I am so angry at the mental health system

[lilacwoman]

first I've ever heard about anyone signing a contract to agree to look after baby properly. 
I wonder if this is a new idea post Baby P?

[spacial]

first I've ever heard about anyone signing a contract to agree to look after baby properly. 
I wonder if this is a new idea post Baby P?

no, it's a process that's been around for a while. It's complicated to rationalise. It has some positive uses for some situations.

But it is one of those factors that are very difficult to get around. The best thing is to go along with it.

[Jeatyn]

Well, an update.

I am now being taken to court for this rubbish and the social want one of three outcomes to happen after the hearing:

1: I have a family member with me 24/7 and unannounced spot checks from a social worker. When I say 24/7 I mean literally 24/7, we asked and apparently leaving me on my own with the baby for 10 minutes while they nip to the shops is unacceptable.

2: I move to a sort of safe house with the baby where I will be watched over

3: The baby is taken in to foster care


I'm meeting with a lawyer tomorrow, after looking at the case they seem pretty confident that I can get these idiots off my back because I really haven't done anything to warrant this kind of heavy handed treatment. Fingers crossed

[Fencesitter]

Good luck with the lawyer! I think that's the best thing you can do.

This all sounds so awful. Especially option 1 is ridiculous, I mean, won't they allow that family member to even take a shower or whatever?

And me seems there is a lot of transphobia going on here.

Also shows that just because someone is a "specialist" in the field of transsexuality doesn't mean they treat trans people with the respect any human being deserves.

I pray for you and your baby.

[lilacwoman]

Hi Jeatyn
you case gets more crazy.

I hope that lawyer get some good action for you.

[Janet_Girl]

I hope the lawyer will prevail.  What the "Child Snatchers" want is totally unacceptable.  She will be more loved and protected by living with her father, who gave her birth.


Hugs to you dear brother and loves to my niece.

Aunt Janet. 

[xAndrewx]

That's insanity! *hugs* I hope the lawyer can help you work out some sense with those stupid people. I wish you and your kiddo the best when she/he is born. Sorry don't remember if you said the baby is a boy or a girl. Good luck with everything man.

[spacial]

Jeatyn

Thank you for keeping us informed. This is sounding quite serious really. Best of luck with the lawyers. That's really all you can do now.

I really hope you will continue to keep us up to dat on what happens next my love.

Best wishes, always.

[Al James]

Quite a few years ago i had dealings with a similar situation. My partners brother was living with a girl who subsequently fell pregnant. Social services wanted to take her baby away as soon as it was born- after a lot of wrangling myself and my partner ended up as the baby's carers. The mother was never supposed to be alone with the baby although the father could be. The mother had to go to a supervised centre to prove she could look after a child. Although this is many years ago and i am no longer in contact with any of them i know that despite all of the social workers protestations that the child should never be allowed to live with its family that by the time she was two they were all living together. Hopefully someone will see common sense with your case as well and all will turn out for the best, even if you have to jump through a few hoops first. Sometimes i think the authorities just like reminding us common folk that they have all the power.

[Arch]

I hope your meeting with the lawyer went well, Jeatyn.

[spacial]

I've been thinking about it too.

Hopefully Jeatyn will tell us as soon as there's anything to tell.

[Jeatyn]

Not all that much to tell until the hearing on the 17th. The meeting with the lawyer was quite discouraging though she just basically told me to do whatever the social services say, play nice and blah blah. then she spent a good half hour telling me what exactly happens when I get put into the safe-house I mentioned....like she thought this was going to be the best outcome.

[spacial]

To be frank Jeatyn, it's not that it's the best option, it's just that there isn't much that can be done.

I tend to think the lawyer is telling you to just go with the flow.

You know something, I have a feeling it's going to be a lot easier than you might be imagining. But only of you don't fight against it.

[Jeatyn]

I've been told that it could be around 6 months for the 24 hour surveillance thing. If this happens I'm going to lose my apartment because of the benefits I'm on....they won't pay the rent on a place I'm not living. If they do this to me it's going to screw everything up.

My family is willing to help me if it comes down to it but it depends on the time period, they have lives and jobs and kids of their own. I'll be giving birth right next to Christmas too so I can't expect my sister to come and babysit me 24/7 while her own kids sit at home opening presents by themselves.

I don't think these social workers understand how much stress it'll put me under to be put in a safehouse with a bunch of women and kids. Something like that may actually cause me to break down, whereas I'd be fine in my own territory with privacy. Not to mention the kind of people who usually get put in these places are the ones with drug/alcohol problems or severe disorders that mean they don't do very well in normal society. It baffles me that they would choose this for me and my daughter over my own apartment where I have a beautiful nursery all set up for her.

I hate to whine...I'm sorry guys, feeling hormonal today.

[Janet_Girl]

I think that the "Child Snatchers" are prepared to get new housing for you and the baby.  As they are the ones who are causing the lose of your apartment.  Ether that or they can move a social worker in to your place, so they lose their apartment.

And all of this because some moron is being a jerk.  You will be a great Dad ( Mom in their narrow world ).  She will grow up as being a very open-minded, loving young lady, who know just how to get Daddy to get her what see wants. 

[spacial]

If I may, Jeatyn, can I suggest you make some preparations to store your stuff.

With respect, babies have a habit of turning up at awkward times. If you can make the arrangements now, that is one less thing to worry about.

Have you been getting on with your midwife OK?

I am so very sorry that this is happening. But as said, try to go with the flow.

[jmaxley]

OMG.  Unbelievable.  I wish there was something I could do to help.  How long do they want you to be in the safehouse?  I'm leary of any institutionalized setting (having seen the inside of a few) but still better than option C.  I don't guess they're considering the stress this is putting on you and therefor the baby right now.  What morons.

[LordKAT]

Be careful!!

I have seen the same ploy used against you. After you  lose your apartment and the kid is born, they take her because you do not have an adequate place to raise her. You lose your aid and can't get a place because you don't have your kid with you. You get a job to get a place and you aren't capable of providing adequate and/or quality of care.

It is a merry go round and all in their favor.

[spacial]

I can understand your concerns kat. However, there is public housing to go to. Not much, but it's a start.

I hope Jeatyn can meet each of the challenges ahead intelegently and thinking.

I also hope she will tell us all how she is getting on and what it's all like.

[LordKAT]

Public housing does not address the need to provide for a child that is not with you. nor is it available to all at anytime.

been there, done that.