Photo Courtesy of Redoubt News-Montana
By Tim Ravndal
On multiple occasions there is a need for “Child Protective Services” (CPS) to intervene in a family home to protect children from abuse or neglect. There are certain factors that trigger domestic abuse including but not limited to child endangerment needing intervention. There are times when stress or other factors result in making poor decisions, placing the family unit in less than desirable conditions.
In July 2019 a rally was held that opened the door to the need for transparency within Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services (DPHHS). “Citizens are being threatened with jail for openly questioning Child Protective Services”
In August 2019 family members rallied to bring awareness to a situation with CPS where concerns were openly disclosed. “Parents fighting for their children are facing a structure that works to protect the system at the expense of the family.”
A very disturbing side of this was exposed back in early 2020 when we heard Montana Vietnam War Veteran John Walton crying for help. Mr. Walton wished to intervene in a family issue that placed his grandchildren in danger. CPS took policy authority given under DPHHS and removed John Walton’s grandchildren without due process.
Mr. Walton openly cried foul against officials within DPHHS. Being a Montana citizen that witnessed real human tragedy in the war, Mr. Walton was not concerned about being over assertive in his quest to protect his grandchildren, and that was used against him.
CPS retaliated against Mr. Walton for making claims of abuse by the system against his grandchildren. Eventually, the system usurped power over Mr. Walton’s rights, and had him placed in Jail. There was no process for resolution afforded by CPS, and the judicial branch gave full deference to the department without question.
In another case, a woman that was in trouble when she was young, found her record dating back 30 years earlier was held against her in caring for her grandchildren in her home without due process. A grandmother in good standing in the community was targeted leaving her without the ability to care for her grandchildren. There was no process for resolution afforded by CPS.
Another well respected citizen of Montana with a stellar record of providing an open door to helping people in need is fighting for his life and his daughter. In this case, multiple facts have been brought forward in a divorce custody battle. Both the father and child have been put in harms way by a system that is working to justify actions taken by the department. There was no process for resolution afforded by CPS.
Clear documentation introduced in Montana District Court reveals a side of this story that is horrific. When a child is placed in a tug-o-war between conflicting parents by a system that refuses to look beyond assumptions, the father and his child lose. This case is still pending and privacy is paramount to protecting this young girl, so we cannot divulge any further facts at this time. There is no process for resolution afforded by CPS still to this date.
One more case that we have seen that deserves mention is where a disgruntled child in school cried foul alleging child abuse at home. Based on this complaint, the child was removed from the home placing a major conflict between the Mother and Father resulting in a family torn apart without a process of resolution. Two siblings are not allowed contact and their lives have been turned upside down. There was no process for resolution afforded by CPS.
Multiple other citizens have come forward with calls for help. Claims of forced compliance with policy directives are being made. Several of these claims are considered retaliatory against mothers and fathers wishing to re-unite their families.
A few weeks ago, we covered a public hearing before three legislators in Great Falls. The hearing was organized by Mrs. JoAnne Malone who owns Seeking Recovery in Great Falls. Seeking Recovery, provides counseling services and employs a full accredited staff to provide help for families in need across Montana. After 6+ hours of testimony the picture of corruption continued to get more evident.
Mrs. Malone has been targeted with alleged claims against her services and is now at ground zero in the quest for accountability within Montana DPHHS Family Services.
CPS is tasked with monitoring and providing help to those in need under Montana law. What we found in Great Falls, is there is a deep connection to corruption within the system. Internal policies and supervisory authority has provided for the usurpation of power that appears to be beyond legal authority. The question of abusing the Constitutional rights of the people of Montana is front and center.
Mrs. Malone began calling foul on certain CPS employees engaged in less than honorable practices. These documented practices show a trend of placing families in harm including but not limited to legal challenges against them. The need for control is well documented by decisions made by supervisors and contract employees within the family services division of DPHHS.
These calls for accountability by Mrs. Malone very quickly escalated to retaliatory actions taken by case workers and supervisors within the department. According to Mrs. Malone, these officials are using arbitrarily usurped authority and control against Seeking Recovery and Mrs. Malone personally.
Another discovery made in this circle of CPS corruption is a business deal between CPS and Re Family Services. There is documentation and testimony that shows Re Family Services is currently being exposed as a front that brings forward allegations of possible collusion and fraud.
