Minnie's Fight for Parental Rights

You know them as the Ilgenfritz kids. You've attended our weddings.  You've watched them grow up over the past 3 decades.  You know our family does not have a history of neglect...not even dental neglect.  If you believe in our family, we need your support to help fight the false accusations, bring accountability to an out of control government agency and bring necessary changes to a mandated reporter law that has no defined protocol as to what constitutes neglect.  Please stand with us as we fight to preserve our parental right to make medical and dental decisions for our children without fear of coercion, manipulation or fear of being reported to child protection services.  Help us send a clear message that we will not allow our parental rights to be stripped from us. 

If you think it couldn't happen to you, think again!  I used to think these "kinds of things" happened to "other" people.  Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought it could happen to me.  However, on April 28, 2016, we were investigated for dental neglect of our youngest child, Laralinn Grace Ilgenfritz because we refused a treatment plan prescribed by our dentist, Dr. Joann Frey of Dental Health of Silver Springs.

Who would think that in the United States, you are guilty till proven innocent.  But it's true.  We have been "indicated" as perpetrators of dental neglect.  Our names have been placed on the "Childline Abuse Registry".  According to the county agency, we are "child abusers" even though the case is still in the appeal process to have it expunged from our record.

We have a 31 year track record of raising well adjusted and productive children who have beautiful permanent teeth.  We gave Children and Youth Services (CYS) every opportunity to bow out gracefully without a legal battle.  Unfortunately, our attempts to resolve the matter without legal recourse were unsuccessful.  We will have to to defend ourselves in court.  It will be a colossal waste of our courts time.  Had CYS done their homework it would have saved the tax payers a considerable expense.  

Don't be fooled.  This is about our parental right to choose or refuse a treatment plan for our children without fear of coercion, manipulation or threat of investigation as long as it does not present an imminent risk of serious harm or death to our child.  It is wrong to label parents as "unfit" to make medical or dental decisions for our children because we have the audacity to have a different opinion than the "professionals".

Our attorney can't believe it has gone this far.  Unfortunately, this is no longer about Laralinn's safety, her teeth or dental neglect.  I believe I have ruffled quite a few CYS feathers because I am a person passionate about my parental rights and have refused to concede to any of their demands.  I think they believe that if they put enough pressure on me I will cow to their demands.  Well they have misjudged their adversary.  If they want a battle, I am most willing to give them one they will never forget.  I am committed to defending my rights to the Supreme Court if necessary.

The dentist and the government agencies violated our 14 and 5th amendments. Our civil right to due-process was denied when they placed our names on the registry prior to holding a hearing. They also denied our fundamental right against government interference in the care, custody and control of our children in the absence of imminent harm.

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) law and the laws regarding mandated reporting need revision and accountability.  If this is done, a lot of problems would be resolved.  We are committed to fighting the war to preserve our parental rights.  We are committed to preventing other families from being falsely accused.  Unfortunately the battles, in this war, aren't cheap.  They cost money.  There are exorbitant legal fees, court costs and other miscellaneous expenses.

Please help us in our battle with CYS.  CYS has access to unlimited taxpayer dollars.  It doesn't cost them anything to pursue innocent families.  Unfortunately it takes money to fight them on their own turf.   Please help us raise the money to defeat CYS, rule the Pennsylvania child abuse registry protocol unconstitutional, and protect the rights of all parents to make the necessary decisions for their children without unnecessary government interference.

I know this is not going to be easy; however, I don't expect easy, I just expect justice.  Complacency can lead to tyranny.  Mahatma Gandhi said, "We need to be the change we wish to see in the world."  I am not a child abuser and I refuse to be treated like one. I am dedicated to winning this attack on our parental rights.  I am committed to fighting this war with or without your support; however, I hope you will stand with us and support our efforts.  

The battle has already begun.  We gave our attorney a $2000 retainer on October 26, 2016.  $1065 was spent in the first 6 days.  Everything costs money, every letter, phone call, motion, etc.  We need your support, financially, emotionally and spiritually.  There is no way to predict how much all these legal battles will cost.  We will update the figures as we move forward towards victory.

All money will be used for retainer fees, court fees, legal fees, filing fees, copying fees, travel expenses, and any other expenses related to our fight to win against CYS, the government agencies and any opposing authorities that want to limit our parental rights, violate our constitutional freedoms and deny us our civil liberties.  

No donantion is too small. Regardless of your ability to donate, please share on your Facebook page so others may help, as well. Thanks in advance for all your support...keep the prayers coming because the fight has just begun!!!