Love em or hate em, this may be a case that the ACLA would consider. It sounds wrong on many levels. Removal of custody requires a "preponderance of evidence" to support the contention that the child is being abused and/or neglected. This would include: signs of physical abuse (evidence such as scars, marks on skin, records of Emergency Dept visits with unexplained injuries, etc), obvious signs of substance abuse in the home, obvious violence in the home, lack of adequate food, clothing, shelter, inability of a parent to get children to school, medical appointments, etc. The caseworkers need documented evidence that this is happening, not just "instincts". The laws, some of which are federal, require that the family unit be kept intact and every reasonable effort be made to keep the children in contact with the parents unless there are obvious and overwhelming safety concerns related to the respective parents. DSS would need to make every effort to place a child within the biological family unit (including aunts/uncles, grandparents, cousins, adult siblings) BEFORE going outside the family for placement. All told, permanency decisions should not be made in less than 18 months. Unless I'm missing something, it doesn't sound like DSS is following the rules and regulations. Good luck getting help and support.