Bethany Christian Services review: They do not care they lie very well

This is what happened. According to Michigan's Children's Protective Services procedures, after an emergency removal from their home at 5635 Harding Ave in Muskegon on April 10, 2019, the children were placed into temporary foster care while CPS began its investigation.

According to the 2019 Michigan Foster Care Review Board Annual Report, foster parents and others concerned about children being moved between homes have the right to appeal such decisions and expect clear communication about placement changes. We were not notified when the children were moved between multiple homes during the first week, and as required, we should have received information about these changes when the children were removed. I respectfully request that officials review this lack of notice, provide clarification on why proper procedures were not followed, and issue an explanation or formal apology. Additionally, I ask that clear steps be outlined to prevent similar communication lapses in the future.

In April, I traveled to Michigan with my family, including my cousin Lisa Fowl,

to help her establish residency. We spoke with Caseworker Charlie St. John about

The process for Lisa to become a temporary foster parent for Kaydance and Madeline.

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, once a background clearance is approved, a worker from the Department is expected to make regular visits to help with any issues that may arise, but in our case, we received no follow-up or returned calls from the caseworker after Lisa’s clearance was granted. Between April and June 2019, I made repeated attempts to reach our assigned caseworker, Charlie St. John, by phone (direct calls to the CPS office on April 16, April 24, and May 3) and by follow-up emails sent on April 18 and May 7, 2019. I also left a voicemail on May 14, 2019, requesting updates and support for Lisa. Unfortunately, none of these calls or messages received a response. According to state guidelines outlined in FOB 2019-009, caseworkers have discretion in contacting family members like grandparents, aunts, and uncles for holidays or special events, so these relatives may not have been contacted during this period. The children were out of their home from April 10, 2019, through November 22, 2020.

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Protective Services investigations typically include reviewing relevant documents, such as background checks, but the process also involves face-to-face interviews with everyone involved and must be completed within 30 days unless there are extenuating circumstances. The specific details about my daughter, Krystal Dewolfe's background check approval and follow-up actions by caseworker Charlie St. John are not outlined in the official investigation process. Tara Jamesson, Sarah Myers's mother and Kaydance and Madeline's grandmother, also reached out.

According to information from Bethany Christian Services, Tara received an adoption packet for the children from worker Samantha Crosley. In February 2020, Sarah’s mother completed and returned the adoption paperwork to Bethany Christian Services in Muskegon, but did not receive a response.

According to Bethany Christian Services' official policies, the organization places children in adoptive homes through its Domestic Infant, Foster, and International Adoption programs, but the source does not specify whether staff, temporary foster parents, or caseworkers followed up with specific families or made efforts to contact relatives about adoption or family reunification. We consistently provided emails and phone numbers to all

relevant services involved with the girls.

From May through July 2019, we made multiple reports to

caseworker Charlie St. John during home visits, noting that the girls had

severe diaper rashes, and Kaydance reported discomfort. Parents requested

immediate medical attention, and I attended all medical appointments.

During this period, Madeline developed scabs on the back of her head,

which we believe resulted from a lack of attention and being left in the crib or playpen for extended periods.

According to Michigan's Children’s Protective Services, Chris and Sarah shared their concerns with the caseworker. Kaydance and Madeline also came home with sunburn and several bug bites. (Children's Protective Services, n.d.)

I have traveled to Michigan multiple times since the girls’ removal to attend court and

to help facilitate their return to family. However, I was never given specific instructions on how to proceed as a family member seeking placement or adoption. I expected clear guidance on the steps required to become a qualified caregiver, the documents or background checks needed, who to contact for updates, and the timeline or process for visits or placement. Without this information, it was difficult to navigate the system or effectively support my grandchildren’s return to family.

From April 20 to July 7, 2019, I returned to Michigan with my daughter, Krystal Dewolfe, who again sought guidance on becoming a foster or adoptive parent. According to the Michigan Supreme Court, court hearings like ours were canceled because an order issued on March 18, 2020, limited court activities to essential functions only due to COVID-19. We made another attempt to speak with the Family Court judge between April 3 and April 10, 2020.

From June 25 to July 10, 2020, I attended family court proceedings regarding Krystal Dewolfe’s adoption request.

During this time, I also met with Devon, the head supervisor at Bethany Christian Services, regarding Kaydance and Madeline.

