This petition is dear to my heart! It’s concerning my daughter Zahniya Imani Platt-Smith who was illegally taken by CPS/DSS in October 2006, because of a false report my own mother (who abused me and my brother as children & teens) made where she accused me of abuse to gain custody of my daughter (the abuse was unfounded by police & unsubstantiated by cps).She eventually lost custody years later for abusing narcotics. Durham County Department Of Social Services ignored all past paperwork/cases they had on my mother’s abuse, ignored a psychologist's orders to not place my daughter in my mom's care but Durham County DSS & Their Attorney's, GAL's & the Judge granted her custody anyway. I was put out of my mothers house at 16 and not allowed back and they gave me no place to live. I asked family members to allow me to live at their home & they all refused, however my uncle James wouldn't allow me to stay but he bought me a ticket to allow me to go to Mississippi with Zahniya’s father's mother. I got down there and immediately found work and started parenting classes, substance abuse classes,therapy and whatever else the courts asked me to do. I was then sent a letter from Durham County Social Services while I was in Mississippi stating that they were charging me with abandonment even though they forced me to leave her with my mom. This is how the case got to court. I completed all court recommendations and they still refused to give my child back...they claimed I needed to obtain larger housing, but allowed my daughter to sleep in the same room as my mom. If they allowed that then I should have been allowed to do the same.DSS's goal was never reunification. Trust me it’s a long story but I’m going to make it short as possible. I have two other children that has been in my care since birth one is 14 and one is 7. I am perfectly capable of caring for my 15-year-old daughter. I have substantial proof that Social Workers & court staff committed perjury, falsified documents, broke juvenile court rules & polices and much more. I have documentation proving that the social workers knew that my mother was abusive and neglected my brother & I as children and that my mother should have never been able to get custody of my child & these workers were negligent to my daughter Zahniya’s well-being and she too is a victim of abuse that was caused by the North Carolina Department of Social Services all while in the custody of the state past & present. The foster mom Linder Green turned on me and took Zahniya for money and also ended up choking and beating my child and then tossing her back into foster care custody. My Child then was abused on numerous occasions after that in group homes as well & they told me to get a lawyer! They failed to investigate or show concern for my child's safety. I have reported the abuse to the following employees and Durham county Social Workers & GAL's, DSS & GAL Attorney's, DSS director Ben Rose, Shontelle Artis Smith, Jovetta Whitfield, Felisha High, Susan Lee, Wendy Jacobs, Melissa Love, Alice Espenshade, Christy H Mallot, Jocelyn Moore, Amy L. Mackin, Kathy Dyda, Kiesha Mack Andrews, Toina Coley, Brooke Batchelor (NC Children's Home Society) Phil Evans, Martha Mckee, Judge Nancy Gordon, Judge Ann Mckown, Judge James T. Hill, Robin Martinek, Cathy L Moore and more.. all failed to protect my child during years of abuse within foster care past and present while in the state custody and all were aware of the abuse taking place. The state is trying to cover this up and have scared my attorney into not proceeding taking my money and running leaving me to fight my own case after she tried to reinstate my parental rights! I have paid money for assessments recently when I was contacted for custody in November 2020. I completed all that was asked of me several times from 2006 - Present from the courts to regain custody of my daughter but they have absolutely refused to give her back or place her with family or friends.They are using my child to gain government funding.I've been unsuccessful in finding a attorney because no one wants to be blackballed or disbarred...there is literally no help...every lawyer I call either can't do it or claims that these judges and DSS can get away with committing perjury and other illegal as stated by Attorney's Dorothy Hairston Mitchell(now a judge as of December 3rd 2022) and Carlos Mahoney. The Department of Social Services & The Durham County Family Court have deprived me from the life I created in MY WOMB, my liberty, dignity, having a normal life, my education was interrupted because all the requirements to get my child back for 7 years meant my education had to be put on hold, my children desperately missing each other and my family's pursuit of happiness which includes my daughter Zahniya. My Daughter deserves to be with her Brothers and I and not in the system being abused and stuffed in closets and abused by men, group home staff (The Bruson Group) (I also have proof of this!) If you have a heart... I would love for you to sign this petition to right this wrong & BringZahniyaHome as well as bring awareness to child protective services negligence in so many other cases because all of the cases these people I've named must have their cases reopened and investigated!I was threatened by Nancy Gordan to not file anymore motions to fight the TPR or I'd be jailed! The amount of corruption going on in Durham County is absolutely unconstitutional.This would make all the difference in the world! Help me save my daughter from the abuse she is/has experienced in foster care! I need to get this petition signed and taken to Government Officials to get this thing moving! Whether you know me or not you can sign this if you believe injustice have taken place! Laws Must Be Changed & Corrupt Family Court Employees Must Be Punished! Incentives For Each Child Kept In Custody Must Stop! There is over 400,000 kids in the U.S foster system and most of them can return home but aren't allowed because these greedy officials want to line their pockets! I am organizing a peaceful protest and march and if you would like to participate feel free to email the address listed below or If you would like to donate to help with this cause please go to www.JessPlantz.com to Donate or Cash App -  $JessPlantz or if you are an attorney or know an attorney who can help please email bringzahniyahome@gmail.com!