Children Not Removed from a Filthy Home

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Quoting EA1070a

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Yeah, I have no clue what CYS is like in PA but that is way beyond messy. I'd be throwing a fit, but I'm a pushy, impatient bitch, lol.

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Even if "way beyond messy" we cannot take kids out of a home unless the environment is objectively dangerous. Child services apparently investigated and determined that it was NOT. WE see only a few photos, NOT the whole house and not the context.

If the OP is not willing to fight for custody of the children, until they are at objective risk of harm the state will not be able to intervene ... and, if the OP is not willing to step up to TAKE custody, they will go into foster care.

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Quoting aardvarc

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My points, exactly. I see no indication of rotting food (or rotting anything else), cat crap on the floors (or anybody's crap anywhere)...I see clutter. Clutter doesn't equal unsanitary. One gets children removed more often than not. The other doesn't, more often than not.

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Problem is, as I'm sure you're aware, is that clutter like that is a breeding ground for all sorts of pest problems. I'm wondering what the fridge looks like inside.

OP did state the case wasn't closed, so perhaps they are taking actions he isn't aware of.

Why haven't you filed for custody? I would have been at the court the next day. Was mom a hoarder when you were together?

Carl - I shudder to think about some of the things you've seen and dealt with.

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Quoting EA1070a

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Problem is, as I'm sure you're aware, is that clutter like that is a breeding ground for all sorts of pest problems.

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Roaches, rats....yep....pests will get children removed. But these children weren't. Thus the assumption that infestation wasn't apparant, and the photos don't contradict that. Again, no one is arguing that these conditions aren't horrible...only that they don't consist of the TYPES of conditions that warrant immediate removal of children of this age.

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I'm wondering what the fridge looks like inside.

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Again, at the time of the CYS visit, apparantly passable. Meaning that there were at least SOME age appropriate foods in sanitary conditions inside the fridge.

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OP did state the case wasn't closed, so perhaps they are taking actions he isn't aware of.

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Absolutely possible. In cases where there are obvious "concerns", yet those concerns don't rise to the level necessitating imminent removal, parents are often given both a case plan AND a deadline to meet certain criteria by certain dates if the children are to remain. Even though action of removal didn't occur upon the CYS visit, one can pretty well guess that CYS didn't just stamp the file "closed" and send it off to storage. This family is now on their radar, and it should be anticipated that additional visits are in the stars, especially if the children in the home are among those making the reports.

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Why haven't you filed for custody? I would have been at the court the next day.

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That's exactly what I've been thinking. It's one thing to complain about the living conditions of one's children. It's another thing altogether to approach it with an attitude of "...gee....I hope somebody is willing to do something for them....let me know what happens..."

So we're on the same page. :)

Or I've seen too many episodes of Hoarders. Which is the best show EVER to use as an inspiration to clean the living hell out of my house each time I see it, even though we do that every weekend.

I honestly don't know how anyone could let things go to the degree mom has or why dad didn't bust ass to get to the court the next day.

CPS's role is to protect children from immanent danger, not to play kingmaker in a custody battle.