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Our journey with the Department of Child Service (DCS) in Elkhart County began abruptly on August 6,2024. From that day forward, our lives were turned upside down as were thrust into a system we never imagined would touch our family. Less than two months later, on September 27, our children were labeled as Children in Need of Services (CHINS)- a designation that has since caused deep and lasting harm to our family unit.

What should have been a process rooted in objectivity and child- centered care quickly became marred by personal bias. We believe that one assessment workers subjective opinions influenced the direction of our case, rather than facts or evidence. This personal interference led to decisions that created unnecessary distance between us and our children. 

As if that wasn't enough, we were met with a revolving door of caseworkers- each new face bringing confusion and delay. There was no consistency, no clear direction, and little accountability. Our case became just another file in a broken system, and in the process, we were denied the chance to be present for some of the most important moments in our children's lives.

This time- missed birthdays, holidays, milestones-is something we will never get back. And all of it, we believe, could have been avoided with fair, consistent, and unbiased process.

https://www.change.org/EmmasFight