I have two grandsons, one is 16-months-old, and the baby is 2-months-old. Both of these babies were removed from the hospital when they were born. The oldest one was placed in kinship foster care. The people that have him are not blood related. Both parents want both babies placed with my husband and myself.

But the Yadkin County, NC Department of Social Services are totally against us. They did not want to do the home study, though they were ordered by two separate judges to perform one. Of course they are saying we didn't pass, but no reason was given as to why.

The social worker that was over the case was replaced by a "new" social worker. The older worker was taken off the case when she abused my son's girlfriend's oldest child. There were never any charges or sanctions brought against her.

They want to let this man and woman adopt the 16-month-old and we are totally against it. The man has had a massive heart attack. He is a diabetic, and does not try to control it - he is also severely obese.

He takes baths with the baby and smokes around him constantly. The baby was born four weeks premature and has had lung problems all of his life. The foster parents live in an old mobile home with a closed in porch that serves as my grandson's "room". It's not bad enough that he blows smoke in his face everyday, now he has to live in an old drafty room.

I have discussed my concerns with the social worker, supervisor, and director all to no avail. The woman has lost custody of her own biological daughter, but Yadkin County doesn't care as long as they get the adoption money! There is no reason why this child and his little brother are not returned to their parents. The two-month-old is in foster care, fortunately, it appears like the people that have him are taking good care of him.

I was going every Tuesday to the DSS office for visitation with both grandsons, but DSS doesn't want me to "bond" with the baby, so they stopped my visitation about a month ago. I know the oldest one is missing me because he and I are very close.

My husband and I are on Social Security and cannot afford an attorney, but I'm looking for any help that I can get in order to bring these two babies home where they belong!

Thank you,
Tammy LaForce

Labels: DSS, foster care, grandparents rights, North Carolina, Yadkin County