Hi everyone. I haven't been on here for a longgggg time, but I have an emergency and I was racking my brain to see what connections or resources I might have, and I couldn't help but think of the wonderful activism that has gone on through this site. This isn't a "teen help" type of situation, but it involves two kids, a 12yo boy named Conner and his 9yo sister, Tavvi. Tomorrow morning, Virginia DHS workers are removing them from their older sister's home in Oregon against their will, to place them in separate foster homes in VA while everyone who ordered this idiot move crosses their fingers that the parents take any sort of step toward thinking about getting help for their drug problems. I know, right before Christmas. It couldn't get any more horrible.
These kids were deeply traumatized from the abuse they endured, and my friend has gone to all lengths possible to get them the healing therapy they need. She and her husband aren't rich, but they've managed to get these kids into a private therapeutic school where they are thriving and have an amazing community.
I'm going to paste the complete story from my friend's blog.
I am doing this in hopes that someone here has a connection or resource in VA that can help. Media, people involved with law, etc. I'll also post people that you might want to contact if you think this is something that you care about.
Thank you so much in advance for your help! Here's the story, from my friend Stephanie's blog (
http://www.theystayhome.blogspot.com):
Connor, Tavvi, and Wes are my biological siblings. I have been their primary care provider for a long time with interruption early on (I co-slept with Wes and Connor as babies, was their primary provider, but was also young and moved out when I was 14. I have been on my own since and my only guiding focus was keeping my life in a way where I could have the kids with me if it ever came to that).
We live very happily; our family includes Wes (age 14), Connor (age 12), Tavvi (age 9), my biological son Zion (age 5), and Michael, our other foster son (age 16). The children all have a remarkably strong siblingship and family continuum. Our support network is huge. The kids all go to a private therapeutic school in which they can thrive with support and personal focus. The kids have friends, participate in activities and in the community, and are very stabilized in their lives.
The children have been with me for years now uninterrupted. Initially it was under the agreement with their mother that we were going to be adopting them privately directly from their mother (also my mother, but the level of detachment is very large and from a very young age). She then vanished for a very long time.
There was no ICPC originally. There SHOULD have been. The children were released out of foster care in Virginia under the express understanding that they would come directly to me. There should have been an ICPC in place to protect the children, and to keep record. They were with us over a year before we got DHS back involved for their own protection (after a year of their biological parents not contacting them).
There were many court hearings in Virginia associated with drug selling, battery, and one count of attempted murder or something (not clear). The children, before being removed this last time (years ago) had experienced horrific abuse and neglect. They went into a foster home in Virginia for about a month and then we flew there and brought them back home to us.
I got DHS Oregon involved over a year ago. We are a registered foster home through the state and have always been in great standing. We have a wonderful relationship with our DHS worker here in Oregon. Jurisdiction has bounced back and forth a few times, because of the issue of custody coming up in divorce hearings in Virginia, where both biological parents live.
The legal system behind this turn of event is baffling. We have always participated to the full extent of the law in both states (for instance, homeschooling in Oregon while providing foster care is fine, but it is illegal in Virginia, so we got the kids into a private school - VFS - this year after this came up in court).
We have sought out services (Tavvi now has an intensive service array of therapists with Catholic Community Services that support by coming into the home and in the community as well), have gotten evaluations, I personally went though full evaluations, etc. DHS Virginia has flown out here (last year) to see our lives in person and have put their support with us, as have the children's legal representative (GAL) in Virginia.
The biological parents have not made any efforts towards their service plan for reunification. They are no closer now than they were a year ago. But, none the less, the judge has moved to take JUST Tavvi and Connor (not Wes, age 14) and bring them back to Virginia into separate foster homes and force them to do visitation (though both children have advocated clearly and beautifully that they want NO contact via phone, email, or in person from their biological parents and that they want to continue here in our family and home).
We have had no warning, just a notice that come Monday and/or Tuesday, they will be removed and forced to leave.
There are no allegations against me or our family. There is nothing that puts us in bad standing with anyone. This situation truly is how it is being presented. What we are reaching out for is support.
I know that no matter what we do, it may be seen as thumbing our nose at the system. But we are going to keep everything legal. We are not holding the kids here, we are simply loving, supporting, and taking them seriously as they advocate for themselves and refuse to leave - against a force that is very disproportionate to them. Any ideas or independent efforts in support of this from the greater community or the media would be appreciated. We are a remarkably strong family, but we may not be strong enough to do this alone.
We all know that, contrary to what others are suggesting, if we support or assist or allow the process of them being taken from us, we will likely never see them again in their childhood. They will likely be bounced between foster homes and exposed to trauma. Right now, the children are so stable. They have a support network, a school with friends which they love, a great home, etc.
Respectfully,
Stephanie Johnston
503-658-6362
pc_sharkbite@yahoo.com. She is a legal advocate for the kids in the state of Virginia, and she opposed this decision to move the children.
The school which the children attend is Village Free School.
http://villagefreeschool.com/Their phone number is 503-788-3935. The staff here know our children very well and the community support is huge.
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One of the best ways to help..? CALL AND EMAIL THE MEDIA!!!Thank you so much,
Candice
