11,2013 Debra Bell Paseur pointed out to Judge Jackson that he could not legally make a ruling on the case since he didn’t hear it within the 2 week time limit.

In the meantime, my ex-daughter-in-law, will not allow either my son, the childs father, or myself to have any contact with the child other that the minimum standard custody agreement says we can see her. While she works she leaves the child with several different caregivers instead of leaving her in the care of a grandmother and father that have been physically, emotionally and financially responsible for her since birth, 21/2 years ago. This past weekend we had the child for the weekend and when we picked her up on Friday evening she was running a low grade fever. My son tried to contact the mother to ask if the child had been sick but she never answered the calls. On Saturday the child was still running a fever and trying to have a BM, which she was never able to do. I gave laxatives and suppositories and still got no results. On Sunday morning the child was in such pain she had to be taken to the Emergency Room where a KUB revealed that she was so badly impacted that she would not have been able to have a movement without some assistance. She had to be given 2 enemas and it took 4 hours. My granddaughter has only been gone from my home now for 6 weeks but somewhere along the lines she is back to being neglected. When I was getting her dressed for bed on Friday night she said to me, “Nanny mean to me”. I am not a child phsycologist so I didn’t acknowledge her comment in any way. I thought she might just be saying something she had heard. But when she started hitting me and saying to me, “you get a spanking, mammaw, you in trouble, get up on that couch, that old man get you, I knew there was something to what she was saying.

I heard from my attorney today that Judge Jackson has finally made the decision to deny my appeal and will not be hearing my case again. I don’t know where to turn now for sure. I can’t keep throwing money into a system that I am sure Deborah Bell Paseur is running, since this is her case and it seems as if anything she has said or done has been the only thing that has been taken into consideration. I still want to know why she is allowed to represent cases in a court where she sat on the bench and served as judge. There is no way that anybody can get a fair hearing with her on a case. A retired judge should have to go to another county if they want to step back down into private practice.

How do I get justice for my granddaughter? This is just not fair to her in any way. Where do I go from here? Please someone help me. I don’t even trust either my own or my son’s attorney. I have had to hire 3 attorneys and Deborah Bell Paseur has still dominated this case. I can’t help but wonder if they all are working together.

Please someone help me get help on behalf of my granddaughter. I am sick of this corrupt system.

Melina

Dhr took my kids two years ago. They arrested my husband and charged him with sexual abuse. My little girl said this never happened now there saying I dont love my kids. Look theres alot people dont know. We are trying to stop them. Please get in touch with me asap. I want to hear your story maybe we can help each other out cause were going public.

Kim

I pay child support. It has been coming out of my payroll check since August 2012. However, DHR messed up…they have been posting it to the wrong account. The mother has been getting the correct check. But now, they have issued a hold on my income tax refund…saying that I haven’t paid when in fact I have. I have all paperwork showing where it has been paid. I have contacted DHR…they admitted their error…I have also contacted the IRS. Now, DHR states that it could take up to 6 months in order for my income tax refund hold to be released. And of course is in no hurry to correct their error. And when I call…they are in fact no help at all. I would like to find out if there is anything that I can do in order to have this error corrected. Thanks.

Becky

My story began 2 years ago when my ex-daughter-in-law was arrested for DUI and child endangerment. She was under the influence of drugs and had my 3 month old granddaughter in the car with her. Turns out she had a drug problem going back to the age of 15. She had been in and out of drug rehabs since that age. After her court appearance, given a deferred sentence a month later she was taken to the hospital for a near overdose. Apparently she was driving around in the car again, this time with her 2 year old son in the vehicle with her and she admittedly was shooting up meth. DHR was called in on the case and Emily (ex-daughter-in-law) told the caseworker that my son (father) was also on drugs. DHR contacted him 2 days later and arranged for him to come in for drug testing. We never got any results and a week later we were to co me back in for child placement. My granddaughter was placed with me and the boy was placed with the other grandparents. At this meeting another drug test was conducted on my son with the excuse that the first set of tests had been lost. We never heard anything of those tests either. At a later date my granddaughter was placed in my custody. Emily went to rehab, came out and relapsed. This went on a total of 3 times. In the meantime my son filed for a divorce and has been living in the home with me and his dad and the child.

In October Emily’s parents retained the services of Deborah Bell Paseur to serve as her divorce attorney. Well, guess this is where I might as well have stopped my fight there because I should have known that I had no chance of custody with her serving as attorney. We all know that Ms Paseur is a retired judge in Lauderdale County, I have no doubt that strings were pulled at every turn.

In the DHR case a GAL was appointed, Robbie Gargis. He is the one that recommended that I be given custody of the child. He did extensive interviews and found my home to be a suitable home for Mackenzie, the child. When he was recommended by Ms Paseur to serve as GAL for the custody case he informed my son that he had to do extensive research into the situation again and start his investigation fresh. Turns out that he spent hours in the home with Emily and her parents and never once called anyone in my home. How he came to the conclusion that her home was more suitable I am not sure. Anyway I was going to ask the court to appoint a GAL but found out that whomever was chosen I would be responsible for his fees. So I know that Mr Gargis’s fees were paid by the parents of Emily Walton, therefore his recommendation for custody to be returned to the mother.

After a court hearing, 2 months later, Judge Billy Jackson has decided that it is in Mackenzie’s best interest to be returned to the care of her mother. Taken out of the only home and away from the only family she has ever known and placed back in the home of her mother and maternal grandparents and that visitation be at Emily’s discretion.

Through all this my son has been totally ignored and his request for custody has been ignored, it has never been proven that he has or has not had a drug problem. But he has been totally disregarded even though he is the father.

Anyway, he was not even given standard visitation, that is to be worked out between the two of them and she has already said he is not getting access to the child anymore that she has to let him. So I have no idea where to go from him. I want to appeal to a higher court where I know that Ms Paseur has no ties, but where is that.

I need help but don’t know what to do next. I have an attorney but he really offers me no hope.

What is wrong with the court that my granddaughter has to be uprooted and sent to live in a home with people she has not had any regular contact with for her entire life? Is this really fair for her? And what happens if Emily relapses again? I know she will it is just a matter of time.Does my granddaughter really have to be placed in a position where she could be put in danger yet again? Please help me, I am desperate…..

Martha

I have already signed the petition and submitted my "saga" on this site. I am keeping up with your postings znd want you to know that I feel as ademant as all the others involved in this fight against violation of our children’s lives. We adults can take control of our emotions because of our lifetime experience with various violations of our rights during our life. But, when you think of the fear that is instilled in children, it is nothing but slavery and a horror story that doesnt seem to be rectified any time soon.

What I really need (and cannot find the right place on the internet) are specific guidelines and steps to follow in my legal cases where I am going to file ALL THE VIOLATIONS by the Alabama DRH over the past three years. I have kept a journal on all this with dates, names, etc., and I did have a very expensive attorney in one of my cases who was like a fish out of water here in Birmingham.

I have been searching almost daily looking for an attorney who will at least guide me in these actions. My records are very well kept. I have proof of all the violations committed; but, I have not had a reply to any of my calls, e-mails, etc. There have been a couple of very expensive attorneys that will give three first consultations (I was told by one at least 15 minutes). It is taking me longer than that to type this note.)

Since I put in so much work and supplied all the necessary things that needed to be done when DHR and my drug-addicted daughter-in-law wanted me out of her problems as I have records on that also.

I am going to do this with or without a lawyer; but I could really use the name of a website or something showing specifically the "numbers" of the law that they have broken. I know that my grandchildren has been harmed and I know that this past three years have been devastating to me and my family. My husband has had to get on Social Security and Medicare because this has consumed all of our retirement funds and has consumed our jobs. I had a home-based medical transcription where I could raise my grandchildren and stay at home. I found out twice this year when I tried to get back with this work that I cannot do it and deal with DHR in our lives.

Please let me know if there is anything within my power to help in this matter. But, right now, I need guidelines to self-file my complaints and cannot afford to go off on tangents in the court system that will be to no avail. I definitely need to get this in front of some court as the first act against me by DHR occurred in 2010. I did insist that my attorneys file a certified letter to Buckner stating that if they pursued these illegal actions that I would sue. I have spoken with several State DHR people at length, so they are aware of what has happened to my family and they know that laws have been broken and they also know that I have documents that prove all this. My GD at present has been taken away from her mother and at a Circuit Court hearing in August of this year "her parental rights" were taken away from her. But, her mother is Florence Mitchell, who is the Pike County DHR director. I have proof of this one woman’s use of her powers to keep our family from this child.

I really need some help and cannot find who to get for that help. I’m so very sure that I have valid and strong evidence that would really help this entire movement if only I can find the place to start and exactly what to do. I do not want to end up being set back in my endeavors right at the start due to some omission or improper procedure.

As I said, I did notify Alabama DHR in writing right at the start that I would be seeking legal action if they persisted. Now my GD is safely away from her mother, but they have got me tied up with unending harassment to where I cannot have her. Please let someone who can help me know.

Remember, if I can help, let me know. I would gladly allow my documents and files be used by any attorney working for this movement. I actually got my grandson back in my home within a month and the judge appointed a special CASA worker and told DHR caseworkers they could not come in my home anytime before the final Hearing. DHR had several attorneys in my case because some of them were removed from this area as I constantly refused to believe their lies. Each time I caught them in a lie, I yelled right then that they were lying and told them what the truth was and I told them loudly enough that all in hearing range heard it.

