My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Oklahoma
My niece, age 3, is half Native-American and half African-American. She was born to the Shawnee tribe and has three other siblings
The mother (Shawnee) and father (my brother, African-American) will have their rights terminated soon because of their unlawful practices. My mom, a hard working God fearing woman, volunteered to take my niece over a year ago. Since expressing her willingness, DHS has dodged her and refuses cooperate.
My mother rents a two-bedroom house and has more than enough to support my niece and herself, so she was absolutely puzzled as to why a blood relative was being treated by DHS this way.
Today she met with DHS, the two parents, and a foster home couple and their attorney. This couple who has my niece, the three other children, plus four other foster children. The couple claims they want to adopt all four children. DHS says since my mother only wants to take my niece that she is disqualified because of Shawnee law. According to DHS, Shawnee law states that all children should remain together if able. The caseworker never gave my mother the opportunity, and now she might lose my niece to this couple.
My mother does not have the money for a lawyer for a retainer… is there any hope? Does my mother have any options left?
-From a concerned heart-broken auntie

