Opinion ID: 3026511
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Bennetts Leave the Shelter

Text: On May 10, 1999, Tiffany Bennett left the Salvation Army Shelter with Priscilla and Aliyaha. Two days later, DHS social worker Yolanda Grant learned of Tiffany Bennett’s unauthorized departure from the shelter. On June 1, 1999, Grant checked the Department of Public Administration’s (“DPA”) computer records and discovered that Tiffany Bennett’s DPA benefits were still being sent to the Salvation Army Shelter. In an effort to locate Tiffany Bennett, Grant spoke with a DPA representative who confirmed that Bennett’s benefits would be terminated on June 10, 1999, and that if Tiffany Bennett contacted DPA for benefit reinstatement she would be told she 4 must first contact DHS. However, when Tiffany Bennett sought benefit reinstatement, DPA allowed her to reinstate her benefits without contacting DHS. Grant made several other efforts to locate Tiffany Bennett, including: (1) contacting Priscilla’s pediatrician; (2) visiting a former address at West Master Street; (3) speaking with Adiam Debesai, a social worker who had worked with Tiffany Bennett at the Salvation Army Shelter and who had spoken with Tiffany Bennett’s mother, Dale Geiger; and (4) trying to contact Dale Geiger and Alexus’ father by telephone. On September 14, 1999, DHS petitioned family court to discharge DHS supervision and the dependency petition for Aliyaha. At the hearing, the Child Advocate 2 objected based on concern for Aliyaha’s safety. Judge James Murray Lynn refused to terminate DHS’ involvement and stated, “I don’t want [this case] just sitting on a desk somewhere. I want to see work done. I want people to continue to look . . . . I want DHS to vigilantly look for the baby [Aliyaha]. When they get the baby, I want them to take the baby.” By early 1999, Alexus and her father had returned to Philadelphia, where Alexus attended public school. She lived with her paternal grandfather for a period of time, before returning to her mother’s control.3 In March 2003, Tiffany Bennett directed Alexus’ school not to permit contact between Alexus and her grandfather.