On top of all this, the court-appointed liaison at Bessemer Courthouse was reading our attorney’s e-filings off the computer and furnishing them to DHR before the judge’s clerk actually dated receipt of them. She gave this information to her husband, and he became my daughter-in-law’s private attorney in all these matters. I had to insist that my attorneys not e-file any more filings with the Court as soon as I became wise to this. My attorneys could not believe that this was happening; but, after I caught these people in the act, my attorney hand-delivered papers.

Lakeia

My story has to do with DHR in Florence, Alabama. They came to my home February 1st because someone called and reported that I beat my sons. I have never spanked my either of my children. They were called out of spite and now I am being investigated by DHR. In my opinion they do not have probable cause. Even after the caseworker went to the school and saw no bruises, they still have me under investigation for 90 days……

Michael

walker co. al dhr treats everyone unfairly,and has poor attitude,i know from previously exspierencing it in court.

Christine

They took my child, went through hell, got her back. They charged me $5000. I am garnished and they take my taxes…we barely make the bills. I am a single mom, is there any way I can get at least party of my taxes?

Randy

I’m sorry to hear of you’re plight with Alabama DHR ( Destroying Homes Relentlessly). My story differs some but is remarkably similar in the "Gestapo" type methods used. It’s interesting that I first used the "Gestapo" phrase in a complaint letter ( never answered) to the DHR home office and honestly thought that I was the first to use it. I’m seeing however that it is used over and over not just across the state of Alabama but across the entire country to describe these people. If you think that agency died in the bunker with Hitler you’re wrong. I assure you it’s still alive and well in the office of Limestone county DHR and apparently all the other county DHR offices as well. THIS HAS TO STOP!!!! The following is a short version of my story.

My name is Randy, I’m a single parent. For the past nine years I have had custody of my children, J age 11 and L age 9. My family and I have suffered thru constant court cases where my ex-wife who has continuously filed bogus claims. There are 9 years of history showing this where we have proven each time that her claims were factitious. She has vowed to continue causing trouble until someone gives her what she wants and she doesn’t hesitate to use the kids when it suits her. My family and I have managed to keep the children out of it as much as possible. This shows in the type of kids they are. They are on the A honor roll every year and active in community, school, and church events. There have been times over the course of the years when she has really put pressure on them and I have taken them to counseling just to give them an outlet. Not because they were showing problems, just to avoid any and give them a non-related third party with which to talk. These counselors h ave always found the kids to be well rounded and have good coping skills. Their mother, has never won anything in a single court case, as a matter of fact she now has less visitation than she received at the first hearing. She stays behind on her child support, another issue that eats away at her. The last court case ended just a few months ago. She lost once again all the way around and this one lasted over 2 years. She appealed it once locally and twice in Montgomery and lost on each occasion.

Amazingly right after that she files another bogus claim with DHR. Only this time she finds a sympathetic ear with they’re investigator Vonda Gilliam. Ms. Gilliam is using her office with DHR and her ignorance of the previously tried cases to attempt to get my ex what she wants thru the back door in spite of the rulings of three Circuit court judges and two appellate court hearings over the last nine years. The most recent only a couple of months ago. This is underhanded and for the sake of my children and the last decade of fighting for them I will vehemently fight the type of reckless mind set and over inflated sense of authority this agent seems to have.

About a month ago my 11 year old son J started having some issues at school. Not depressed or anger issues, just the opposite. They were cutting up and being the class clown issues. He got in trouble for it at home as well and ended up with a lengthy grounding punishment along with some other things to make him focus on proper behavior. Most of his cutting up issues were when he was with a friend and they would compete for the most class attention which landed the other boy in trouble as well. To my knowledge Ms. Gilliam has not removed the other child from his home. J’s mother, and I suspect now that some things have come to light also Ms. Gilliam, convinced J that if he would say the right things that he could go stay with his mother for a while and he wouldn’t be punished. So, Ms. Gilliam avers that J told her that he was depressed and eluded to cutting his wrists. Then he immediately went back to class and continued cutting up with his friends. J never mentioned these th oughts to anyone except Ms. Gilliam before or since. The types of issues he was having at school are the opposite of this behavior. I have a stack of correspondence between his teachers and I going over his behavior and how it was improving. His discipline is outlined in it as well. Their investigator and her supervisor refused to even look at it. J has since given me insight into his conversation with Ms. Gilliam. I don’t believe at this point that he even said what they claim. Since i wasn’t notified and they spoke to him alone then who knows how all that transpired.

This has everyone associated with it baffled. Attorneys I’ve talked to, who handle a lot of DHR cases, just shake their heads and says they’ve never seen this kind of blatant abuse of power before. DHR employees totally ignored two separate laws on two separate occasions and never checked up. They acted as though it was done all the time and I’m sure it is. It’s just never been challenged before. It will be challenged now. I feel if they aren’t capable of doing their job while at the same time honoring the laws of the State of Alabama, then they are in the wrong line of work. These kind of shortcuts are unacceptable to the citizens of Limestone County as well as the State of Alabama.

My nine year old daughter asked me with tears in her eyes during our visit if she was going to at least be able to see me for a little while on her birthday. You have no idea what it’s like to answer that question " I don’t know baby" even though you do know that according to what DHR has done the answer is no?

DHR set up a bogus ISP meeting in the middle of December. I say bogus because there was obviously no reason for me to actually be there. I came into the meeting expecting to see professional, intelligent people talking with common sense. I found none of those things. I sat with my jaw dropped and watched ignorance and arrogance on their part fill the room like a fog. All decisions had already been made even though I was just then being told of the "problem". They had me, under duress and the bogus threat of placing my children with strangers sign a safety plan to temporarily place them with the mother. Since it was set up intentionally on a Friday afternoon so that I wouldn’t have time to contact an attorney, I signed it with a clear understanding that I didn’t agree and would probably cancel it on Monday, which I did. This led us to where we are now.

So DHR in their infinite wisdom placed my children in a home with two recovering addicts one of which has multiple felony convictions, a home that the upper courts have made sure to keep them out of on multiple occasions, the latest of which was just a couple of months ago. I personally heard my son tell their investigator, Ms.Gilliam that it was different in that house. That they had knock down drag out fights over there. Guess that didn’t count for anything. BTW i passed their home inspection and drug test with ease. I guess that didn’t count for much either.

More things could be brought out here that appear to be shady and improper, not only to us but my attorney; however, this isn’t the proper venue to discuss it all. Everything, and I do mean everything points to a relationship worked out between Ms. Gilliam and the mother with very little done to hide the fact.

In trying to make sense out of all this I have researched across the State of Alabama and have been disheartened by similar horror stories like this one in all parts of Alabama. This is obviously not just a local problem. These Gestapo type tactics and untouchable type mind sets that some of their investigators exhibit have to be addressed and stopped. We, as a community and as a State deserve better. I feel the need to investigate this further. It is a horrifying thought to me as an average citizen and someone who is active in and cares about their community to think that the very organization that we established to protect our children is becoming an organization that we have to protect our children from because of some bad employees and the lack of proper oversight. These employees are not the least bit concerned that anything negative will come to them no matter what their actions. DHR is not and should not be the place you go as a last resort to get what you want when the courts, after hearing all the evidence and testimony, rule against you.

Thanks so much for this outlet. I wish you luck and may God be with you in your plight.

Paulette

Cause dhr came & got my Gndson 2/12 on 9/5 then my granddaughter 8 on 11/7 cause of lies. It was started that we were drunks & druggies. We proud them wrong. We have done everything dhr has asked. They have not been out to my house any. Autumn White THREANTEN me because I was up set. "YOU DON’T WANT TO FACE ME IN COURT. 2 TIMES We got a law suit on the police that told the lies. We had just moved in that neighbor hood. The cop lives behind me. Auturm White said that they had to take the cop’s word. Someone needs to let dhr know that they are not God like they think they are. There are alot more to this. Them in Tallapoosa County have each other’s back. All they do is lie. They are abusing kids just for spite.on the petition as we ll!

Miles

im goin threw a divorce with Judy Allen. she had our son an got drunk an passed out in her front yard. Matthew [my son] was tryin 2 get her in the house. the cops arrested her an DHR put Matthew with her sister an did not call me until 5 days later. now I cant see him an there wanting me 2 do parenting classes an all kind of stuff. I haven’t done anything wrong but im being punished. its not fair. her parents have him an they don’t like me. DHR is doin me wrong

Bonnie

I had my first daughter when i was 16 years old. i was never married to her dad, an ended the relationship shortly after my daughters first birthday bc we both needed a change. we were both young an dumb an didnt know what we were doin so our daughter stayed with his parents the majority of the time. when i left him and moved back in with my mom his parents would not let me have my daughter. (Haley) they went to the couthouse (judge Larry Mack Smith) and told them unimaginable things about me that were not true. the judge awarded them custody of Haley without me even being there or hearing my side of the story. This nightmare started Feb. 21, 2003. and since then i have fought for my daughter. I am now 27 years old. amd Haley is now 10. I have since then married an have two other children ages 7 an 5 months. i raise my youngest two children everyday and all tho they are extremly spoiled they are perfectly healthy happy children. but i havent been able to regain custody of my oldest Haley! im not the best mom in the world but i think im a pretty good one. and if i can raise my two youngest an keep[ them healthy safe and happy i dont understand why the courts still say that im unable to have her home. i only see my daughters every other sunday every other wednesday and one saturday each month. this is less than standard visitation for children under age 3 and she is 10…….. i am not perfect but i am not a drug adict or acholic. i havent been in any trouble since i was 23 years old and the trouble i was in was minor. nuthing violent and no felonies. and still i cant have my baby. i admire you for going after these people and would love to be apart of it. i will never stop fighting to get my daughter home with me. any helpful advice in my case is dearly appriciated. bless you for b eing the voice of women like me!!!

