January 11, 2012
Dear Governor Brownback,
You ran on the platform protect Kansas children and families. Sedgwick County Juvenile Court with CINC cases is not sending children home. The percentage for reintegration in Sedgwick County is 8%. Kansas reintegration percentage is 25% .The national average is over 50%. I see a huge problem. I voted for you because you said you are going to protect children and families. I am going to send you the proof that the State’s attorney has Youthville case managers talk to doctors to write reports which states that the parent is either unfit or a danger. In my psychological report which was accepted by the court, it states that the doctor talked to the Youthville case manager and gives the name of the worker. The court was only accepting professional reports which would help them take our rights. Many people felt I was over reacting. The psychiatric report the doctor comments on my fears about my daughters being taken. He states that her insights and judgments are fair. Our attorneys even stated that at this time Sedgwick County Juvenile Court does not plan on reintegrating any children back into their home so we are recommending that all parents accept permanent custodian or else you will lose your rights and never see your children again. You will have to state in court that you are not being forced to take this arrangement. What do you call when if you do not accept this deal, you will never see your children again? There was also the condition that we also had to agree to that currently we are not fit parents. If we would not do that then we would lose our rights. Our attorneys explained to us that if something happens and the court is looking to place the children with us, we have our rights and we have to be considered because the State has not proven (yesterday could not prove) that both of us would be unfit parents in the future. I did question because the psychology report on me states I will not change. It is the only doctor’s report which states that so is not enough to say what will happen in the future.
Our daughters were taken because in a court report, no evidence stated, we were not taking our children to the doctor. We proved in court that we were taking them to the doctor. We asked why they are not coming home. We were told that the State wants to prove that you are unfit parents. Angel was first taken by the Butler County Juvenile Court. I had proof that the judge allowed a lie to take Angel out of the home. One of our lawyers told us that Butler County corrected their error by sending her home when Dr. Lindholm gave information to the State’s attorney then testified on Sept.28, 2010 that keeping Angel out of the home will hurt her health and possibly lead to death. Dr. Lindholm submitted two letters to the Sedgwick County Court. I only have the January’s letter. There was a second letter submitted to the court in March2011 by Dr. Lindholm. The letter expressed that the doctor would like Angel returned home because her EEG which was ordered by Youthville is Angel’s worst EEG yet. Butler County sent her home because Dr. Lindholm had already scheduled an EEG before she was placed in SRS custody because a social worker caused her to have an eight minute seizure. The EEG was done on September 17, 2010. Angel came home 11 days later. These two EEGs do not follow the pattern that her previous EEGs did. Judge Henderson would only accept the letter if the reason given to return Angel home was not based on any medical testing. He also stated at this hearing that he would consider sending them home if he had seen in the records that there has ever been a safety plan with this family. He stated he did not see any plans in the records. I always have a safety plan. The Family Preservation records should show there was a safety plan. On the psychological report addendum on David the doctor states there has been a safety plan. Dr. Lindholm’s January letter on page 7 talks about the seizure he is worried will happen if Angel is not returned home. I have some information on this seizure. My understanding is if she has this seizure there is a very small chance that she will be alive. This seizure is normally fatal. The reason Dr. Lindholm was concentrating on getting Angel home is because Catrina will stay in custody if Angel stays in custody. The court report that was submitted on January 20, 2011 states that we were not taking Angel to the doctor so we must not be taking Catrina to the doctor. Since they have been in foster care, Angel and Catrina have developed mental health issues. I will include those reports. The reports state the children have been abused and neglected. There is no evidence. Youthville case worker told the psychologist that they were abused and neglected. Angel and Catrina were taken January 20, 2011. The test report was written in September 2011. I have had people tell me that children who are taken wrongfully will develop post-traumatic stress disorder.
