My name is Desireah Davis. On May 19th 2006, My children were taken into State custody. It was a time in my life where I was at my lowest. I was grieving from the loss of grandparents, Trying to recover from an abusive relationship, was being evicted, and my utilities were shut off. I take full responsibility for the chain of events leading up to this and the deplorable condition my home was in from both neglect and packing to move. My case worker knew I had plans in place and my children were safe at my cousins house during the transition
I'm writing this because I feel the rights of my children and mine were profoundly violated by the State of Maine DHHS. What I understood as a reunification process, turned out to be four years of intimidation, deception, and abuse of power to accomplish it's own agenda and set me up for failure.
My story is long and full of emotional trauma. But, I will try to contain this to just the more pertinent examples of the DHHS conduct throughout my case. Please keep in mind they knew how to trigger these emotions an use them against me. Later, defining my whole character by these emotions.
I was told I had 10 months to get an income, apply for housing, find a safe clean home for my children and to get counseling in order to get my children back. This left me alone, heartbroken and homeless. I was also pregnant with my forth child. I was "high risk" for a heart condition that required a lot of down time. However, It took 8 months for me to reestablish an income and housing. I found a house (not an apartment) that included utilities which relieved me from the burden of shut offs. I kept all my appointments for counseling and prenatal care. As well as visits with my children. The kids rooms were all set up with new beds and bedding. Clothes and toys were all organized. I had accomplished the goals they set for me. So I thought!
There were team meeting where goals were discussed and/or any concerns either DHHS or myself had. Each meeting the case workers would add another goal and continue telling me what I'm doing isn't enough. When either I or a member of my support team spoke, their demeanor was arrogant, often rolling their eyes, or using gestures indicating our voice meant nothing. When my lawyer wasn't present, they would intimidate me and threaten to cut my visits for any unfounded excuse they could come up with. They would act encouraging and commend me for my "progress" in front of my lawyer. In one meeting we were being observed by another group of out of state workers. My case workers were so fake, my support person had to walk out of the meeting she was so disgusted. Most of the minutes of each meeting omitted positive input an/or my word were twisted.
The visits with my children were rarely consistent. The law clearly states that decisions of reunification are made for the safety of the children and NOT to punish the parent. There were times we went months without visits. Supervisors of visits were changed (ironically) each time a positive report was submitted. I was given no reports of any of these changes. My case worker then brought in a service to supervise but did not tell me they were also there to teach me parenting skills with the " model/Que" method. This caused a lot of anxiety and frustration because they wouldn't explain what they were doing. They would only tell me to do it "their way". I was sad for my children for not being able to have our visits without all the interference of these people. This made it impossible for me to develop any type of rapport with this service. Again, "ironically" it was only this services report that was submitted into evidence in court. All others were omitted.
Throughout the next year, I maintained a clean and safe home, children's organized rooms still untouched, tested clean on all drug tests taken, did my best at keeping up with each and every new thing they added to my already full calender, while taking care of my newborn daughter. Just to find out they wanted to terminate my rights. And to my surprise, sneaking their way into removing my daughter from my home as well. I had plans for my daughter to visit with her grandmother for the weekend and came home to a NOTE on my door stating my daughter will not be returning to my home. This was after my parent partner (who was staying with me for my daughter's first four months to oversee how I cared for her) had left. This again, left me alone, and heartbroken. Now I know why, back when I requested that my son be allowed to see the new house and see the changes I had made because I was concerned that he would only have the memory of the home we were living in before.... was denied.
I will admit there were times when I expressed my emotions with outbursts. I couldn't stop thinking about how all of this was affecting my children. If they were lying to me, what were they telling my children? This whole process caused my family a mixture of emotions that will last a lifetime. They had a psychiatrist testify that I had narcissistic tendencies and was unable to show empathy. Plus a diagnosis of bi-polar. This is how they interpreted my outbursts of frustration, sadness and an overwhelming love I have for my children and how I miss them more then life.
In conclusion, I have since been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder NOT bi-polar. This may well be the reason the medication they had me on wasn't working back then. But, this diagnosis was the base of my whole case and reason my parental rights were terminated. That, and of course, dirty dishes in my sink.
I AM A MOTHER WHO HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF DHHS CPS LIES FALSE REPORTS FRAUD THEY DESTROYED MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF I WAS TOLD I HAD NO RIGHTS TO MY CHILDREN I AM WITH FEW OTHER MOTHER WHO HAVE FELL VICTIMS OF CORRUPTION WITH IN DHHS FAMILY COURT BY CPS WORKERS SUPERVISOR LAWYERS GAURDIAN AD LITEM AND JUDGES AND THE TORMENT AND TORTURE AND DEFAMING PARENT FOR CPS HIDDEN AGENDAS AND WHEN WE CALL THEM OUT AND FIGHT FOR OUR FAMILIES TWISING WORD AND HAVING KINSHIP CARE WORK AGAINST PARENT REUNIFACATION PLANS THEY SAY IT IS NOT TO PUNISH PARENT BUT MORE CHILDREN ARE TAKEN AWAY FOREVER THEN THERE ARE CHILDREN RETURNING HOME LIKE PLANNED (* Note to Parents - Federal law does not require or even allow placement
with a relative that is working against reunification. Further, a relative
who continually makes false reports shouldn't be rewarded with placement
of the child. If your child has been placed with a relative that is working
against reunification, file a Motion to Change Placement with the court
and cite the reason as the current placement is a hindrance to reunification.
PARENT’S GUIDE TO THE “SYSTEM”
AND THIS IS TO HAPPEN IF THEY ARE WORKING AGAINST YOU IN REUNIFACATION AND ALL PARENT ARE DENIED THIS DHHS CPS LIES TELL JUDGES FALSE REPORTS AND FALSE CALLS AND ANONYMOUSE CALLER TO A HOT LINE AND THEY USE IT AGAINST YOU IN COURT SO I AM LOOKING TO START A FEDREAL LAWSUIT IN PORTLAND, MAINE. WHAT ARE YOU PLANS TO ABOLISH AND SHUT DOWN THE CORRUPTION WITH DHHS CPS AND FAMILY COURT WHO ALL PROFIT FROM THE SELLING OF OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES PLEASE RESPOND TO
[email protected] THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND UNDERSTANDING IN THIS SENITIVE MATTER AND CONCERNS THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. DESIREAH DAVIS
