Help Vona get home to her father
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It takes two people to make a baby, because all children need and deserve two parents. This story is about a father who is not being allowed to be a parent to his 14 year old daughter. The last 5 days have been hell, we have gone through every emotion- fear, anger, sadness, despair, now rage. His daughter Vona has been waking up everyday wondering why her father hasn't come to rescue her from a mental facility she has been placed in by her mother.
This is what happened: The mother Sherleen Taylor and Father Steven Vallery have been divorced since 2002. The mother lives in the Birmingham area, and Steven lives in the Atlanta Metro area. After spending a great week together for spring break, Steven returned Vona to her mother on Sunday March 30, 2014.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Steven received call from maternal grandmother asking if he'd heard from Vona. Steven placed several calls to the mother but received no answer. Finally he received a text msg from her stating "she is safe" but refused to provide whereabouts or location of Vona.
Steven then called Vona's high school where they refused to answer questions about her attendance until the divorce decree was faxed as Steven was not listed as her father on Vona's emergency contact information. Finally, the high school verified that Vona has not been to school since 4/2.
Steven made a call to the local police dept who did a well check only to find no one home. After subsequent phone calls to the mother, she answered and advised that Vona was at Children's hospital. When the police officer called to verify, he was told that Vona was not a patient there. Upon confronting the mother, she became belligerent and hung up.
We later received a call from Vona's maternal grandmother saying she believes Vona has been placed in a mental facility.
After calling 5 of the many facilities each one advised that unless Steven has a pin #, no information could be given. They would not be able to confirm or deny that Vona was a patient.
When Steven called DHR to file a complaint, he was told " you're not even in state, as long as the custodial parent knows where she is and that she is safe, no complaint can be filed."
Saturday April 5, 2014
A local police officer in Vona's city called to do a phone interview, however stated a missing person's report could not be placed over the phone and needed a local relative to file a missing persons report in person. After arriving at the police station, Vona's maternal grandmother and older sister were told because the mother knew she was safe, a report would not be filed even though Vona's whereabouts and location still had not been confirmed.
Late on Saturday evening, we saw FB pictures and Instagram pictures of Vona's mother in New Orleans with captions like "enjoying my life" and "relaxing."
Still no information about Vona.
Sunday April 6, 2014
Steven contacted the local police dept only to be told there were other cases they were working and that Vona doesn't appear to be in danger, but that they would continue to look for her.
Monday April 7, 2014
Still no word about Vona.
We accessed our insurance website to see if we could possibly locate her through a claim by the facility. In the last 16 months there have been 34 claims for Vona under her father's insurance, 15 for mental health and 19 for medical. None of which he was made aware of although he has provided insurance for her since her birth. Vona is NOT in need of any mental health services. She is a happy, healthy, energetic and beautiful teenager.
We also received confirmation from Vona's high school that she did not attend today.
Tuesday April 8, 2014
After leaving a message for Ms. Malone with the Jefferson County Truancy Intervention program yesterday, she called back this morning. I explained to her that Vona is still not in school and asked at what point is the Truancy program implemented to prevent excessive absenteeism. Ms. Malone responded by telling me she doesn't know Vona and that she works with the Juvenile Court system and she hasnt received a referral. She was completely nonchalant and made me feel as if I was bothering her. She offered nothing extra, not a different department, not a suggestion, nothing. I ended the call feeling even more frustrated. I dont understand why so many people are willing to let Vona fall through the cracks.
Our only recourse at this point is the assistance of an attorney we found in Birmingham. We need help paying the legal fees for this attorney. Every little bit is appreciated, Steven needs your help finding his daughter so that he can give her the love, nurturing, and parenting she deserves.
Update!
April 8
Vona finally called! She is home from the facility. Apparently after a disagreement with her mother over unfolded clothes, the ambulance was called because Vona's mother considered her "unruly" and "undisciplined." She was transported to the ER in a strait jacket where she spent the night. The next day, she was transported to UAB to a "camp" for kids. It was difficult to hear her say she didn't feel safe and that she didn't know what to do. We are even more determined to have Vona here with us.
April 9
We received a letter from our insurance company stating that Vona had been admitted to UAB and basically whatever was not covered by insurance, Steve is now responsible for. Steve contacted the insurance company to dispute the letter and to explain that he was not made aware of the hospitalization, did not agree nor did he authorize it. Although sympathetic, the representative advised the only way to stop Vona's mother from using the benefits frivolously is to drop Vona completely from medical and dental. In addition to that, not only will he be responsible for the uncovered charges from this last visit, he is also responsible for the co-pay for the 15 prior visits Vona's mother did not pay at the time of service in Birmingham. Unbelievable!
Update!
April 21, 2014
We received a call from United Behavioral Health as a follow up on Vona and her medication. When Steven identified himself as her father, he was advised that they could not provide him with any other information besides her being prescribed Zoloft & Prozac. When Steve questioned him further about what other medical conditions Vona may have been diagnosed with, the representative told Steve that he was only able to speak with Sherleen Taylor. Really? On his insurance that he pays for and she is clearly misusing? How is this possible?
When I called back myself to get an understanding as to why the actual member can not be given any information, but someone not affliated with the policy can, I was told the only way to stop the claims is to drop Vona completely.
After looking up the claim information, Steve placed a call to James Cullinan whose name appeared as the mental health provider who last saw Vona on April 8, 2014. The nurse who returned the call advised that she left a message for the doctor, but there is a possibility that the mother Sherleen Taylor added a note that all question and concerns about Vona are to be directed to her only. So basically, because she is the custodial parent, it appears as though she is the only one determining Vona's future. Unfortunately, our only recourse is to drop Vona from the insurance. Steve's insurance should not be the vehicle that allows this medical and mental mistreatment nor should he be responsible for the bills that Sherleen Taylor incurs by seeking inappropriate treatment for Vona.