A former associate of Re Family Services brought forward documents that show an alleged pyramid that accommodates a financial manipulation of DPHHS funds. Experts in the field are hearing about forced placement of children with Re Family Services even when allegations of abuse in that facility are brought to CPS for resolution.
A former employee of DPHHS also has come forward with information showing a trend of favoritism and even connections where nepotism potentially is involved in expenditures within the DPHHS budget. Many documents and testimony have been turned over to the Inspector General’s office for review.
The questions that are being asked are not limited to a small segment within DPHHS, but rather a trend of questionable practices are being exposed across Montana. A party bus service in Billings that has received funding from the department for social assistance, is raising even more questions to where taxpayer funds are being distributed. These funds are being distributed under a program within the department of “Social Assistance.” This begs the question of what is a party bus paid for by the taxpayers used for in the duty of social assistance?
Clients of Seeking Recovery that are receiving help allegedly began to receive threats from CPS to terminate doing business with Seeking Recovery. Failure to comply with CPS provisions/orders impact the quest to reunite the family. In the hearing previously held, there were many mothers and fathers testified to the fact that there is a problem within the system.
According to multiple cases we looked at, the administrative process under supervisory control appears to be exceeding authority. This supervisory control that allegedly violates the rights of the citizens is causing a hostile environment where DPHHS chooses to ignore the facts. The process that is currently under scruitiny, has prompted Mrs. Malone to acquire a huge file of correspondence that provides a full trail of deceptive practices by DPHHS. These documents have been turned over for legal review.
Marti Vining, who was in the center of the administrative process in Great Falls, was moved up to a high level administrative position in Helena. Marti has been repeatedly notified about irregularities from multiple outside sources that raise concerns about abuse within the system. Allegations including threats and intimidation to claims of racism against the department were submitted through this official. To this date, there are several complaints that have never even been acknowledged into the system by Marti Vining. The past director of DPHHS Sheila Hogan continually disregarded calls for transparency.
Several citizens we spoke to are very concerned about the policies and process for filing a complaint that would bring forward a full investigation of internal actions and decisions made within DPHHS. It is readily available within DPHHS to find contact information to report abuse and/or neglect of children and adults whenever a concern is raised. However, we could find no way for a citizen of Montana to open the door to filing a complaint against the system.
In April 2017, Montana signed into law HB303 that created a review commission. The commission represents law enforcement, the judiciary, foster parents, health care providers, Montana Indian Tribes, the Legislature, and others. The catch in holding DPHHS accountable to the people, is DPHHS is the responsible entity for overseeing the Commission. The fox is guarding the hen house according to Mrs. Malone and others. The form to file a complaint against the system is no longer available on the DPHHS web site.
Stay Tuned as the swamp in the District of Corruption known as Montana DPHHS is deep.
Editors Note: This article includes links to earlier articles about corruption within Montana DPHHS published by Redoubt News. Tim Ravndal is editor for Redoubt News-Montana and is networking with other conservative news outlets across Montana.
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Been through this harm myself.
Thank you for weighing in on this very important issue. Please help get the truth to the people of Montana.
The corruption extends to every level. Missoula is especially horrible.
Yes, each level, all the way to private firms, schools, and child support division. Too much “good ol boy” system and it’s women who are in these positions doing this! Time to hire newly trained professionals and make the system transparent and workers and supervisors accountable. Bad performance leads to demotion and a mark on their record. Child safety is too important to have zero accountability!
