DCF Came, DCF Conquered, DCF Took My Girls
My daughter’s and I lost everything. During Hurricane Michael. We were trying to make the best of it during the pandemic. DCF walked away with my kids. Now I am homeless, I have no vehicle and I can’t get anyone to listen.
My girls and I were living with an older couple because of the hurricane. Rentals are few and far between and land prices are through the roof.
Turns out this couple were instrumental in DCF taking my girls. I trusted them completely. I didn’t realize they were making the calls to DCF.
Every time DCF showed up they would talk to everyone. They’d ask if I was interested in any services. My response was always ” yes please I need a therapist and we need a place of our own.” Not one referral ever came in. The couple we lived with, was and still is highly respected in the community.
They don’t know her like I do. Her husband sleeps all day and stays drunk and high all night. He is a real creeper. He flashed me and groped me on a regular basis.
If I said something I was called a liar.
The housekeeper found my bras and underwear stuffed in the couch cushions were he sat. I did my own laundry. So he had to go into my room plundering to get his hands on my stuff. See she saw my kids as a second chance. She completely failed hers. Stayed married to a man that beat the snot out of her and her kids for 25 yrs. One of her son’s will live in a group home his entire life because of her complacency. My girls were her ticket to heaven.
I worked from 7 pm to 7 am. Crappy shift. I am nurse and a single mom and you suck it up and do what you have to for your kids. Food, water, and shelter.
But while I was at work or trying to get a little sleep this woman is brain washing my kids. She’d tell my 7 yo she would never be a good enough daughter. Told both of my girls I was addicted to meth. I stayed in my room a lot when I was homes because I didn’t like being around her or her husband.
If I was home and in my room she would refuse my girls access to me. She would not let them knock on my door. Would always tell them I was asleep. SHE REFUSED MY GIRLS ACCESS TO THEIR MOTHER. I WAS RIGHT THERE.
So when DCF showed up she would tell them I had a meth problem and slept for days on end. So my girls said the same thing.
I offered to pay rent to buy groceries I asked constantly about what the girls needed. Her answer to me was “We aren’t doing this for the money ” and refuse to allow me to do what parents do.
She was telling other people (including DCF). That I was lazy. High all the time and REFUSED to work or pitch in.
It got to the point that my youngest told me one day that she didn’t like the way they treated me. She had my 14 yo absolutely convinced. I was strung out. My 14 yo asked me one day if I was taking her pills. She takes anti depressants.
I was at my whits end. And I called the last DCF investigator that had come by. Pleading for help. She said she would come by that day, she never showed up.
The next day I took my baby girl (my 14 yo was completely in this woman’s pocket)and we left.
The house keeper offered to give me a place to stay then she baçked out. I have no family except my kids. The last resort I had was an ex who still had an outstanding DV charge waiting for court.
On the way to his house the transmission blows on my truck. His sister picked us up and dropped us off.
Jheri the CPI that was a no show before suddenly calls my phone. I could have lied to her but I didn’t. She half ass apologizes for being a no show (btw I voluntary did a drug test for her and it was clean) and asks if she can come by that afternoon.
I told her there was no point we weren’t there anymore. She gets real pushy and demanded an address so she could have another investigator come by.
We were in a different County now. I give her the address.
The following day DCF comes by shoves a cup in my face demanding a drug test and wants to watch me pee. I refuse to let her watch and she starts telling me how it appears to her I am currently high on meth. She finally leaves. Another CPI showed up the next afternoon. We go through the stupid process again.
But this time my ex is drunker than Cooter Brown and showing his ass. So I have the CPI take me and my daughter to a hotel. Keep in mind I have no transportation at this point. Now this CPI has been with us for hours literally. At the hotel SHE ASKS FOR A DRUG TEST. I give her one. Clean again. She finally leaves. I order dinner we eat and go to bed.
Guess who shows up again the following afternoon. Yep. This time. I left a bag behind… Hadn’t realized I had left the bag in my ex’s camper. The bag was given to the cops. Since pills were found in it. My daughter and I are FORCED. To return to the property I was trying to get away from.
Except, when we get there. I’m no longer allowed inside with my kids. I slept in the garage a few nights. I put up a tent.
A CPI supervisor shows up and took hours talking to everyone. She spent about 30 minutes with me. She already had her mind made up. I started getting pissed.
I hired an attorney. A day or so later. We had a conference call to discuss a safety plan. I started putting my foot down.
They wanted the couple I was trying to leave, specifically her to administer the safety plan. I said I will do this for now but she adheres to it also and oh by the way I want a new investigation and I want new investigators. They cut off the call right then.
They started calling me the following afternoon. I told them to talk to my attorney. They refused they said they don’t talk to attorneys.
I said fine but I will not go along with this woman overseeing your safety plan and I hung up. Several hours later they came for my girls.
I walked away. From what was left of my life that afternoon. I literally walked away.
The shelter hearing was the next day. They had to email the petition during the hearing. We didn’t get to say anything. CPI lied in court about the drug tests. She said they had only been able to obtain one. It had been tampered with. There was no chain of custody. Who decided it had been tampered with? A lab, a Dr, who exactly? The hearing lasted about 5 minutes.
I’m accused of drug abuse. Inadequate supervision. And not providing for their everyday needs. Both my girls had a therapist. How do you provide a therapist and not food.
There was an arraignment hearing my attorney denied all the allegations.
My girls and I are still apart.
Everyone has access to them but me.
