The sexual abuse of a child is not easily discernible, it could take years before the repressed memories find their way into the child’s adult life, by then it is too late to treat, the wound will remain open for the balance of that child’s life.  The torture is suffocating and the agony is extreme.

          It is difficult to surmise that sexual abuse happens in the families around us, but one of every 11 children sexually abused are abused by a member of their family.  The statistics are staggering and quickly becoming more radical every day.

          But to conceive that our government has a “hand” in the exploitation of these children is mind boggling, it becomes a matter of great concern, at least in this tax payers eyes.

           A case began to surface in early 2009, the Mother of a child stuck in the middle of his divorcing parents began to present with strange behaviors.  The Mom wanted to believe that it was the stress of his parents impending divorce and like any good Mother began the process of consoling her son, she wanted him to understand that sometimes it was best that parents not remain together if they weren’t happy.  To her surprise her son tells her that he has a secret. 

           After what appeared to this Mother hours of gentle prodding, the little boy, four years old at the time tells his Mother that his Father is touching him in private places.  He tells her this in her native language of Spanish in that anyone within earshot wouldn’t hear his words.  This little boy was terrified.

           The County of Bergen, New Jersey reacted responsibly, at least at first.  But after the last couple of weeks of speaking with the Prosecutors Office and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families we that assist this Mother in trying to bring her child home believe that this case has been “swept under the rug.”  

           When we talked to both agencies we were told by individuals employed by both agencies that even though both agencies were involved with the case, that one agency could not overrule and/or meddle in the other agencies review of the case.  In plain English we were told that although the case had been substantiated under the Department of Children and Family Services that the Prosecutors Office could not make for a criminal case in their venue.  We were shocked.  We believe that any tax payer would be shocked.  If any Child Protective Services Agency SUBSTANTIATES sexual misconduct between any child and any adult it should warrant criminal charges being brought, immediately.  This did not happen.

           What did happen was months of therapy for all three individuals, the Mother, the Father and the little boy, to the point where the Mother was devastated financially.  The Father continued to sway all concerned with his charming wiles and the little boy became exhausted from all of his efforts to reason with a grown up world.  There is speculation that political powers that be were involved in this case, it is speculated that the Attorney for the Father has and had dramatic pull within the County of Bergen and after time had passed was able to convince those involved in professional modes that the Mother was crazy, to which the Mother began to respond favorably.  She was tired; she had become alienated from the entire process because after twenty-one (21) long months NOTHING HAD CHANGED. 

           During the process the Mother was not “allowed” to speak her native language with the child whom is also fluent, even during supervised visitation that could have been and was requested by the Mother in the accompany of a fluent Hispanic caseworker.  It was denied.  The child reacted poorly during some visits in that he became hostile and on one visit he tried to explain to his Mother and the caseworker that his “pee pee” hurt, the reaction wasn’t swift.  The caseworker denied the Mother’s request to take the child to the bathroom for examination, instead explaining to the Mother that she’d have the Father take him to a pediatrician, which did occur, a week later.  By the then the damage was healed. The caseworker told the Mother that she had forgotten.

          There have been many inaccuracies associated with this case; the fact that for twenty-one months the Mother retained physical custody of this child while all three were in therapeutic counseling;  the fact that the Department of Children and Families substantiated these allegations only to turn around and deny themselves the same allegation;  the fact that one of the “supervising” caseworkers did begin a sexual liaison with the Father; the fact that due the Mother’s aggravation at the hindrance of being able to protect her child was conceived as delusional; the fact that money was a large part of the case and still is; the fact that the Judge is friends with the Father’s Attorney outside of the courtroom; the fact that there is speculation regarding the attorney’s behavior with the Father.  There are substantial facts that were ignored and now that the case is almost one year past the time the Mother’s visitation was indefinitely suspended with the child the onslaught of more issues come to into play. 

          We are asking America to take note of these type cases, we are asking America to please sign this petition in that this Mother can demand that a new review of this case be done by an independent party and that visitation with her son be restored immediately. 

          We are asking America to recognize that cases like this do often get pushed under the rug and that it is time for dramatic and earned changes in the system that we know as Child Protective Services in general, most apparently Bergen County, New Jersey.

          You may all wonder why we haven’t used the names of those involved in this case and I offer you this, according to “court orders” this Mother is not allowed to speak in any manner regarding this case.  She has what is effectively known as a “gag order.”  Don’t you think that a bit extreme and more than bizarre, efficiently making her non-existent in this child’s world?

          Please sign our petition; at that time we will make certain that any and all related legal members of this case are aware of the identity of this case.  It will be then that America has supported reunification between this child and this Mother.

Thank You,

Child Advocates Around the World