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My name is Nick and I'm trying to save my family.

Summary

I have 3 children, 2 are not mine biologically. They are my daughters siblings. I've been in a constant struggle with the court to keep them in my home. The system is broken and has failed these children and I have a short time to try and get them back before they are permanently adopted into foster care.

Background

Im a single Dad of 3 children. One is my biological daughter (9) and the two younger children are her siblings (6&5). I have been in their lives since they were born. Around the time my son was turned one his mother left our lives and began to have issues. I cared for the children myself for over a year with no aid but it was difficult as I had no rights.

Eventually their mother got into legal trouble and CPS entered our lives removing all 3 children under the premise that I should have reported her prior to that. Of course I knew they would remove the younger children had I done such.

Luckily my sister was able to take them while I completed whatever they asked and after over 2 years of struggle and incompetence from a broken system I was able to reunite with all the children. We had a new home and a good life and to all of us it was a dream come true.

The Problem

However during this time there was a persistent threat by the name of the Guardian Ad Litem department (GAL for short) This is a volunteer run department meant to advocate the best interest of the children in the courts. This department pushed for them to be removed from my sister multiple times before I could be reunified and held up the process for months even then. They used everything from my history, to my mental health and I completed every evaluation and service they threw at me until I finally pushed through. When the children were finally back we thought it was over but I soon realized my fight was just getting started.

The case had persisted many years by this point and we now had a 3rd new judge presiding over the case. Previous judges involved commended my "Herculean Effort" and told me before leaving I was "one of their favorite parents (they) had dealt with in their time" However the new judge was a bit more cynical and while i initially thought nothing of it i soon realized that she was buying into the barrage of complaints often thrown out by the GAL. I had a public defender at the time and they had very little interest in defending me which was fine when my achievements spoke for themselves but once I was in a holding pattern it became a trend of the GAL throwing out a dozen accusations and me trying to whisper my defense to my lawyer in the middle of court to him just hand waving it off saying "your fine"

The Trial

This went on for 6 months until the GAL finally launched a petition for a change of placement. By this point I did not even have a lawyer as I was technically only a foster caregiver to the children. I was assigned another public defender and told we would have a trial where I could defend the placement to keep the children.

This entire process shocked me as I continually found myself in a position where they would lie or bend the truth and I had almost no recourse to defend it. They claimed my house was unfit for children and a safety hazard for multiple reasons and even called CPS on me 4 times with different accusations. Every single time the CPS investigation was closed unsubstantiated and the investigator herself even came to court to testify on my behalf because she couldn't believe they were making these claims. Keep in mind I have a biological daughter also who lives with me and nobody had any concerns over her. The excuse being that she was my child but the others were not and therefore they could hold me to a higher standard in terms of them.

I began taking pictures multiple times a week. They said they were worried about the kids eating so I took pictures of our dinners for an entire month. They said the children had behavioral problems so I got written letters from their daycare and school records. They said they weren't receiving proper medical care so I submitted medical records. At every turn I tried to disprove them I thought I was doing well.

The Verdict

Finally on August 20 2024 we had our final hearing. It was much of the same with a barrage of flimsy lies and half truths.Court is like a game and I barely knew the rules. They were pros. I explained that I had begged my case worker to come into my home more often, I asked for a new GAL to get a second opinion, I even contacted supervisors and more to complain that nobody was hearing what i was saying and it would destroy the kids. Ultimately nothing worked. The GAL got on the stand and lied in ways I could factually prove, my case worker gave a ridiculous testimony that didn't align with any of the facts I or even they had shown. I was shocked and horrified. Afterwards I sent texts and emails asking how they thought it was ok to lie and cheat in that way and of course received no reply.

On August 26 2024 we received the verdict in writing. That same day the children were removed from my placement with only a few hours of warning. I was told as a non Relative I had no rights and there was nothing I could do besides file an appeal.

The Goal

These kids ARE my kids in every way that matters. I was there since they were born. I had them for years and our home exist as a 3 child home. I have a huge family with nephews and nieces that are destroyed at the idea of not seeing their cousins. They said my home was unsafe but my biological daughter is still in the home. The most recent CPS case (the GAL called them) had just closed out a few days prior stating the home was safe. The things written in the order are based on testimony and opinions that I had disproven multiple times or addressed directly.

I understand some people will think I'm in denial or not taking accountability but I beg people to understand the system I witnessed was broken and incompetent. The children have been failed by a system that's supposed to protect them and a few stubborn women were able to cross their arms and say no until my family was torn apart.

My only recourse at this point is to file an appeal or launch a campaign to readopt them. My public defender has already been discharged but told me that it would cost me thousands and I only have 30 days to file. I also fully intend to campaign against the system and the GAL department in general as a volunteer worker was given so many rights that I can't even fathom how many people have been victim to one persons bias.

I will use this money to hire an appeal lawyer and a family lawyer to review the case. I will also make small adjustments to the home to address any and all issues that would be brought up against me and strengthen my case. This entire process has put incredible strain on myself and my family and we are struggling as it is.