Devon outlined the next steps for Madeline and Kaydance’s adoption, stating it was best to wait until Chris and Sarah’s parental rights were terminated before proceeding. According to ProPublica, Marie Herrera’s unsupervised parenting time was restricted in December 2019 after she tested positive for cocaine at a level of 1.38 ng/ml. According to Muskegon County records, Bethany Christian Services provided residential and adoption services as part of the ongoing case. The termination pretrial for Christopher Dewolfe and Sarah Myers, referred to as the Parents, was extended on March 6, 2020.

Chris and Sarah were not notified of the new court date by mail or phone. I respectfully request that this apparent failure in notification be reviewed. I ask that officials investigate why notification procedures were not followed, provide an explanation for this lapse, and clarify the steps to ensure that affected parties receive timely notice of all future court proceedings.

Under Michigan law, the court must hold a permanency planning hearing within 12 months of a child's removal from their home. In this case, the permanency planning and dispositional review were initially scheduled for 9/28/20 but were moved to 9/16/20. The parents were not notified about the change and did not attend the hearing, after which their parental rights were terminated. (Michigan Compiled Laws § 712A.19b - Termination of Parental Rights to Child; Petition; Hearing; Record; Findings; Opinion or Order; Notice of Hearing; Suspension of Parenting Time; Grounds for Termination; "Concerned Person" Defined, n.d.)

Now that Christopher Dewolfe and Sarah Myers’ rights have been terminated, Devon, the head supervisor at Bethany Christian Services,

Christian Services planned to begin the adoption process with Krystal. According to The Banner, Bethany Christian Services recently changed its policy to allow foster children to be placed with same-sex couples in Michigan, following a legal challenge. According to a report from The Banner, Bethany Christian Services recently agreed to begin placing foster children with same-sex couples in Michigan after a lengthy legal challenge. Lexie also mentioned she had never handled an interstate adoption before, which made me feel there was little intention to let my daughter adopt the children, so I decided to hire an attorney to help us. According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, virtual meetings have been part of how families stay connected during child welfare proceedings. The attorney set up a Zoom call so I could finally see my grandchild, and I believe there is no reason why my daughter, Krystal Dewolfe, should not be able to care for the children. According to a report from The Banner, Bethany Christian Services is a trusted child welfare organization in Michigan that works with families to ensure children's needs are met, including providing food, shelter, clothing, medical care, education, emotional support, and parental guidance. Our entire family believes Krystal is the best person to raise the children. I feel misled, as we were told there would be no issue with adopting my grandchildren. The foster parents informed me that, had they known a family member wanted the children, they would not have pursued adoption. Angie specifically told me this, and from the beginning, it was clear we wanted the children. (Michigan Adoption FAQs, n.d.) I do not understand why efforts were not made to place them with us. The longer the investigation continues, the more difficult it becomes for us to bring them home, as the children are bonding with their foster family. If you had followed proper procedures and contacted us as required, this situation could have been avoided. I am now purchasing a home on Mears of Ducks Road and will wait for a response. I plan to pay cash, so Krystal will not have to move Kaydance from her school, allowing them to bond. This is in the best interest of my grandchildren, as they deserve to be surrounded by family. When a family member is willing to adopt, they should be given priority. (Adoption Placement, n.d.) I wanted to make this clear.

To summarize my requests: I respectfully ask that officials immediately review the placement of Kaydance and Madeline, formally consider Krystal Dewolfe as their adoptive parent, and expedite the adoption process with all necessary documentation and updates provided to our family. In addition, I request a written response explaining the reasons for previous delays and outlining specific steps to resolve this situation and ensure that family members are consistently notified and prioritized in placement decisions moving forward.

From the beginning, we made our intentions clear: we wanted to be involved in our grandchildren’s lives and adopt them. I traveled regularly to support them, understanding the importance of keeping siblings together. Initially, we were told there would be no issue with our adoption. According to Bethany Christian Services' policies, home studies involve specific procedures, such as interviews and safety assessments, suggesting that there are established steps Lexie should have followed after your daughter's request. My only wish is to see my grandchildren. According to Bethany Christian Services, foster care providers support contact between children and their families. While the foster mother told me she would not block visits, and I agree that the children’s well-being comes first, my requests to visit have still gone unanswered. I am now considering hiring a new attorney, as I believe these actions could have serious consequences for Bethany. Above all, I want to remain part of my grandchildren’s lives, as this is truly in their best interest. It is heartbreaking that they are not with family, and I think of them every day. Michigan officials visited the children but did not witness the love we have for them. I believe we should have been chosen to adopt. Their siblings miss them deeply, and I cannot understand this decision.

_Denise