My personal ordeal with my local, Douglas County Gerogia, DFCS. Please include it on your site if at all possible. Also I have created and daily add to my web site: http://www.jerrisvoice.5u.com

If you have somewhere you could add my site for others to have access to, my future would be in debt to you forever.....Thank you in advance! ! !

To whom it may concern;

Georgia's DFCS and Foster Care Workers and their roles as child care prevention
From: Scott & Jerri E. Dutton of Douglas County, Georgia

Status: Ongoing case since 8/28/03, emergency removal of our 3 children 12/8/03, with no substantiated evidence. Next court date: April 14, 2004

Well, as a citizen and taxpayer of this state, I am a little appalled by the training and ignorance you send your employees out into this world to protect families and children from possible abuse or neglect from parents! 

I live in Douglas County GA, and have for almost 12 years. Specifically last August 28th DFCS's uneducated unethical and complete incompetence as CM or what have you barged into my families' world. Only to be scrutinized and threatened by a Ms. Cheryl Awuku and several other CW's. The following is my opinion or story I should say of the pain, horror, trauma, and stress these DSS/CPS workers gave my family.

I would also like to add that I have forwarded this letter and a personal plea to numerous elected officials, newspapers, TV stations, child advocate rights affiliates and the President of the USA. I am not going to let my family be bullied or the future of my 3 children go to the uneducated, unethical, racist, servants of our US government which is allowed to lie, fabricate allegations against it's own citizens, manufacture evidence, commit perjury, and do so without any consequences or punishment from the courts. 

My family has been targeted for some unknown reason, besides maybe because I have went above and beyond the normal families that they are used to dealing with. I contacted DHR, as well as the Governor Sonny Perdue and Janet Olivia. I am beginning to think that Georgia as a singled out unprioritized passing nonsense laws and lobbying against flags and Buckhead bars closing an hour earlier, has lost it's own 'Southern Hospitality' and ethics. 

I do know that DFCS is being scrutinized right now by the State, and the case loads are well over loaded. I also know that the case workers themselves are not as 'trained' as the Government or some higher power would like them to be. As a matter of fact my current CM just has returned back from 'training'. The following is my past 128 days of complete chaos, loss, pain, and complete 360` turned upside down, invasion by Douglas County DFCS....

I am writing my story to anyone and everyone that may find interest and considerable emotion and loss Douglas Co. DFCS has caused my family. If you or an organization you know can help in any possible way PLEASE do not hesitate to contact myself or my husband ASAP. I am writing this in urgency not only for my family but for any other Georgia family this has or WILL happen to in the future. Thank you in advance for reading this and hopefully returning my plea for help!

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August 28, 2003, a normal Thursday, besides being the 7th birthday for my daughter, I arrive at my 2 oldest children's elementary school and take in the 48 cupcakes to my daughter's class and also the staff in office. Briefly chit chatting about PTA and fundraiser stats with Assistant Principal and Fundraiser Organizer, which I have proudly volunteered for 5 years now been actively involved in. Rush off to finish last minute details for B-day party, with my 18 month old son tagging along. 

I arrive home shortly before my kids arrive home at 3:15, to only be called away for an emergency away from home. My mother in law babysat my 3 children for me while I'm away. When I return home, she informs me that a Chad Rutherford from DFCS had stopped by. 

In total 'Shock and Awe' I am still more shocked by the manner in which they examined my 18 month olds body, to look for bruising I assume, inspected my home, my pantry and fridge. 

Then only to learn that from that exact moment on I would have the worst possible HELL imaginable. My children would begin asking and worrying about issues that no child should EVER ask much less think. 

The allegations against my husband & I were as follows- Met amphetamines and marijuana use, drug dealing inside home, that we intravenously inject ourselves, that my children are aware of the fact, that I abuse neglect and maltreatment were factors, and not to mention (which was added in January) very violent 'domestic violence' inside the home. 

I was asked to prove my side of the FALSE allegations by submitting to a drug screen, having my criminal background pried into, having my children yanked numerous times out of their classes, and having my life that I have created and established over a 13 year time frame, turned UPSIDE DOWN! ! 

