Massachusetts Department of Children and Families DCF, CPS, DSS, DCFS DCF, WRONGFUL REMOVAL OF CHILD, FALSE ALLEGATIONS, CORRUPTION Pittsfield Massachusetts

I am writing to inform others of the true corruption of the Department of Children and Families,  namely, the Pittsfield, Massachusetts office. I am a competent, married, 22 year old female with no history of involvement with DCF in my own childhood. I was living in Western Massachusetts and expecting a baby girl on February 28, 2014. I began having complications with my pregnancy between weeks 14-18 in the form of a subchorionic hemorrhage.  These complications prompted me to leave my job and remain on moderated bed rest. 

By 30 weeks, I was medically cleared to travel to Alabama to visit family. During this trip, we decided this was where we wanted to move. At 34 weeks, my daughter was born 6 weeks prematurely in Alabama. She had some feeding issues and remained in the NICU for 10 days. Upon arriving back to Massachusetts with my then one month old daughter, we began planning our big move. The neighbors we had were vicious individuals who had repeatedly threatened my husband and I, at one point with knives and bricks. The police never intervened because the responding officer in our neighborhood was the cousin of one of the individuals. We did not want my daughter to grow up in this environment. 

During this time, my daughter was under the care of Berkshire Pediatrics. I did not know that this practice was not fully equipped to handle premature infants. Being a first time parent, I entrusted her care with the pediatricians office. My daughter had documented Severe Reflux and despite following doctors orders regarding feeding and formula, she was still gaining weight at a slow rate. Whenever I had concerns, I would have her seen, and even had her admitted to Baystate for further testing but ended up discharged with the same Reflux diagnosis. 

We moved to Alabama in early April of 2014. Approximately 3 weeks after moving out of state, I received a phone call from DCF worker Kellie Perrault. She stated a concerned neighbor had reported concern for my daughter. (The same violent neighbors). They got my daughter's name wrong and stated that I had my daughter in deplorable living conditions: 6 dogs and 4 cats with urine and feces in the home (I had no animals), I would leave my daughter home alone for weeks on end with no supervision and no food (outrageous claim) and finally, that I would openly self harm in public. Ms. Perrault was informed that I was still living at previous address. 

I told her I was a permanent resident of Alabama. She told me that I was legally obligated to return to Massachusetts and answer to the allegations. In doing so, I left my child with my mother in Eastern Massachusetts and informed the social worker of this upon arrival which she agreed was best. (I was later accused of trying to hide my baby) She called for a local worker to physically see my child. This worker stated that my child was on the smaller side, understandable for a preemie, yet was the complete opposite of the report she had received. Kellie had reported that these workers would be faced with a neglected, emaciated, malnutrition ed newborn that would likely be removed. This was not the case and my child was not removed at the time.

Kellie demanded I bring her to an Emergency Room (against my wishes due to exposure to sick patients) for medical clearance. Unfortunately,  Kellie did not leave any instructions as to what medical clearance the hospital was to grant so she was admitted throughout the weekend and more testing was conducted. Monday morning, DCF was informed my child had been diagnosed (again) with severe reflux and was changed to a higher calorie formula. DCF was still not satisfied and informed me my daughter had to be transferred to Boston Children's Hospital for further testing. I was told that if I refused, she would be immediately removed from my custody. I was refused transfer to Tufts over BCH with no valid reason. DCF agreed to pay all medical costs as we no longer had coverage in MA. (I am now thousands in debt to these hospitals)

Not a single test was ever performed at BCH. I was not allowed to keep the formula in the room with me as it was to be prepared in a "milk lab" due to it being a special mixture. The hospital was often late in delivering the milk. I was accused of not following her feeding schedule. I was directed to sit her upright in a basinette for a minimum of 60 minutes between feedings so as to aid with her digesting and prevent projectile vomiting. I was then accused of not bonding with her.

Stephanie Quimby, social worker for the hospital, brought her interpretation of my "neglect" to the child abuse team. They filed a new 51a on me and DCF removed my daughter from my custody on May 2, 2014.

They never informed DCF, and in turn, the judge was never informed that despite the allegations against me, my daughter steadily gained weight once her formula was changed to higher calorie supplement. My court appointed attorney coerced me into waiving my 72 hour hearing and my daughter remained in foster care until finally being placed in a kinship setting with my sister. The legal aspect remains in Western Mass, but a caseworker was assigned in Eastern Mass.

DCF and my court appointed attorneys neglect to return phone calls or remain in contact with me. I was granted weekly visits but was forced to go 22 days without one and DCF never contacted me. They have revised my visits to 4 hours a month. 2 hours every other Friday. I drive 1400 miles one way biweekly, and faithfully at that, just to hold my daughter in a cold, dirty room within the DCF office for 2 hours at a time. I was not a resident of Massachusetts at the time and DCF had no valid reason for removal. Despite overwhelming evidence I have collected regarding Kellie Perrault and Stephanie Quimby lying and fabricating evidence in order to obtain a care and protection and custody of my daughter,  nobody,  not even my attorney seems to care. (DCF has advised me to maintain residency in Alabama to ensure stability)

They accuse me of not bonding with my daughter, but take away every opportunity to do so. I fail to see neglect when she was finally gaining weight.  My case is very similar to that of Justina Pelletier, yet it's being swept under the rug. 

Please: contact the Pittsfield caseworker Kellie Perrault (413 236 1800)

The new caseworker Lisa Joyce (7814771693)

And the BCH social worker Stephanie Quimby (617 355 7965)

And call them out on the unprofessional conduct regarding this case. Help me bring my baby home where she belongs!