Is this for Iowa residents only?

I lost my parental rights to my children, Vlad and Lucy. It’s a long story, starting when they were CINA’d after an incident on December 18th 2006 when their father attacked me and choked me until I started to black out while 2 year old Lucy stood there screaming. I called 911 to report him, but when the cops showed up, a worker that CPS had assigned to check on us backed up my then-husband’s story that I was crazy and made the whole story up. Not only did they not believe me, but the version that eventually made it into court documents just said that someone had called 911 to report a domestic disturbance, so it’s possible that later caseworkers didn’t even know I had tried reporting the abuse and wasn’t believed.

My ex manipulated the system skillfully; he called it “people chess”. I worked hard to follow the case plan, but it was like being in a 3-legged race tied to a sociopath who wanted me to lose. Once he destroyed my last chance and ran out the ASFA clock, he left. During the TPR trial, he testified against me. He also made false reports to CPS against everyone who supported me.

On March 10th 2010, I was notified via voice mail that Judge Flaherty had terminated my rights, and I had 6 days to prepare to say good bye to my children. Since then, they have been adopted by their father’s sister, who lives in Florida. She refuses to have any contact with me since before the TPR trial- she’d pushed me to just give up on my kids, and when I said I was going to keep following my case plan to work to get them home, she got upset, said not to email her anymore, and made nasty anonymous comments on my blog.

I want the system to work efficiently to protect children. I believe there needs to be more checks and balances, independent reviews, and community involvement, more protection against people like my ex manipulating the system.

Partnership for Safe Families is starting a support group for parents who have lost their children, contact me for more information.

I had my first child taken away from me in 2004 with good cause. I was using drugs. DHS stepped in and I quit using and working really hard at getting my 2 year old daughter back. I was even at unsupervised visits. I gave birth to my second child in July of ’04. They didn’t have any reason to CINA my son. We were working together to finally have reunification. Then one day I was over at my sons dads house and we got in to an argument and he started beating me up. I called the police and and even pressed charges against him and that is when DHS decided that they needed to CINA my son. However they left him in my full care. About 6 months later I took a vacation and yes I left the country and left my son with a DHS certified child care provider. The day after I got home from my vacation my son was taken out of my care for “leaving my jurisdiction” mind you there was no jurisdiction on where I could go I was only not allowed to take my son out of the state with out permission. Long story short both of my children were back in my care almost full time then all of a sudden I supposedly dropped a dirty UA (after 2 years of clean ones) I asked to be able to take another one to prove that I was not using and they refused. Judge Flaherty told me that they would take into consideration new UA results but I had to pay for it. I did not have the money to pay for it. Needless to say after 2 years of jumping through their hoops my rights were terminated to both of my children. My mom adopted my daughter and my son got privately adopted. To make matters worse all the workers that were on my case no longer have jobs, The DHS worker was fired the day after my TPR hearing. All I have to say is I smell something funny.

During the months of April – July 2009 two DHS case workers worked with the Cedar Rapids Police to find “cause” where I could be arrested. Yes, the Patriot Act was in full force against a citizen of Cedar Rapids. Why were they investigating me ?

An employee where I worked (I worked for a High Price SuperMarket) told store management I was breaking the law since I had a job and using Food Stamps. Well, yes I had a job, and Yes I used Food Stamps. People over 50 are vetted for Food Stamps under federal regulations if they are considered poor; low income. And, I was low income. All it was, was a cheap shot by some teenager that did not like me or did someone put him up to it. Well they did not have anything on me so they had to go on a fishing expedition; and they did.

So on July 3, 2009 my apartment was broken in to by the CRPD using a pass key they obtained from one of the maintenance people. At about 11:12 pm a cellphone was used inside my aparement to call my work at the time (High Priced Supermarket) to verify I was still at work.

On July 4, 2009 I called the CRPD and had an officer come to my apartment and I showed him the evidence I had concerning the break in.

What really pisses me off is the “Contraband” that was planted in my apartment during the break in. Contraband that was removed on July 4, 2009.

All the DHS had to do is contact me if they had problems with my qualifications but, NO they had the CRPD use an Assistant Manager (Same person who took the call to verify I was still at work during the break in). They had this individual ask me questions that would appear I was breaking the law and having been warned that my employer was working with the CRPD to get me ! I told this supervisor “everything they wanted to hear” with none of being true.

I told them I had guns – I didn’t.

I told him I had cash stashed – I didn’t.

I told him I had a 2nd job – I didn’t.

So the Hunt was on to Get Rob Cooper. The CRPD and two other individuals used an apartment next to me as a staging area for the afterdark break in. They got one of my neighbors tickets to the Riverside Casino so no one would catch them; really ! I caught them and I stopped Them cold.

