Implement mandatory visitation rights for grandparents
The Issue
My husband and I made a profound commitment to the wellbeing of our grandchildren when we became licensed foster parents under kinship care. When my daughter's kids were removed from their home due to untenable circumstances, they found refuge and stability with us for 15 months. However, last December, the decision was made to return them to their parents, despite their living in a camper without basic amenities like a toilet, running water, and electricity, alongside a big dog.
For almost 8 months now, we haven't seen our beloved grandkids. My daughter explicitly stated that we would never see them again, punishing us as retribution for acting in their best interest when we turned to child protection services. This vengeful act has not only broken our hearts but severed our bond with the grandchildren we nurtured.
It is unfathomable that after fostering these children during their vulnerable time, we are now completely cut off. Grandparents often play a crucial role in providing stability, love, and guidance in their grandchildren’s lives, particularly in difficult family dynamics. Despite our repeated attempts to resolve this amicably, including reaching out to the social worker and proposing mediation, we have faced indifference and a lack of support.
There should be a mandated post-reunification grandsparental visitation plan established by social services to ensure the ongoing wellbeing of children who have returned to their biological parents. Such a plan would recognize and formalize the vital role grandparents can play, while maintaining child safety and interest at its heart.
We ask social services and legislative bodies to implement mandatory grandparent visitation rights post-reunification. With these rights in place, grandparents can continue to be a stabilizing and nurturing presence in their grandchildren’s lives, providing an additional layer of safety and emotional support.
Please sign this petition to help us ensure that children are raised in safe, nurturing environments while maintaining their precious familial bonds with their grandparents.
12
The Issue
My husband and I made a profound commitment to the wellbeing of our grandchildren when we became licensed foster parents under kinship care. When my daughter's kids were removed from their home due to untenable circumstances, they found refuge and stability with us for 15 months. However, last December, the decision was made to return them to their parents, despite their living in a camper without basic amenities like a toilet, running water, and electricity, alongside a big dog.
For almost 8 months now, we haven't seen our beloved grandkids. My daughter explicitly stated that we would never see them again, punishing us as retribution for acting in their best interest when we turned to child protection services. This vengeful act has not only broken our hearts but severed our bond with the grandchildren we nurtured.
It is unfathomable that after fostering these children during their vulnerable time, we are now completely cut off. Grandparents often play a crucial role in providing stability, love, and guidance in their grandchildren’s lives, particularly in difficult family dynamics. Despite our repeated attempts to resolve this amicably, including reaching out to the social worker and proposing mediation, we have faced indifference and a lack of support.
There should be a mandated post-reunification grandsparental visitation plan established by social services to ensure the ongoing wellbeing of children who have returned to their biological parents. Such a plan would recognize and formalize the vital role grandparents can play, while maintaining child safety and interest at its heart.
We ask social services and legislative bodies to implement mandatory grandparent visitation rights post-reunification. With these rights in place, grandparents can continue to be a stabilizing and nurturing presence in their grandchildren’s lives, providing an additional layer of safety and emotional support.
Please sign this petition to help us ensure that children are raised in safe, nurturing environments while maintaining their precious familial bonds with their grandparents.
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on August 9, 2026