Misconceptions
September 2, 2005
I work for The Division for Children, Youth & Families for the State of New Hampshire (generally known as DCYF). I’m not saying that DCYF is a perfectly run agency, or that every decision made within the agency is absolutely correct. I think that every organization has faults, and room to grow. What really irritates me are people like Paula Werme who perpetuate needless hate and discontent. Attorney Werme may have a great deal of dislike for DCYF, and she is certainly entitled to her opinions. I disapprove of Attorney’s Werme’s methods because she attempts to whip parents into a panic for no reason. If she wants to make my job more difficult, that is fine. But there is no reason to upset parents before someone even knocks on their door. So, I’ve decided to start a series of posts debunking Attorney Werme’s statements written on her “Tricks of the Trade” page. So, feel free to check out her site, but please be aware that her statements are extremely biases and written intentionally to cause panic.
I think that your efforts to debunk Attorney Werme are shameful. If DCYF did not have anything to hide, you would not need to thwart any efforts made by Attorney Werme to educate (not panic) the public about the deceitful practices of DCYF. If you have learned anything from working at DCYF you would know that already. There are two sides to every situation; the wrong one (DCYF) and the right one (Paula Werme). In all the years I have known Attorney Werme, she has proven nothing but exemplary efforts made on behalf of parents that have been falsely accused. May I also say that she has spent tens of thousands of dollars of her own money to represent individuals whose children have been taken by DCYF and placed in foster care without any notice to the parents (ex-parte.) She is a constant fixture in the legislature attempting to revamp the Child Protection Act as a lot of it is unconstitutional. Since constitutional law seems to be her field of expertise, she therefore plays an important role in the community. Paula is always willing to hear the pleas of the parents since DCYF is unwilling to listen. Your website is nothing but a bogus attempt to smear Paula and Ric Werme.
After reading your website, I must question that if you are so righteuous in your quest, why are you afraid of the Werme’s? And why is DCYF right only 66% of the time as per court testimony? Who would defend the other 33%, DCYF?
Child Protection,
My son was removed by DCYF on allegations alone! The person who made the allegations is now pleading the Fifth and DCYF even helped the person who made the allegations get an attorney! DCYF now wants to prevent my 14 yr old son from testifying…what is DCYF afraid of? the truth coming out?
Paula Werme is an attorney to correct the conditions where DCYF fails!
So DCYF worker, if you do your job like you are suppose to and do it in the best interest of the child, you shouldn’t have to post a forum about Paula.
Your conscience getting to the best of you??
I appreciate your comment Robert. First, let me explain that technically, DCYF cannot remove children. I realize that this statement is contrary to general belief, but it is true. DCYF can file a petition with a Court and request a child’s removal, but ultimately the Court has to make the decision. So, if DCYF filed a petition and requested that your son be removed, then they must have had something to show the Court for the Court to make that decision.
As I have mentioned before in comments and postings, I cannot speak about specifics that I’m not familiar with, just in general terms and my own personal experience. In my own personal experience, I have never seen a child “testify” in a hearing. This is not to say that children have not spoken to judges after a hearing is concluded, but this has been a rarity in my experience. Also, there should be either a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) or a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) whose job it is to speak for the child’s best interests, so if your son has something he wants said at a hearing, his best bet would be to speak with his GAL or CASA. Your explanation doesn’t lead me to believe that DCYF is trying to hide anything, simply that they are following protocol and rules set up by the State of New Hampshire in both the Judicial Department and the Department of Health and Human Services.
My reasons for posting a different perspective to Attorney Werme is to try to let the general public see a different point of view - to say that no everything you hear about DCYF from Attorney Werme or other sources is necessarily accurate, and that people should consider more than one side of a story before drawing conclusions. I am not writing this blog to allieviate my conscience but rather to provide information, which I still hope to do.
I am happy to hear that there are good, professional DCYF workers; sadly, this has not been my experience personally or professionally. As DCYF refers consumers to me, I have yet to hear any begin by saying something much different than…” I know it’s DCYF mission to reunite parents and children…BUT in this case..” Obviously, that exact quote was not used by each and every worker, yet that was the essence of the introduction. In one instance, the DCYF attorney told me that if I did not write what DCYF wanted in my report, then DCYF would no longer use me. As I dislike being used, I had no problem with that. Early on, I wrote reports, only to find that DCYF had not shared these with my client’s attorney or the court. I have reported what has felt like professional misconduct to the judge; some have reprimanded the worker; others chastised the worker to not get caught.