Martha

Please send me your e-mail address so that I can e-mail you the various law- breaking actions of DHR to keep me and my family from an infant granddaughter. The mother of my daughter-in-law is a DHR county director and they have done such a thorough job of covering up their acts of protecting this drug-addicted girl from having her children taken from her that my granddauther has been in harm’s way now for two years and she has been taken out of Jefferson County to the county where Florence is the director. I do have all the back-up paperwork to prove everything I can say about each act and each person involved in my three-year battle with them. I did win the case where they actually took my 10-yo grandson, whom we have had full guardianship and custody since he was less than 2-yo.

Karen

Is anyone doing anything about the horrible corruption run by the case workers in the DHR system. Why is it still okay from the system to totally distroy lives. They do not care about the chilren or the family. They only think of foster care and make damn sure the child never gets out or sees their family again. Then they hide all the records that they told the lies on. All these people need to be fired and the FBI needs to investigate the DHR system. It is not an honest or caring agency…Their concern is to put kids away in foster care which is a child’s prison. What, when, how are you going to protect the children and families being ripped apart by this horrible sick system???????

Ashley

Children are the heart and soul of the world and need to be protected.

Danna

I am a victim of DHR and family court judges.

Sabrina

My name is Sabrina Hice and I have 2 boys. Their dad and I was not ever married. When my yougest son was 1 or maybe give or take alittle time. I dont remember exactly the time. Anyway I have been dealing with DHR to help me get Childaupport for my 2 boys. Their Dad paid it at first for maybe a year. Then he got to where he would pay at all. I went to court every 3 months. The judge would say we will give you another court date. So we would go like that and the DHR they would say ,(we going to put him in jail). I have heard that so many times. Well he (my kids dad) got finally like 13 or more contemups against him. I thought well now maybe something might go my way. Boy I was wrong. They gave him a lawyer. Well I am the one with the kids and I am the one that has to buy clothes, food for them to eat. I thou ght I need the lawyer not him. But, I dont agree with the way they are doing me. I know I am not the only one in the world that deals with DHR. I think it is unfair the system and the laws are also to a certain point. I just wish that DHR would help me more.

Lucille

DHR DOSE NOT PROTECT OUR KIDS, MY GRANDCHILD WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A UNSAFE HOME IF I HAD NOT WENT TO COURT WITH HER MOTHER, MY SON WAS UNABLE TO GIVE HER A SAFE HOME TO HAVE VISTS WITH HIM, AND DHR DONT COLLECT SUPPORT UNLESS THEY DONT HAVE TO DO THE WORK,, STOP DHR AND OUR FAMILY COURT , OUR KIDS ARE PAYING THE PRICE, ALONG WITH US TAX PAYERS . OUR COURT AND DHR IS SO CORRUPT WITH DRUG USE AND THEFT AND PLANE WRONG LAWS THEY USE AS A GUIDE, OUR PEOPLE AND KIDS SHOULDNT PAY THE PRICE AND THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW. COURT WORKERS I KNOW SMOKE DOPE, DRINK, AND MORE DRUGS YET THEY DONT HAVE TO GET A TEST OR OBEY THE VERY LAWS THEY USE ON OUR PEOPLE HERE IN LAUDERDALE COUNTY ALA.IVE SEEN DHR HAVE MY CASE FOR 20 YRS AND LOCATE IS ALL WAS EVER DONE ON A 65000 DOLLERS OWED FOR BACK SUPPORT. IVE SEEN OUR COURT WORKERS DRUNK AND DRIVE AND MORE . I PRAY SOMEONE WILL LISTEN ABOVE THEM AND STOP WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO OUR KIDS. AND OUR FAMILEYS

Gayla

We was wronged by DHR on more than one occasion!!

Chris

People. Keep. Telling. Lies and getting strangers. To say things. And keep dhr coming. Out I even know whoos doing it. And got a restrain. Order on them now. My house is not good enough. Or wife has to work to

Danna

DHR and Judge Billy Jackson have ignored my concerns and allowed my ex-husband to continue having custody of my 2 youngest children even though they had had claims of both physical and sexual abuse from multiple people. They assisted my ex-husband in keeping my children from me, my parents, and their older sister.

Darlene

Lauderdale County GAL and DHR LIED in my case. I have lots of well documented proof and witnesses. Alabama Codes were NOT followed, and I have not seen my son in four years. I am not allowed contact or visitation. Here’s a brief synopsis of my case: Hi, my name is Darlene [Name removed for privacy]. In Alabama, on August 19, 2008, a hearing was held in the Lauderdale County Court to determine the custody of my son, a 12-year-old who had been in my sole legal and physical custody since May 1998 when Limestone County Circuit Court granted an uncontested divorce. Our lives have since been turned upside down by unconstitutional actions of the Lauderdale Court. The case began on April 11, 2008, with nothing more than a hand-written letter to the judge from an estranged grandparent. This was not a proper petition to the court, per Alabama Code Section 12-15-52(c) which states that "the petition shall set forth with specificity" what the petition is asking, to include "the facts regarding jurisdiction; the name, address of the child." That Record also shows that the grandmother didn’t pay a filing fee to the court. Therefore, my son and I were never properly before the court.

According to the Code of Alabama, "provided a showing of verified evidence of abuse or neglect" evidence required (and there was none), a hearing is required within 72 hours of issuance of order." The "hearing" was scheduled 12 days after the emergency pendente lite order was issued, and it wasn’t an evidentiary hearing, nor a dependency hearing. I did NOT go before the judge, nor the judge or any attorney instruct me as what was at issue, other than a "custody case" held in a civil court, not a juvenile court. In addition, §12-15-53(b) of the Alabama Code states that a copy of the petition shall be attached to each summons and there was not. In fact, there is not a "Motion for Injunctive/Preliminary Relief" on record; the record shows that the Petition on docket record nothing more than that hand-written personal letter, not a sworn affidavit, written to the trial court, which ends with "am seeking your help."

Again, this is not a proper petition with the court. At issue here is an erroneous finding of dependency and (what amounts to) a termination of parental rights as I have been denied all rights to my child. The trial court based its ruling on hearsay and inaccurate testimony as well as evidence which is questionable as to its origin and relevance, and evidence obtained through questionable means. When trial courts rule on the removal of a child from his parent(s), it is paramount that rules of procedure, including State Codes and Federal Statutes, be adhered by the trial court making this life-altering decision. Not only should best interest be shown, but the trial court should specially state how a change in custody would benefit the child more than not. These rules of procedure did not occur in my case.

On August 21, 2008, the Lauderdale County trial court ordered, adjudged, and decreed the that my son is dependent, without "clear and convincing evidence, competent, material, and relevant in nature" as required by §12-15-1(10), Alabama Code 1975. A dependency hearing was not held by the trial court, I was not informed that dependency was at issue, nor was I informed of any rights whatsoever regarding any of the trial court’s proceedings.

Section 26-14-6.1(3) of the Alabama Code states that all reports of child abuse and neglect shall be investigated by the Department of Human Resources. DHR was specifically excluded from the pick-up order on April 11. However, I went to DHR for help, and they initiated a Safety Plan on May 8, 2008, one month after seizure of my son by the court. I voluntarily cooperated, completing drug testing and a psychological evaluation. DHR’s investigation was concluded on June 25, 2008, with a finding of "not indicated" to allegations of abuse/neglect.

This should have been the end of the case. However, Judge Sandlin granted legal and physical custody of my son, without stating why a change in custody would benefit the child and without investigation of Appellee’s fitness as a parent, contrary to §12-15-1.1(2) which instructs the courts "to remove the child from the custody of his or her parents only when it is judicially determined to be in his or her best interest".

Section 30-3-4.1(e) of the Alabama Code of 1975 states that "the court shall make specific written findings of fact in support of its ruling." Specific written findings of fact should have been included in the court order, but they were not. The judge denied any visitation contrary to the goal of Alabama Code Section 12-15-1.1(1), which states that the courts should strive to "preserve and strengthen the child’s family whenever possible, including improvement of home environment." The judge found me in contempt of court "due to her deliberate violation of this court’s orders" and ordered Appellant to serve five days in jail, without recognizing on record that I had filed for Emergency Jurisdiction, Protection from Harassment (for myself and my son), and Emergency Child Protection on behalf of Minor Child in Maine as provided by the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA, Section 204 and Alabama Code §30-3b-204.)

Due process errors by the trial court included a denial of Appellant’s right of cross-examination, as provided by §12-21-137, which belongs to "every party as to the witnesses called against him," as well as lack of notice of the hearing and no legal representation. I have not seen my son since Sept. 2, 2008, when he was pulled from my arms in Bangor Maine, begging to stay. Permanent termination of parental rights has been described as "the family law equivalent of the death penalty in a criminal case." In re Smith (1991), 77 Ohio App.3d 1, 16, 601 N.E.2d 45, 54. Therefore, parents "must be afforded every procedural and substantive protection the law allows." Then how is it that my son was taken from me without us having any protection whatsoever under our own Constitutional law?

My son was "legally kidnapped" by the Lauderdale Family Court under the rule of former judge Jimmy Sandlin. Many Alabama codes were not followed, and our Constitutional rights to Due Process and a fair and unbiased hearing were violated. DHR found no cause whatsoever to remove my son from my custody, but did nothing to reunite us — DHR DID NOT DO THEIR JOB.

