In Defense of My Daughter

Another day in the Sacramento County Juvenile Hall health clinic. Michelle walked in, eyes wide open, long dirty-blonde hair pulled back,and county-issued white T-shirt with blue pants two sizes too large. At15, she was a veteran of the foster care system and determined to getout. Like many kids in trouble, Michelle didn't really understand howserious her problems were. Over six years of being moved from one fosterhome to the next, she'd developed dangerous coping behaviors sexualactivity, alcohol and drug use, and running away. With her self- esteemvirtually nonexistent, she was desperately alone in the world andoblivious to risk. She was ready to do almost anything to avoid beingplaced in yet another group home. Could she be saved from herself untilshe became mature enough to understand and think responsibly about herlife?This is the story of what happened when the author, the registerednurse who saw Michelle in the clinic that day-a happily married man withtwo children of his own-stepped in to try to help. He and his wife hopedto become the last in Michelle's string of foster parents. In thethree-way tug of war that ensued, the author contended for months withChild Protective Services, encountering numerous delays, bureaucratichurdles, outright incompetence, and even a cover-up at juvenile hall. Atthe same time he had to try to protect Michelle from herself as sheengaged in her own misguided struggle for "e;freedom"e; from CPS. What started out as the author's desire to help a teen in troubleeventually progressed to fighting for his job, his integrity, hisethics, and his reputation. Was the system more concerned withself-preservation, procedures, and protecting its own than with thechildren it was supposed to care for?