Grandparents Rights Group

Group Notes—Grandparent’s Rights Education/Process group

Client NN

Subjective:  NN, a family friend, introduced herself to the group and stated that she had come to the group to “find out my options in case my daughter (PN) can’t take care of her kids.” She wanted to make sure that her grandchildren would be placed with her in the case of removal. NN said PN did not have an open case with DCFS but had run into trouble with the law because of drugs and was on probation, was recently separated from her husband, and was living with her and her husband in their home. NN specifically asked if I would address “other intervention options besides calling DCFS.”

Objective: NN’s son, SN, came to me to ask if his mother could attend the group. He explained that his mother had been heavily involved in raising his three nieces their whole lives as his sister had struggled for years to avoid methamphetamine and had stolen money from their family and had "burned all her bridges" with friends and gotten into debt.  PN  is currently on probation and is supposed to be completing a rehabilitation program that lasts at least one year.  He also divulged that his sister’s husband had been verbally and physically abusive, and that he was not a good influence in the children’s lives. The girls’ father had hit their mother in front of them, and although he was arrested for DV, the arresting police agency did not refer the case to DCFS. SN told me that the girls, aged 12, 7, and 4, would always have a place in their family home. He explained that his family was Native American, and no matter what, his mom would not kick his sister and her kids out of the house.

Assessment: NN appeared to be level-headed, well-groomed, and genuine in group. She was noticeably upset when speaking about the situation with her grandchildren. Because of the way NN and SN described the children’s mother, it seems reasonable but not imminent that DCFS would become involved in the case. If PN stays separated from her husband and there are no more DV incidents and if she successfully completes her probation and rehab, there is no reason for DCFS to get involved. If the children continue to have a safe place to live and are being fed and cared for, there is no case. If PN does not comply with the terms and conditions that she needs to, NN wants to take charge of the physical custody of the children to protect them from their mother’s poor decisions.

Plan: I informed NN of ICWA, which tries to ensure that Native American children are placed with relatives. I also explained the levels of custody and guardianship that apply to everyone and that also apply specifically to grandparents. We discussed DCFS involvement and the difficulties that would ensue if NN were to become a foster parent and had to deny her daughter unlimited access to her children. We determined that the best options were probably seeking a power-of attorney or physical custody if they felt that PN could not take care of the children. We also discussed getting  a temporary or permanent protective order to make sure that PN and the children are safe from her ex-husband, as well as speaking to the Victims’ Advocate office about DV housing help.

Heidi McLaren, DCFS Intake Intern

April 20, 2009