TEAR's for Family Continuity

***A LETTER WRITTEN TO THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT (ICWA) EXPERT WITNESS HIRED BY THE COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO, CPS - *IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WHEN DR. COWAN ARRIVED AT THE COURT TO GIVE EXPERT TESTIMONY AGAINST ME IT WAS THE 1ST TIME I HAVE EVERY SPOKEN WITH HER BESIDES THE CORRESPONDENCE BELOW.  AFTER SPEAKING IN DETAIL WITH DR. COWAN, SHE WOULD BE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ACCURATE TESTIMONY ON THAT DAY BECAUSE VITAL INFORMATION WAS WITHHELD FROM HER, ACCURATE CONTACT INFO WAS NOT GIVEN TO HER, AND FALSE STATEMENTS WERE MADE TO HER.  SHE NEEDED SOME TIME TO LOOK OVER THE NEW INFO IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE RECOMMENDATION. IN THE END, DR. COWAN CHANGED HER TESTIMONY ADDRESSING COMPLIANCE ON MY PART AS TO THE COURTS' ORDERS. In my opinion, it reasonable to question why the Sacramento County CPS would need to lie or withhold exculpatory evidence...hide anything for that fact, if it is legitimate, honest, accurate information!

Dr. Geni Cowan,

My name is Heather Hoover and I currently have a CPS case that you will be providing expert testimony in and have already given a recommendation for.  If you can please contact me regarding your recommendation it would be much appreciated.  As you will see in the detailed email below, I have many concerns regarding your recommendation and the validity of the information provided to you.  When I contacted you in April 2008 I wanted to meet with you just to discuss the information you had and provide you with anything you may not have so that you could make an accurate recommendation.  However, your recommendation was not adopted by the court at that time so an appointment with you was never scheduled.  Recently it was brought to my attention that again you provided another recommendation.  Of course I have the same concerns I had last time, if not more.  I was disappointed to see you provided an updated recommendation and again, you did not attempt to speak with me.  Especially since I had previously contacted you about my concerns.

I just want to let you know that I live this case everyday of my life.  I have educated myself about ICWA and have submersed myself in anything and everything that will help me in the fight to get my kids back.  I refuse to sit back and "settle" with the fact that its too late, I can't go back, and that I should be happy with the fact they are offering me guardianship.  That I should take it because most people involved in "the system" with young children usually have their parental rights terminated already and their children already adopted. No! I refuse to be content with that because the bottom line is my children never should have been removed in the first place.  Which I understand you probably hear on a consistent basis.  The difference between me and the "norm" is that I have proof to back up everything I have to say.  At the same time, I don't expect anyone to believe anything I am saying without the proof to back it up.

I'd also like to let you know, that currently I am to address the fact that ICWA has not been complied with on many levels.  Since compliance with the ICWA is what you are addressing in your recommendation and expert testimony, in order for you to provide expert testimony, it is vital for you to contact me to obtain all of the information and documentation.

Below is a copy of the original email I sent to you on April 16, 2008:




Dr. Geni Cowan,

My name is Heather Hoover and I am writing to you in regards to Case# 1561651: HOOVER

I just received a copy of your report and recommendation today at the Contested Permanency Review Hearing.  I was very concerned as to the "facts" and "details" included in your recommendation.  I was unaware that you were trying to get a hold of me and I would have been more than happy to speak with you and provide you any information you needed.  My telephone number or address has not changed within the past year and the social worker, Sandra Gomez, should have provided you with that accurate information. 

I don't know you at all, but I'm sure that your best interest is helping families/children.  With that in mind, I'm guessing that when you are asked to assess a situation and provide a recommendation, you only want accurate and complete honest information.  Keeping that in mind, I wanted to tell you that almost all of the statements that you made and/or quoted are false, inaccurate, and I'd go so far to say, blatant lies.  I have proof to dispute 99% of the statements you made and I believe that the entire report/recommendation you provided to the court were based on fictitious investigations, interviews, and reports provide to you by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).  More specifically Child Protective Services (CPS) and Sandra Gomez, Reunification/Human Services Social Worker, CPS.  I'm not aware who provided you with my contact information, but as I said above, my contact information for the last year has remained the same.  I can be reached through my home number, cell number, my home address, my email address, and if you still can't reach me, there are also alternate means as listed below:

Michael Borkowski (my attorney) - Office, Cell, Email, Mailing Address
Ron Dawson (my father) - Home, Cell, Mailing Address, Physical Address
Linda Dawson (my mother) - Home, Cell, Work, Physical and/or Mailing Address
Krista Dawson/Janell DeAngelis (my sister and her partner) - Home, Cell, Work, Physical/Mailing Address, Email
Bi-Valley Medical Clinic (my current SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROVIDER - I've been a patient there since May 29, 2004 - I have never been discharged from Bi-Valley Medical Center in the 3 years and 10 months I have been there). - Bi-Valley's Main Number, my counselor, Dr. McCarthy, email, physical address.

I believe the fault in the misrepresentation you received is not your own. However, I hope now that you are aware of the situation, you would please contact me so I can give you the information you need to know to make a correct, honest, and un-biased recommendation.

I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for your time.

Thank You,
Heather Hoover