Mother, interrupted: CPS accused her of everything from neglect to excessive care, never proved anything, and took her daughter anyway

CPS is paid to do everything they can to drag the parent thru the mud.They will fabricate, they will embellish, they will exaggerate, they will take the parents' statements out of context, and they will blatantly lie. They will allege and they will allege. They will attempt to cover up their lies by destroying records and so the discrepancies might not ever be brought to light-and even when a parent has held onto the records (or had to dig) and there are over 15 pages of documents-3 pages solely are just the statements that were taken out of context-refuting CPS's lies-so that she might be able to justify and redeem herself of these inconsistencies-but even then-the courts will not acknowledge it even when it's starring them right in the face-Blind justice. A blatant injustice. And the parent and the child must live with it forever. CPS is advocating only for the state; not the child. my god, think of the children who have suffered because CPS caseworkers knew they wouldn't get paid if they told the truth.please put this comment in instead of first and use this one for the letter to the editor as well

This is absolutely BARBARIC that CPS can just come in and remove a child from her home with virtually no proof that the parent has done anything wrong. Any day of the week, you can read about yet another dead child whose life was cut short because CPS did NOT act in the child's interest or remove a child when there was clear evidence that the child's life was in danger. How many kids are beaten, punched, stomped on, thrown against walls or sinks or bathtubs, drowned like feral cats or stabbed, strangled, shot, hanged and tossed out like yesterday's garbage?
And HERE is a woman simply doing the best she knew for a child who obviously had documented eating problems -- and for that (and nothing more!) they take her CHILD away?
Just makes me more convinced that child welfare needs to be taken OUT of government's hands and put under the authority of private companies -- so there could be more of a hands-on involvement with children deemed "at risk."
Can't believe CPS can "lose" a child like Rilya Wilson -- who has never been "found" and is presumed dead -- but it can turn around on a dime to take a child whose parent has committed the simple sin of caring "excessively" for the child.
My first-and-only child had acid reflux from birth -- colic and no end of crying. I took him to the doctor nearly every week -- he was even HOSPITALIZED once. It's very upsetting to think that my concern for his misery and discomfort could have been construed as MSBP!
This country has gone NUTS. It's time we all move to Canada.

As a teacher I have called CPS on numerous occassions and they have done nothing. (I am legally liable to call, but they are not liable to help, it appears) These children I have called on have gone on to have severe issues that could have been avoided at the start. I guess they are to busy intervening with innocent Moms to help the guilty ones get put away. This state does not value chidren! Just look at the educational issues we have now in the legislature and schools. It doesn't help that ignorant people keep getting voted in like, Tom Horne,( a non educator) who are put in charge of our children's welfare. Very sad!!!!This aeticle disturbs me greatly. I am hoping and praying it is being twisted by a rag reporter and not really the truth! No offense but I know New Times has a reputation of twisting truths at times. I would much rather have that be the truth than this horrific story!

I would like to thank you for writing the article exposing the horrific miscarriage of justice Carol Dunlavy and her daughter have received at the hands of CPS and the Maricopa County court system. I am the mother of two special needs children and met Carol in an observation room where we could observe our children receiving group therapy together. I bonded to Carol pretty quickly because when you are a parent of children who require early intervention your life soon revolves around therapy appointments and doctors appointments. Friends you used to have don't relate to your lifestyle, your kids can't do what their kids can do, and you don't have time for them anyway. Carol was living the same kind of life with "Sarah" that I was living with my two children and we each were captive in one room observing our children and being given time to talk. When she started to share what was happening with her cusody situation, I was horrified. Each one of my children had more hours of therapy than "Sarah" did- some funded through DDD and some privately funded by myself and my husband. I told Carol that if she went to trial that she'd be OK, that they'd have to give her daughter back or take away all of the children undergoing early intervention. "Sarah" isn't receiving anymore hours of therapy than any other child parented by a good, involved parent. Children with autism are supposed to receive 30-40 hours of early intervention each week. Mine do and they are each under the age of five. If that is excessive care than I am guilty too and my kids are at risk of being removed from my home. All of these therapies are play-based and non-invasive. They don't hurt, only help. Who could fault her for that? All of this I told Carol to comfort her prior to her joke of a trial. I could never have guessed that they'd take her child without allowing her a trial. Are my children next because I'm following doctor's advice and seeking early intervention?

It is frightening when doctors can propose a diagnosis based on a twenty minute meeting which results in a mother loosing a child. Will the state pay for the damage it has caused? Sadly, this is not as unique a case as we would like to think.

