My personal experience as a parent has shown me a harsh reality. My four children were taken from me by the DCF because I tested positive for marijuana. I found myself sleeping outside, behind a church, struggling with homelessness, and yet, the courts deemed it appropriate to enact a TPR. Despite acknowledging my dire financial situation, they remained unmoved when I couldn't complete the assigned case plan tasks. It's from this very personal place, I call for change.

Child Protective Services needs an urgent reform. Their methods seem more focused on separating families than working towards reunification. This system appears more intent on facilitating adoptions instead of mending the bridges between parents and their children. There have been worrying instances of false claims against parents about the completion of the tasks assigned, leading to unnecessary separations.

While it is essential to protect children from harmful environments, family reunification where possible should be the ultimate goal. The family unit is not only significant from an emotional perspective but also has societal benefits. According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, children reunified with their families generally have better socio-emotional and behavioral adjustments than children who remain in out-of-home care.

As such, we must advocate for the adoption of policies prioritizing efforts to reunify families, unless the child's safety is at risk. We should also push for transparency in the handling of cases and the assessment of parents. We encourage those who believe in a system intending to protect children and strengthen families to sign this petition. We need to ensure Child Protective Services lives up to its name and purpose.