Youthville and the courts will tell you that their health has improved greatly. There is a huge problem with them saying that. Youthville does not take the children to the same doctors the parents were. These doctors have only seen them very little compared to the doctors who have been treating them for years who refused to state that their health has not greatly improved. Some of these doctors were being called to testify. I have found out by talking to the staff of the doctors( such as Dr. Lindholm)who have testified or written reports/letters that tells the children would be better or the same at home as it is in foster care, have received letters threatening their licenses. I was terrified what the State’s attorney would threaten then with after their testimony and how it would affect their treatment of our daughters. I asked if the doctors were actually turning in reports or was it in Youthville court reports. I found out mostly in Youthville court reports. They did keep them with Dr. Riva, Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) physical therapist (PT) and occupational therapist (OT). I was appalled when I witnessed the Youthville case manager argue with Dr. Riva and the OT. She told them that Angel and Catrina’s health has greatly improved. Both stated they do not see great improvement. They see that they are slightly better in some areas and the same in the other areas. The OT did point out that Angel was a little stronger on one side and had become a little weaker on the other plus she is not doing all the life skills she was doing at home. The Youthville case worker argued with him for over 5 minutes before he made that statement. The MDA PT person in May told Youthville workers that Angel has developed new leg issues because she was not allowed to wear her braces as instructed. I am going to attach the log I have been keeping track of their health and accidents while in foster care. Youthville is also challenging the diagnosis of Mitochondrial Myopathy. Angel, Catrina, and I were diagnosed by a German specialist, pediatric neurologist, and genetics doctor at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I am trying to recover the files but there is a chance they have been destroyed because we had not used the records in 9 years. Dr. Lindholm has all of Angel and Catrina’s military medical records. Angel and Catrina are not allowed to be treated by him. He is the only MDA specialist in Kansas who has trained with the top Mitochondrial Myopathy doctor.
I am also including the IEP meeting notes for Catrina. The date of the meeting was January13, 2011. David took a letter and the registration of our home school to Ruth Clark Elementary School to let them know she will no longer attend school. We were home schooling for religious and health reasons. The letter was dated Dec. 3, 2010. Catrina was not in SRS custody until January 20, 2011. I am also sending important documents about our home school. The meeting was ordered by Stephanie Uhlik, SRS worker. One of us had to attend according to SRS and DCCCA. I had explained to them that since she is no longer enrolled in Kansas public schools this meeting is illegal and will show you are violating our religious rights. The school Catrina attends now even explained to Youthville that Halstead could be in trouble for not having an IEP meeting to reactivate the IEP and start testing Catrina to see if she qualifies for special education. They explained since she was pulled out to be home schooled, the IEP was no longer valid. I have told the lawyers and Kansas government representatives what I was told by Ms. Uhlik- I can make you change faith, change churches, and even to not believe in God and if you do not do as I say, I will take your children. I will find a way to make you change curriculum or put Catrina back into school. This was stated on more than one meeting and a Family Preservation worker was present on those days. I belong to two home school organizations that if you do not show authority persons your curriculum, completed work, what you are working on, and records then you will not be in the organizations anymore. I am still a member of both organizations.
With the Sedgwick County Juvenile Court taking our children away, this tells us that the State is not allowing the parents to choose what religion or education to teach their children. This action violates our civil rights as stated in the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. David is a disabled veteran. He has served his country for over 26 years- USAF and Kansas Army Guard. The action of the court is also telling veteran’s that if you are disabled because of your service, you will not be allowed to raise your children with your spouse. The only way to correct this violation is by sending our children home immediately.
I have found out that the subcommittee Happy Families and Communities are investigating children being turned in for being truant then ending up in foster care with no evidence of abuse and/or neglect. Need to investigate which juvenile courts are only acting on court reports with no evidence attached to remove children from the home. Many people have told me the easiest way to take a child from their family is through the CINC courts. This court needs to be closed. Truancy should only be handled out of court unless the State can prove which very clear evidence that the parent is guilty of breaking the law. Many parents are not told about resources for helping them with issues with their children. The family would be better served with education instead of destroying the family. Kansas courts need to be investigated for credibility. There is too much evidence showing that the judges are allowing untruthful facts to decide a case. Nola Foulston’s office has a high overturn on judgments because of misconduct of her office. I am attaching a note about what is missing in my psychological report and why the report is questionable.
Youthville’s motto is giving children back their childhood. Youthville’s motto should be parents beware of us because we will hurt your children and destroy your family. Close Youthville before another child is hurt or killed.
We are begging for the return of our children for health reasons. It is our right to choose the religion our family wants to practice.
Sincerely,
David W. Owen
Teresa A. Owen
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