MAMA/M.A.M.A., a documentary film, questions the validity of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, arguing that in many cases doctors over medication of infants may be the real cause of their infirmity rather than the mother's mental illness. More information on the film is available at www.munchausenmovie.com.

Stories like this really angry me because it is all one sided. The other side is not going to comment because any comments will be used against them by this wonderful attorney looking to sue the state. There are a lot of fallacies in this story. She did not lose her parental rights she lost custody. Of course she is still paying bills, bills that she previously had when she had custody of the child. In everyone's mind the mission of CPS is leaving kids with bad parents and taking kids away from good parents. Parents never lie only CPS does. CPS has shredders are running 24/7. I would like to see you in the place of a CPS worker trying to make a decision in this case. You have a mother who has lied about her education and who knows what else and you have doctors/professionals telling you something is not right. Then you have people writing that CPS kills kids. It is hard trying to do the best you can with the information that is being provided. You’re damn if you do and damn if you don't. Is CPS doing a good job I don't know but let’s not jump off the deep end. Is the mother telling us the complete truth of course not. I am not associated with CPS but was once a child that was helped by CPS type agency in another state. They saved my life from an abusive father. The only thing I know for sure is that since the daughter has been with the father, she has gained weight and does not have speech/learning issues. It's a miracle; of course CPS had nothing to do with it.

In the past I have enjoyed reading the featured articles in the Phoenix New Times, but there are so many misrepresentations of CPS's role in removing the child from this mother's care that I now have to rethink articles I have read in the past and wonder how much of them is fact and how much is malicious fiction. I am truly disappointed.

Are you kidding me?!?! This is just another example of new times sensationalism distorting the truth. I guess the author shouldn’t feel so bad, this "mother" apparently makes a habit of deceiving people. I guess telling people that you have a degree in child psychology is practically the same thing as a customer service representative, on the other hand I wouldn’t let her treat my kids, much less her own. But wait, isn’t it the authors job to report the truth? Oh well... I have found the authors at the new times to be doctors, lawyers, and specialists in all fields when they deem necessary. So I guess another inaccurate account of a child abuse case shouldn’t shock me. I myself am glad that CPS is doing their job. And just remember when this "mother" would have eventually killed her daughter this article would be attacking CPS for not doing their job, and hold them responsible for the death of a small child. How about someone from the new times goes out today and finds some real news to report on, but then again this stuff is so much better than the tabloids... Thanks.
Sincerely,
Avid reader of crap.

PS Here are some of symptoms of Munchausen syndrome by proxy... (Anything look familiar?)
The parent is over attentive or "too helpful."
The parent is often involved in a health-care field, such as nursing.
The child's symptoms do not fit a classical picture of illness or do not fit together well.
The child's symptoms improve at the hospital but reappear on return to the home.

I have seen CPS at it's finest. I have witnessed with my own eyes physical abuse handed to a child. I personally witnessed professionals and the child disclose the facts of this abuse to CPS. NOTHING was done.

I find it hard to believe that this story tells all the facts. How could such an "innocent" mother lose her child in the story printed here, yet NOTHING be done about DOCUMENTED abuse regarding another? Something doesn't add up. Perhaps if you have half the story you should reconsider sharing it. A child I care about was left in the hands of an abuser by CPS.

I am not a fan of bureaucracy, nor do I feel that the law is applied equally. However in the past three New Times cover stories (Border Patrol, Less than one Drink, and Mother, Interrupted) I feel you are doing the community a huge disservice. The people in these stories made poor decisions. Those who cross the border with weed chance getting arrested. The mother who was driving after dental surgery, on painkillers, with (albeit minimal) alcohol in her system and her child in the car should not have been. The 'Mother' interrupted showed some rather serious issues and I for one hope that she gets the help she needs before she gets her child back.

Thanks for protecting the identities of the persons involved with the stories as you have certainly made them targets. I tangentially know of one of the individuals involved. According to all who are close to the situation the authorities did the best that they could given an extremely tricky situation. I am not saying that the decisions made were the best possible for all involved in any of these situations. If only that were true. I am saying that I expect more from New Times than glorifying poor decision making and making victims out of those who were victimized first by their own decisions (although that applies less to the woman whose child was taken, her mental health is distressed).

What I would like to see is an expose on the authorities without the 'victims' being aggrandized. That is what I have come to expect from New Times. Please do not squander your journalistic integrity. You are one of the few places that still has any. By taking sides, which has been done obviously, in each of these cases you are slowly whittling away at what I have come to expect. Please stop.

What's really frightening is the fact that we as parents have more legal right to our cars in our driveways then we do to our own children in Arizona!

