Uncle Wes...No Just Wes

Bad news guys and gals. It looks like the Dept of Families in Children strikes again. My sister and brother in law found out yesterday they get to hand over Zach to his biological father on Friday...permanently.

What's worse, the case worker for the family, is one under investigation by the state because of mishandling cases and basically not doing her job right. Hmm...so she's still allowed to work and ruin more families?

I can have sympathy for parents who get off track and have their kids taken away, who manage to get their lives back together. That type of foster care is only temporary and foster parents know the chance of only being parents in the interim. However, in Zach's case, he was born, his mother abandoned him at the hospital, he's been in the care of my sister and bro in law since he was two days old. Birth mom voluntarily terminated her rights within a month of birth...biological dad denied the child could be his, refused a paternity test, and said 'that kid's not mine.'...again all within one month of birth.

I understand young kids (the parents are in their late teens) can't always make the best decision. However, I think if you're old enough to have sex, you're old enough to consider the risks and consequences. If you chose to not raise a kid, that's a lifelong decision. Apparently bio-dad's parents want to raise Zach after all...so after a year of being in the care of my family...he starts the custody process. Under state law the statute of limitations ran out, the adoption process was already underway...but apparently, laws don't matter and you can go back and 'change your mind'.

I can't imagine the emotional and psychological toll this will have on Zach...being stripped of the only Mom and Dad he's ever know and transplanted into some strange new place. A few weeks ago, my sis and her husband got an attorney who's handling the case...she seems knowledgeable...but I'm not sure if there's time to stop what's coming, stop what's on it's way (Tori Amos lyric there).

The Dept of Fam and Kids is already under fire for improperly handling foster children and cases. Sis lives in the county with the most violations. One lawyer (who's actually supposed to be representing Zach) says 'this will probably end up on 60 minutes'. Comforting...NO.

I don't think the DCFS can handle any more bad publicity. Unfortunately, my sister won't let me contact any of my friends who work in the media or any of my contacts in state government. I say the time is now to round up the troops. However, I have to respect her wishes.

Sorry for venting and ranting, but the blog is an outlet of all things going on in my life, so I need to get it out there.

Thanks for reading...I'll keep you updated.

"W"