Opinion ID: 2375328
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: OCS Takes Emergency Custody Of Jack In October 2004.

Text: Lucy first came into contact with the Office of Children's Services (OCS) in November 2003 when Rick called OCS to express his concerns about the care of Jack. Rick alleged that Lucy had substance abuse and mental health problems, that she was leaving Jack with unsafe care providers, and that she was threatening to physically harm Jack if someone reported her to OCS. After investigating Rick's report, OCS found that Rick's concerns about Lucy threatening harm to Jack were unsubstantiated. OCS closed the case after providing Lucy with referrals to programs for parenting, mental health, and relationship support. OCS became directly involved in Jack's life in October 2004, when social worker Caroline Bruschi was called by the police to come to Lucy's home. The police had been called to the home because of a reported sexual assault and found the home in disarray, with four intoxicated individuals present and one-year-old Jack in his crib in a very warm room with two bottles of sour milk. His diaper was full, and his shirt was soaked with urine. One of the individuals present in the home was a registered sex offender and had two children in OCS custody at the time. None of the adults present would tell Bruschi where Lucy was, so Bruschi took custody of Jack and left her card so Lucy could contact her. Lucy did not contact Bruschi until three hours later. Bruschi met with Lucy and was concerned that Lucy did not seem to understand the importance of closely investigating potential caretakers for Jack. OCS filed an Emergency Petition for Adjudication of Child in Need of Aid and For Temporary Custody shortly thereafter, on October 12, 2004. After a temporary custody hearing, Superior Court Judge Patricia A. Collins set a date in January 2005 for the adjudication trial and awarded Lucy temporary custody of Jack with supervision by OCS. Two days later Lucy left Jack with another caretaker whose children had been removed by OCS.