I read somewhere that the average time to straighten out a messed up car title in the Arizona Superior court system is three days and in the family court system the average time for termination of parental rights and to lose your children forever is 14 minutes.

Sarah, thank you for exposing what parents face in Maricopa County family court system and the state of Arizona. This is the tip of the iceberg of the chaos and destruction when a single mom has a problem and needs help, not instant rush to judgment. Families and parents need help. Children need their own advocate to assess the situation. Please write more on the subject of mothers losing their children.

there were a few comments here that didn't agree with what new times said and even though you have the right to your own opinion; I just want you to know that you are in denial about the way the state of Arizona runs things-in a very underhanded and deceptive manner.

Correction to above post - Megan, thank you for your article and those who criticize you don't want these stories out there. Please keep writing on the subject, there are hundreds of mothers and children's lives shredded in the broken system that no one wants to touch. If you criticize it you lose your job. So people sit in silence and wait for reporters to get the stories out. They are all heartbreaking and not the least bit farfetched. The fathers are getting custody of the children, not the Moms. Conservative men / and former prosecutors run the family courts. Women are at a disadvantage in the courtroom. Bias prevails in the agencies.

Melanie, you hit the nail on the head! Except your were politically correct -- I would call it "corrupt" and it can be proven, that why there are some detractors here. They know what goes on and want to scare people away. New Times is courageous and we are pleased they are finally writing about the moms and women in this state. When are the women going to wake up and realize they are living in state that has taken us back decades.

Thank you, New Times, for making this story public.

Moms wake up! If you are being watched and followed going to the restaurants and malls that proliferate in our suburbs, then you are very much at risk of having your life destroyed. This episode can wipe a young family out financially and you need to notice how easily children can be taken away from their moms. Moms were traditionally protected since they are the primary caregiver. Women are losing more and more ground everyday and when they lose, so do their children. The moms are easy prey in a state with harsh mandatory sentencing and overzealous law enforcement and prosecution which exists in Maricopa County and Arizona. Pretty soon everyone will be in jail and who is paying for all this when those in power, eat their young? This is an example of how sick this area is and raises questions about who would want to destroy a young mom's life and that of her children?

Thank-you Arizona mom for commenting on my comment-the 13th comment. You should also read the first comment; which is comment number one. Everything I say is true because I lived it. I lost custody of one of my children; a child I had in my 40's after raising my other children on my own because the father was never around. And then this same father received custody of the child I had in my 40's after putting my other children thru an emmotional hell. Everything I said in statement number one happened and much more but unfortunately; we aren't supposed to write autobio's in the comment section.because I could give you an earfull.

Are you kidding me? Asking them to write more when they don't even have all of the facts? The mother has not lost her rights only custody, that was never mentioned or even clarified. For people who do not know how the juvenile court runs, that instantly gives them the misconception that CPS and the courts are wrong. She needs to get her life in gear and prove CPS wrong and get physical custody of her child again. I don't always agree with CPS and their motives for doing what they do. However, they have to go off of what they are told and from what they see. Would you want their job? Do you volunteer with the foster kids and get to know their stories? It is very easy to judge when you only hear one side of the story. I hear these cases every day and YOU would be appalled at what the parents actually do to their children. Maybe if you were not so one-sided (parents do wrong, too) you could see that the line is not so clear.

Are any of you truely surprised at CPS? I've been dealing with CPS since I was a foster kid. CPS is a terrible, horrible, barbaric organization that originally was a part of the Humane Society. CPS is outside most laws, is a private entity, but publically funded.

The proper procedure in this specific case is to get the mother psychologically evaluated and, if necessary, obtain treatment and re-evaluate. The child SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE HOME, but only for evaluation purposes. CPS/DES is supposed to provide services to this family to resolve issues where there is no specific identifiable cause [such as this case]. By-Proxy is a rare disorder that is nearly impossible to diagnose without catching the person "in the act."

I worry for the child, and I don't know the mother. However, precautions are SUPPOSED to be taken in order to protect the child. I agree with this, the child COMES FIRST. But, with that said, once nothing specific can be diagnosed, clearly the family should be reunited. At the very least, a specific reason should be stated for the seperation and, then, a reunification plan should be persued.