Two days after the break in I told one of the mangers at my work I had proof who broke in to my apartment; I told them I was aware of a cellphone call made from within my apartment to the store during the break in; I told this manager that it was far from over that the CRPD cop had suggested I sue the parents of the teenager.

That afternoon I was HARASSED OFF THE JOB and the CRPD has been respectful of my rights but, I did have a local politician try to terminate my life at work last year; I was suppose to be electrocuted – you know just an on the job accident that happens all too often.

What is sad is this Patriot Act Search and the reports that CRPD Sgt and Detective O did on me is still a record on me; a secret record. I like Cedar Rapids except for the losers who abuse their powers and there are a lot them.

Hello Jennifer, I found your article while looking for ways to help my Granddaughter Sonya Peron (Martell). Thank You for getting this story out! Maybe it will help others become aware of the system before it becomes too late to save their families from the same fate. I too was dealt with unfairly by DHS as was my Son. I am a certified foster parent, in the state of Colorado. My son Daniel lives in Spirit Lake Iowa. (Dickinson County) After turning his x girlfriend in to DHS for neglect – she gave up her parental rights. He was then included in the case rather than being given custody of Sonya. The state took him to court – and removed his parental rights for pretty much not proving that he is a good parent. His lawyer had advised him that they “CPS” could not do this because he had done nothing wrong. He has no criminal record, he isn’t violent and he was not involved in the neglect. This was Juvenile Court and they do not have to prove that a crime was committed and his lawyer was wrong.

I became involved when “Debra Nelson” from Dickinson County’s CPS called me to tell that the Kids wanted me to adopt Sonya, if they lost their parental rights and that I would need a home study to be approved. This was just a precaution. The case worker was rude and short. She told me that she was required by law to include me and any other name she was given. I participated in the home study which was also approved by Colorado and I became Foster Care Certified as a precaution. I did not want to be told later that I was not qualified. After this during the initial placement hearing Debra Nelson Stated in court that she did not want Daniel or any of his relatives to have Sonya – with nothing to back this up. Just that she believes that we are unfit. The judge after reviewing my home study ordered that I be included in the placement options -with the first option being the foster family – because they already had Sonya in their home for several months. Here in the State of Colorado a foster families goal is to help reunite the family not replace it. I am 48 years old, in great condition and health, making over $50,000 a year, and own my own home. I have a gifted teenager at home, who is active in the community and I have worked as a Technician for the School District here for over 13 years and I love my Granddaughter. But this put me in competition with a Sheriff and a Human services employee who also decided that they wanted my Granddaughter. (Even though in June 2011 it was stated by the case worker in the placement hearing that the Foster family was not yet sure if they wanted Sony because she had behavior issues).

On Christmas Eve I received a Notice of placement.

“Dear Ms. Danbom:

An adoption staffing was recently held to match the family who would best meet the needs of Sonya Peron. While your family was given careful consideration and many strengths were noted, another family was selected.

The Department of Human Services is Sonya Peron’s guardian and is authorized to make adoption placement decisions in accordance with Code of Iowa 232.2(21)”e” Therefore, this decision is not appealable through the Department appeal process.

We want to thank you for responding and we encourage you to continue your interest in special needs adoption. “

In other words! You can adopt another child but not your Granddaughter. Also she became labeled as a Special Needs Child. The behavior that they stated in court was – Sonya jumps on the couch, Sonya gets excited when she knows that she is going to see her Dad and not being able to sleep the night before. She doesn’t listen to them. Sonya was 3 years old then. This was also stated in the court as the reason Sonya should not get to visit or live with Daniel. He doesn’t discipline her and all her behaviors were blamed on him. Also in this same placement hearing, the case workers said that Daniel had not bonded with Sonya. This is a little girl who would run and jump in his arms when she seen him.

The lawyer did point out all of this as being false/lie and that CHS was not following their own rules. My son still lost his parental rights.

If I thought that these people were adopting Sonya because they love her – this would be easier. Not right but easier. I do not. It is more likely that she is now medicated and that they are getting a bigger check for having her labeled as “Special Needs” Child and yes – the state does pay foster families for not only foster care but also for adopting them. The amount is determined by a check list that is completed by the foster family. How much attention she requires determines the amount of money they will receive. Grandma’s love is free and so is Dad’s and it is unconditional.

