Re: DYFS tactics reprehensible!
Posted by nancy dellavecchia on 12/30/07

On 12/25/07, Donna Costa wrote:
> On 12/19/07, Stacey Ebeling wrote:
>> DYFS Tactics Unethical, Unlawful, and Deceitful
>> Clearly they do not have the child or family’s best
>> interest
>>
>> On December 23, 2004 there was an accident, involving my
>> daughter, which led to the removal of her from my care.
>> Admittedly, it was due to my lack of supervision that the
>> accident occurred. I make no excuse for the accident.
>> However, I also was responsible for taking every necessary
>> step to save her life and be sure that she was medically
>> in good health.
>>
>>
>> I Stacey Ebeling was told by DYFS, (December 2004) that my
>> daughter would be placed with my mother before signing any
>> paperwork. (I was already scheduled for substance abuse
>> treatment prior to incident)
>>
>> A. I was told the following day that she was being placed
>> in foster care with no logical explanation as to why she
>> was not being placed with family (I have the police report
>> stating as such)
>> 1. The first foster home she was removed from because
>> she could not breath due to allergies
>> 2. While she was in the second foster home her hands
>> and feet were “blue”
>> a. They tried to put the blame on the accident,
>> however it was because the home she was in was too cold
>> 3. Finally she was placed with my Aunt Christine. She
>> was very well cared for. My Aunt did a tremendous amount
>> of advocating for me.
>> a. DYFS, despite family reports to the contrary
>> removed Chelsea from her home declaring her mentally
>> unstable.
>> b. A psychiatric evaluation came back in my aunts
>> favor at which time the law guardian Maria Borges, wrote
>> to the psychiatrist making false allegations forcing him
>> to change his initial evaluation (we have documentation of
>> the letter that was written and proof that the allegations
>> were false.) To this day my aunt can not be with my
>> daughter unsupervised
>> 4. Chelsea was placed in a fourth foster home
>> 5. Chelsea was finally placed with my mother in June
>> 2005
>> A. My supervised visits were taken away within weeks
>> of the accident with no warning and no good explanation,
>> not being granted until she was placed with my mother (I
>> showed up at the DYFS office in Bloomfield for a visit and
>> I was told I could no longer see her)
>> 1. I did not see my daughter or a judge for
>> approximately 8 months following the incident
>> a. At the initial court date no judge was present
>>
>> B. DYFS was ordered to get me charity care for
>> my medical expenses
>> 1.This was approximately two years ago. To date no charity
>> care has been given and I have thousands of dollars in
>> unpaid medical bills
>>
>> In February of 2006 I completed my last in patient
>> treatment center at which time I was placed on methadone
>> maintenance. Incidentally, the Division was LESS THAN
>> helpful in getting me the treatment that I needed and
>> every treatment program I went into was done on my own my
>> families help. The only treatment they helped me with was
>> the result of an emergent hearing at my lawyers request.
>>
>> DYFS never gave KINSHIP care as an option and wanted to
>> move forward with adoption. It was NEVER my intent to give
>> up my rights as a parent although there were times when I
>> was encouraged to consider it. I went in to court for a
>> Mediation that was held in which everything said in the
>> mediation was “off the record”
>> C. DYFS used coercion as well as “scare tactics” and
>> they were very demeaning to me during these times. I felt
>> I had no other choice but to surrender my parental rights.
>> 1. They mentioned restraining orders
>> 2. They talked about sending Chelsea to Arizona with
>> her paternal grandmother
>> 3. They accused me of being on liquid heroin, while I
>> was on methadone maintenance treatment
>> 4. They said things like look at all the chances you
>> have had your not any better and you will never will be
>> D. I called my public defender the following day
>> stating I had made a grave mistake
>> 1. Filed motion to have the identified surrender
>> vacated
>> a. Motion denied (the denial makes mention of things
>> in my past irrelevant to the case)
>> b. DYFS has stated emphatically that even if the
