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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    1

    Default Case Worker Wants to Keep Children Together, Making Placement Difficult

    My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Nevada

    Background:
    My friend's cousin was arrested and lost temp custody of her 4 children (14 yr old boy, and 3 girls under the age of 3 [in diapers]). Charges were various degrees of neglect and endangerment called in by stranger and charged by police. This is the 2nd time the boy has been removed from mother's custody. In attempt to do the right thing, my friend and her husband had rushed get the children in order to keep them out of a group home or a foster family that had already 12 children. He is the sole wage earner but travels extensively for his job. She was told that she would get subsistence for the 4 children, since she already had 2 of her own (under 5.) Yes, that is 5 girls under the age of 5 and (1) 14 yr old boy. Well 30+days later she still has not received any subsistence (not even food stamps) and has now been told she will not get any. Family foster's don't get assistance. In the meantime, biological mother and her new husband - now out of jail are getting $500 a month in food stamps.

    My friend is struggling (not just financially, but emotionally and exhausted) she needs help in raising the 3 girls in addition to her own 2. However the 14 yr old is finally thriving. He is enrolled in a good school, his grades are good, he is making friends (including my son) and finally getting to be a kid and not a caregiver to his own 3 sisters. Biological mother will not sign over custody of the 14 yr old to my friend because she believes she will get her children back (plead not guilty & the police and 14 yr old boy are lying) and needs the 14 yr old to help care for and raise the 3 little girls.

    Problem:
    Fully confident that the 3 girls will be okay if she returns them to foster care (they will be together, they are young, resilient, easier to place/adopt) she wants to keep the 14 yr boy and raise/support him as he is only 4 yrs away from college and feeling it would be harder to permanently place a 14 yr old boy.

    The problem is the social worker says she will not separate the 4 children even though it is not in the best interest of the boy. I think a judge would be willing to review the situation but Social Services is not interested in putting the request in front of a judge ASAP and because biological mother is pleading not guilty the criminal case and custody hearing are 6 months out. Is there any way to keep this kid out of a group home and permanently awarded to my friend? Can she hire a guardian at litem or private attorney to sue for custody while he is a ward of the county?

    My heart is breaking that this boy's future is in jeopardy and when my friend has to return the 3 girls back over to social services she is going to be forced to also return this young man and he is going to be dumped into a group home. Any advice is appreciated.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    424

    Default Re: Case Worker Wants to Keep Children Together, Making Placement Difficult

    She needs to get ahold of the boy's CASA or GAL. They should be able to advocate for him.

    She could also try talking to the case workers supervisor or the state's foster parent support office. She is right that 3 little girls would be far easier to place than one 14 year old boy or a group of 4.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Posts
    1,991

    Default Re: Case Worker Wants to Keep Children Together, Making Placement Difficult

    she should also look into applying for Non-needy caretaker TANF this would be cash assistance for the children, i don't know how nevada does it but in NY the caretaker may charge the children room and board and that amount goes into the budget calculation as shelter expense, the amount declared amount can be whatever number the caretaker chooses, but the budget will never exceed the maximum allowance

    there is an income limit for the household but it is 275%poverty level so that would be quite a bit of income.

    food stamps (SNAP) cannot be collected for just a subset of the household (Food Unit / SNAP Unit), the entire household must apply and meet eligibility requirements.

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