Kimberly

I left my husband in the summer of 2009 for raping a 14 yr. old and I have another child from previous before him who is now 8 yrs old. We have two children together, a boy who is now 7 and a girl age 4. The judge granted me full custody of my children in 2010 and when I started seeing somebody else my ex-husband and his parents filed for custody and and we agreed to joint custody. Well, when Judge Jackson came in office they refiled and he gave my exes parents custody. He is a convicted sex offender and lives with them. He gets to see the children everyday and I had to start seeing them supervised. I now get them every other weekend which is not fair. I have a big four bedroom house and everything they need: a full time job, I even have a perfect record and they keep pushing us off. I had to refile a week ago. He raped a 14 year old and my ex-inlaws won’t let me see my kids any other times than what is in guidelines. My children are tore apart by everything. He is a sex offender and his parents think that they need to have control over my life. I am married to the same guy I met after him and we have a one year old tofether. He is so wonderful to my children. They keep making complaints against him to the gaurdian ad litem everytime I get them and I cant get anybody to see what is really going on. My kids are my life.

I would like to see how all these felons and rapists can get custody of thier children, but a mother who has a perfect record and everything to provide for her children and who wants her kids cant get them.

These stories have been edited for punctuation and grammar.

Misty

I don’t know how they do what they do in Lauderdale County, but they have been getting away with it for a long time. My children were taken in 2006, after fighting for 2 years, DHR told me to sign my rights over, or they would take them. They offered a distant cousin a financial incentive to lie and keep my children from me. Afraid and alone in a state that I didn’t know, I signed the papers. I was afraid they would put my children in seperate homes and I would never know where to find them. DHR in Lauderdale County is corrupt. I wish there is something you could do for us mothers who fought and lost our rights anyway in this area. The last 7 years has been torture for a mother like me.

I may not have been perfect, but I never hurt my children, I never harmed them. I was a young mother who needed help, but instead was robbed of the only thing a mother should never be robbed of, her children. The family they are placed with spanks them with belts and paddles if they do not do exactly as she has told them. She brags about how she had her husband bend their 18 yr old over their bed while they spanked him with paddles. They keep my children from having any contact with me. She puts them both in a bedroom in the middle of the house, next to her bedroom, so she can constantly watch their every move. I feel she does this so that they have no way of telling anyone about what goes on with them. I have contacted DHR about these concerns since they placed my children and they refuse to listen to my calls.

I tried to contact Angel Geist, a social worker for dhr which supposibly spoke to my children while under foster care. I wanted to know if she did these visits away from the home and away from the foster parent that they are afraid of so they could open up, she has never called me back. Does anyone know what I can do since I signed my rights over so foolishly thinking that there was no other option. DHR never contacted any grandparents before placing the children up for adoption. They lied and told me they had, yet they all tell me they never heard anything from them. Thier father was in prison and they said he had no rights, but never contacted his parents.

I suffer from a mental illness, which i am able to control with my proper medication. While DHR put me through hell, I had no medical assistance, and was unable to take my medication. DHR was aware of my circumstance and only used that against me. If you can pay a family to take my children, why could you not have payed for my medication so I could properly care for them myself. Instead you have persisted only destroying a family. I have been through a lot in life. I know what its like to have no where to go, nothing to eat, to be raped and abused, to feel scared and alone. Yet nothing, NOTHING compares to the fee ling of knowing your babies want and need you, and there is nothing you can do to be there with them.

How DHR stole my children and then sold them away from me! I moved my children and myself away from the state that we had always know as home, to move to this town in Alabama to receive help from a distant family, which I had not seen since my childhood. Moving here was my biggest mistake! I have lived a difficult life. Pregnant at 15, married at 16, abused and mistreated, mental disorders/depression, homeless, addicted, alone, loving mother helpless to helping her own children, and then trampled over when I reached out for help from people whom I had trusted. That is exactly what kind of life I have lived. Yet I remain loving, kind, giving, caring, strong, determined, and willing to do anything I could to help save my children from a life of suffering that I had felt. I admit that I was not a perfect mother. Who can say they are?

Who can say they could have been a better mother if they would have been 16? Therefore, a perfect mother, I was not. A mother that is willing to sacrifice, and suffer her children to be happy, and maintain ability to protect each other during their time of much desperation, that is I. I have never been charged or convicted of any drug related offence within the court of law. Nor a physical or sexual abuse, no child abuse, or neglect, no violent offence, nothing of any of the above nature. Yet DHR took it upon their selves to take my parental rights from me and place my children for adoption, or demand me to sign them over willingly to be adopted by a distant family member with assistance from the state until they were legal adults.

The attorney whom they provided me with instructed me that I would not win, and that I would only be embarrassed and forced out of rights if I took it to trial. The things against me to determined this was my medical treatment not met. Yet they paid and continue to pay another family to keep your children from you. When it came to paying to help my medical treatment, it was not within the budget. I needed to prove that I was able to afford to take care of these needs myself if able to take care of my children’s needs.

The n ext claim against me, maintaining a 2-year relationship with a man, which I am now married to, while I was not legally separated from my estranged husband (in prison). They also stated his past criminal record, which were several years before the beginning of our relationship. We then became forced to end our relationship. The only relationship that I did never received any physical abuse. Then once ending the relationship, I was unable to maintain the stability of a three bedroom home, while also paying $425 a month child support at the same time.

Then DHR said I was unable to provide stability for myself, let alone my children. During this period of me struggling to pay child support to them, they paid a foster family to over $900 a month to keep my children away from me. Then they encouraged the foster parent to think ahead about adoption, and that if the children were above the age seven they would be continued to be paid this income until the children were of age. Once they adopt these children DHR completely steps out of the scene and never check up on the children, only maintain that monthly income to the family. It is suppose to support the children. Without any observation, how do they know how these children are being taken care of? They would never want to reinvest a family they choose to adopt these so-called ‘orphaned’ children in their care. You would be amazed how many could care less about the children; it is the income that is appealing.

I know these things because they adopted mine within my family. The process to become a foster parent is so simple. You don’t even need to be drug screened, you take all of your forms and test home so that anyone can perform them for you, you can keep the children you adopt you can place them within the same bedroom area while providing 2 of your adult children with private rooms of their own, which they are allowed to bring their various female relations overnight for sexual activity, yo u are allowed to take the income and provide new for their own biological children, while in re-turn providing the adopted children with her children’s hand me downs, or yard sale finds. They are allowed to strip the mother and any of the children’s relatives from any contact or rights, even while your children beg to see you and be able to talk and visit you in their home at least.

Remember, they have to be at least 7 to receive income, so they very well know and remember the only family they ever knew. Then they are not even required to ensure that our children receive counseling and mental treatment afterwards, even after they tell you they want to kill themselves. Adoptive parents can also have their own children arrested for minor under the influence without checking on these kids they are paying them to take care of better than their own parents are. They are also allowed to physically able to ‘spank’, children with belt’s or wooden objects until they are of the age of leaving the home. These are all things that are happening to my children at this moment and there is nothing I can do about, since they forced me to sign them over or take them away. There is so much more to this story.

Aerial

I’m telling a story concerning the Lauderdale DHR took a close friends children her name is Faith Rogers she has been going through this for approx 111 days now to get her girls back doing everything DHR tells her but the situation isn’t getting any better I’m scared for her health this is really taking a toll on her . She has really been getting the run around on her case and I think she needs help from someone who knows her situation.

Charles

Not treated fairly!!!!

Pamala

I’m tired of seeing good parents investigated, while lousy parents keep their kids to get a check but lets someone else take actual care of them.

Faith

IAM IN SYSTEM FOR BS NOBODY WILL LISTEN NEED HELPP NOW IV COMPLIED THY MAKEN CASES WORSE DUE TO HAPPENINGS AND FALSE ACCUSATIONS NO HOME COMP CALL I WAS GOING TO DO A PICKET 8/17 AT C.HOUSE TOLD NEVER SEE KIDS AGEIN

Benjamin

Government of the people, by the people, for the people!

Misty

My rights have been terminated and my children were adopted out by the Lauderdale County DHR system. My children are still surrering today, and no one will hear my cry’s for their help for them. I finally have a chance for someone to hear my story.

Treece

my grandchilderen was taken from their mother

Tonya

Faith "Rogers and her kids. The girls have been taken from their mom and its not right. Had enough trama in their life

Jennifer

Well it all started back in Oct 2010, DHR got involved with my family and I don’t really know for sure who call them. They came in my home got all four of my kids. From what they tell me the reason is "the house the way it was" and "the kids going school dirty and unkempt" which is a lie! My kids never went to school dirty or unkempt i always took care of my kids, that is what you do when u become a mother but i went through courts after court and ISP meeting, well they want me and the babies daddy to split up cause they said we were in a domestic relationship which come think of it was but now it been two years and DHR still got them!

I have done everything in my power to fight to get them back but my in-laws got my two oldest kids for now and my two youngest kids are in foster care which they been bounce back n forth in foster care since DHR took them, but all I’m try to do now is get them back they talk about my rights in putting the twins up for adoption and I’m try stop that from happening and am trying to fight to get my two oldest kids back to cause. Now i found out they put my oldest son in a so call hospital for his behavior, I found this out at an ISP meting which to me is unfair.

Nobody called me let me know anything about it, there more to this then anybody knows. Something is not write about all this and I’m going get to the bottom of it. What gives them rights to come in take kids from a home and a family that loves them so much? Well if anybody can help me please call me or text me let me know like i said I have taken this in my own hands and am going get to the bottom of things

Pamala

I’m tired of seeing good parents investigated, while lousy parents keep their kids to get a check but lets someone else take actual care of them.