This is what happened: The mother Sherleen Taylor and Father Steven Vallery have been divorced since 2002. The mother lives in the Birmingham area, and Steven lives in the Atlanta Metro area. After spending a great week together for spring break, Steven returned Vona to her mother on Sunday March 30, 2014.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Steven received call from maternal grandmother asking if he'd heard from Vona. Steven placed several calls to the mother but received no answer. Finally he received a text msg from her stating "she is safe" but refused to provide whereabouts or location of Vona.
Steven then called Vona's high school where they refused to answer questions about her attendance until the divorce decree was faxed as Steven was not listed as her father on Vona's emergency contact information. Finally, the high school verified that Vona has not been to school since 4/2.
Steven made a call to the local police dept who did a well check only to find no one home. After subsequent phone calls to the mother, she answered and advised that Vona was at Children's hospital. When the police officer called to verify, he was told that Vona was not a patient there. Upon confronting the mother, she became belligerent and hung up.
We later received a call from Vona's maternal grandmother saying she believes Vona has been placed in a mental facility.
After calling 5 of the many facilities each one advised that unless Steven has a pin #, no information could be given. They would not be able to confirm or deny that Vona was a patient.
When Steven called DHR to file a complaint, he was told " you're not even in state, as long as the custodial parent knows where she is and that she is safe, no complaint can be filed."
Saturday April 5, 2014
A local police officer in Vona's city called to do a phone interview, however stated a missing person's report could not be placed over the phone and needed a local relative to file a missing persons report in person. After arriving at the police station, Vona's maternal grandmother and older sister were told because the mother knew she was safe, a report would not be filed even though Vona's whereabouts and location still had not been confirmed.
Late on Saturday evening, we saw FB pictures and Instagram pictures of Vona's mother in New Orleans with captions like "enjoying my life" and "relaxing."
Still no information about Vona.
Sunday April 6, 2014
Steven contacted the local police dept only to be told there were other cases they were working and that Vona doesn't appear to be in danger, but that they would continue to look for her.
Monday April 7, 2014
Still no word about Vona.
We accessed our insurance website to see if we could possibly locate her through a claim by the facility. In the last 16 months there have been 34 claims for Vona under her father's insurance, 15 for mental health and 19 for medical. None of which he was made aware of although he has provided insurance for her since her birth. Vona is NOT in need of any mental health services. She is a happy, healthy, energetic and beautiful teenager.
We also received confirmation from Vona's high school that she did not attend today.
Tuesday April 8, 2014
After leaving a message for Ms. Malone with the Jefferson County Truancy Intervention program yesterday, she called back this morning. I explained to her that Vona is still not in school and asked at what point is the Truancy program implemented to prevent excessive absenteeism. Ms. Malone responded by telling me she doesn't know Vona and that she works with the Juvenile Court system and she hasnt received a referral. She was completely nonchalant and made me feel as if I was bothering her. She offered nothing extra, not a different department, not a suggestion, nothing. I ended the call feeling even more frustrated. I dont understand why so many people are willing to let Vona fall through the cracks.
Our only recourse at this point is the assistance of an attorney we found in Birmingham. We need help paying the legal fees for this attorney. Every little bit is appreciated, Steven needs your help finding his daughter so that he can give her the love, nurturing, and parenting she deserves.
Update!
April 8
Vona finally called! She is home from the facility. Apparently after a disagreement with her mother over unfolded clothes, the ambulance was called because Vona's mother considered her "unruly" and "undisciplined." She was transported to the ER in a strait jacket where she spent the night. The next day, she was transported to UAB to a "camp" for kids. It was difficult to hear her say she didn't feel safe and that she didn't know what to do. We are even more determined to have Vona here with us.
April 9
We received a letter from our insurance company stating that Vona had been admitted to UAB and basically whatever was not covered by insurance, Steve is now responsible for. Steve contacted the insurance company to dispute the letter and to explain that he was not made aware of the hospitalization, did not agree nor did he authorize it. Although sympathetic, the representative advised the only way to stop Vona's mother from using the benefits frivolously is to drop Vona completely from medical and dental. In addition to that, not only will he be responsible for the uncovered charges from this last visit, he is also responsible for the co-pay for the 15 prior visits Vona's mother did not pay at the time of service in Birmingham. Unbelievable!
Update!
April 21, 2014
We received a call from United Behavioral Health as a follow up on Vona and her medication. When Steven identified himself as her father, he was advised that they could not provide him with any other information besides her being prescribed Zoloft & Prozac. When Steve questioned him further about what other medical conditions Vona may have been diagnosed with, the representative told Steve that he was only able to speak with Sherleen Taylor. Really? On his insurance that he pays for and she is clearly misusing? How is this possible?
When I called back myself to get an understanding as to why the actual member can not be given any information, but someone not affliated with the policy can, I was told the only way to stop the claims is to drop Vona completely.
After looking up the claim information, Steve placed a call to James Cullinan whose name appeared as the mental health provider who last saw Vona on April 8, 2014. The nurse who returned the call advised that she left a message for the doctor, but there is a possibility that the mother Sherleen Taylor added a note that all question and concerns about Vona are to be directed to her only. So basically, because she is the custodial parent, it appears as though she is the only one determining Vona's future. Unfortunately, our only recourse is to drop Vona from the insurance. Steve's insurance should not be the vehicle that allows this medical and mental mistreatment nor should he be responsible for the bills that Sherleen Taylor incurs by seeking inappropriate treatment for Vona.
Organizer
Leslie Parker-Vallery
Organizer
