Help, understanding needed in daughters' case

Editor:

I come to everyone and ask for justice for my children and I.

We have been involved with the Columbia County Department of Family and Children Services for 30 months now. I have had six different caseworkers and every time I go to a panel review, its always new people who dont know my case or my situation. They only know what has been written in the reviews, and it doesn't tell the whole story.

That is why I come to the public, to mothers like me, to give some facts on how my case has been mishandled. I stand to lose two very beautiful girls unless my cries are heard. I always thought DFCS was to help young, single mothers get their lives together, not tear families apart so couples who can't have children can adopt. I feel like that has become the situation in my case.

My daughters became the victims in this unfair system. My 3-month-old daughter died of pneumonia; she took her last breath in my arms. I had problems dealing with it; I began to drink and tried to make sense of something that was beyond my control.

When I gave birth to another daughter, I became close to her and my life began to have meaning again. But my family began to question whether I had it together or not, and DFCS was called in because of my drinking history and my other daughter's death. I was judged guilty. Once again a daughter was taken, only this time I was given a chance to get her back.

Columbia County DFCS has harassed me by sending other caseworkers to my friend's house. I gave birth last October to another daughter. I was served with papers in Sandersville, which stated my child was being taken because I had a child die due to neglect. But to say this is harassment and slander, and an injustice to everyone involved.

You are not guilty until proven without a doubt. How can a system that protects mothers and their children accuse someone of contributing to their child's death by neglect when there is no truth to it at all? How can these same people take my children from me, saying it is not in their best interest to be in my care? These are the same people who took a child out of my arms, accusing me of neglect and killing my child. If these people are allowed to continue to pronounce judgment in my children's life, we will never be together again and justice will not have been served. Who knows - maybe tomorrow they may accuse another mother of being unfit.

Columbia County DFCS needs to be investigated just as I was. The caseworkers have not offered housing, counseling or anything to help an unfortunate single parent like me. I am not asking for anything free; I just want the chance to prove I am not an unfit mother, and that I am willing to work and provide for my two beautiful daughters. All I need is a chance and guidance from DFCS when needed....

Teresa Lyons

Thomson