Joel

It is a persons constitutional right to defend themselves in a court of law. What happened to "innocent till PROVEN guilty" DHR and Alabama courts need someone to tell them about that!!!!!!!! This corruption has to STOP!!! I have been witness to the pain and suffering this one sided system causes. There are hundreds of families being torn apart based on no more than FALSE accusations! These people need to be heard in our courts, not just the accusers. How else can the truth be found!

Tracy

I also have been done wrong by judge jackson. my nephew that i had raised off and on since he was six weeks old but fully when he was two years old. was taking away from me in june. when his biological father got a letter from dhr stating that my nephew didnt live with his mom (my sister).my sister has a mental and drug problem. so i took my nephew in as he was my own son. His biological father never had anything to do with him all these years never called or tried getting in contact with him. then all of a sudden hes taking away because im the aunt and i have no rites. I dont understand how they can just take a child out of a stable home and put them in a home where they dont know them . its not fair to the children,according to judge jackson children and aunts have no say or rights now how is that fair .

Becky

Put my granddaugher in a dangerous situation.

Christy

Dhr took a baby from its mother in the hospital was very rude the reason they gave was because she didn’t take her bi poor Medicane while pregnant she thought it would hurt the baby she is young and needs help! They took the baby on Friday she had to go down there on we’d cause she has not heard anything from them! I know there job is to make sure children are okay but what about the parents you could at least call make sure they are okay and give up dates

Wanda

All you have to do is pull up my name & you will understand !!! These KIDS working for DHR really think they are Qualified to make rational decisions !!! *WRONG, most of the workers dont even have children!!!! Katherine Watson the leader of DHR is the worse one !!!!

Stacey

I HAVE BEEN BULLIED BY THE SYSTEM,AND LOST 2 YRS OF CRITICAL TIME WITH MY CHILDREN,I VERY MUCH SUPPORT THIS DECISION.THEY DESTROY FAMILIES SOMETIMES. ITS NIT ALWAYS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF CHILDREN.AND EVERY WORKER I HAD USED BOOK KNOWLEDGE AND DID NOT EVEN HAVE CHILDREN.SI HOW CAN THEY KNOW A MOTHERS LOVE.

Judy

DHR in Alabama can remove a mentally challenged child from a loving home,away from family, all behind closed doors, no legitimate grounds…then place in a home with same people that have abused her in the past! Break every law to do it! Lauderdale Co. will give DHR all the court dates they ask for, but the other side never gets A SINGLE DAY in their court. How can this happen? Total abuse of civil rights. Outcome: Child placed in danger,sibling devastated!! HELP STAND UP AGAINST UNJUST ACTIONS IN ALABAMA

Patty

I feel like they say and do things that is personal that has nothing to do with the cases. They take personal lives and tear families apart instead of helping them. These poor children that has family that can help they find reasons why the family members can’t see these children. Plus when children get taken from their moms because they don’t have a steady place to live and treat the mother like she hurt the children. Records can show these 3 children has gotten hurt bad enough to be taken to hospital and they think the Foster parent is still the right option. Reminder the mother never did let them get hurt. They need a BIG CHANGE!!!

Elizabeth

I have seen first hand the way DHR operates! The child best interest is not their priority!!!! One child was put into a home that the mothers boyfriend beat her bottom so black and blue that you couldn’t see the crack between her buttocks! the mother’s boyfriend stated he did it and didn’t care according to the case worker. DHR then put her back in home said she was in a loving family home??

Most recent is this case with a teen that has MR and is reunited with a parent that was terminated of all parental rights by a judge and is now reunited with the said mother?? The DHR used the system to allow the biological mother that was terminated of parental rights and her life partner to become foster parents?? This is what best for this teen with MR??

There is no where for anyone to go for help when DHR takes over! The guardian was accused of mental abuse when appearing in court on another instance involving the said teen! There was no notice, NO Nothing! She was not able to even get a lawyer until after they had already taking custody of the child! The guardian never once was able to have a day in court allowing her to defend herself!

There are to many children in this world that being abused and needing foster care! Me personally don’t see how can you trust a system that is completely one sided and give anyone a certification to be a foster parent!

Children are at risk we need to put a stop to corruption in this DHR system!!! We need a system that we can trust to do what is best for all the children that is stuck in this corrupt system!!

Deirtra

DHR has taken my kids. I moved our here to AL from Knox. DHR became involved three months ago. I have done everything they have asked me to do to be reunited with my children. I had to get a place of my own and find employment, which I did. I’ve been working for three months now. Been going to parenting classes voluntary. Left the man I was with for a year in a half. DHR said he was my hold up and reasoned I didn’t have my children because of his background. I still don’t have my kids back. DHR had told me my kids couldn’t go to another county, but they can put my kids in Decatur. I only get to see them once a week for two hours.

I live in Florence. Saturday the fourth I got a call from the children at home saying my oldest son who is nine hadn’t eaten in two nights. The first night they made him set and watch the other kids eat. The second night he didn’t like sloppy joes but he did like the french fries and the salad. He was told he had to eat all on his plate or go to his room. So they made him go to bed without eating. I don’t know how a DHR worker that doesn’t have kids can judge anyone. Also they wouldn’t know the love between a mother and her child. Something has to be done.

This story has been edited for punctuation and grammar.

Hallie

Because these agencies have failed my son and will continue to until one of two things happen- his father kills him, or by some miracle someone listens to me and gives me custody back.

Donna

My story is a complicated one. But what have should’ve been a simple custody hearing has turned into a nightmare. DHR took my children from me based on the lie of a Sheriff’s deputy who happened to be good friends with my ex. When we went to court the Guardian Ad Litum failed miserably to do her job. It clearly was a one sided case. But my case was decided before it even went to court. Why? Because my ex father-in-law campaigns for the Colbert County judges. He actually brags about one of the judges giving him Alabama football tickets. The G.A.L. did NOT do an investigation. She never once spoke to any of my family members or witnesses. They accused me of being on drugs, even though I have passed over 13 drug tests. Instead they give my kids to a man who recently punched my daughter in the face with his fist, pulled a knife on her and cut up her clothes, put a gas can on the stove & threatened to burn the house down. He told my kids he was going to blow my f***n head off and burn my body down in my house. When I went to file a complaint, the same Sheriff’s deputy called my father-in-law and told him I was trying to have him arrested. Both of my children have told DHR and the Guardian Ad Litum about the abuse, but the keep ignoring us. I’ve reported each incident to DHR and they failed to make even one visit and NEVER followed up. They have torn me and my kids apart and it is killing us. I’ve been so distraught since this began over a year ago. I haven’t known where else to turn since the courts were on his side for some reason. I will help you fight this injustice. I am NOT afraid to speak out against any of them including the judges. Someone has to put a stop to this. I am a dang good mother. My only crime was I tried to escape with my kids.

DHR and the Colbert County Judicial System put my children in the care of a very abusive man who is also a racist. He thought it would be funny to put a KKK robe on my kids. I was horrified by this and I’ve tried my best to teach my kids that there is no difference in color in God’s eyes. His sister is married to a former Grand Knight of the KKK. You can only imagine the names he speaks in front of my children. He said all n****** deserve a bullet between their eyes and much much more. He hits my children, throws things at them, curses them and hits his wife in front of the children. I have told both Colbert County DHR and the Guardian Ad Litum, Holly Gaston, and I was told by both that nothing could be done because (and I’m quoting here), ‘everyone is entitled to their own opinion"!

The Colbert County (and others) are corrupt and should be stopped. I was informed that judge coker, holly gaston (the supposed guardian ad litum) and DHR Saundra Holland have been reading on this website and comments about it have made their way to me. Here’s what I have to say about that….I don’t care. You took my kids away because I was drawing unemployment and my license were suspended only because my insurance lapsed. There was NO situation EVER that proves my children were ever in danger. And there never will be. So you put them with abusive and very racist grand-parents. DHR never even made a phone call when it was reported the grand=father punched my daughter in her face and pulled a knife on her and tore up her clothes. It’s not about justice. It’s about who you know and getting the right lawyer who happens to be good friends with the judge. Or simply campaigning for the judges. My ex-father-in-law actually goes around bragging about it.

If you are all serious about doing something about this corruptive behavior of the Court Systems, then email me at [email protected]. It’s time we stand on some streets with a few pickets and start making a lot of phone calls. I love my children so much. And they have been put thru mortal hell because of the few actions by the powers that be. Let’s band together and put a stop to this. Please email me. LET’S DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

What kind of Mother would I be if I didn’t fight for my kids…even if the fight kills me, I will always fight for them. Y’all have stolen something precious away from us that can never be replaced. Time. LISTEN TO THE CHILDREN!!!