I think this should all be stopped and defunded because they do not use the money like they should I remember when they use to help families now they destroy them. They would leave kids in their homes and help the parents now they take them without having to prove the allegations
I’m so grateful that Dfs is finally being brought out in the light. They have destroyed my family but most of all my children. I am at fault for becoming an addict due to childhood trauma and at the time an abusive toxic relationship. They offered no help. They took my kids from me WHILE THEY WERE AT THIER DADS HOUSE. Dfs took my rights to my kids on a fri even though they were at visitation with their father till Tue. I agreed to ua before I picked my children up but wasn’t allowed. I didn’t get to see my kids for a few weeks then months would go by. Next thing I knew I couldn’t have phone conversation either. They completely cut off any communication and did their best to keep my kids from me. My case started in the beginning of Feb 18′. After my son who was 14 took his 2nd trip to shodair on suicide watch, I made the only decision I thought I had to protect my children and I gave their dad sole custody. Sneaking over to his home was the only way i was seeing my children.. Keep in mind I was pregnant at the time, I was clean but it didn’t matter. I was so scared they would take my new baby that I drove 3hrs away to another hospital to give birth. I was suicidal myself and if it weren’t for leaving town, I would not be here today. I never got to have a FEM meeting, my case worker could not tell me where my son was or why when his dad shipped him out to an institution in Utah. I lost all hope. DFS was there for my kids yet had no idea what was going on with them. My ex broke my sons collar bone 2months after the kids were placed with him, out of anger. I made a report they shut the case. I may have done drugs but my children were ALWAYS taken care of. They were in therapy, got good grades, even a couple case workers told me there was no worries or concerns for my children ( I just needed to UA) and most of all my kids had no clue I was using and never did they test positive for anything. Dfs never sought therapy for my children nor did they help them in anyway. There was no reunification in sight. My youngest was returned to me within 7-8 months as I went through treatment I still got visits with him 5 days a week for 6hrs a day. I was dealing with Dfs in a different district. I believe 100% that had i stayed in GF i would have never got any of my children back. I now have a 16 yr old who is completely out of hand, lost hope and harbors so much hate towards me that he finds it ok to be physical with me, my 13 yr old is vaping, smoking weed, drinking and just got a felony charge. He failed school for the past 3 years my oldest failed for 2 yrs but his dad returned him to me over a yr ago. And he now has A’s and B’s. Its been a hard road and nothing scares me more than the dfd system in GF. Thank u for what u are doing and I wish u the best of luck.
Thank you for sharing your vision of truth here Kristie. It is our duty to make sure we expose the truth to those that are in positions to make corrections. Together we can help prevent the same mistakes from being repeated at the expense of children and families.
CPS is lier’s and slanders
Missoula is not good for freedom on many fronts. Thank you for weighing in on this important issue here in Montana.
They allow children to be killed and families to be torn apart and terrorized. If employees don’t play the game they are pushed out or good people who love kids can’t accept the corruption they witness and leave. This agency is supposed to protect our precious children, the future of Us and predate on them using them as chattel for their own satisfaction and power. How can this be? This is just Montana, other states are even worse. Time to clean house. It’s way past due.
The truth is rising to the surface with thanks to folks like you Cheryl.
While I have been through this, this state dose not care for the wellfair of the child they only care about what kind of money it can make. This is a black market baby selling tactic that dose not care what damage they do.
It is a high level of dependence on funding that drives this corrupt bus. Thank you for weighing in on this very important issue here in Montana.
A major house cleaning needs to be done, starting at the top and working down, I have a list of my own that need to go, there are terrorists in all levels, I have even heard that some Ombudsman are sleeping with them. I want to know who has the right to go in and investigate and return kids to their homes? No one has been able to give me the answer. It’s time to put a stop to these terrorists.
The house is in need for a real deep cleaning. Thank you for weighing in on this very important issue here in Montana, Together we can prevail.
Kapispell is the HUB of corruption.. For the whole department.
Kalispell has a large number of folks that have given first hand experience in corruption. In fact the Northwest is highly aware of the problems and are working on exposing those responsible, Thanks for weighing in on this very important issue.
Ok so we all share our experience and tell our story but then what?? My kids were removed and separated Feb 21 there has been ZERO effort to get them back together let alone back home with me! My (step-son) is being forced to move out of state even tho he has repeatedly said no he doesn’t want to. My biological daughter, is epileptic but despite my persistence to be seen by a different specialist and change her meds, the scar tissue in her brain (because of the horrible and traumatic EPILEPTIC SEIZURES!!!!!) CPS decided to keep her in foster care while they continued their investigation but told me nothing! Then, my 4 year old daughter was allowed to come home, just her, but she was just removed again my case worker claiming she had a positive hair follicle result for exposure to meth!! Even tho that very same day my instant UA results were clean. My rights have been violated, my children are separated from each other, I gave 6 months of nothing but respect, compliance, and clean drug tests – I didn’t get more time with my kids… When my 4yr old cried for me, it wasn’t because I’m a good mom and love my kids and they love me and need me oh no it was because she was never taught emotional regulation, she had an unhealthy attachment to me! So, like I asked…. What do we do!?? What can I do to get my kids home? Seriously this is happening right now my life is just so empty. And the longer they’re not at home with me, the harder it is to stay strong and positive. Please, can anyone help? Advice, the number for an attorney… Anything. DCFS are nothing more than government funded kidnappers.