My name is Alan Shackleton
I have an extremely complex case with DHS, my son was removed from my home and placed into foster care in April 2010 due to a domestic dispute, I got him out of foster care in July 2010, There is plenty of blame to go around on my son’s mother’s side, however, although that is a huge concern of mine, my main concern has shifted to the agency that is supposed to be protecting my son. His mother has violated a no contact order against her on numerous occasions, only to be saved by DHS (namely Tara Allen of the Cerro Gordo county Department of Human Services) who called the police department after she received a phone call from my son’s mom asking for her help after violating the NCO, I don’t know what was said during this discussion, but whatever it was caused the officer (officer Studer of the Mason City Police Department) to call me on my cell phone and tell me that he had spoke to Tara Allen and from that day forward he would not accept any calls for service from me involving my son’s mother (I’d like to leave her name out of this) I told officer Studer that I would then call the county Sheriff and he laughed, LITTERALLY, and told me that he had “put out a memo” to the entire Cerro Gordo county to refuse any calls for service from me involving her. Now this is corrupt yes, but it didn’t involve my son so I didn’t try to do anything about it. Long before and long after these NCO violations occured, my son was coming home from visits with his mother with obvious signs of neglect and abuse, such as very severe diaper rash, to the point where he was bleeding, screaming when he sat down, or when I tried to give him a bath, or even treat his wounds. Like any concerned parent I began taking pictures, I showed them to DHS and service workers and they promised to address the issues. Other things were happening, such as my son not getting his asthma medication while visiting his mom, I had a suspicion of this because he was always coning mome sick, so I started counting the medication before and after visits, sure enough, I was right, so I then took pictures of the count before and after and again took it up with DHS worker Tara Allen, and Lutheran Service provider Tara Anderson, both promised to do something about it, however my son was still showing symptoms of neglect. On a few occasions during regular checkups for my son, I had the doctor take alot at symptoms I have described, and the diaper rashes. The doctor in his notes that these rashes were clearly from not being changed regularly, but stated to me personally that it would be hard to prove in court. The doctor also documented that his meds were not being taken as prescribed, and wrote a statement to DHS workers Jennifer Hitchcock and Tara Allen. Jennifer told me that this statement didn’t matter, she also told me (and I recorded this conversation) that his mother had admitted to not always remembering his medication, but in the same sentence Jennifer stated that I cannot prove that I did not have my own stache of medicine to add to the meds in the pictures thus falsifying pictures, she also stated that I cannot prove that his mother doesn’t have her own stache of the medication, now why would she worry about how I prove it if his mother had already admitted to this??

Most recently though, I picked up my son from his mothers house Sunday 1/07/12, the second I saw my son he had a very large amount of snot dripping from his nose down to his chin. I was told that he was sick but did not need to see a Doctor, well, he was in bad need of a Doctor so I took him to the Emergency Room where he was diagnosed with pink eye, ear infection, and had a temperature of 102. DHS and providers had told me that they saw my son and he “looked fine” the Doctor told me just the opposite, that he should have been seen 4 days ago!!!
Now going back in time a little bit, I tried to submit the photos of his rash in court, and my sons Guardian ad litem (Mark Young) cornerd myself and my family when the judge was in the other room, and told me that DHS has informed him that I have been taking pictures of my sons genitals, he said that if he hears of it again he will remove my son and place him in foster care.

I also must add that my sons mother had a child with another man before she met me, she then had an ongoing case with DHS involving that child, She lost her parental right to that child in January 2011, that SAME month, the SAME judge, DHS workers, Guardian ad litem, and county attorney that ruled she was unfit to parent that child, also ruled that she was fit enough to have INCREASED visitation with my child… the SAME MONTH, infact, they granted her 50/50 custody just months after her rights were terminated with her other child. I have spoken with several civil rights advocates, and attorneys, they believe that DHS may be trying to create tension between the mother and I to later prove in court that we cannot co-parent, and then proceed with placing him back in foster care.
I would also like to add that DHS keeps pressuring me to do a psychological evaluation with counceling and asessments here in Iowa, I offered to give them my entire VA mental health records from 2004 to present (2004 is when I returned from Iraq) they refused, and are still insisting on me getting a psych eval from the agency that they have on their payroll… Now I wonder what kind of biass opinion they might give if they are paid by the state???

That’s all I have,
We need to come together in Iowa and do something about this, and protect our children from those who put them in harms way.!!!

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/Ombudsman/complaints/

You can file a complaint against Human Services Employees at this webbage. I wrote to the Governer and they sent me the link. Document everything.
If you need pictures have the doctor take them and add them to the exam. Then Subpoena him in to your next hearing.
Also any time DHS send you documentation that is an out right lie or not accurate. Write down the truth and have it added to your file. Your lawyer should know how to see that this is done but they don’t follow through. Make sure you do. It may help later if you can get an administrative review. You can also do the same thing to the sheriff! Good Luck!

