Help Me Take on CPS, Judges, and the System in Tennessee

Imagine if your child came to school with a small bruise and without warning Child Protective Services (CPS), has entered your life.

Imagine further that though CPS found nothing wrong, a powerful judge, Randy Kennedy, then takes over the case, and, despite no finding of wrongdoing by CPS on your part, he still takes away custody of all three of your children and orders them to live with strangers.

This is the nightmare the Brabson family has been living and their story is not unique in Tennessee where the judges and CPS, called the Department of Child Services (DCS) in Tennessee, are out of control. Find one of Kennedy's orders here.

Nov 04 2020 kennedys court order 11-11-2020 13.19 by mikekvolpe on Scribd

This family is living a nightmare many in Tennessee are living. A recent story from News channel 5 stated in part, "A whistleblower provided data to NewsChannel 5 Investigates which shows a trend one lawmaker calls terrifying.

"The documents show shockingly high caseloads for caseworkers in Davidson County's Child Protective Services division which investigates allegations of abuse and neglect.

"They also reveal a trend in which many caseworkers are not meeting monthly with children or not entering data about those meetings into the system."

In 2014, the State's Comptroller found top to bottom issues at the agency. A local news story stated in part, "By now, the findings are not news to most Tennesseans, as news media across the state have reported extensively over the past couple of years about DCS’ handling of child-abuse investigations, its failure to report child deaths and its inadequate supervision of some juveniles on probation — all of which were reaffirmed in the audit.

"On Monday, lawmakers felt the sting of being out of the loop. Some complained bitterly that DCS has not adequately reported to members of the General Assembly, as required by law, about the child deaths and other issues. They questioned DCS Commissioner Jim Henry and other agency officials and were dissatisfied with the answers."

Sherry Jones, a former State legislator, gained a reputation as a leader in challenging DCS while still elected. A few years ago, she told me in an unpublished story that she was not surprised by the audit and said the audit is only the latest example of a perpetual problem that she sees with TDCS in which corners are routinely cut in TDCS investigations, which routinely leads to children winding up in dangerous situations, often with deadly results.

In the same article, I interviewed a former caseworker, who described one case, "I discovered that the father had an extensive history of violence, drugs, and untreated serious mental health issues. I also learned that the father was currently involved in criminal activity. I notified foster care, the attorney for the department, and my supervisor of the findings.”

Despite that, this former caseworker said, "Despite providing this report and recommending that the child be removed from the custody of the father, Harmon was overridden by her superiors, and TDCS approved for the father to take custody of the child while the file was ordered closed out."

I also previously wrote this story in which a Tennessee mom lost custody to her physically abusive ex who moved to Idaho. This mom was forced to fly to Idaho for visits.

These stories are found throughout the state. They need to be told but I need the time and resources to tell them. Please help fund this campaign.