The problem is that they weren't her grandchildren. The state Division of Child and Family Services, Despain says, is blocking her efforts to care for her grandchildren, who are with a foster family.
Caseworkers try to act in the best interests of the child.
DCFS can't comment on this case since child welfare records are confidential. So we have only one side of the story, which is pieced together from interviews with Despain and the children's mother, whose parental rights have been terminated, as well as a review of court papers provided by the mother. Despain's son is the father of the two children, but he never married their mother, Sandra. He and Sandra broke up when their son was only a few weeks old. After one of those arrests in October 1997, the state took custody of the two children.