As I have a disability and I have a child with a disability, there have been 9 unfounded cases brought against me by DCYF, all more ludicrous than the one before it. There seems to be no regard for the damage done to my other children, nor does the judge appear to hear beyond what DCYF has to say (except when a worker is caught in a lie, she has prompted him/her to apologize for having misspoken).
The issue I have is that there are no consequences for lying by DCYF. Accusations of extreme abuse presented to the court, allowed DCYF to take my child, who was in the midst of a psychotic break. He was never taken to a hospital for examination or treatment for any injuries that surely he would have sustained had any or all of the allegations been true. Statements of arrests, hospitalizations, etc. have been disproved, yet these continually appear in the worker’s reports.
The DCYF worker flaunts that he has a personal relationship with the judge…I have to wonder whether judicial misconduct is also an accepted part of the DCYF process….
While the worker wrote a “case plan,” he has complete control of scheduling the “services,” and after more than a year, he has yet to do his piece, although he is happy to report to the court that I have not made progress. My attorney has to keep an ongoing log of requests and follow-up calls to ask the workewr to do his job, see if he has had the time to make a phone call or referral…..it’s a long list.
The worker seems more invested in “proving” my lack of fitness as a mother, than in helping my son, or in strengthening our family. He directs providers- as their initial check is authorized by DCYF- and he overrides the court orders. Providers have told me that it is their policy to follow DCYF directive, not a court order. Apparently, this is not a problem for the judge, either.
I believe that Attorney Werme provides her time free to help parents who are lost in the fog of DCYF, the court, etc. I wish I had had her as my attorney rather than the attorney who made decisions without consulting with me, did not allow me to testify on my own behalf, and told me that he “had to work with these people (i.e., the judge and DCYF)” and therefore did not want to tick them off……
I could go on. My family has asked for a different worker as this man has no sensitivity to our culture, single motherhood, nor the challenges of raising decent, loving children under the best of circumstances; he does not have any idea of the issues presented by a child with a severe mental illness that has made attempts to kill all of his family….DCYF only presents what it hears as “blame” on my child, when my request for help for us all goes unheeded, and we are kept apart.
Ms Werme is not the author of the page you criticize. It’s her husband Ric’s page.
AND, that page has helped hundreds of innocent parents avoid the hell that is CPS.
Ms Werme has been awarded the Lady Liberty’s BRONZE Award of Recognition for Promotion of Justice for her zealous defense of falsely accused parents.
I can understand why DCYF would be upset.
Hi Dumasdirt, I understand that Ric operates and creates the website, but those views are represented by both him and Attorney Werme. I’m not saying that individuals shouldn’t know and understand how DCYF works. What concerns me is that the Wermes often use scare tactics - making DCYF out to be this horrible agency. I’m sure that they, and many families have had negative experiences with DCYF, but there are plenty of families who have had positive experiences as well, and we never hear about the children and families that DCYF has helped. My goal in posting this information was to bring to light the other side of DCYF, and to try to dispel some misconceived notions. I would strongly encourage everyone not to make judgments on DCYF - or any agency, base on second-hand information. Do the research yourself - talk to workers and supervisors, and get your questions answered. DCYF is not necessarily the scary place that everyone envisions, and it’s important to remember that, and not panic if you become involved with them.
“there are plenty of families who have had positive experiences as well, and we never hear about the children and families that DCYF has helped”.
Why do you think that is? If people who have had bad outcomes with DCYF are speaking out (active and closed cases) where are all the people that DCYF has helped? Why are they not speaking out in praise of the Dept and telling others what a wonderful experience it was? Please don’t tell me every single last one of the hundreds? or thousands? you have “helped” would rather remain anonymous.
You say DCYF does not remove children from their home’s, that it’s up to the court. That’s a crock. DCYF caseworker’s and their lawyer’s brag that the Judge does anything DCYF say’s. Their right, he does.