I have resided in Douglas County almost my entire 26 years, lived in my husbands childhood home for 12 yrs, thought I was creating roots and stability for my family. I was involved in the school avidly, I donated and volunteered for numerous functions, my husband was my oldest son's Cub Scout den father, and we were/are the typical middle income family. 

My first son is from a previous relationship before my marriage to my husband. My son's natural father wasn't too involved in his first few years nut I insisted that he be a part of his life, knowing that eventually regrets would surface. At the birth of my oldest, his father and I were still in high school. But, I never allowed the age effect my parental motherly instinct. As of now, his father has remarried and purchased a home, and has a steady income. So when DFCS yanked my children out of my care I allowed his father to take TEMP custody until this blew over. As well as keep one of my children out of DFCS's grip. In return for my devotion and commitment as a mother his father rewards me with court papers to fight me for custody PERMANENTLY!! 

I submitted to a drug screen, my husband came to the assumption that this was an invasion of his privacy. I agreed but thought that risking the slightest chance of jeopardizing my kid's lives wasn't worth it. The 1st screen I did was misplaced. The 2nd as I knew, NEGATIVE. 

My husband and I are served w/ papers to appear in juvenile court. I was informed by Chad Rutherford (CM) that I was only to appear for support. Arriving 15 minutes late, the evidence was already presented and ruled on. Met CM, coming out of court room and he persuaded the Judge, Peggy Walker, to allow us to be heard. 

Not knowing the procedures and/or rights we just were clueless. So therefore the findings were substantiated, because we weren't there at 8:30am to defend ourselves. 

3 days later my CM disappears. I took another screen, NEGATIVE. Several days later, another knock at my door. DFCS again, but it's a new CM, this time, Carol Britten (which was supposedly the Investigator). Chad had quit his job at DFCS. 

Once again the entire process all over again. Kids yanked out of class again, and questioned. Invasion of my home and personal matters again, and questioned about issues that are irrelevant to this case. 2nd court appearance DFCS requested a continuance due to they hadn't collected enough information. Reasonable to my husband and I. THREE more screens and THREE more negative results. 

Thanksgiving I had an emergency with my father turning very ill so I take the opportunity with kids on break to go to Florida for a visit. Having had called DFCS a week prior to my departure, informed by a Supervisor, Ms. Adrian Wheeler, my file had been misplaced and I was in the middle of getting a new case worker. I called back the day of my leaving and found my new CM, Ms. Cheryl Awuku, which is VERY rude and unprofessional, demanding she had to see us before I left. IMPOSSIBLE!! I only called to do as told by 2nd CM, if I leave the county for any length of time to call. 

Headed out for the 13 hour trip that Friday. Since scheduling an appt with Ms. Awuku Monday @ 3pm, I packed up all 3 kids and their begging me to stay early Monday AM (exactly 6:30am). Only to have had the worst possible luck imaginable for a woman alone w/3 kids traveling could encounter. By 2pm, sitting in dead stopped traffic in Valdosta and the storm of the century above us I called to let them know I didn't believe I could make it. 

Agreeable and very understandable the lady I spoke to said she'd give the memo to Cheryl Awuku. 

NOTE: Just for curiosity I managed to finally get home at 10:30pm. Following morning knock on door, another screen from a Victor, employed by Redeemers, Inc. Positive is what he said. In totally disarray I asked, "For what?" Meth, marijuana, and opium (I believe). I know now the way he administered all my previous tests was wrong. 

Third court date 12/8/03 only having met Cheryl Awuku one time in her office, and she was suppose to come to my home following week to inspect our house and kids never have showing up, she starts to question me on where, if just in case my kids were removed, of names and addresses of relatives. 

When I start to become upset, she asks, "Why are you crying?" "I don't understand why this is bothering you" as I sit in the ladies room, and her bending under the door. My husband was very animatedly telling me they were fixing to take our kids to just leave the courthouse. I wanted to, but felt he was wrong. 

After waiting in turn for our case to go in for 5 hrs and still not 16th on list, we were next. NO sooner did I sit down in court and I hear Ms. Cheryl Awuku ask the Judge for EMERGENCY INTAKE of my 3 children, due to domestic violence and cancelled appointments, and dirty drug screens, also that I had not cooperated at all w/ the dept. The next 30 minutes I am blank on the leaving and driving home. I admit to racing home to get my kids because I was not allowing them to take them away from me 17 days before Christmas. They eventually got them that night; they were put into a foster home. The 72 hr hearing was that Wednesday. 

