OMG! Please send good thoughts!!

[ColleenSwerb]

I recently posted my blog how disappointed I was with the state of MD for their treatment of a little boy that I know. (It's on my blog, which is linked in my siggie, just scroll back a bit)

The battle has continued over his well being, but progress was being made.

My friend just got a phone call from Baltimore City Social Services, and someone reported the mother and her husband for neglect and abuse on the boy and his sister!! And it's being taken VERY seriously.

This might be the end of the battle!! PLEASE send whatever positive thoughts you can this way for the little boy!! We NEED to get him away from his mother and home where he belongs!!!

[scarletsierra]

Oh definitely, Col! Sending prayers up that this little boy can be kept safe and into the loving, caring home he deseves!

[Paula]

Sure thing Col!

[crecia27]

I'm sending up prayers for these kids!! Please keep us posted!

[scrapperjade]

Sending SO many good thoughts!! I hope that little boy gets home where he should be (and should have STAYED!). G'ments make me so mad sometimes!

[sannajeannine]

Sending prayers for these children....it makes me so heartsick to hear of children being abused

[Becca Bonneville]

Sending lots of positive thoughts that way! I hope it all works out for the boys best interest in the end! Poor baby!

[ColleenSwerb]

Thanks so much everyone!
I'm gonna be on pins and needles for the rest of the day until we find out what's going on with everything. I'm so so hopeful for the little boy and his sister!!

[pbumbaca]

OMGosh I hate hearing stuff like this and can't even imagine what it's like to be someone you know! I didn't see your blog post Col but I will keep the little boy and his sister in my prayers that they get the help they so deserve!

[lizzyfizzy]

will do col!!! poor lil guy!!!

[Melissa Bennett]

Oh gosh, I hope they do something for those kids. We looked into being foster parents here in Maryland and could not believe their kick back attitude to how they handle things. I will keep those kids in my thoughts and prayers.

[Kat Stokes]

I read about this on your blog before! I really hope and pray that Social Services does the right thing this time and places these children in a safe home!

It just makes me seriously ill to think that they continue to let this woman have chance after chance and she keeps abusing them!!! Get those kids away from her already! They do not deserve to grow up in that kind of environment!!!

[LenaGardner]

been wondering what was going on with that lately. the story is appalling! sending lots of p & pt their way!

[junebug]

i hope he gets away from that stupid biatch and into a safer environment! Poor little guy; my heart is breaking for him. Courts are so screwed up sometimes.

[ColleenSwerb]

Thanks ladies. I'm still not sure what exactly is going on, and my friend hasn't gotten much of an update either.

A pro se' (not sure what that is) officer with the court came to talk to the boy this past friday for about an hour. He is still living with my friends, his mother has custody every other weekend. My friend thinks that after she (the pro se') heard about the beatings he received, filed the report.

Now the only concern is that Social Services might take him from my friends as well, until the whole situation gets settled. Which would be really bad for the little boy as he already has separation issues (anytime he lives my friends he is convinced that something awful is going to happen to him and he'll never see them again, it's truly heart breaking ).

Anyway, keep sending good vibes if you don't mind. The boy and his sister really need them.

[kscwgirl]

OMG I hope they do not take him away from your friends.

[LeeAndra]

I will pray, Col! I know all too well how screwed up DFS can be.

[LeeAndra]

Pro se means to represent one's self, so to appear pro se in court means that you are your own lawyer. I'm not sure what a pro se officer of the court would be, though. Perhaps it is something like a guardian ad litem?

A GAL is an officer of the court appointed to specifically represent the child(ren's) best interests and be an objective third party in custody and court hearings. They could be lawyers, but oftentimes, they are not, just volunteers that have been through a training program and served X amount of hours before becoming 'official.'

If she heard abt beatings or any kind of abuse, then yes, she would be required by law to report this to the court as all are child workers: youth ministry, pastors, daycare workers, teachers, etc.

GALs often submit reports to the judge during a custody hearing based on their fact findings and interviews with the children and parents, so I don't know whether the abuse was part of her regular report or a secondary independent report, but at least around here, the judges almost always go along with whatever the GAL recommends, so a report from her condemning the biological mother for abuse can definitely work in your friends' favor.