>> order is vacated they will take me to trial to have my
>> parental rights terminated.
>> E. The law firm Drinker, Biddle, & Reathe took the
>> case pro-bono & filed an appeal.
>> 1. Appeal to have identified surrender was denied in
>> October of 2007.
>> 2. Cheoma Julien esq. (Drinker, Biddle & Reathe)
>> filed petition for the Supreme Court.
>> a. Currently awaiting decision on petition
>> b. Also filed motion for unsupervised visitation to
>> be reviewed on or about 12/3/07
>> c. motion was revoked as a result of getting
>> permission for unsupervised visitation in writing to be
>> stipulated at my mothers discression
>> d. less than one week after receiving unsupervised
>> visitation it was terminated due to a psychiatric
>> evaluation given by the division which stated that I am
>> irresponsible and have “magical thinking” because I am
>> determined to go to court and regain custody of my child!
>> 1. I have 2 psychiatric evaluations one of which was given
>> by the federal government to refute DYFS’s evaluation!!!!!
>>
>>
>> F. Despite impeccable character references from
>> members of the clergy, reverends, a social worker, and
>> others in addition to an outstanding psychiatric
>> evaluation, DYFS refuses to let me have unsupervised
>> visitation.
>> 1. In addition to these references DYFS is aware of
>> the fact that I currently am an Assistant Outreach
>> Director in a ministry helping others struggling with
>> addiction, ministering to them, counseling them & on
>> occasion working hand in hand with DYFS & their clients
>> getting them placed in treatment.
>> 2. I have also taught children at vacation bible
>> school
>> 3. I have successfully completed one-year probation
>> and all drug screens given at Essex County probation were
>> negative for that year.
>> 4. I have completed several rehabilitation programs
>> and was medically detoxed off of methadone
>> 5. I have a current letter from my psychiatrist@
>> UMDNJ stating that I should have full custody and am more
>> than capable of caring for Chelsea
>> G. Chelsea’s nursery school was not paid for by DYFS
>> even though all the appropriate paperwork was in on time I
>> believe that it is a result of this that she was “kicked
>> out” due to her “behavior problems” I believe beyond a
>> shadow of a doubt that had the school been paid in a
>> timely matter they would have given Chelsea more time
>> there to deal with any behavior problems. (She is now
>> enrolled in another school)
>> H. Chelsea is still residing with my mother who has
>> told DYFS on numerous occasions that she supports
>> reunification.
>> 1. Due to the fact that nobody outside of DYFS’s
>> approval can watch Chelsea my mother has a very hard time
>> getting things done or having a babysitter when needed
>> a. Despite my emphatic disapproval; my
>> Ex-boyfriend (not Chelsea’s father) has watched her
>> because he is DYFS approved- I HAVE ASKED HIM TO STAY AWAY
>> ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS TO AVOID ANY MORE CONFUSION in
>> Chelsea’s life-to no success because my mother needs a
>> babysitter- I even called DYFS & my attorney and there is
>> nothing I can do because my rights are terminated
>> J. Chelsea has exhibited “behavior problems” at
>> school and occasionally at home and I know that the
>> primary reason for these issues is the traumatic
>> experience this whole ordeal has caused not to mention the
>> current lack of stability.
>>
>> I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have a case
>> against DYFS- I just need some help. I would like to see
>> them held accountable for all of the turmoil they put my
>> child and my family through (and continue to put us
>> through) as well as unpaid medical bills that they were
>> supposed to take care of. I shudder at the thought of
>> another mother or child being put through such a hellish
>> tragedy.
>>
>> Please help me to expose this agency for this travesty.
>>
>> Contact Information: Stacey Ebeling (973) 752-9044
>>
>>
>>
>>

Posts on this thread, including this one

• DYFS tactics reprehensible!, 12/19/07, by Stacey Ebeling.
• Re: DYFS tactics reprehensible!, 12/25/07, by Donna Costa.
• Re: DYFS tactics reprehensible!, 12/30/07, by nancy dellavecchia.
• Re: DYFS tactics reprehensible!, 2/20/08, by deyanira cerda.