My life had died. 

I testified on the stand that everything they were accusing us of was a LIE> my court appointed attorney is a JOKE. This whole process is, excuse me, but was BULLSHIT!!!! 

To make this long even more involved story short, my oldest son is with his father in another city, my other 2 are with my niece, who works for George Stein, and her husband an Austell Narcotics Officer. I am on the 7th CM now, it was found that Victor from Redeemers was altering tests, my husband and I were asked to take a test at the first placement best placement meeting and it showed + results, so immediately after we took an independent test on our own and results were all NEGATIVE. 

I never was given a case plan until 2/16/04. Which the newest case worker, Renee Burns, insisted that there should have been a case plan since August. I agreed 100%, due to the fact that another one of the reasons they state now, is I did not follow the case plan. 

So she had previously prepared the case plan at her office, back dated it for 12/16/03. To cover their own mistakes? 

My children are miserable, my oldest never gets to see his sister and brother, or me and this family. No one will tell me anything, they refuse to give us any documents on their findings, wont allow us to record conversations in our home of DFCS statements, I am allowed to see my daughter and son only on Thursdays at a church for and hour and half a week. THAT'S IT! 

Do you know how draining and devastating this is on all of us? How their misplaced and false accusations are affecting children's futures?

Every thing I have tried to raise my children to live breathe and think is being erased. My 18 month old (now 2) is changing so much and becoming his own little person not because of me but because of my niece. God love her and owe her my life forever but they are MINE! I miss the little things that the most of society takes for granted daily. My marriage is failing now, our financial state is like non existent, my husband lost his job right after the removal of our children, and the stress this has created is in return adding emotional scars to us all. I despise waking up with out my children. Their rooms are so lifeless. Their cries and pleas for me on Thursdays when its time to say goodbye are like someone taking a pair of tweezers and yanking my eyelashes out one by one.

My 2 oldest kids who fought just like any brother and sister actually miss each other terribly. DFCS has not done their job of protecting children. The CW which is supposed to once a month check on the children in the foster home- hasn't. Which they now reside in Cobb county, Austell GA, which Cobb refuses to pick up on the case due to the fact they don't agree with the charges from Douglas. 

Renee Burns which was allowed to cross county lines this week to finally for the first time physically see my children and check on their well being in foster care. 

I am so sorry, but that is the EXACT reason we have so many children dying right now in the child welfare system. 

They are not and obviously can't do their jobs to the fullest. The lives and futures of all these children are in DFCS hands. No training or manual can competently educate the ignorant individuals that plop their butts in those chairs inside DFCS.

PLEASE with your every emotion and love for our children PLEASE feel my story.

I have actual physical substantiated proof of my case and all the lies and threats made to me in very organized and detailed order. If anything just hear me out and put DOUGLAS COUNTY DFCS as the main target for inspection.

I have the notes of every conversation, the original papers from the initial visits, the copies of drug screens, and the actual tests they have administered the past 2 months. Six case workers, three different drug testing companies, and lies over the outcome of the situation they are trying to fabricate the means to cover their allegations of the emergency removal of my 3 children. 

Again THANK you so much for taking the time to read this. Please excuse the confusion or style my letter is done. It's very emotional to put into words.

Jerri Dutton
Email: jerridutton@bellsouth.net
Phone #: 770-739-7517

As of 3/1/03: Renee Burns, current case worker, has informed me that no outside testing is accepted unless administered by DFCS. They have altered them and point blank stated they no longer use the agency Redeemers. My husband and I have the documents to prove the deceit Ms. Awuku is trying to pull on us. I had wrote her supervisor back in December to complain about her unprofessional, unethical, racist threats and 'warnings' she called and screamed at me Christmas Eve. Ms. Awuku was promoted to Supervisor. Renee Burn's Supervisor.

Update: 4/1/04: Again called into DFCS supposedly for the new case plan, only to learn of the Drug and Alcohol Assessment I took back in November, with Sheltered Cove, is not anything like Clint and I discussed the day he spoke with me. It is about the help I need with the exact allegations they are accusing me of. To cover their mistakes.