The day my children were taken from me, my life changed forever. They were later separated from one another, and our family lost moments that can never be replaced—birthdays, holidays, bedtime stories, first words, first steps, school events, hugs, laughter, and simply being together. Time taken from a child and parent can never be returned.

As I fought to understand what had happened to my family, I realized we are not alone. Families across America have shared concerns about child welfare decisions being made without what they believe are adequate safeguards, transparency, meaningful due process, or full consideration of the evidence. In my case, child welfare relied on oral-fluid drug test results reported by Forensic Fluids Laboratories as part of decisions that forever changed my family’s life. I believe trace or very low-level oral-fluid drug test results should never, by themselves, be enough to separate a family, suspend visitation, separate siblings, or deny a child time with a loving parent.

When a laboratory report has the potential to influence whether a child is removed, siblings are separated, visitation is suspended, or reunification is delayed, there should be independent review by a qualified Medical Review Officer (MRO) physician. Parents should have the opportunity to review the evidence, obtain independent expert review when appropriate, and have their medical history, prescription medications, and all relevant information considered before life-changing decisions are made.

Parents should not lose their children because of assumptions, speculation, fear of what might happen in the future, or solely because of mistakes in their past. Child welfare decisions should be based on current, reliable evidence and the totality of the circumstances—not predictions or possibilities alone. Recovery should matter. Progress should matter. Parents should have the opportunity to demonstrate the changes they have made and the ability to safely care for their children without being permanently defined by their past.

Parents should never feel pressured into signing safety plans or voluntary agreements because they fear their children will immediately be taken if they do not sign. Every family deserves to understand their rights, be treated with dignity and respect, receive meaningful due process, and have a fair opportunity to be heard before life-changing decisions are made.

This petition is not about preventing child protection. Children should always be safe. It is about ensuring that decisions are based on reliable evidence, qualified medical review, transparency, accountability, fairness, and due process before families are torn apart. Protecting children and protecting the rights of families should never be opposing goals.

No laboratory, no agency, and no court can ever return a child’s missed birthday, a parent’s missed bedtime hug, a holiday spent apart, a first step, a first word, or the precious memories that are lost when families are separated. Those moments are gone forever. That is why every safeguard matters before a family is torn apart.

This petition is for every child who deserves a fair decision. It is for every parent who deserves to be heard. It is for every family that believes children can be protected while also ensuring fairness, transparency, accountability, independent medical review, and due process.

Together, we can help build a child welfare system that protects children, respects families, and ensures that life-changing decisions are based on reliable evidence, qualified medical review, and fair procedures—not assumptions alone. 

Another important reform involves the use of safety plans and voluntary agreements. Parents should never feel pressured into signing documents during highly stressful situations, such as when they are under investigation, being detained, or when law enforcement officers are present in the home or at a facility. In these moments, families may be in shock, frightened, or not in a clear state of mind to fully understand their rights or the long-term consequences of what they are being asked to sign.

There are serious concerns raised by families and advocates that safety plans are sometimes presented in urgent or intimidating circumstances, where parents feel they must agree immediately or risk their children being removed. In some cases, parents report that they are not given full or clear explanations of their rights, or that information is presented in a way that feels incomplete or misleading, especially when they are under pressure and trying to avoid separation from their children. The presence of law enforcement can also increase fear and urgency, making it even harder for parents to make fully informed decisions.

For this reason, safety plans should never be signed without access to independent legal counsel. A meaningful safeguard would be a requirement that parents must have the opportunity to consult with a lawyer before any safety plan or voluntary agreement becomes valid. Ideally, such agreements should not be signed at all unless legal representation is present to ensure the parent fully understands their rights, the terms, and the consequences.

Families deserve transparency, time, and proper legal protection before agreeing to any arrangement that affects custody or parental rights.

Safety plans should be truly voluntary, free from pressure or coercion, and subject to strict oversight to ensure they are not being used in situations where parents feel they have no real choice.