Opinion ID: 2498669
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Children's Placement With Paula From July 2008 Until Summer 2009

Text: In December 2008 a home study for adoption by Paula was completed and the results of this study were apparently mostly positive. [4] Lori Wikle, the OCS caseworker, testified that the most pressing concern was whether Paula was committed to the long-term adoption of the children. While the children were placed with Paula, Wikle conducted monthly home visits. She testified that in each progressive visit Paula looked more exhausted and appeared to be pulled in many directions with commitments to various family members. Wikle and Valerie Nelson, Gulkana's ICWA worker, testified to a conversation around March 2009 between Paula, themselves, and a few others where a different, more suitable placement was discussed. [5] Both testified that Paula agreed she wanted to just be grandma again. At about the same time, OCS began receiving both informal and formal reports regarding the children's well-being. OCS received three reports of harm from Gulkana. Two reports were formal letters from the tribal council and one was an informal report from a concerned tribal member. The reports expressed concerns about Paula's extensive travel to Anchorage, the cleanliness of her house, her lack of control and supervision of the children, and her practice of driving with the youngest child in the car without a car seat. The children were supposed to be attending therapy sessions, but Paula was often unable to get the children to the appointments. Despite OCS's involvement in setting up appointments and transportation, Tawny attended only two sessions and Eddie and Callie only one. Tawny told her therapist that Paula had hit her hard enough to knock her down and to leave bruises. Based on this information, the therapist filed a report of harm. The children's school also sent notices to OCS regarding the behavior and condition of the children. The school was specifically concerned with Eddie's poor grades and bullying behavior and Tawny's lack of proper medication for her skin condition. Additionally, the school was concerned that the children did not have food in their lunches. [6] Wikle investigated these complaints. The children reported that Paula used corporal punishment. Wikle told Paula that foster parents were not allowed to use corporal punishment, but the punishments continued. Sometime in May 2009 Paula became aware that her mother, who lived in Montana, was ill and required her assistance. Paula told OCS that she needed to go to Montana three days before she left. [7] Based on the emergency need the children were placed with the Dubovs, the non-Native foster family with whom they had stayed for various other short visits. Paula supported the placement at that time, but later asserted that she thought the placement was temporary, noting that she was just going to go out and take care of some business and come back, and the children would be back with [her]. OCS asserted that Paula did not want the children back when she left, and [OCS was] working under that premise. [8] Accordingly, OCS proceeded to seek ICWA-compliant long-term placement for the children, treating the Dubovs as a temporary placement. [9]