I have been both a child taken by the system, also a mother who has her children taken by them. I have four siblings 3 of which were taken from their family and treated as if they had done something awful. If you were to ask my siblings what is the worst trauma you experienced, I guarantee they will all say the same, when we were taken from our mother and given to strangers who did not want us ( and made sure we knew) but wanted the money. Now my children are living the same horrible nightmare. Because CPS says there is potential for abuse, because I have struggled with addiction. And what they say is it. I have no rights. There is no other reason for this assumption, nothing except that sometimes when people are addicted there is abuse. Abuse happens in all walks of life. How in the USA can a family be torn apart and permanent damage caused with no cause or evidence, just a caseworker who hasn’t even been to my home or met me or my children, writes a statement to the courts, who see hundreds of cases like mine, give CPS the power to take babies from parents so they can get federal Grant’s. The prosecutor considers it a win to terminate families. And the new head of DPPHS, main goal is to recruit more people to “foster” for money? Shouldn’t he be looking at why there are so many families in this situation? They have so much power that they dont even try to hide 5he fact that reunification is the last thing they want to happen. The fact that there is a child right now in a strange home with strange people, so scared and afraid with no explanation for why. That child is wondering what they did so wrong that they can’t see or talk to their mother or father or siblings. It leaves you with deep scars and PTSD that no child should ever have to feel. As a mother seeing her children hurt, trying to help them understand that if you take them you will be arrested and jailed and they will wont get to see or talk with you. Children’s biggest problems should be choirs or homework or friends not who will be taking care of them and if they will be safe or if they will see their loved ones again…
Does anyone know who I can reach out to for help pertaining to this situation? I’m in dire need of my voice being heard and I feel my story can help others defend themselves against this corrupt organization in the future. I’m wanting to speak with someone while I’m still in the early stages of my case and can make a difference before it’s too late. Any help on what direction to go in speaking with someone is greatly appreciated.
I am currently a victim of this exact corruption, how do I get my story heard as well?
We are doing our best to get the truth out on behalf of the people. We will continue to do our best to make sure that the truth reaches the surface, and because Montana is big, it is hard to keep up with all the stories need to get out there. Thank you and please bear with us.
I am a current victim of (Lincoln County)Libby, MT CPS. I have not been informed of a child abuse investigation that I was turned in for. I have 15 year old daughter that decided how wild and disrespectful she could be to me this past summer. She has not told the truth any of the details. In fact she fabricated some false abuse after the fact, producing pictures of bruises and scratches that I never caused. I didn’t get any final report or written determination from CPS. My therapist actually told me of these reports and pictures today. I call cps weekly for an update and have not seen any resolution.
MY SON JUST RECEIVED PLEADINGS SETTING HEARINGS BACK IN SEPTEMBER. THE HEARINGS WERE FOR REMOVING HIS CHILDREN FROM HIS E-WIFES CUSTODY DUE TO HER ASSOCIATING WITH A FELON WHO TRIED TO KILL HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND AND ABUSING MY SON’S CHILDREN. MY SON WAS NEVER SERVED WITH ANY PLEADINGS EVEN THOUGH THE PLEADINGS STATE THAT HE WAS SERVED. HE WAS FINALLY SERVED PAPERS AFTER A 12/14 HEARING STATING THERE WOULD BE INVESTIGATION INTO THE ABUSE OF THE CHILDREN. WE HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT ALL THE PLAYERS IN THIS CASE AND GETTING STONEWALLED. NO RETURN CALLS. TALK ABOUT CORRUPTION. THIS DID NOT AFORD ANY TYPE IOF DUE PROCESS FOR MY SON. THESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE STOPPEED
Rosebud county CPS is corrupt. They are violating our rights for accusations they cant find a lick of proof on. They have taken our children for almost a year now filing TIA after TIA. They tried to even go as far as putting ankle bracelets on my husband and I. One of the workers is still going through heroin treatments, the supervisor adopted out her kids because alchohol was her priority and the supervisor above her is said to be having inappropriate relations with that supervisor. We are being harrassed all due to the ridiculous accusations of my husband’s ex who is a meth head and is causing issues. She has also been known to do drugs with the heroin addict cps worker. I’m tired of this corrupt behavior. About to sue!