CA2/2

FACTS

Mother’s son S. was born in 2003. In May 2013, when S. was nine years old, he was detained from Mother and placed with his father, Roger V. (Father). S. came to the attention of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in 2009, when a school reported him saying, “‘I wish I was dead,’” “‘I am dumb,’” and “‘I want to die.’” During an activity in which children said what they want to be when they grow up, S. responded, “‘I want to be dead when I grow up.’” S. “hits himself, with great force” and bangs his head on hard surfaces. He blurted out that Mother “‘calls me names and hits me all of the time!’” Father acknowledged that S. has mental health issues and needs counseling. Mother refused to allow S. to have counseling. DCFS instituted a voluntary family maintenance program that included parenting classes and psychotherapy. A second referral in 2009 indicated that S. came to school unfed and has a history of wanting to hurt himself. The referral was closed because the family was already receiving services from DCFS. In 2011, a third referral reported that S. “comes to school with many marks on his face.” He disclosed that Mother “hits him all the time.” When he…