Hundreds of Hillsborough parents and children have been separated through a side door in the county’s child welfare system.
Normally, a parent who stands to lose custody goes before a judge. They’re often given an attorney.
Through the side door, things go differently.
The Times pieced together thousands of court and public records to reveal a pattern. The county’s lead foster care agency, the Children’s Network of Hillsborough, used a process called “temporary custody transfers” to remove kids from their parents outside of the formal foster care system. Those kids went to live with relatives or family friends, while mom and dad’s parental rights were suspended.
The agency calls this process voluntary. Leaders say it’s better for kids who may otherwise end up in foster care and gives families a chance to fix problems at home.
But more than a dozen parents told us they felt it was an ultimatum to give up custody of their kids. Many agreed, afraid of what would happen if they said no. None of the parents were provided with their own attorney.
We asked experts to review several cases. They described the practice as “problematic,” “highly disturbing” and “a violation of due process.”
One mom told us she feels like the agency “legally kidnapped” her kids.