Also, you say DCYF does’nt go after low-income familie’s. Yes, they do, but they don’t go after familie’s on welfare because they can’t pay the state back. They would also rather take white children. If and when they ever take a child from a different race, it is most often given to relative’s for a short period of time and then given back.
I know of a girl with three half black children, on welfare. She has been found guilty of abuse and neglect of the children for various reason’s, but was never even petitioned to go to court. A caseworker went to her house once. She told him she will beat her kid’s whenever they need it. They never get new clothes and there is never food in the house, only beer. Even her oldest child’s school know’s the rotten life he has. The mother received a letter in the mail stating she would have abuse and neglect on her record for seven year’s. No petition to go to court. No nothing. These kid’s still suffer, yet DCYF care’s more about being paid back by the low-income familie’s struggling to make end’s meet without public assistance.
Jane, I am standing and applauding for that little dose of reality. In all my work as a Family Rights advocate and activist, and out of the THOUSANDS of stories Ive been privy to, Not once has someone told me a story with a positive outcome. Not once have i heard of a family being grateful or thankful for what CPS has put them through. But then I dont recall the Jewish nation being thankful to hitler either!
I love the way the author of this site, in statement #4, uses the worn out, cop out, scape-goating of putting the blame on the judge, or court as is used here………..when we all know, too well, that the judge, er, court, is a puppet for CPS/DCS! It’s almost comical and I have a cartoon in my mind of the judge sitting on the caseworker’s lap with the caseworker’s hand up his/her butt to make his mouth move!
I am sorry, but the old reference back to “the judge did it” just don’t fly! I am afraid you insult the intelligence of those of us who have learned so much about your “for profit” business, a. k. a. “Children’s Protective Services”. It is also insulting to think you try to convince us that you have the court issue the petition, or sign it, before you take a child from their home. The caseworker, in my grandchildren’s case had to remind the judge that, “you know, your honor, it’s on the paper you signed last night?” to jog his memory when he asked why the children were taken . I guess he forgot to read it. I would almost bet they have him sign blank petitions just so they have them when they need them and don’t have to disturb him at night or the early morning hours when they drag babies from their warm beds. Sara wouldn’t feel the need for this page if there were only a few complaints. Wonder how she feels trying to defend herself and her agency against what she perceives as lies and “misconceptions?” She must be new at it, some of us have been doing it for years, trying to prove our innocence and fight the lies and “misconceptions” of CPS. Sara, what is your education level? How old are you? Do you have children? How long, do you think, it will take for you to finally see who is telling the truth here and who can’t see the forest for the trees, caseworkers like yourself.
A man once undertook the task of trying to prove the Bible was a fake, only to become a believer in the process! I have hope you will do the same by trying to prove CPS is doing all it can “in the best interest of the child”. You will find the truth; CPS rips families apart, does not follow its own procedures and policies, lies to get what they want, steals and sells our children, and is responsible for more deaths in foster care than in a child’s own home.
Yes, some abused children need your services, but you have the responsibility of determining, truthfully, which child is actually abused and which one is in your custody because of a lie or a misconception? Here at Easter time will you be Pontius Pilate, and wash the blood off your hands or will you declare the innocence of the falsely accused and set their children free?
correct url to my journal
Dear Sara,
We at, THE COMMITTEE, acknowledge and respect the unfortunate necessity for a Child Protection System and agencies, in our compex modern times. However, if but one caseworker is permitted to commit perjury in Court, if one caseworker fails to properly supervise a child in care, if one caseworker uses and abuses her authority, the honor & integrity of the entire system is in jeopardy.
Paula Werme is only attempting to educate the public about the true nature of a system run amok. Having been permitted to violate laws, legislation, freedoms and the rights of all family members, as these child protection agencies have commonly done in the past, it is no wonder she is perceived as an advocate against the system. If she is lying, (which she is not), then her attempts at education are notorious, if not then it is the system that is failing the people, and it is the system that should bare the responsibility of Werne’s comments.
Hello, my name is Greta. I have a question for you. How come you say you try to keep families together when really, all they do is get split up? After all, that seems to be the case with pretty much everyone.
