Fighting for Custody

I love my family more than life itself. I tried to figure out ways to show DCYF I am not a bad person, but the caseworkers, DCYF Lawyer and Assessment worker didn't care that I'm a good person. They didn't care that I fight for what I believe in. For what is right. All they cared about was the money my grandchildren would bring in and played every dirty trick in the book to keep my grandchildren. At onset, I never thought Isabella would be taken from my daughter. As I said in my profile. I'm a very trusting person. I never thought a government agency could not be trusted. I never thought anyone working for the government would treat it's own citizens in such a deceitful manner. DCYF sure opened my eyes! I'm not as trusting as I used to be. Especially toward government workers. I now try to be on my guard at all times.
I decided to take foster care classes, hoping I would be able to get custody of Austin and Isabella. The BS I heard made me want to scream, but I composed myself. I could feel my blood boiling, but I staid calm. Everything they were telling the potential fosters was the opposite of what the parents were told when their children were taken. I knew myself by experience what was BS. All of it. It was really hard, but I was nice to the workers and did not show my anger.
At one of the classes, I met the adoption worker. I genuinely liked her. I couldn't believe such a nice lady was working for an agency that stole children. We talked for a while. I believe she liked me also. She promised me she should would try to help me get my grandchildren.
At graduation, I spoke to the adoption worker again. She told me that she spoke up for me to her superiors and was told to stay out of it. That it was complicated. She pointed me to the new District Manager. He hadn't been working there long and I don't think he knew who I was. We talked and got along really well. He told me anything I needed, to let him know.
I had been sitting next to a lady and talked to her for a while. She seemed nice. I was surprised to find out she was one of the States head people. When I introduced myself, she knew who I was, but she was still cordial and seemed nice. The whole class knew why I was there and couldn't believe the unfairness of my situation. The potential fosters knew much of what was being taught was lies. That relatives are not considered in the plaement of children before foster care, plus much more. After all, I was there as proof.
The week after graduation, I was called and asked to meet with the DCYF Supervisor in charge of my grandchildrens caseworkers. I knew what she was going to say already. I was told the District office would not license me as a foster parent. I have been to combative with my fight for my grandchildren. I did not show my anger, as I already knew what was coming. I said, "Have a nice day" and walked out.
I have had meetings with the new District Manager and I have given him evidence in my grandchildrens cases. He has been very nice and I also heard he is trying to fix the mess at the district office. I told him I heard Isabella's caseworker was gone. I asked if she was fired and he just smiled and said he couldn't say she was and couldn't say she wasn't. After all he has all the proof showing she perjured herslf in court along with all the other deceitful things she pulled.
I've sent many letters and news articles to the Governor and the state office of DHHS. Sometimes I send them every night for a week straight. I was contacted by Concord DHHS and told I would be contacted by the district office and a Home Study would be set up for my grandson. The Home Study happened last June and shortly after I was notified by my daughters new caseworker that she had gotten her college degree and was leaving DHHS. She was really nice. If she had been the caseworker from the start, my daughter would have gotten Austin back, no doubt.
She wished me luck and told me the adoption worker would be handling Austin's case and that she was pushing for Austin to come home with us. I contacted the adoption worker and was told there was more she had to do and she would call me and also that she was advocating for us to take Austin.
She called about a week later and set up an interview with my husband and I. We went down to the office and talked. Then we hadn't heard anything for a while. The District Manager finally told me she was out on medical leave. She's now back and working on our Home Study.
I pray she is the good person I believe she is and helps us to get Austin. He needs us as much as we need him. I am hoping that there are some good people who work for DCYF. We have run into a majority of liars at DCYF and hope that they are being weeded out.
As for Isabella, they already know I will never give up my fight for her either. DCYF has done one thing for me in my life. They have turned me into a Fighter and I never give up on anything I start.