Save a Child

I am writing to you to tell you a story that mainly involves a 6 year old child. His name is Austin and he has been recently diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. He use to live with his father and his biological mother up to the age of 2 going on three. He would spend time doing many various activities with his father, inside the home as well as outdoor ones. He would love to swing and play outside in the yard. Playtime was important to him, like lining up his cars all in a row. He would be very active by running and getting into anything and everything. He would also be very fast, at times too fast for his biological mother to keep tabs on. On more than several occasions his mother would lose him in public places. A few times at Wal-Mart, a code adam was announced, a couple times at different libraries, and was usually found in the parking lot or outside the stores that she would take him to, also every week at our church. She was let go as the day care attendant there due to performance issues. Later, Austin's biological mother, Tiffany, took him away from his father, Hal, because she said that he was a much better parent than she was and she was afraid that he was planning on taking Austin away from her. So she was going to do it to him first rather than the father doing it to her. She ran away with the child and became unavailable by lying about abuse and was admitted into a battered woman's shelter for hiding.

Later she filed court papers for placement and child support. She then made the courts aware of the child's position in a low income housing complex due to the filing of support and placement. They were both then asked to attend mediation, which ultimately failed due to lack of reasoning on both parties.

The father and child were then able to attend supervised visits once a week for 1 hour a day. After several months went by the father was then denied visitation due to a withdrawl of filing on the mothers behalf. Wisconsin State law protects the mother from not having to relinquish the child over for visitation unless court ordered.

Paying child support does not grant the right of visitation. Since she disappeared once again the child was once again with out his father, with whom he had just re-established a relationship with. The only way for them to see each other was by asking the Grandparents of the mother's side to take him for awhile so the father could drop by while he was there. After time went by they became scared that she would find out and stopped the visits.

The father was working 3rd shift at a hotel making minimum wage and paying child support among other financial responsibilities. Working full-time at that wage was disastrous. Half the paycheck went to child support and the other half went to rent. A net income of $151. every two weeks. Rent was unable to be paid, jobs were scarce, and offers were not made. Going to a job interview had cost ed more due to having to put gas in the car. Credit cards are then maxed out and going deeper into debt.

The father married a wonderful girl with whom he met at college during this whole ordeal. They eloped to Vegas on a whim, and put it all on credit. They moved in together and tried to make it work financially. The child was able to see the father again due to the persistence of the father calling the Grandparents to see Austin again. The father and new step-mother enjoyed spending time together that year, he was 3 going on four now. Time went by with periods of UN-announced visits to spend time with the child.

Nobody was helping legally, papers had to be filed with filing fees that just were not attainable. The father was then able to gain part-time employment as Santa in the local mall, plus still working full-time during the evening. He was actually able to start making payments to all the bills that had been stacking up. Christmas was near and Austin was able to spend time with his father and step-mother that year, Austin even took some good pictures.

The mother found out that the father had gained employment at the mall and harassed the business until the business had to let him go due to the nature of her calls and visits.

The father was once again... looking for more money to file papers to get visitation rights.

A job offer was in the midst, they just haven't found it yet the couple told each other.

Once again the child was held captive from the grandparents and thus affecting the son's ability to see his father.

This was now the middle of October 2010. The father and step-mother decided to move to look for better jobs, and a better living environment. They ended up in Tampa, Florida. Wisconsin was very cold during that time of year, and Tampa offered warm highlights and limitless possibilities.

They had no jobs, but were very optimistic that something would work out with enough diligence in applying at every business with-in walking distance of the RV park. Sure enough a part-time job was attained as a cashier at Wal-Mart by the Step-mother, and soon there-after the father gained part-time employment with the St. Petersburg Times as a Field Assistant. Hope was still around the corner even though the Tampa area was at 12% un-employment.

They worked as many hours as possible to get an apartment, and finally have a home again after 6 months of living in close quarters in a small trailer.

