Reunification services/ Psych Eval....help!

[Avalons_mommy]

My child was taken from my home in september of 08' due to a messy bedroom (mine), the rest of the home was spotless.

After further investigation, they kept her away due to her father's (my fiance's) drug history and my medical history (post partum depression).

We were approved for services, however were not told where to go or what to do until months later, all of this aside we have done our services, and completed them. We both completed a 13 week parenting class, 14 weeks of counseling sessions, my fiance has completed drug tests twice a week for 15 weeks, all of them clean. he has gone to AA and is actively involved with the recovery community and has shinig reports from all of his counselors.

The counselor I have been seeing gave me a shining report, saying I am perfectly capable of caring for my child and recommended that my daughter be returned to me immediately. AND THAT I SHOW NO SIGNS OF ANY PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER.

I had a psych eval the 1st of May, and a few days ago, on August 13 2009, the report came back. At this court date they were going to return custody to both of us. On the very morning of court, the psych eval came in. MONTHS later, and after I have completed all my services.

The psychologist's report claimed that I "probably have a significant psychiatric disorder, probably bipolar" Although tests I was given came back inconclusive.

He also had me sign a release of medical records from my last doctor who treated me for post partum. This doctor was also an MD, who had perscribed me methadone for back pain caused by a car accident, pain that I had gone to physical therapy for BEFORE ever being on medication. I told the very first case worker about this medication and she said, "Well, just focus on the psychotropics for now, since that is what your case is based upon"

However she did still have me complete a drug test, which came out clean. In the psych eval, he asked me questions and I answered. Appearently, since I didnt volunteer the information about the methadone (which at the time this was completed I had been off of for 6 months) he claimed that I am hiding a substance abuse problem, and that if I abuse methadone I am abusing alcohol as well.

I cannot stress to you enough how absurd that is. My fiance is a recovering alcoholic, he cannot drink and therefore I DO NOT DRINK either. Even before he stopped drinking, I drank on a very rare occasion, such as 2-3 times per YEAR.

The counselor I see through cps says the report is very vague, constantly using terms such as, "probably, speculate, might be" and no diagnosis. This report is the only negative report I have recieved, and yet on this one 6 page report alone, they want to stop my services and grant custody to my Fiance alone, which would mean I would have to move out of MY OWN HOME.

They claim that I am seriously mentally ill (even though only one doctor seems to think so) and am in denial, and unwilling to take meds. My mother in law is an RN and worked in a psych ward. This report infuriates her because she sees NO SIGNS of ANY mental illness.

I KNOW, that I'm not mentally ill.....but how do I prove that? especially if they say I'm in denial. I don't have "episodes" and my mood is pretty much the same around the clock.
If they dont stop my services, they are going to court order me onto psychotropic meds, or else I cannot have my daughter. I'm also an ex-preschool teacher....to say I'm a danger to any child is absurd!
I don't know what to do at this point, I have a court appointed lawyer and I dont think her heart is in it.
I cannot afford another lawyer....but I dont know what to do right now. Help, please, anybody.

[Marina]

Write up a Motion to the Court, asking them to do whatever it is that you want to happen. State your objections to what Child Welfare wants, and corrections to any wrong information.

Ask you lawyer to help you edit it and file it. If they won't help, you can file it yourself.

Be very careful about what you put in it. Don't give too much unnecessary information that they can twist against you and hang you with.

Take it to the courthouse and file it with the court, giving the case number, etc. and send copies to all parties. Or give the copies out in court.

Say:

Statement of Facts: This is my situation...

Objections: I object to taking meds...

Corrections: I was prescribed meds for...
These are the facts about my psych evaluation. The counselor gave a bizarre interpretation of the facts I presented. There is no evidence that I am in the condition that she claims I am in. The test I was given did not indicate anything that she is saying.

Motion to return my children: I am OK and a fit parent...

Motion for Discovery on how the Psyc. Test works: During the test or evaluation I was asked such and such and responded such and such. When asked if I was afraid... I answered yes. They concluded I was paranoid. Judges are paranoid also. Why do you think they have metal detectors and armed deputies in the court house? Does that make judges mentally incompetent and in need of meds?...


This is just off the top of my head.

[debbiescalese]

My daughter had a psych eval done by a cps recommened evaluator. It came back and the place that did her therapy/meds said it was so far off base that they needed to do another one just to develop a treatment plan because the records they had and the ones this woman were reporting were like she got 2 kids mixed up. I mean stuff in it were way far off base. So they did the eval over and it came back so different that we gave it to our lawyer who gave it to the court and cps. Mind you this place had been treating my daughter since BEFORE cps ever came in the picture so they had years of records to work off of. CPS backed off because a newer eval trumped the one they had and that eval has some records to back it. IF I were you I would go have another eval done on myself to prove that one was false and do it at a place you trust. CPS almost always sends you somewhere that they know the doc will make a case for them the only way to beat that is to find a place not recommened by them that you trust and has a good standing in the comunity to do the eval.

[Avalons_mommy]

So,

My lawyer said I should have a medication evaluation done, instead of another psych.....so that the question wouldnt be, whether or not I'm a nutcase, but whether or not I can function in the world, med free.

My social worker wanted me to go to some doctor at a free clinic, but I insisted that I see my own doctor. Debbie, like your daughter saw her doctor long before cps, it was the same with me...I went to my old doctor who had seen me since I was a teen on and off, and is actually a little well known in the community. He raised his eyebrows at my report from cps, and said that I've never, ever shown signs of bipolar, and that since I've been off meds for 8 months+ now, I'm fine to live my life without them.

I also went to see a drug and alcohol addictions specialist, where she asked me how often I drink, what drugs have I ever done and so on...

I was completely honest with her and she said that I do not need treatment of any kind, since I dont have any substance abuse issues....I dont drink, and I dont do drugs.....black and white. So both the doctor and the AOD specialist are sending letters to the court....and now my lawyer is filing for return home

Its almost bittersweet.....because I'd love to just be happy and relieved, but honestly, I've jumped through so many hoops I'm programmed to brace myself for the next round of BS *sigh*

thanks for the feedback!

[debbiescalese]

Are you also aware that the doctor or what ever that person was can have a complaint lodged against them with the psych board? I did it. You simply google the psych board for you state look up the person check to see if any complaints have been made then down load the complaint form and fill it out and mail it back. It is simple. More should do it. I never heard anything back from them but I did when I filed a complaint with the Lawyer's board on the first lawyer we had. He really f****ed us and our case he was sanctioned and the unpaid bill was dismissed by the board. We could have pushed it even more and gotten money back but we stupidly didn't had too much going on at the time.