Not long ago, a mother with two foster daughters drove from MN to Montana in her old beat up pickup truck to defend her parental rights for her children even though dad had molested the children in their home state of MN.
The husband (now living in Montana) had money and knew the courts very well.
This poor woman, that had stuck her neck out to adopt children, was being sued and required to drive 20 hours to defend her parenting rights against a man whose semen samples were on file in Montana in a sexual abuse investigation of their two year old and 12 year old children.
Dad was guilty, but mom knew that sticking a 2 year old and a 12 year old on the stand as witnesses has never worked. Children are easily confused and not credible witnesses, ask any attorney.
Mom was frightened of the courts, of the man, and of the damage done to her children. No one in the MN child protection system was able to offer any help, she was on her own. I felt sick.
As a guardian ad-Litem, I have witnessed many unfair and disconcerting federal and state acts, but this was truly abhorrent.
Upon investigating her husband, it became clear that he had a history of sex abuse, there was proof on file that he had molested his own young children.
Dad had money to sue for custody and mom had no money. It was an unfair fight.
The fact this mom did not give up, lose her nerve, or commit suicide has always struck me as a testament to her courage and commitment to her children.
When I wrote the book INVISIBLE CHILDREN, half of my cases involved sex abuse of children.
Child sex abuse is the most underreported crime in the nation.
The impact of child sex abuse lasts forever.
MT: Officials Address Child Abuse
KURL8.com April 26, 2012
Law enforcement officials said statistics show survivors of child abuse or neglect are likely to commit a violent crime later in life. A new strategy is being developed to stop both.
In 2010, Montana received nearly $3 million in grants to battle child abuse and neglect. “I’ve been around this business for over twenty years, and I’ve seen some pretty sad cases, and it’s just not good. If we can prevent even one case, then we’re doing our job. I think with a program like this we’re going to see more prevention,” Sheriff Mike Linder said.
http://www.kulr8.com/news/local/Officials-Address-Child-Abuse-149185955.html