I am a grandparent, and my story is one of heartbreak and frustration. My seven grandchildren were taken from Kentucky by their mother to avoid investigation by family services. They were then transported to Arizona, where three of them were abandoned in Mexico with a stranger. Despite the clear danger they faced, the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) failed to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.

I took it upon myself to travel to Mexico and rescue these innocent children, only for the DCS to intervene and return them back into an abusive situation. This personal experience has exposed me firsthand to the failures within our state child protective services system.

Our petition aims at requiring an immediate federal agency intervention when there are claims about DCS not abiding by their own guidelines - especially in cases involving abandonment of children outside U.S borders. The placement of children should prioritize parents or grandparents who have had a relationship with them over any other individuals.

According to data from the Children's Bureau (2018), 45% of children in foster care are placed with non-relatives while only 32% are placed with relatives. This statistic highlights how often family ties are overlooked during placement decisions.

We believe that no grandparent should be forced into my situation - having their grandchildren unjustly kept away from them despite being willing and able to provide care for them.

It's time we demand better oversight on state child protective services investigations and ensure that they abide by their guidelines strictly without fail or bias. Please sign this petition today if you agree that our grandchildren deserve better protection under law enforcement agencies' watchful eyes.