Also, a special word to the mother of this child: Check your CPS worker's credentials. If they don't have an MSW (Masters of Social Work), they are in violation of state law as they are not licensed to practice social working without a Masters. You'll find CPS is FILLED with BSWs and very few MSWs. Ask your lawyer to check in on this, you may be able to reverse every action CPS has taken based on malpractice (and then, let the law suits fly).

in reading this article i feel for carol dunlavy. i know first hand the bs cps, acs,dhs what ever name they use in whatever town or city is full of crap. their job used to be to protect the abused kids. but when they were supposed to be doing it they werent and kids ended up dead. then the government goes in and say the policies will change and in reality all they change is their name. the workers are lazy and constantly dont do the job their paid to do. and when they get caught up they lie and of course its the parents who pay for the lie. it seems in this case here carol couldnt win because that 20 min doctor told a lie on her without knowing anything about her. and instead of it being investigated as it should have been. cps, the judges, and some doctors turned their backs on that child and the mother, as to you cv dirk. im sure the baby sarah has gained weight etc, as she getting the therapy the doctors recommended she get. the first set of doctors who did their jobs and examined her thoroughly. its obivous your either a friend of doctors, or a cps worker. and let me tell you something else. telling a lie about your job doesnt mean you lie about everything. if thats the case then im sure you cant look in the mirror with a clear conscience because everyone has lied at one time or another. does that make a bad parent or individual? no noto unless its being done for criminal purposes.i pray carol gets her child back, and everyone involved with her losing her in the first place loses their jobs and everything else. so they learn first hand how it feels especially that judge. it actually sounds to me like the judge was either paid off or blackmailed. even she didnt follow the rules of the law. and those doctors. should have their medical license suspended or terminated. i wonder how many other parents they have done this to. just because a parent refuses to put a feeding tube in their child. thats exactly what it sounds like that doctor made the accusation for. he wanted a tube in the child and her mother didnt. and THATS A PARENTS RIGHT! TELL ME CV DIRK HAS THE FATHER ALLOWED THAT TUBE TO BE PLACED IN SARAH? i think any and all parents who have gone thru hell with these kinds of agencies needs to band together and start demanding real policy changes. and practices, also rules and regulations. only then will these people do the jobs they are paid to do.

There are many times CPS has saved children's lives. However, there must be due process. This isn't the only family they have done this to. An agency can't be judge and jury protected by the state to do as they please. Yet, there are some children that even though CPS is called they do nothing. There must be protocol there must be strict criteria for all not just whom they feel doesn't seem quite right. That was their basis for another family. Hmmm....maybe the fact that the CPS worker wanted adoption rights had nothing to do with it. If you are accused you deserve the right to be heard it's the law! Yes, the lie about her degree was a red flag, but what about refusing the g-tube (that would have been a great time to feed off attention), trying to feed her baby so she does gain weight (naturally, i think all mothers do that), what about all the professionals that agreed that she needed intervention??? GOD forbid she has MSBP, but if she doesn't she has the right to be heard.

CPS has three key functions. Child safety. Family preservation. Family reunification. CPS workers are over worked and under paid. They do the best they can with the information they have to make certain that children are not abused or neglected. I find it hard to beleive that CPS would deliberatly lie and shred or destroy documents in order to remove a child from its parents. What would be the purpose? CPS workers are held accountable for their decisions. If they leave a child in an abusive situation they run the risk of losing their lisence (social workers are lisenced profesionals), losing their jobs, being sued for malpractice or being arrested.
People need to understand that CPS workers are just trying to to their jobs.

Unbelievable, multi-million dollar lawsuit and every penny is deserved! CPS is a joke, they do nothing when kids are abused and rip children from an obviously loving parent for no reason. Overcared? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Seems like CPS undercared or doesn't care at all.

I would like to let readers know about a resource for families dealing with the child welfare system -- Rise, a magazine written by and for parents involved in the child welfare system, tells the true stories of parents to inform and support parents in advocating for themselves and their families. Rise is at www.risemagazine.org. If you would like to know more about how child welfare systems treat parents, read the stories in Rise.

I can comment on "Both" sides of the story as I have dealt with Arizona CPS (Maricopa County Juvenile Court) since 1994. I have been a foster paretnt of 4 kids from a Meth Mom, given to me at ages 2,4, 6 and 8. Over a DECADE I received commendations regarding my care of these kids but I made a fatal error. I asked for 2 more of their siblings to be placed with me and be re-united with their siblings. This extremely angered CPS and caused me retaliation when I argued against them. I then went through very similar to this mother, to the point the last 2 children were removed from my home. I was amazed at the lack of due process, failure to get facts right, and when I successfully refuted one odd accusation, a new vague one would pop up. I was NEVER charged with anything!!!!~

The two court comissioners from Maricopa County only rubber stamped anything CPS ever said or did. Luckily for me I can afford a good attorney who gave me good advice.

