Reform Florida's Department of Children and Family Services and Justice for the Tyler Family

FLORIDA DEP'T OF CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES IGNORES MEDICAL EVIDENCE, DESTROYS FAMILY

In a futile attempt to redeem their poor reputation, the Department of Children and Family Services in the State of Florida is crucifying an active duty Air Force couple at Tyndall Air Force Base.

Brett and Sarah Tyler took their infant daughter, Lily, for medical care for suspected recurrent pneumonia. During the examination, fractures were found. This finding prompted the medical facility to call the Department of Children and Family Services. Both the couples young children were immediately removed from their home.

This all occurred the beginning of March 2004. Stunned by the findings and the situation they found themselves in, they have been as cooperative as possible with the social workers, jumping through the endless hoops that have been thrown at them.

Marvin Miller, M.D., professor of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio has reviewed Lily Tylers entire medical records and x-ray films, including Sarahs prenatal and delivery records. It is his considered and expert medical opinion that Lily suffers from a variation of brittle bone disease, not from abuse. Indeed, it is quite possible that the hospital itself inflicted the fractures when it restrained Lily for X ray. As a result of Dr. Miller's findings Lily has been accepted as a patient at the Shriners Hospital in Tampa, Florida. This evidence was presented to the state of Florida on April 21, 2004 and was ignored. (Case no. 2004-DP-053-AB) Because they have rejected Dr. Miller's findings, while she remains in the care of the state of Florida, Lily will not recieve treatment for this serious and potentially life-threatening condition.

Florida Department of Children and Family Services has a terrible reputation, in particular, their foster care program. The extended family believes it is best to keep these two babies out of Floridas Foster Care program. At the request of the parents and maternal grandparents to the Florida social workers, an Interstate Compact Placement Request was made, and approved by a Florida judge. This process included FBI background check, fingerprinting, home inspection, personal interviews and references in Idaho. The maternal grandmother was also fingerprinted, interviewed, and had a background check in Florida. The state of Idaho approved placement of the children to the maternal grandparents. This information has been returned to Florida, who has done absolutely nothing with it.

In a terrible turn of events, Sarah and Brett were arrested on May 12, 2004 on neglect charges. They face up to 15 years in prison if they are convicted. This arrest took place only hours prior to, what should have been the last shelter care hearing. Obviously, the arrests prevented them from appearing before the judge for the hearing. In the process they were informed that DCF had recalculated their income and that they are not eligible for free legal counsel because this enlisted military couple make too much money! The children remain in the custody of Florida despite the completion of the Interstate Compact Placement Request, while the parents remain incarcerated because of lack of funds to pay for legal representation.

It is tragic, in the least, to think that Florida Department of Children and Family Services, in the attempt to redeem their image to the country, are deliberately and maliciously destroying this young military family. We, the undersigned, are sickened by such treatment, and demand an immediate impartial review of all of Florida's Department of Children and Family Services activities, and justice for the Tyler Family