Child Protection Services Of New York Apparently infinite powers??? Kingston New York

My girlfriend at the time and I had a baby in January of 2007. We both were former drug addicts and attending a methadone clinic. I believed my girlfriend was either not taking her medication (she is bi-polar and has several other mental and emotional problems) or she was using illegal drugs again. I confided in my counselor three months ago that I was concerned and afraid to leave her alone with our child. He reported it to Ulster County Child Protection Services at the end of March. As a result of my girlfriend finding out that it was I that had told my counselor (another case worker managed to let her know), I was thrown out of the apartment, lock stock and barrel and because I was never permitted to show paternity, I am still awaiting a paternity test before I can even see my son.

A few weeks ago, the results of the CPS Investigation came out and sure enough, my girlfriend was found 'dirty' a total of 26 times in the last two years, dirty meaning she was found to have cocaine in her system or marijuana or other illegal drugs, two times while she was pregnant with my son. What did the courts do? They let her keep him.

Meanwhile, she had filed charges against me. I don't know what they were, but I just received a finding against me for Poor Supervision, as they said I left my son with "an individual I deemed unsafe to leave him with". I can only assume they are talking about my ex-girlfriend, since I never spoke to anyone from Child Protection Services so they have no idea who I deemed unsafe, other than her.

Now, I have to appeal the decision, AND spend thousands on court fees to get any kind of custody for my son. I cannot believe that there is no oversight of this agency or that a court would award a mother who's been found 'dirty' 26 times in two years custody! I have an attorney, but I don't think she is being aggressive enough....does this agency always have this kind of power????

John
Kingston, New York
U.S.A.