They started to save money to get back to basics to try and get this child back to give him a home. They were set back when the father hit a deer with the only car on his way to work. Once again trying to gather anything to get things in order. Then when all hope seemed to clear away like the morning mist, a prayer had been acknowledged. A notice in the mail by the Child in need of Protective Services from Wisconsin. It stated this as follows verbatim:

The above named child, resident of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, receiving inadequate care during the period of time a parent is missing, incarcerated, hospitalized or institutionalized pursuant to section 48.13(8), Wisconsin Statutes.

Your petitioner is a child protective services intake worker with the Sheboyagn County Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services. I have been assigned to the case of Austin A. Specht, DOB 5/21/2006. Austin resides with his mother, Tiffany Petrie, at 110 Amherst Ave, Apartment B102, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin.

On August 23, 2011, the Sheboygan County Department of Health and Human Services received a referral alleging neglect of Austin by his mother, Tiffany Petrie.

The reporter stated that there was a strong odor in Tiffany's Apartment. Austin is autistic and receives in-home services from Phoenix Behavioral. Therapist Sara Gavin was at the home on the morning of August 23, 2011; however, Tiffany would not allow her in the home because of the mess. Ms. Gavin did notice an odor from outside the apartment.

Tiffany stated that the police were at her home because of the odor; however, they had left. Ms. Gavin further reported that Tiffany had a blank stare on her face and was talking about God and prophecies. Tiffany was not adequately supervising her son as she normally did.

I (Nancy Stanskas) went to the home with officer Nichole Schmelter of the Sheboygan Falls Police Department. Tiffany did allow me into her home. There was a very strong odor, most likely from the animals in the apartment. This was noticeable in the hallway of the apartment as well. There was garbage on the floor of the living room and kitchen and there was old food on the counters that was spoiled and had flies on it.

Tiffany was talking about seeing the numbers 911 and 119 and said she knew something bad was going to happen. She stated that God was speaking to her through her son. Tiffany reported living in fear of Austin's father and said that Austin's father has lived in Florida since July 2010. Tiffany said she feels like she is under a spell, although she could not articulate what this was about.

Tiffany did agree to voluntarily sign herself in at Turning Point on August 23, 2011. Tiffany was seen by Dr. Daniel Knoedler on August 24, 2011. Tiffany continued to have delusional thoughts. Dr. Knoedler prescribed Abilify for her; however, she initially refused medication. She did take one pill on August 24, 2011.

On August 25, 2011, Tiffany left Turning Point at approximately 6:45 a.m.. The staff contacted the police and mobile crisis. Tiffany was found by the Kohler Police Department. She was walking westbound on State Highway 23. Tiffany did agree to go back to Turning Point. Malisa Murray from Adult Services took Tiffany to the emergency room at Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center. Ms. Murray indicated that Tiffany continued to have delusional thoughts, but denied being suicidal. Tiffany did sign herself in for psychiatric care at the hospital.

~( a recent report sent in the mail further stated)

Tiffany is receiving psychiatric care, however, delsional thoughts continue. She talks about feeling she is under a spell and has made statements that Austin is not her son and that he is being influenced by Satan. Tiffany is on medication, however, has reported she believes the pills are sugar pills and not helping her.

 

~~~So after these letters arrived, the father and step-mother were concerned about this child's well-being even more than before. Even though money is not here to help they continue to try and communicate over the phone with the social workers and other people in the system. The two were told in order for the child to be back in the care of the father he was to see Austin every week under supervised care.

The father then stated that he lives in Tampa and the child is in Wisconsin, how would weekly visits occur without airfare. They were told that in order for Austin to be living at home with his father in florida he had to visit weekly to re-establish a relationship.

They want to give him a loving, caring, clean home with attention to advance a family relationship, along with the many fine advantages that Tampa Bay has to offer. The Father and Step-mother are asking for help in bringing this child to a better environment to stay indefinitely. They made a website to help with donations for airfare. http://saveourchild.yolasite.com

 

The Father has since visited on April 20th, 2012 and re-established a relationship, but if he doesn't continue the bond it will be lost and the child will be placed up for adoption. We do not want him to be placed out of home any longer, and are in need of Air-Miles or financial assistance to bring him home for good.

 

Please contact me for more information, we were hoping to get some advertising or feature story done for people to know about our son and getting him back into a caring home.

 

Humbly Signed,

The Father: