The Aniya Law

We undersigned the demand for child protection laws to include emergency removal of minors in imminent danger.

The tragic case of Aniya M. Garrett brings to light the need for a statewide change in Ohio’s Department of Children and Family Services process and procedures concerning the handling of the reported abuse of minors. Statewide legal provisions are urgently needed to allow specific-designated representatives to take emergency action to save abused children that are injured or in imminent danger.

THE LAWS MUST BE CHANGED SO THAT NO CHILD WILL BE HANDED OVER TO AN ABUSER YET AGAIN. 

We are demanding our government officials to consider the “Aniya Law,” to assure the safety of ALL children.

 

Under the Aniya Law, we’re asking that the following protocols be implemented:

• If a minor is thought to be injured and/or in immediate danger of physical harm or death, it should be considered an EMERGENCY. Law enforcement, designated school officials, and caregivers as well as the opposing parent should be legally allowed to request a 24-72-hour hospital admittance to allow time for a full medical examination, treatment, interviews, and a determination by the Department of Children and Family Services on weather a (child)ren should be removed from their home permanently or temporarily.

 

• If a minor is not present in daycare as scheduled without proper updated records within 120 minutes (during school hours only) from the child's primary physician, he/she will receive a MANDATORY visit and thorough observation to the home and the child or children by law enforcement and designated law officials after 2 unanswered calls within 5 to 10 mins. In the case a parent leaves the state or decides not to take a child to daycare for longer than 1 week equaling a total of consecutive 40 school hours a MANDATORY VISIT TO HOME WILL BE ISSUED. IF FAIL TO COMPLY WITHIN ADDITIONAL 24HR NOTICE HIGHER LEGAL ACTIONS WILL BE ENFORCED.

 

• An emergency visit to a home when an urgent call is received, accompanied by a thorough interview and physical evaluation of the subject minor with a thorough investigation of the home.

 

•  In the case that the subject minor is not made present, impart citations on all adults in the home with a 24-hour window to take the minor to the nearest hospital for a full evaluation.

 

• If the child is incompetent to speak or make decisions for his or herself, he/she should be legally given temporary custody to the opposing parent or legal guardian on file and or left in protective custody until further investigations are made. In the case a no contact order amongst child and parent is determined. 

 

• There should be a secondary database for all parents and or legal guardians in the case a woman or man decides NOT to incorporate the opposite biological party on all daycare emergency contact forms.

 

• If the opposing parent or legal guardian is able to accept custody of the child, he or she should be given a fair chance equal parenting order until a full investigation has been made and determined by the court.

 

• Emergency removal of a child from a resident, displaying signs of abuse until further investigated.

 

• Stricter penalties for Department of Children and Family Services representatives who do not follow laws and statutes or perceived to be acting in favor of the offending parent, guardian, or caregiver.

 

• Mandate on the number of case workers based on population. Mental evaluations completed on foster parents and all parents who may be on endangering parent or guardian list periodically.

 

• A required child abuse registry.

 

• In the case the opposing guardian is legally on a restraining order or restraint of any kind from the child, it should be immediately terminated by court order. If the current legal guardians of a child DO NOT comply with the Aniya Law rules, regulations or guidelines will be given a total of 3 opportunities within a 6 month period before further legal actions are made and being placed into an ENDANGERED PARENT OR GUARDIAN DATABASE and stricter penalties will apply if either party fails to appear in court or update the courts and children and family services by phone, by email or within 72 business hours with mandatory zoom meeting investigation with all legal parent(s) and child on file.

 

 

Without the Aniya Law, children will continue to suffer from abuse and death in silence.             

Aniya’s Story:

On March 11, 2018, four-year-old Aniya M. Garrett was tragically taken from her family. Paramedics found her unresponsive with scald marks on her feet and legs, a bruised left eye, and a cut on her face. Aniya died of a stroke triggered by blunt force trauma delivered to the emaciated and scarred girl's head while in the care of Sierra Day, and her boyfriend, Deonte Lewis.

During the last year, Aniya’s biological father, Mickhal Garrett pursued full custody through the courts, but was continuously met with delays due to legal procedures and the actions of Sierra Day, which included her absence at mandatory court dates and the avoidance of the child appearing in public.

Reports of abuse were reported by relatives, Aniya’s daycare, Aniya’s father, and Aniya called 911 to report the abuse. In each case, Sierra Day was given custody of the child. Children and Family Services investigated three reports alleging abuse against Aniya in 2017, but the agency did not find cause to remove her from the home.

We’re calling the Governor, State Legislatures, and the Federal Government to act and institute uniform national child protection laws applicable across the nation.