I have experienced and endured an unpleasant encounter with DCF and the Boston Public Schools system personnel. My son was taken away from me by DCF in June 2012. He was given to his teacher who initially displayed concern for the family and volunteered to help with caring for my son several days out the week that eventually turned into permanency.

DCF suggested that I agree to the teacher volunteering her services to my family and son while they conducted an investigation. I now realize that DCF and the teacher were actually transitioning my son into the teacher’s home. During the investigation, the teacher and her same sex partner applied to be foster parents while DCF approved their home to be suitable. I was evicted from my home in May 2012. In June 2012, DCF petitioned for temporary custody claiming I was unfit. I was the victim of domestic violence by my ex partner which led me to move my child out of my home and relocate him with my mother before DCF or the school personnel had gotten involved. My son was acting out in school which led to a 51A being filed by his therapist, but I believe that the school personnel was targeting my family before the 51A was filed.

When DCF received temporary custody, I was told that I could eventually reunite with my child while completing the tasks on the “Service Plan” and enter into their homeless shelter in Boston, MA.  I was placed on a waiting list for DCF’s homeless shelter in June 2012 and I reached the top of the list 6-7 months later for intake. I was notified the day before I was scheduled to appear for an intake with the shelter that I was no longer eligible to reside there.  Although I was homeless and awaiting shelter, proof of an address was requested by the Department of Children and Families so I provided them with my mother’s address where I couch surf from time to time.  The social worker notified me that since I provided an address to them after their request that I was no longer eligible for residence at their shelter.

My mother petitioned to have my son returned back to her, but DCF would not return him even after a vigorous background check and her passing inspection. This situation has gone on for seven years due to DCF changes in personnel, deaths of attorney’s and retirement of judge’s, my son’s case dragged through the court’s for over four years since it was opened in 2012. During that time the foster parents interfered with my visitations with my son, failed to arrange family therapy and essentially alienated my son from me and his biological family, including my mother, his grandmother and his cousins, aunts, uncles and now the final outcome is the teacher is now my son’s guardian. Over this prolonged period of time (the Massachusetts guidelines are 18 months from beginning to resolution); my son has become a teenager and has been given the power to make decisions about visiting with me. At the same time, the foster parent’s has failed to encourage our visits or therapy to address the situation.

He has been given one perspective, which is theirs, and he only knows one side of the story. We never had consistent family therapy and DCF allowed the teacher to have control over what therapist was best for us which led to no therapist at all. I obtained housing, jobs, participated in parenting classes and domestic violence groups and therapy which was requested by DCF and despite all my efforts and those of my mother; I do not have custody of my son. In the beginning of this process, I had weekly visits that lasted for hours. For over a year, I have had no visits at all. I have tried tirelessly to arrange visits that were mediated without their participation, be a part of his life, and be informed about his school and grades and activities. The foster parents have failed at every turn to provide me with anything, not even a photo. I get very few responses. I rarely get a phone call. It is my true belief that my child is now suffering from Parental Alienating Syndrome.

The judge in his reason, ordered visits to happen once a month facilitated by a CASA volunteer, but unfortunately that has never happened because my child has been separated from me for so long that he did not want to visit without having his guardians present. The CASA attempted numerous times to change this dynamic and felt that the foster parents were interfering with our relationship. As a result of their resistance and refusal to accept the CASA’s participation, he withdrew. I should mention that the CASA was the actual Executive Director of Boston CASA, Charles Lerner. He is an experienced child advocate and therapist. I have repeatedly tried to make contact with my son but have been blocked by his guardians. I asked to have the guardians work with me to build a relationship with me, but they have refused.

In the beginning of this case, DCF told the court that the teacher and I “had this great relationship”, but once the teacher gained guardianship through DCF, everything went out the window. That was the purpose of the transitioning period with the teacher and my child to make it appear as if the family and the teacher “already had a good relationship” while preparing the teacher to be a foster parent and getting my son acquainted with this teacher on a more frequent basis outside of school. I have been fighting for my child for seven years and have ended up with no relationship with him and a teacher that had an underlying agenda that was supported by DCF.

I am petitioning against the support of Parental Alienation Syndrome by DCF and affiliates to separate children away from their families. Please sign my petition if you, your family or someone you know has been affected by Parental Alienation.