We voted these people into their positions…we can vote them out. Come on people….let’s do something about it. We should be the voice for our kids whose voices doesn’t seem to matter. It is time for us to speak out against this Good Ole Boy system in Colbert County. It shouldn’t be about who can hire the better lawyer, or who just so happens to be friends with the judges and other law officials. I wish for one week they could experience the hell me & my children went thru (and all the black eyes, bruises, name calling,etc). You do not know what goes on behind closed doors. Let’s fight together to let the public know and their constituents know the truth. Every time you tell your story, it does make a difference. I’ve already received threats from writing on this web site. But I will keep writing. I love my kids. I am nothing without them. And I want them home. I will never stop fighting for them. Never

Can someone explain this one for me…. I lost custody of my kids to a man who is abusive (physically,emotionally, verbally) but is friends with a lot of the judges. My daughter calls me one day and tells me that when she got out of school there was a man there who approached her and asked her if she remembered him. When she said no, he told her he was her lawyer (the Guardian Ad Litum the 1st time). When I asked my daughter why he was there, she said he came to pick up some campaign signs that he had made for him. Yes..he was campaigning for Mr. Rosser. Now what is even worse, as I was waiting for the Judge Coker’s decision, I called several times. The last time I called, Judge Coker’s secretary thought I was the Grand- Mother and whispered that she wasn’t supposed to say anything, and don’t tell anyone I told you, but yall won. When she realized what she had done she tried covering herself by saying that she thought she was talking to someone about school supplies! I asked her why would anyone need a lawyer for school supplies. She kept apologizing to me. Judge Coker, Holly Gaston, Daniel Rosser, Mitch Hayes….you do not realize the pain you have caused my family. And you can’t even begin to fathom the hurt you brought upon my children and myself. Two years you have stolen time from me and my children that we can never get back. I am a good Mother. I work hard and I’m a good person. When a child tells you about a man putting a gas can on a stove or a belt around his wife’s neck…do you really think that’s the better place for them? I will never have faith in the system any more because of the BS you allowed to take place. I don’t have a lot of money… apparently that is what it takes. After all…my ex-father-in-law brags that he put $15,000 in yalls pockets to make sure the kids stay with them.

Mrscall

Took my childen without cause and placed them with strangers doing more harm than any false accusation they can make.

Rob

20:15, Jan 22, Mrs. Vicki Manning, AL I feel like my civil rights have been violated and that my grandchildren have been legally abducted. This has been going on for almost two years and they are caught up in DHR’s payroll. Their yearly budget is based on how many children are in their custody the previous year. Our children are their source of income. Granted some children need protection but some come from families that have no problems and are caught up in the system as pawns in the money making scheme. Reform needs to be made to protect our children from the harmful situations they are being placed in. People are hateful and vendictive and can call DHR and create a living nightmare for the children. I furnished ten references to DHR and none have been contacted in order to confirm my respectability. They tend to believe any lie anyone tells rather than to listen to the truth that can be proven.. PLEASE HELP THE CHILDREN!

Diane

It is not only the family court system but all courts are corrupt in Lauderdale County Alabama. We have had corrupt judges and lawyers on an estate case & a workmens comp case. (Judges: Dewey Mitchell, Mike Jones, Gil Self). The FBI needs to investigate these courts & judges. They are denying all citizens civil rights.

Cynthia

I believe no agency should have unbridled powers against another without repercussions. Lauderdale County DHR removed my granddaughter from an abusive home at the complaint of the MATERNAL grandmother who had evidence of abuse and placed her in the home of the mother’s best friend and then placed her right back in the abusive home without ever contacting the paternal side of her family…namely child’s father or paternal grandparents.

Tina

My name is Tina, I live in Tuscumbia Alabama which is located in Colbert County just across the bridge from Florence Alabama and Lauderdale County. On Dec 26, 2011 I was attacked by my ex husband who blacked my eye then filed a Domestic Violence charge against me. The police report states that HE had no marks on him at all. I have not had my children in my care since that date. That is almost 8 months. Based on lies and false allegations I was immediately issued an order of no visitation with my children by Judge Hatcher. ( I have no criminal backgound prior to this.) Two weeks prior to the incident Judge Hatcher had sent word through our attorneys that if anything else came across Her desk in our case she would put somebody in jail. That is why I didnt file when He HIT me…under the threat of JAil by Judge Hatcher! Records will show that it was Denise Burch, Attorney for my Ex Husband that had filed so many pleadings, not my attorney. With in these pleadings Denise Burch included “Testimony” from a THIRD PARTY (who to my knowledge is not a licensed Counselor in the state of Alabama) which is against the Ethical Standards of Practice for an Attorney in Alabama. Because it gives the Judge prior knowledge of the case before court. Denise Burch continued to file false allegations against me with the pleadings and included known lies which court documents will prove through the Colbert County Records Dept. when the DOMESTIC VIOLENCE charge was issued our Asst. DA. KYLE BROWN told my attorney TWICE that HE was not going to prosecute this case upon seeing pictures of my BLACK EYE. Then he decided to prosecute in my opinion after he realize that my EX HUSBANDS sister had kids who attened the same PRIVATE SCHOOL where his children go and in fact his children was friends with her children. Also the DIS TRICT ATTORNEY’s children attend /attended the same school. And I will mention that my Ex Husbands SISTER was a prior member of the Board there at the Private School which is COVENANT CHRISTAIN and her children have attended there in the past and present. I was told by my ex that his sister would use her “pull” to keep my kids away from me and it seems that in my opinion SHE HAS. YEs the good ole buddy system is alive and well in Tuscumbia. My children have been brain washed and aleinated from their Mother and My family for over 8 months. They have been put on the stand to testify against their own Mother that their daddy didnt do anything. What he did was done behind the door where my boys could not see it. As most abusers do. My constitutional Rights have and continue to be VIOLATED everyday that my children are kept away from me. Attorneys such as Denise Burch are allowed to include "suggested testimony" to Judges that is against the Canons of Ethics as well as the Ethica l Standards for Attorneys in the state of Alabama. My case for custody has been put off 4 times by Judge Hatcher and the DA’s office has told me that they can not protect me now against my ex because there is now a pending Appeals with there office. there is so much more to my story that will be told. They want us to shut up and sit down and do nothing. I for one will not do this I have a Right to express myself and to OBJECT when a wrong has been committed. Is is not and should not be legal what they are doing to families, and are allowing Attorneys and Judges to do at will to tear families apart in such a manner. God have Mercy on the citizens of Lauderdale and Colbert Counties and across our nation who get caught up in the system that we call JUSTICE! I also failed to mention that not only do the DA and ASST. DA’s children attend Covenant Christain but also Judge Hatchers children have/do as well. And my ex sister in law is neighbor to a former judge from Colbert County. In both my cases, the Domestic Violence and Custody Case those who reside or prosecute are all famaliar with my ex sister in law in my opinion! And they want to call that FAIR and IMPARTIAL ????

John

I know a lot of honest people in Colbert county that have Been in adequately accused of wrong doings by dhr and the people that work there do not do their jobs they act like they r the law I’ve personally called them regarding a matter with my nieces well being and have never got a call back or anything from them so someone needs to put a stop to these people playing with people’s lives a scaring these children like they do thanks

John Call.
Sheffield Alabama

Rachel

DHR has no rules that apply to them. They can lie if they have to. They are above the police when it comes to power, & that is not what I call protection. The things DHR does is USUALLY not in the best interest of the children! !!!

Courtney

dhr is the abuser in my childrens lives causing more damage than any bs allegation myour unstable caseworker created to set forth the actions to rip a seven yr old and a one yr old awsy from thietr mom and dad and any family. god have mercy on the souls of those that would hurt the innocent.

absolute power corrupts absolutely

Christopher

I also have been treated unfairly by DHR and the court system.

Travis

No agency should have the right to make decisions without being overseen by a higher authority.

Margaret

MY NAME IS MARGARET, MY GRANDCHILD WERE TAKEN OUT OF THEIR HOME,IN OCT 2010.BECAUSE OF A INSIDENT WITH MY X-HUSBAND 17 YEARS AGO, DHR REFUSED TO P LACE THE CHILDREN IN MY HOME ,I HAVE SPEND OVER THREE THOUSAN DOLLORS TRYING IN LEGAL FEES TRYING TO GET MY GRANDCHILD WHO I RAISED ALL THEIR LIFE,I HAVE BEEN TRYED, PROSCUTED, AND SENCENED IN DHR EYES BECAUSE OF SOMETHING I WAS ACCUSED OF 17 YEARS AGO,WAS NEVER CHARGED OR RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP ON,I HAVE ALL OF THESE IN APPEALS CORTH, I WILL FIGHT TILL I CAN NO LONGER BREATH TO BE BACK WITH THEIR FAMILY,,I WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON THESE KIDS,

Tammy

For justice and families done unfair!

Debra

I was unfairly treated by DHR.

Rebecca

Hurray. It’s about time this issue is being addressed!

Kathleen Raskin

Never acknowledged my rights as a custodial guardian that was court ordered .

The Judge refused to hear me in court after giving me a court date and flying over 3000 mile.

Unfair Judge helping to hide what DHR did wrong !

Most importantly they put a mentally challenged child in harms way , she is still in danger !

Not One Person Cares in this system , Not One – Many calls made for 1 year ! Never any return calls . Just a huge circle ! Shame on them all !

Nathan

I have been treated unfairly by DHR.

Tabitha

Hey My Name is Tabitha and my son was wrongfuly took from me by dhr in the state of Alabama! Someone got mad at me and call the police and made up lies about child abuse my charges was later Dissmissed! Now dhr is saying because I told the truth about my PAST history of drug abuse is way they are saying I need a safety plan but if I would have lied I would have been in more trouble I done got sober when this come up! Dhr would have never been called if I wasnt lied on! My son is acting totally diffentt and is really not himself he is already faceing a life with his ADHD but all this has just made him act worst than before!

Darren

There is no justice in the family courts

Tori

Faith Rogers parental rights have been violated. Her children have been wrongfully removed from a more than suitable home. She deserves to have her children as much as any other fit parent.

Darren

DHR and Jimmy Sandlin both have done their share of trampling. It may be funny to run over innocent people but one day when he faces god their won’t be any bailiff to save his butt.DHR was supposed to come visit my home and make a decision on how fit my place was. They never showed up and took sides with ex mother in law even tho she had been arrested and was charged with domestic violence against me. They was also being investigated for insurance fraud. This didn’t matter because I was a man. One day these people will answer to a higher power than the local court system.

