My name is Alicia Olness. I have four beautiful daughters that are currently stuck in the child protection system through Dakota County. I am not able to see my children, even after 6 months of being open. I just now recently am able to see them one day per week, which is ridiculous!!!

I'm saving up for a lawyer that is not against me as I feel my private defender is not doing a sufficient enough job. They don’t allow me to speak in hearings, and the judge and my public defender not only silence me in court, but the judge even rolled his eyes at me during one hearing.

I know it might sound like a lot, but a lawyer I’ve been in contact with for months charges $13,500, and I feel she will get the “job done.” She is willing to represent me in Dakota County as she represents me in Anoka County where the investigation occurred, and an appeal has been written by me.

In the petition in Dakota County, they state, “Alicia Olness was the sole caregiver of her four children when she fell unconscious due to opioid use outside of the home.” I have to say this because it is a complete LIE, and this is their endanger statement, which means they’re illegally open against me, and I need someone to represent me to prove this to the court.

Although I did fall unconscious due to opioid use outside of the home, I have never used drugs near or around my children in their entire lives. That night I relapsed after 3 1/2 years of being clean, and their Dad was present with the children the entire time. The children did not witness the incident and were not affected by the incident as I have mentioned the incident occurred outside of the home.

I am not trying to discount or rationalize my drug use; it was wrong, and I do understand this. But I have done everything in my power to make up for this. Like I said, I’ve completed treatment both residential and outpatient. They then went on to say that I have not completed treatment in the petition, but this is far from the truth. After this, I completed inpatient and outpatient treatment through Hazelden and even was in contact with a detective the entire time I was in treatment. They investigated the entire incident and decided that since I completed treatment, I did not need to be charged criminally.

Why can’t child protection do the same thing? And even almost one year later, they want to still open a case against me now? I’m in complete disbelief. They removed my custody Friday, May 23rd, and the incident of me falling unconscious happened July 4, 2024. Why now are they removing my custody when they should’ve done so a long time ago?

They also told Dad that he did not need to be at the hearing, which he was my key witness against their allegations. He should have shown up for me, but he has also been against me as we have separated ways a while ago.

Please help me regain custody of my children and dismiss child protection out of our lives. I am going to another inpatient treatment on Monday, June 2nd at 10:30 AM for a 90-day stay. Of course, I won’t be able to care for my children at this time as it is residential, and I’m not allowed to have children with me. My Mom will be caring for MY children under a family arrangement, and there is no need for child protection involvement as this is something we’ve agreed upon in the family.

I tried to say this in court, and I was laughed at as the judge stated this is more of a reason for a child protection case to be open? Make it make sense?!

Please help me! I have lost all hope and faith in humanity and myself as I am made to look like a criminal and not a damn good mother to my children, who I have remained clean for in the past, for 3 1/2 years of their lives, mind you. They stripped me of my right to be a mother. I am a professional in this field and still do not understand how they’re open against me under lies and allegations that are far from the truth.

I was not able to prove myself in court alone, so I need a lawyer and a damn good one to get this case dismissed as it should have been from the jump! The investigator stated that they were unsure if they wanted to open case management, but this is something we agreed upon as the team because we needed the support and help and resources as we are now homeless and jobless due to child protection involvement.

Everything in my life is gone and taken away. I can’t begin to describe the pain and weeping I feel and do at night or while I’m alone. My babies are gone. They’re stolen from me.

Please find it in your heart to give to my cause.