Grand Daughter Family Meeting Letter

you're not overreating. have you thought about petitioning the courts for guardianship? have you asked your daugther if you can take care of your granddaughter until she can get back on her feet? she might say yes. then you just file the paperwork, and submit it to the courts. can you talk to an attorney? obviously social services aren't doing what's needed. i would try to file guardianship papers and file a copy of that paper with it. good luck

As a foster parent, I agree with a lot of what people have already said. Document, document, document. Keep a journal. Write down the date, time of day and exactly what was observed or said. Call SS again and talk to the child's assigned worker. Keep calling! The workers at SS really do mean the best, but they are extremely overworked. Also remember that if the letter was court ordered, SS didn't have a choice. They may have petitioned the courts for temporary custody and been denied.
I dealt with a child that was returned home to a similar situation as the one you are going thru now. The grandma is the one who kept calling SS and writing down everything. SS worked very diligently to get enough evidence against the father to petition the courts again and be granted temporary custody again. Sometimes it takes persistance. Don't give up on your grandchild!

I would have taken pictures of how she was when she arrived. I would also document EVERYTHING..."too dirty to bath her since last Sunday" , "eating like a pig" etc.

I would contact social services giving them additional information and asking about the letter. I would also petition the court for at least temporary guardianship. This child is not in a safe, clean, or healthy environment.

At the VERY least, I would offer to take the child as often as you can get them to agree on.

I think you should file a petition with the court for sole physical custody of your grand daughter. it will be expensive but I would fight to keep my grandchild safe...

I know that sounds harsh - especially since you love your daughter - but she obviously doesn't want the help and your grand baby will get caught up in the whole thing....

please find a lawyer that will help you gain full and sole custody of your grand baby...save all the reports showing the drugs in the system...any police reports that have been filed, etc. do what you have to do..

Document everything. Keep a journal, write it all down, date it all. Write down all conversations you have with your daughter regarding the care of your granddaughter especially when she admits to neglect and what would prove her to be unfit.

And you keep calling CPS/DCYS when they (your daughter and her boyfriend) put your granddaughter in danger and neglect her. Or you call the police, who are mandated reporters. Call as many times as it takes so that it's officially on file each and every single time. If she comes to you filthy and unfed and with food poisoning, call CPS to have them come see the state she's in when your daughter drops her off you pick her up. Take photos and video. Print the photos out and make sure the date is on them.

Just keep doing it for as long as it takes. Encourage other family members to do the same when they have the knowledge to do so.

I'm so sorry that you're in this position. I hope you don't mind my prayers for your daughter and granddaughter.

First of all I would find a family law attorney and file for custody of your GD. Document everything, getting custody is not easy and it is not a matter of what you know but what you can PROVE.

Second go back to Social Services and see what steps you have to take to have the parents committed on a 3 day (72 hour) hold. If you can get them committed they will be tested for addiction and for mental illness. Many substance abusers use street drugs to mask the symtoms of mental illness. If you can get them committed and a dignosis you will have more ammunition in court. Hopefully you can get them placed in an outpatient treatment program or halfway house.

Third find an Al-Anon group to join. This is for the families of a substance abusers. You will learn strategies to deal with their behaviors. And since you will be talking to a lot of people who have been there you will also find out about the services available to you and your family.

You could meet with an attorney and see about setting up a guardianship. Ask the parents if they would allow you to keep your granddaughter for 6 months or a year. They might agree. That way you could have a voluntary guardianship. If they don't agree you can go to court and show the judge that they are unfit and that your granddaughter should live with you. Best of luck.

Make a phone call to a lawyer and ask what your next step should be, and do it today! Their offices will be closed over the weekend. Write down all the details you just told us of her care and keep a journal as time goes on. This is NOT a good situation for a helpless child!

I would call them and tell them what you just told us.... This is so not right.
Hugs! I am soooo sorry you and your GD are going through this!
PLEASE KEEP US POSTED!

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I hope there is a way your granddaughter can live with you. That is just not right at all. Not sure if it's your daughter or son, but who ever, can you ask them if you can just raise her. That is so sad, I can't believe they would let her stay with them. Please call CPS again and ask if you can have your granddaughter you will love and raise her. You are not over-reacting at all...
Hugs are going out to you!!!

I second Reverend Ruby. It's time to get a lawyer. I'm so sorry you are in this awful situation. My prayers are with your and your granddaughter.

Is this letter a court order? Sometimes kids fall through the cracks with Social Services. If I were you, I would call an attorney and find out what you can do. In the meantime, I would offer to take the child as much as you can and provide the care she needs without any help or financial assistance from either parents.

Will your daughter be willing to (at least temporarily) sign over parental rights to you?

And how old is your Granddaughter?

Some of the stuff my ex has pulled was unbelievable. I remember their doctor telling me as he drug them across the parking lot, you need to accept that until he seriously hurts them or kills one they will not take them away from him.

Hardest thing I had to hear in my life because I knew it was true. So far they are okay, it has been three years. A couple more they get to tell the court they want to live with me. :)

Good luck. The best advice I was ever given is always give them the best place ever when I do have them. It can't undo the damage from when they are with their dad but the will at least know normal. Even the small time she spends with you will be enough to keep her going. :)