Eric

because there are durg abuse mothers and convicted child melisters in are county that are gettin custdy of there childern with no problems and there are mothers with full tim jobs and no crimnal recorde whats so ever and no drug problems that cant get there kids

April

My son got into some trouble, and as his birth mother the state had to call me and inform me of his getting into trouble. I talked with the lady for bout 20 mins and answered her questions as best as I could, then she told me call back with anything else I remembered, I did, a bunch of times, never got any response back, now ive learned thanks to this site that she has been re leaved of her job, thank god!

Jennifer

My children are my life. My children lives and my life has been destroyed by the lauderdale county DHR. DHR is supposed to help families they tore my world apart when they took my children away from me. I dont understand how that happened. All I feel now is the pain in my heart for losing my children,how can the worker sit up their and tell something different from what she told me all the accusations that were made and the mupilation that was used against me my rights were violated I was told to stay away from my husband and then I was told if I wanted to keep my children I would pull together with my husband, I didnt know what to do I was confused and afraid of loseing my children,the dhr use my mental illeness againsted me,the only reason for that is that I was not takeing my medication for my bipoler due to me being pregnate I didnt want my unborn child to have birth defects thats the only reason I was not takeing my medication.i was more concerned about my baby well being knowing that I would get sick again,my love for my children is unconditional love my oldest son told me that the people that got them now whips him with a strap when he misbehaves and poors cold ice water on his sister when she misbehaves,i told the dhr worker and the casa worker they didnt do anything about that as to checking into it as far as I know on another incedent my oldest daughter had a black eye I was told a boy at daycare hit her with a stick I told the worker I wanted poof that did happen and that the people thats got my children are not abuseing my children, I know my son did not lie I told him to always tell the truth.i took pitures of my daughter black eye,no one has a right to lay a hand on a child or hurt a child.how can any of this be fair when I didnt know the law.2007 is the last time I saw my chil dren,i didnt get to see my oldest daughter I didnt get to tell her how much I love her I never got to say goodbye,as my children were being takeing away we were crying and I knew I would never see my children again the pain of loseing my children is more than I can bare I pray everyday that things will be set right again and this does not happen to someone else family, I’m not with my ex husband now and I have been on my medication now and im doing good I still stuggle with the fact that I dont have my children,i hope and I pray that one day we will be together again,please stop DHR from doing this to other families.i was told to forget my children I will never forget my children,I LOVE MY CHILDREN,and I will never forget my children as long as I live,they are my children no matter who has them,my life my heart how can the system be so corrupted,im not a perfect mom but who is perfect.i tryed my best to take care of my children.my children are everything to me my heart my worl d,its not fair that my children are being deprived of being with me,all dhr did was kept me so upset I didnt know who to trust .dhr wanted me to be mentally emotionally healthy how could I when the dhr was breatheing down my back all the torture knowing I was going to lose my children,my children are adopted and I have no rights as their mother to ever see them again.all I can do is pray that my children are safe and not being harmed or mistreated.all I have are picture and baby books preious memories of my children,and a broken heart. I WILL LOVE MY CHILDREN FOREVER!!!no matter what lies have been told.I took birthday present to the dhr from 2007-2010 was told that the person that has my children was picking them up my children never got the gifts the person that has my children told me that they didnt want the children haveing them I called dhr and asked why I was lied to and what happend to the gifets and cards I had bought I was told that they were being giving to other children and I was mislead into believing my children was getting their gifts all that time knowing dhr lied to me and got away with it.

Kristi

I have a daughter and friends that have been treated so horribly by the court systems in north alabama and they need resolve for the childrens sake

Tiffany

this is regarging my best friends family member and i want to do whatever it takes to help out.

Brenda

It will make sure its the best interest of the Children to have a group to oversee the desicions of the dhr, in one case i know the grandparent cant get custory of her grandchildren because of a problem she was involved with over 20 years ago. She is hateful and let the dhr know how she feels and they do not like her … Which i dont either but when it comes to kids going to foster homes they need to be placed with family first.

Tina

Kathleen, I am interested in having a protest in Colbert County Al. would ya’ll be interested in attending and lending your support and voiceing your story? i live here and I BELEIVE THERE WOULD BE A BIG out poring of support…I am appalled at the things that are happening within our local legal systems…..my heart breaks not only for my children but for others as well…. Thanks Tina

Laura

I’m been battleing for 5years to get my kids back. Since the Judd change I fanaly have my rights protect. But it shouldn’t take this long DHR keeps given me hope that if I did what they told me they would give me my kids back. I did everything they told me and more and they told me is your doing a good job keep doing what your doing it’s even on my ISP meeting paper. All I did was ask for help because I was sick when I had my first child and I had nobody at the time to help me and I had it to be emitted to the hospital.

Kristi

I have a daughter and friends that have been treated so horribly by the court systems in north alabama and they need resolve for the childrens sake

Elizabeth

This is important to me because my cousin who is a great Mother had her family torn apart unjustly by the DHR. She is a good Mother and deserves to have her children with her!

Joel

Everybody needs to be held accountable to someone or they start abusing their power

Lori

because my family is still being effected by decisions made by their personell

Tara

Cause the corruption needs to be stopped.

Wanda

my grandchildren have been taken from my daughter.

George

I have seen and experienced Alabama’s Lauderdale County family court systems "home cooking" as applied by judge Jimmy Sandlin. Sandlins protocol or "home cooking" reduces due process to a witch trial in a kangaroo court. I feel that the coruption is in the court, the legal community, as well as DHR, as there is collusion among them all, as can be evidenced for the extensive and inproper ex-parte communications.

Jenifer

My Aunt and Cousin have been treated unfairly by the Lauderdale County Court System starting with DHR. Things have been done wrong since day 1 not to mention his rights as an american citizen have been stomped all over with no reprocussion for the reason for DHR involvement, the mother.

Garry

Please help Millie [Name removed for privacy]. DHR has it all wrong. She needs to be with her kids. They are wonderful children and she is the best mom I know… believe me DHR has this case wrong….Please help Kathleen.

Andrew

because my step children are caught up in this nonsense that lauderdale county dhr has going on.

Erica

MY CHILDREN ARE TRYING TO BE TOOK AWAY FROM ME DUE TO DHR WRONGFULLY ACCUSING ME OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

Sequoia

Because DHR has treated me unfairly.

Keith

My ex spouse’s step mother worked for DHR and used them against me for revenge as well as my ex spouse in Limestone County.The DHR worker ,her step mother was arrested for Public intoxication and harassing me and my child while we were together and harassed the police officers and resisted arrest when they went to get her.I did not press or pursue the charges thinking lessoned learned and wish that I had because DHR has refused to do anything about my ex spouse drugging and abusing my child over the last six years and refused my reports.Also my ex is in Child support fraud and yet again,DHR will do nothing to stop this or help me.

Ellen

I have a family member affected my this issue in Lauderdale County.

Ramona

i have been through this before and got my children back with help now i am going through it again in a diffrent county and there is no help my children are abused and this needs to stop

Evelyn

DHR , took my mother out of my sisters house, was going to put her in nurseing home, against our will & hers, then gave control of her to her drug useing, convictive felons, non working grand childern. who was stealing her drugs & money, almost killed her, they were keep[ng her doped up ,all the signs of elder abuse. then charged me with elder abuse, i had to hire an lawyer, witch i had to pay $2000.00 , then it was thrown out before it ever went to court. Im a C.N.A. i have worked in nursing homes for over 9 years. i know what elder abuse is. They took time away from us wiyh our mother we can never have back.

Lenita

Because I have been an innocent victim of vicious lies and corruption by social workers in the system and have caused me to lose my granddaughter over lies that were told in the court room that never happened. They system needs a change to prevent good families from losing their rights. Need affirmative action against many of the DHR agencies, especially in Lawrence, Morgan, and Lauderdale counties of Alabama.

