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Being a parent isn’t easy. It often takes a great deal of work, and officials in one state believe a mother of a four-year-old boy isn’t doing the necessary work to be a good parent. They believe the mother should not be granted child custody and that the young boy should remain in the home of a foster family.
The 21-year-old mother in this case is originally from Guatemala. She was in foster care in Colorado with her son until she became old enough to live on her own in the summer of 2010. However, county officials did not permit the child to leave foster care with the mother due to concerns about the boy’s safety and alleged physical abuse. A court now must decide between returning the child to the mother or allowing the current foster family to adopt the young boy.
Although county officials are concerned about the boy’s safety, those who support the mother say the allegations of abuse aren’t true. Additionally, one caseworker described the relationship between the mother and her son as complex, but others testified to a warm and loving relationship between the two.
Department of Human Services had laid out a plan for the mother with certain objectives, such as gaining employment, receiving an education and mental health counseling. A county caseworker notes that the mother has completed some of the objectives, but not all of them.
The mother does have lawful status in the United States, and currently works in a mushroom factory. She gave birth to another child this year, but that child is not part of the legal proceedings.
This case raises many questions about child custody, and what guidelines parents should follow in order to be considered responsible caregivers. Although it is unclear how this child custody case will be resolved, those in Michigan and elsewhere dealing with custody issues should be sure to have a firm understanding of relevant laws so their parental rights are protected.
Source: Valley Courier, “Court reviews Guatemalan child custody,” Ruth Heide, Dec. 1, 2011