Child Abuse Legal Answers

I recently had my baby and the hospital said there were drugs in his system. I was using during part of the pregnancy but I’m clean now and have signed up for a treatment program. They say they have the right to take any baby who is born testing positive for drugs. He’s in foster care now and I only get a one hour supervised visit each week. I need to know what to do to get him back from foster care. I need a lawyer who understands the Baltimore Department of Social Services system and who can aggressively fight for me. I would prefer a Polish lawyer as that is where I am from and I still prefer to communicate in Polish whenever possible. My baby is the most important thing in the world to me and I’ll do whatever it takes to defend my rights to him.

My son’s mother was physically abusive to him to the point of leaving bruises which were seen the next day by his teacher at school. She reported it and my son’s mother has been criminally charged with physical child abuse. She pled not guilty and a trial has been set. We have not heard from the state prosecutor yet regarding what my son’s role in this trial will be. He is terrified of his mother and does not want to face her in court. He’s 10 years old, can a judge require him to appear in court and testify against his mother about the abuse? I am afraid of the mental damage this would do to him if he has to do this.

My son’s mother and I have shared custody of him. Over the last year my son has started acting out in school and at home. He is aggressive and can’t focus on anything. His pediatrician recommended that he get tested for ADHD and wanted to prescribe him some medication to see if it would help. He also recommended our son get counseling before these issues get worse. His mother refuses to consider any of this. She believes the doctor and I just want to medicate our son so he’s easier to control. Is her refusal to follow the doctor’s recommendations and allow medication for our son considered child abuse? If it is I want to pursue charges against her and get my son the help he needs. If it is not, is her refusal enough for me to gain full custody so I can make these decision for him and not be blocked by her?