[meganmecrazy]

Sending up prayers <<<HUGS>>>

[ColleenSwerb]

Originally Posted by LeeAndra

Pro se means to represent one's self, so to appear pro se in court means that you are your own lawyer. I'm not sure what a pro se officer of the court would be, though. Perhaps it is something like a guardian ad litem?

A GAL is an officer of the court appointed to specifically represent the child(ren's) best interests and be an objective third party in custody and court hearings. They could be lawyers, but oftentimes, they are not, just volunteers that have been through a training program and served X amount of hours before becoming 'official.'

If she heard abt beatings or any kind of abuse, then yes, she would be required by law to report this to the court as all are child workers: youth ministry, pastors, daycare workers, teachers, etc.

GALs often submit reports to the judge during a custody hearing based on their fact findings and interviews with the children and parents, so I don't know whether the abuse was part of her regular report or a secondary independent report, but at least around here, the judges almost always go along with whatever the GAL recommends, so a report from her condemning the biological mother for abuse can definitely work in your friends' favor.

That makes a lot of sense LA. Thank you for explaining some things.
The pro se' heard about the abuse from the child himself (he's very open, he'll tell anyone anything if they'll listen, lol). So it would make sense then that she reported them.

That woman was sent to speak with them after my friend submitted a letter to the judge complaining about the living conditions (like 9 people living in a single room - according to the court papers the boy is supposed to have his own room and bed and such, none of which he had), and of general fear for the boy due to the mothers unstable nature. For once, the judge seemed to listen and sent the pro se'.

It seems like a step in the right direction anyway. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for more of an update from my friend.

ETA:It was probably a GAL who spoke with the boy on friday, not a pro se'. That makes more sense. They'd been trying to get him a court appointed lawyer.

[jessica31876]

The way it works in Florida is the minor is automatically appointed a GAL by the court. It is usually a lawyer from my understanding but does not have to be. The reason being is the minor/child in question needs someone who is going to represent his needs and not be biased by one side or the other. I went through all of this with my mom and step-dad when I was placed in the states care. I was kinda young. Just barely 13 but I remember all of these things. I will keep your friends in my thoughts. Most likely they will have an emergency hearing to figure out what to do with the little boy until the next hearing or they can find a permanent placement and since he has been with your friends they would likely keep him there

[Dottie]

Sending positive thoughts to yours friends, the little boy and his sister.

[my4boys]

I wish I lived there to support this little boy and his siblings. It is probably a good thing I don't cause I would kill that woman I think !!!! Anyway, please keep us informed as to what is happening, I really want to know how it is going. I am sending massive amounts of prayers your way for him and your friend as well as his siblings, I REALLY hope everything works out.

P.S. Left you a comment on your bloggy

[ColleenSwerb]

I just wanted to update everyone on the situation.

My friend is hearing very little from anyone at this point (you know how awesome the gov't is about returning phone calls ). Right now, my friend is most worried because the little boy has a scheduled visitation this weekend. And she can't get an answer on whether or not she has to send him with them.

The husband can be a very violent man. My friend has had to get orders against him in the past, and she is very worried that he will just come up to their place with some of his friends and do something awful. He and the boys mom will definitely think it was my friend who called social services on them.

I'm praying she gets an answer soon and that the boy doesn't have to go on his visitation this weekend. I don't see how they could make him go considering there's a serious complaint for abuse and neglect filed against them.

Keep sending good thoughts ladies, I'm getting worried about this.

[jessica31876]

Wow that is scary. I would think they would have requested an emergency hearing by now to figure out what the outcome will be with this report. Social services have thousands of cases and it seems like they do not really work as quickly when they should. There should be some sort of expedited procedues in the case of imminent danger.

Originally Posted by BrodoNY0123

The husband can be a very violent man. My friend has had to get orders against him in the past, and she is very worried that he will just come up to their place with some of his friends and do something awful. He and the boys mom will definitely think it was my friend who called social services on them.

[ColleenSwerb]

Exactly Jessica. I don't understand how they could possibly send the little boy into a dangerous situation like this. But it's the not knowing that's killing us. We don't know wtf the courts are doing, if anything at all, right now.

[Becca Bonneville]

Oh geesh Col! I am sorry they are dragging their feet on this! I hope they give an answer soon and that poor boy doesn't have to go back into that environment! I will keep sending P&PT that way!

[amystoffel]

OMG i read your blog and i am soooooooooo praying. i will never understand how the system is so unjust to innocent children.