On March 1, 2017, WFTV 9 reported on a troubling issue: DCF Investigators Accused of Falsifying Records. This investigation shed light on a widespread problem in Florida’s child welfare system—one that I personally endured for years.

In February 2017, I was arrested for child neglect under false pretenses. Though the State Attorney’s Office later dismissed the charges, I made the difficult decision to agree to a case plan with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), believing cooperation would be the fastest path to reunification with my children. What I did not realize was that this decision would cost me and my family more than I could ever have imagined.

Over the next 18 months, my case was mishandled, and my family suffered deeply. My case manager, Jane Fletcher, and the agency Directives for Living (formerly Youth and Family Alternatives/YFA) consistently acted against the best interests of my children. They disregarded facts, manipulated records, and retaliated against me whenever I advocated for my children’s well-being.

 

Systemic Failures and Retaliation

Throughout my case, I kept thorough documentation. Comparing the original case records to the later summaries reveals clear inconsistencies in language and reasoning—evidence that the narrative was altered to justify keeping my children from me.

DCF and CPS caseworkers in my jurisdiction appear to believe they are above the law when it comes to perjury. Their false reports and unethical actions had devastating consequences, particularly for my children. They became fearful of interacting with me in front of others, and our time together was limited to two hours a week at a McDonald’s. My children would confide in me about misleading statements they were being told, further deepening the emotional toll.

One blatant example of retaliation occurred in December 2017. During an unsupervised visit, my children were crying in pain due to urinary discomfort. I took them to their pediatrician, where my son was prescribed an oral antibiotic, and my daughter was instructed to return with a urine sample. Instead of prioritizing my children’s health, the caretaker became hostile and deliberately left behind my son’s medication, refusing to pick it up. As a result, my son received only one dose—the one I gave him.

DCF dismissed the doctor’s visit as an overreaction on my part, completely disregarding my children’s medical needs. However, I later learned that the doctor’s concerns were not about me being “overly concerned” but rather about my daughter’s distress and refusal to let the doctor examine her. She exhibited clear signs of abuse, yet the doctor—who barely spoke English—did not fully understand the situation or that my children were living elsewhere. Instead of recognizing the genuine concern about my daughter’s behavior, DCF twisted the situation to fit their narrative.

Jane Fletcher and her agency, Directives for Living, actively worked to undermine my parental rights. Just one week later, my unsupervised visits were revoked based on the false claim that the pediatrician had recommended supervision. When I requested proof of this claim, I was ignored. The doctor had never made such a statement, and in fact, she had not even been aware of my children’s living situation. Despite this, the court accepted the claim without any evidence, simply stating, “It is court-ordered now.”

Adding to the injustice, official documentation later claimed that my visits had been unsupervised for a year, contradicting reality.

A Fight for Justice

The mishandling of my case is not an isolated incident—it is a systemic issue within Florida’s child welfare system. Families are being torn apart based on false reports, manipulated evidence, and retaliatory actions by agencies that are supposed to protect children.

But on June 25, 2019, after years of injustice, Judge Kim Fernandez denied the state’s petition for termination of my parental rights. My children were finally returned home on September 4, 2019.

Sadly, the damage was already done. My son suffered a penile adhesion due to the lack of proper care while in state-mandated placement. Thankfully, after three months of working with a specialist, we were able to resolve the issue without surgery. My daughter also eventually confided in me, telling me she was abused in the home they placed her in. She has started therapy, and justice has not been served.

 

Time for Change

No parent should have to endure what my family went through. No child should be used as a pawn in a system that prioritizes power over truth. This is a call to action—for accountability, for reform, and for an end to the injustice plaguing Florida’s child welfare system.

It is time to hold DCF, CPS, and affiliated agencies, including case managers like Jane Fletcher, accountable for falsifying records, retaliating against parents, and violating children’s rights. I urge lawmakers, advocates, and the community to demand transparency, oversight, and real consequences for those who abuse their authority.

 

If you believe in justice for families, sign this petition and help expose the corruption that continues to destroy lives.

Families deserve protection, not persecution. It’s time for change.