Doesn’t this cause stress (which can equal a higher health insurance), more homes with only one or a few people living in them (poor planning of the
overpopulation epidemic, clearly), bankruptcy
to many, and overall unnecessary, and unatural human tactics? It seems to me there are more negatives to the program than positives…Is DCYF really trying to help, or is it just a business?
P.S. I have been in foster care and currently am dealing with DCYF, along with my parents. Thanks a lot for the time & money spent into something completely worthless (…I hope you realize I meant that sarcastically.)
>>>
*By saying “along with my parents”, I mean my parents and I are dealing with DCYF;) Please don’t get paranoid.
Also, I am 15, and it seems rather stupid to be taken out of a home at this age; which is a possibility again due to DCYF, and an unnecessary one too, I will add.
Hello DCYF worker,
After dealing with DCYF for +/- 10 years I was able to learn alot about how totally screwed up the system really is. My child was placed with DCYF before any harm was done, and we had to push the issue. Due to DCYF not doing preventive intervention. We were told the child had to be hurt before you would step in, and then charges would be brought against us for abuse/negelect. My child required 24/7 supervision and being on state assistance there was a cap on medical treatment, which my child exceeded in the first 4 months. My childs nurologist explained the only way my child could get the full treatment he required was to be a ward of the state. That was the hardest decision I ever had to make.
A permenant plan was implemented to be long term foster care after about 3 years, as time passed the foster parents, easter seals, and DCYF slowly pushed my involvement to just team meetings and court hearings. At which I could speak but you all had your own ideas and blocked my input to just chatter. DCYF over the years changed case workers quite often, and on each I insisted they review the complete case file and medical history, to which they did not. Being the parent and looking out for the best interest of my child, I was all ways looking back and comparing, and suggesting new approaches to determine the cause of my childs disibilities.
In the end, due to DCYF’s, Easter seals, and the Foster parents, refusal to listen, and attemps to terminate my parental rights, so funding could be implemented for the Foster parents (do to the gov’s law of out of state placements). My child became the first and to my knowledge the only child in state care to pass away. DCYF’s negelect to follow their own guide lines caused the death of a child and no one hears about it. All the lawyers I have approached refer to this case as going up against Satans den. So to be heard on this matter means to go at it on my own. I have researched as many documents in my childs case as I was allowed to recieve, and if DCYF ever takes the time to review the file they will see their mistakes in black and white in thier own files. Its real hard to denie when its their own records.
Its been all most 3 years since my childs passing and the time limit is all most up to file but I believe I’m ready. His death was preventable if DCYF had only listened. Or had just made it possible for him to remain in his home.
Hello again,
It seams pretty sad that you would delete my posting that explained how the end result of DCYF’s, Easter Seals and the foster parents involvement in my sons life was death and not just a negitive experience. You should have just left it alone so people could read another tragic story of how DCYF helps families in need. Your site is only 1 of many that will hear the truth. My sons death could have, and should have been prevented.
I would like to ask you what district you work for?
DCYF goes all out to hold parents responsible for their actions, when will DCYF stop trying to hide their own actions and take responsibility ?
Hi Dana,
Let me first say that I am very sorry for your loss - I cannot imagine a greater one than the loss of a child. Second, let me explain about comments on my blog. You may notice that there are many negative comments about DCYF. The only comments I delete are spam. The comments are set to be moderated by me, but that is only so that I can filter out more spam - I approve every comment made by an actual human. You should see that your first comment is here, right above your follow up comment. As I have said in the past, I do not claim that DCYF is a perfect agency, or that mistakes are not made. My blog posts were designed solely to provide a different perspective - an insider’s view. Thoughts and ideas by a social worker an in an attempt to show that social workers are people too - they may not be perfect, but they often have the best intentions at heart.
Finally, I would like to remind you that I talk in generalities, and that I cannot respond about specific cases, first because that information is confidential, and second because without direct knowledge of a specific case, I can’t really explain why decisions were made the way they were.
I no longer work for DCYF - not because I didn’t love the work, or believe that it was a valuable contribution to the community, but because of mismanagement in my district office that I could no longer tolerate. I used to work in the Laconia District Office, but again, I haven’t been there in over 2 years.