I have been dealing with the Tama/Benton county DHS for several years now. It really feels as if you have ‘fallen down the rabbit hole’ …. reality is warped and nothing makes sense anymore. Lies become truth and truth becomes lies. You are accused of unbelievable infractions in order for them to gain control of your children. It is truly a living nightmare.

I urge families who have been affected by DHS to come forward and tell Jennifer your stories. Have no fear, for you are not alone. Thank you Jennifer for giving distraught families a voice. ~ Lori Keahna

The statement by Lori gives me chills to read it, because it is so true, DHS LIES so much that it becomes truth, their LIES and FALSE accusations are used so often that it destroys your credibility in court, and because they are state officials, they can do an say whatever they want and atill they are considered to be “honest” or “credible”. I read somewhere that even if you can prove they are lying, you cannot prosecute them for purgery because they are protected by a law that prohibits the from facing charges. My mom has said several time that this reminds her of a Steven King movie. And when you try to explain it to people that have not experienced DHS, they look at you like you are a conspiracy theorist, because “DHS would never lie”. They need to be held accountable, I am an Iraq war vet, but this battle with DHS has become even more significant than my combat experiences in Baghdad.

I should of said good luck to Allen and all the rest of you people having to deal with this agency…it’s funny these so called educated people can’t see through the BS when the proof is presented to them….giving children back to parents that can’t pass drug test etc etc…..

It is sick what these DHS people have the power to do!!!
Iowa was able to take my 5 boys from dads home in Nebraska. Iowa has had 4 of my boys over a year, now they think they can just take my parental rights. DHS has said this hole time I can not take care of 5 boys. I took care of my boys 7 years. DHS has moved my boys around 5 times and they are all in separate home and my boys wants to be the family they are. I would like to know what children don’t fight. I recall fighting with my sisters a lot when I was young. Point is DHS had no right telling me if I did not sign a CINA report they were taken my children. It was my little sister that call them and she told me she was sorry after she saw what power they have to do what they have done to my boys. They have drugged two of my boys. One for ADHD??? And my oldest because he was not paying attion in class and could not sleep at night, so they have him on two drugs. My suggestion to parents is to write a Declaration of Facts make sure words are spelled right.
Report how much you love and can care for your child. Make your statement short and to the point. Tell what the DHS workers have done to keep you from your children write your case number on there date you filed and top left hand corner put your name address number and e-mail if you have one. Then put at the bottom. I declare under penalty of perjury that the forgoing is true an correct. Send to the Judge and other people if you have been writing Gov. News and who ever else. I have been writing 18 people and had 2 returns. The main thing is telling what these people are doing to our children. You can E-mail me brandy2112@hotmail.com

tell chuck palmer that the staff the state so dutifully employs is and continues as usuall ;a absolutely out of control unharnessed agency, other health and human services agency, contracted and other agencies… including the judiciary should be severly monitored and criminal consequences imposed. remebe the years that people in these agencies were going into the programn to receive degrees because they knew from experiance what it felt like to be abused, now those same people are attacking many that should not have been compared tothe traumatic and previous traumatic events of others
experiance is not always a favorable talent when applied by the psychceramic
,

tell the the wrkrs that the afl-cio and ascfme have children too. when a worker tells you that you are surrounded that is not he police department that is a meeting of others not present at the time the”we” mentalty that is made to parents where the state contrives information or is remiscent with information from other cases blending issues distressing the parents the children these figures should be documented with figures in a compliance office, would this office be located in the hoover or the lucus bld. maybe when those funds get cut those very savey employees can regain their dignity with a private corperation. i am realist and have seen some of the worst of the states best

Me and the children father testified yesterday. I told the Judge DHS was not doing there job to reunite my family instead she is being untruthful to keep my family apart.
Next court date is Feb.10th. Talk to ya’ll later, my days have been full. It is a good thing.

tell your lawyer to state to the judged in writing that the reunification orders in the care plan as required by the states policy and procedure is not being followed. ASK AND REQUIRE A COPY FOR YOURSELF SO THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW IT MAKE THIS REQUEST THROUGH YOUR ATTY FOR CARE PLAN state policy for reunification ONCE STATED VERBALLY MEANS NOTHING IT IS NOT IN WRITTING THEN THE REUNIFICATION IN THE SOCAIL WRKR THETEACHER THE DOCTOR THE STATES FOSTER PARENTS ADVOCATE HAVE MADE VERBAL INTENTIONS AND DID OTHERWISE A HORRIBLE BUT STANDARD USUAL EVERYWHER.E public defenders do know the procdures.