As heavily as CPS acted against me and the extreme efforts they went to to prove me wrong, it all blew up in their faces. The children did not do better, they did dramatically worse. And CPS response? nothing. Even when one child's therapist told both a caseworker and their supervisor that the child's depression was now so bad that the child was suicidal (dec 07) CPS did NOTHING! In fact, as CPS had moved the 2 children, they were now getting no funds nor medical coverage!!!!! In over a year! Again CPS dropped another ball and NO caseworker was assigned for one child from August 2007 to March 2008...yes...NO Caseworker, NO services, NOTHING. I had to go to a different state to complain since NO ONE, in Arizona listened. That second state sent a scathing report back to the poor case management...CPS response? NOTHING. Forget about taking them from the only home they ever knew...what about helping these kids? NOTHING!

For those who defend CPS my experience is that CPS goes after the wrong people and leave no dime unspent to cover their actions(can I tell you they flew a drug addict dad monthly, paid his car rental, hotel room for 3 years..to see a kid he abandoned TWICE? And who then abandoned the kids a third time?)

Sadly, they leave obviously abusive and neglectful parents alone sometimes...How does this happen? because CPS (and the court) cares about CPS first...the Children are last on the list. After over a year we have solid documentation but the damage to the children has been done...by the very state the children are dependent on..Arizona. If Arizona were a parent NOT paying support or medical coverage for their OWN kids, they would have been in jail as a deadbeat long ago.

Unfornately this sounds like an all to common example of CPS's incompetence. Bywhat do you expect in a state where the "top cop" is a bigoted drug dealer. Keep up the great work New Times, and thank you for watching out the little guy and gal.

After reading the comments - OMG! You mean I'm NOT crazy!! I have dealt with CPS since October; didn't even FIND OUT UNTIL JANUARY that they had charges (false) against me! Now, they're trying to cover their booties and drag me through the coals, all the while the quotes keep being made by them are "we're just trying to help your family".

We are a normal family as all counselors have claimed (oh, and gee, we (even the lawyers) can't get a copy of those reports w/o subpoenas to CPS. There are no abuses of any sort here. Our lawyers (paid for by state - sorry) all advocate going full blown to trial. But what does that mean? Drag it out further? Be in the media?

Anyone who can advise to help us through this cr*p?

In response to Robin (Comment 21). The mother convinced the doctors with her so call "credentials" that the child needed a feeding tube. Yes her father did not have a tube put it in because IT WAS NOT NEEDED. How stupid can you be. This story is full of inaccuracies. The child is doing extremely well as of this moment. Isn't that what is important. Shouldn't we be focusing what is best for the children and not what is best for the parent. Parents will always do what every it takes to keep the children, love, lie, cheat, etc.. People listen good, CPS is not perfect at the same time Parents aren't perfect. If you find yourself up against CPS there is a reason. There has to be a reason. what you need to is look at yourself first before your children. Because if you don't have your act together how are you going be able take care of your child.

In response to Robin (Comment #21). I am not associated with CPS, doctors, or lawyers. I do know the parents involved and have some details. All I care is what is best for the child. I could care less about the parents involved. I find that parents will always say what puts them in the best light. The kid tripped down the stairs that's why he broke his legs. Not I push the little bastard down the stairs because he took my weed. Are you all that stupid to believe that some parents don't deserve this. Let's get rid of CPS, save me some tax money. But who or what agency will look out for the children? Who wants to be brunt of all CPS nay sayers? What every agency is there, Parents will always complain. Robin are you a parent the CPS took your child away because you were doing meth while you boyfriend was having sex with your child. That is not right for me to make the general statement as for you saying cps workers are lazy and judges on the take. Yes Robin when I was a child I probably lied and I as an adult I probably lied to my wife when I said I was listening. But I have never lied about my career. I have ethics and honor. If you believe in your self there is no need to lie. To lie in matters of your child something is seriously wrong with this women. How you can defend this is beyond me. Finally, latest CPS item, a women who has 7 children with five different fathers, mother is doing Meth. Mother saids meth helps with raising children. Gee Robin should CPS take here children away from her? Do you think think the mother/fathers are doing a good parenting job. Do you know who many kids are involved with the legal system and how many CPS workers there are? Do you know the turn over rate in CPS? Robin and any one else who is complaining about CPS. Why don't you get a job with CPS and see how it really is, maybe you can make a difference. We need less talk and more action.

What does this mean about the judge canceling the dependency hearing? Did this mother win back custody of her daughter or lose the opportunity to state her case?

What was the CPS response to this article?

A confusing end to this tragic story. I feel very sorry for this poor woman. Arizona CPS sounds dangerously incompetent and overwhelmed (based on this and other stories). I feel sorry for them, but in cases like this they are destroying people's lives.