Florida DCF and ChildNet

[SoBaffled]

I do not even know where to begin. I am a single mother/grandmother that lived with my two daughters and two grandchildren. Tragically, I lost my 16yo to an accidental overdose 9/30/14 @ 11:05pm. At 4:00am on 10/01/2014, DCF and the police were at my door to remove my grandchildren from the home because it as reported that the home was in disarray and there was paraphernalia throughout the house (which they considered a hookah as a "bong") I admit that the house was not clean and tidy. My grandbabies were taken into state custody. At 8:00am, because it was alleged that ALL adults were on illicit drugs, my daughter and I were subjected to a drug test. (which was negative on both accounts) No one from DCF returned to the home to see if we cleaned, which we did. Within 30 days I moved my family from the home to a new/safer residence. We have complied with everything (which I pay out of pocket for) included parenting classes, random drug screens and counseling. I now have a home where there are 4 bedrooms, the grandchildren have separate rooms and a yard along with a great community to live in. We are running into walls because the judge has deemed me an unfit mother due to my 16yo overdosing and does not agree with returning the kids to my home. The judge has not heard a word from me and refuses to. What in the world can I do?? I did not have knowledge of my daughter having any drug issues because she was a normal teen, above average in my eyes because she was in school and worked full time with a bubbly personality. What/where do I go from here? My family is my life and I need my grandchildren back home. The kids parents need their children back home.

Any advice?

 

[army judge]

First and foremost, please accept my condolences on the loss of your loved one.

You are FREE to HIRE an attorney.
You may have inadvertently agreed to some things without knowing it if you acted without consulting an attorney.
Child services is limited in what they can do on a NON-EMERGENCY basis.
For example, children can often be taken but for a very short time.
The more you cooperate with child services without an attorney advising you, you are likely to become ensnared deeper into the Child Services swamp.

You should immediately consult a couple local attorneys.
The initial consultation is often offered FREE of charge.
At least you will get a evaluation of where you stand and how you got there.
In addition, you can sometimes acquire a road map out of the swamp.

You need to understand the child protection process in FL.
What you're doing NOW, they consider it TOO, little, TOO late.
You now must convince them otherwise.
You can review the information on these sites as you ponder your plight:

http://www.myflfamilies.com/


http://www.fightcps.com/



http://wc-lawgroup.com/child-protective-services-florida/


http://family-law.lawyers.com/child...th-child-services-to-get-your-child-back.html


http://flcalliance.org/writing/chil...y-court-the-last-gasp-of-the-war-on-cannabis/

 

[Betty3]

Since you have been trying to cooperate with CPS & doing as requested even if not within their time line, I would talk to an attorney & see what he/she can do for you (suggest). Good luck.