My niece was born in November 2010 and removed in January 2011from my sister by the Florida DCF. When I found out I flew in from New York and went on the one supervised visit I was allowed. I asked about taking custody and they said it was not an option because I lived out of state. I began applying for jobs in Florida.

I attained a job in October 2011 and relocated to Florida. I contacted Sandra Archer, the DCF caseworker for my niece at the time and she told me my sister signed away her rights to my nice and therefore so did I. She told me she was not allowed to speak to me until she heard from my sister it was okay. I tracked my sister down in jail where she was pregnant again and we bailed her out.

I found out they threatened her with the unborn child if she didn't sign her rights away to the first child and close out the case. I had multiple calls go unanswered until my sisters second child was born December 2011. DCF removed this child from the hospital even though all of the family was present at the hospital and placed her in the same foster home as her sister.

They said they would file a petition for the children to be moved with my cousin but when we got to court they had denied the transfer because they wanted to keep the children together. Our request was for both children, they filed for one. 

Now I have been asking to foster/adopt since Febuary 2011. I finally was told I would have a home study on April 10, 2012. Somehow my request was lost, every month, all the way till October 2012. 

My sister is very close to completing her case plan and will be reunified with her second daughter in the next few months. Her first daughter is up for adoption since both parental rights have been stripped. I would like both children to come live with me until that time happens and be allowed to permanently adopt my niece so she will have a relationship with her sister and family.

I am a teacher and the mother of two successful children. I live in the same town as 24 family members and we are very close. There's no chance of her going back with her mother or her father, they are trying to have the foster family adopt her. If the judge and DCF do not allow me to adopt her she will never see her family again, including her sister.  Please sign and help bring my nieces home together.