Jr Marie

Dhr was called into my home when my second husband attempted suicide… During this horrible time in all of our lives, Dhr was let in my home without any questioning on my behalf! As I had had my children all of their lives now ten and eight, then seven and nine, and had no problems nor any questioning from anywhere about my parenting, I had no idea what Dhr was about! I was not aware of any kind of special actions I was suppose to take to be considered compliant. The attempted suicide happened on July 21st 2011. Dhr knocked on my door at around eleven pm that night told me who they were and ask some questions and told me they would be sending a worker out Monday morning to speak with the children and myself! Being that I knew that the same day the attempted suicide would take place, that I would be confronting h im (my second husband) with having an affair, not knowing what the end results would be at that time, I still did not fail to call the biological father of my oldest two to protect them. All of this ended up being used against me, when I was only protecting my children. So needless to say, they were with their father and I had my youngest with me, who is the biological daughter of my second husband who attempted suicide that day. I told my first husband he needed to bring the kids home, that I was made aware that a worker would be out to talk to me Monday morning and the kids needed to be there. He took it upon himself to call me and say he was taking them down there himself that I could meet them down there or he would pick me up and I could go to Dhr with him. I reminded him that I was told that they would come out and talk toe and the children so he just needed to bring them home. He failed to do so and proceeded to take control and do what he wanted to do. FYI, he is a cop! So needless to say I finally saw a Dhr caseworker but it wasn’t Monday it was several days if not a week later! I complied with everything that they told me or might I say everything they didn’t tell me. There was not an ISP set until September! Also, the follow up ISP was not ever discussed or scheduled, nor were we told even an approximate time of follow up ISP. Back to the day they first came in my home, July 21st 2011, all they told me was to protect my three year old an keep her safe, don’t worry about him, her father. They never said I couldn’t visit with him but were quick to tell me after the fact. Ok, next Dhr never removed my children from the home, but on November 15 2011 I was on my way to the hospital and left my children with my mom when at nine o clock on a school night after I left the home, my ex husband cop and friend of his who is a cop, and a cop from city where I lived came into my home and literally had to chase my children around and coach them to go with them. My seven and nine year old were carried out of my home while they were perfectly capable of walking. At the first ISP I mentioned earlier in September, my second husband and me were ordered to take drug test, that was fine with me!! Never were either of us drug tested, nor we’re any of team members notified by mail. Where was the caseworker when my kids were taken from the Home and could it have been made less traumatic for them?? I think so and I would think that for any child not just mine. No Dhr didn’t take them, but after removal, since Dhr was involved, I was ripped off of my meeting within seventy two hours. I always thought Dhr was here to keep families together and push towards goals that would better the relationship, emotional status, future of ur children and yourself! Well guys, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but in my case they did everything but that. I have seen my kids once on a year and am being ripped of my parenta l rights because of the lack of money for an attorney. We had a family court hearing on November 28 th 2011 and get this, last but not least, I get there and the judge says," mrs. Freeman, Mr. Mann the cop and first husband has dropped the case and taken it to family court!! Since when does he as the one fighting for custody , when to sag the least, if he protects our streets then it terrifies me, get to close a case that has been opened by the state??? So, here I am almost a year later, no justice, and many other Dhr guidelines broken, and my kids will be scarred for life!!! Let’s clap for the workers who don’t even stand up for the accused, the mother who was always there and the stepfather who sacrificed time the real father wasn’t willing to sacrifice, and give them to the father who defaulted in court originally, has been suspended from his job as a police officer for many different reasons numerous times, just got married for the sixth time at thirty three years ol d, sexually abused me when I was married to him along with emotionally leaving lasting effects on me, and I’m the mental case mother!! I had them for nine years consecutively and now I’m unfit and mental……… Open your minds people and be aware of the signs of abuse and psychopaths!!!! I was hesitant to even write this but, all tyranny needs to gain a foothold, is for the people of good conscience to remain silent!!!!!! If it were me who had done this, I wouldnt be able to sleep or furthermore live with myself!!!!…………….ok the straw that breaks the camels back!!!!!! Ready????? I have reports of physical abuse and parental alienation on recording out of my sons mouth and have reported it twice to Dhr!!! Absolutely nothing done because I guess I look like the vengeful ex-wife!!!! Not to mention some witnesses as to the issues my kids are suffering and I am the only one that will report it or speak up!!!!! I will fight against injustice until I take my last breath!!!! Best wishes to all of u other citizens who have endured such a system of lies and deceit and please please please Alabama Dhr let’s start letting the kids be the voice!!!! Their opinion matters in a case as old as my children are!!!! Step up and fight for these babies don’t just drop cases and cease to send out necessary notification of reviews and case closings!!!!! If u would like to intentionally hurt people and innocent children…….. Then u chose the wrong career!

i alreday put my story out there but when i was reading over it i noticed a mistake…….the cop who got the case started, my first husband, didnt drop the case and take it to family court. he took it to domestic relations because it was already in family court and i guess he was seeing he wasnt gonna get what he wanted through family court.( i.e., not to have to pay child support) Anyway, dhr failed to protect me and the children and now its in domestic relations so because i ahve no funds for an attorney im getting railroaded. i have represented myself pro se and was verbally granted supervised visitation by an alabama judge and still cant get that. have callec the circuit clerk to see if i could get something on paper, being that i wasnt sure if a verbal order was binding and cant get any help………again where is dhr to protect my children now and their rights. i havent the least clue, and cant even get a worker that was involved in my case on the phone!!!!!!! such bull!!!!!

Cheryl

I have been battling for child support in Lauderdale Co for 13 years now. My Ex husband now owes $65,000.00. I have went to court each and every day they have request me to be there. Many court days have gone by with out him even showing up. They did nothing. The days ( which are few) that he did show up, he walked out with not even a slap on the hand. I have sit there in that court room and watched as they placed men under arrest for only a couple thousand behind and had to choke myself to not speak up and point out that mine is well into the double digit coma figures and he walks away. I have recently gave them new information and feel they still are not putting any effort into my case. I feel as if they have given up themselves to the point that they want try any more. D.A. even laughed under his breath as he road the e levator with me say, " your best bet is if he plays the lottery and wins". REALLY? tell me something I dont know! I was really thankful to see your add about this in the courier. I truly hope we can do something, bacause I feel Lauderdales’ system as truly failed me all these years. I have been a hard working Mom working 3 jobs trying to do raise my son and my health has been deminishing slowly from so much work. I recently lost my career in EMS from and injury and have almost lost our home among other things during this. SO, NOW MORE THAN EVER, I NEED HELP. I cant plead anough to them about this. They have got to correct thier flaws in thier system and deal with these dead beats. If you need further information I will be glad to speak with you and do all I can to help you take this stand. Hats off to you for doing this and God bless you. Yours truly, Cheryl [Name removed for privacy] I opologize for typos.

Brenda

MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS GIVEN 4 HRS.WEEKLY SUPERVISED VISITATION AT MY HOME BY DHR& JUDGE SANDLIN,THIS WENT AS ORDERED UNTIL HER EX REMARRIED AND NOW THE NEW WIFE IS TRYING TO HAVE MY GRANDDAUGHTERS RIGHTS TERMINATED,THE NEW WIFE HAS MADE COMPLAINTS TO DHR REGARDING ABUSE AND NEGLECT.DHR HAS FOUND MY GRANDDAUGHTER GUILTY OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT BY HERESAY,BUT HOW CAN SHE BE FOUND GUILTY OF NEGLECT WHEN THE DAD HAS CUSTODY OF THE KIDS.IT HAS BEEN OVER 3 MONTHS SINCE MY GRANDDAUGHTER HAS SEEN OR TALKED TO HER KIDS,I HAVE NOT SEEN THEM IN OVER A MONTH AND NOW CANT EVEN TALK TO THEM.FOR THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF MATT;S LIFE I RAISED HIM BECAUSE THE DAD DENIED HIM.

Sonnett

I’ve seen DHR take away children several times after false reports or little proof. And, I’ve seen child stay in homes with abuser and a lot of proof and never taken away.

D

I’ve seen HRS take away children in quite a few families. Ex wife or ex husbands other family members anyone who wants can get revenge on someone simply calling in with no proof. Children are torn away with false reports. They do not take the time to check the back ground of the persons calling in the report. I also seen them take the children place them in homes that put them in danger and protect their decision even though they know the children are not in good hands to " save face". Something needs to be done. The persons who make false reports need to be arrested.

Kelley

I have three children, after mys asecond one was born they found opiates in his system not mine which i had a script for, than i got pregnant again, and they came twice during the pregnancy than again at the hospital was worried i didnt see a doctor enough so i must have been on drugs even though the baby was a month early and we was both clean. tham they said the was concered that i would go smoke and was texting on my phone when my son couldnt leave the nursery and i had two other kids i had to make sure was somewhere safe. i even offeered to take drug test once a week for them cause every three o four months they show back up with another reason they need to talk to. and me being a single mother of 3 does make my nerves worse when they start comming around over some said or ur using you phone

Tara

Because my life was invaded by DHR. My life was turned upside down for all the wrong reasons.

Larry

I HAVE A GRAUDIAN LITEM WHO’S FREINDS WITH THE PEOPLE I’M TRYING TO GET MY DAURTHER FROM NO MATTER HOW HARD I FIGHT SHE WORK HERSELF WITH THE COURTS TO SEEE THAT I FALL. PLEASE HELP ME WINN MY CHILD BACK…..

Allison

Because DHR destroys lives when they are wrong and are just too ashamed to retract their false statements and apologize….Yes sometimes they do some good, but how many times does the bad have to out weigh the good before someone steps in and says "Hey thats enough!" this has to stop…bad people hurting and ripping good families apart and good people suffering. I also believe that when people make false statements they should be held accountable for their false and DOCUMENTED accusations.

Donna

Not only is DHR corrupt in Lauderdale and Colbert counties but other counties as well. Because of Winston and Franklin counties DHR my husband and I have been "disapproved" to adopt or foster children. DHR caseworkers make assumptions and wont move away from them.

Carla

Ex husband abandoned family applied for child support decided to get divorce 6 months later ex turned it around and case was thrown out.

Sherisha

I am currently a Victim of the State of Alabama DHR child Protective Services who stole my one year old son Joshua Lewis a year ago and I dont know where he is and I am not an unfit parent.

L

DHR ALABAMA IS PAID TO DO A JOB BY WE THE PEOPLE THAT IS NOT BEING DONE , THEY DO MORE HARM IN CUSTODY AND CHILD SUPPORT FOR OUR KIDS THAN THEY DO GOOD. SOMEONE NEEDS TO HEAR US IN FLORENCE ALABAMA, NO TILL NOW HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET PAST OUR FAMILY COURTS OR DHR, THEY HAVE TOOK ALL OUR RIGHTS AWAY. IVE BEEN TO THE HEAD OF DHR COURT AND STILL LOST, WITH A BACK SUPPORT OF 65,000 PLUS OWED , STOP DHR,,,,,

Brenda

It breaks my heart to know that a lie can stand for justice.