children file 24059 and 8. Okay, we're back on record for the uh review and permanency planning as it relates to Austin. Um, Miss Stang, you're the only one we haven't had an introduction from yet. Sorry, I apologize. I was detained in a court hearing in Monroe County. Um, Alexis Stang, I'd be happy to be respondent Father Austin Dubbie. Thank you. And you've had a chance to talk to your client as well, I think. Yes, I have. Thank you. That's great. Okay. and we made sure you had a copy of the court report and the opportunity
to chat with you about it while we had the time to do it this afternoon. We don't always, but we did today. All right. Uh, any preliminary comments from any of our attorneys before we get started? Well, thank you. No, your honor. Thank you, Mr. How Let's go to you for your report. Yes, sir. Are we on YouTube? We are. Yes. Yes, we are on YouTube. So, we can avoid the children's names. That would be uh great. I was able to meet with uh both children multiple times this reporting period. Most recently on uh January
2nd, 2026. I would say for the most part they're doing very well in the care of their maternal aunt and uncle. Um when I go and meet them, they're very friendly with me and I pretty much every time I go there, the younger of the two um is always right there at the door to greet me or runs up to me and shows me whatever new toy he has and he's just always so happy. Um, so you know, he's got a very good heart. You can just tell whenever you are around him and talk with
him. Um, the older of the two was very competitive and, you know, has some of these behavior issues. He definitely seeks attention. Um, I played air hockey with him and watched him do a word search game and both times it was very evident. He did not like to lose and or share with his other siblings or the kids in the home. But, um, he's usually in in pretty good spirits and they all kind of run around and and play together in the home. So, um I'd say the biggest change has been their oldest brother who
um is technically their half brother, but you know, they've grown up together and um we're he moved out of the home. Um since then, the environment has gotten better for for everyone in the home, even the kids, um that aren't, you know, the cousins that they're placed with. So, um that's been more of a positive change. Um I spoke with the children's daycare providers and and they've seen some pretty big differences in the children's behavior at daycare since um this placement u back in October and even since you know the oldest was moved out of
the home. So um all very positive and it seems to be trending in the right direction. um they are working with Miss Bnee Moore um for therapeutic visitation and um I would say you know if we had this review maybe a few weeks ago or maybe even towards the beginning of December um there may have been you know more of a move to uh supervised visitation from therapeutic visitation but um I do think that over the Christmas break there there was a visit and we kind of took a step back there but um before that
parenting time was going very well so I I really believe that we can get back to their get back to that point and uh you know move forward with that. Um the children are starting CH. I think that the caregiver or the provider is coming into the home today um to work with the these two and um kind of the the youngest will will be around too, but she's not directly um related to the CF case. But um I really think we need to focus on these two kids. they have these behavioral um issues or
uh you know speech or OT PT um issues that can be done and I think um there's a lot of a lot of work to be done. Um we have the assessments completed and uh it's just about matching them up to the right services to to make sure that their needs are met. Um and hoping we can do that. Um the uh best interest of these children is definitely to remain in their current placement. they uh get along really well with those caregivers. They've done a great job with them in supporting them, caring for them.
Um and you know, just providing them with some stability and it's really showed in their behaviors um at daycare or at school um and they did not share their wishes due to their age. They're pretty young. So, thank you. Thank you. Testimony today, Miss Thomas. Thank you, honor. I'd ask that Demick be sworn in. Some swear affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help. Yes. Thank you, Atlas. For today's hearing, you've provided a court report with um a few attachments. Have there been any other documents that you've circulated
outside of what's in this packet? No. Okay. And to the best of your knowledge, um, are there any updates or modifications that need to be made to your report or any of the documents contained there? Yes. Um, I was informed by Mr. Dubie that he did do his intake appointment with, I believe, CH um, this past Monday. Um, and that he will be starting therapy services in a couple of weeks. Do you know if those therapy services are directed at substance use um or is that more for just individual therapy and mental health treatment? Um
they are directed towards substance use. Okay. Um at this time the court report indicates that um the currency goal for the children is reunification and at what would be the barriers to reunification with Mr. Dubie at this time? Um at this time the barriers to reunification um include a um incomplete psychological evaluation which is scheduled for tomorrow uh as well as just partial progress on the case services. Um yes. Okay. So what is the risk of harm to the children if they were to be returned to his care and custody? Rephrase the question. I'm sorry.
I think what is the risk of harm? Like what danger would they be in if the court were to place them with their father today? the risk of harm if the children were to be returned home. Um, still maintain the I'm trying to find the right words. You'll have to excuse me. Um the exposure of substance use due to incomplete drug screenings. Um and partial progress of substance abuse counseling as well as um the incomp completion of parenting classes and domestic violence classes. that could affect the ability to safely parent. Were those the issues that
led to the removal of the children from Mr. Dubie? Yes. And so there hasn't been any um resolution to those conditions that led to removal at this time? Correct. However, is Mr. would you be um complying with his case service plan? Yes. Um is he in full compliance or are there areas in which he needs um to engage a little more in um a plan needs to be developed for drug testing to ensure that Mr. Judy is able to comply with regular drug testing. Um there are some concerns about transportation through the third-party referral that
was made for Mr. Duvie. Um since he currently, as far as I know, does not have um his own reliable transportation at this time and the referral is for um a third party testing facility in Jackson. Um so today we started exploring avenues to kind of support that and enable um give accessibility to Mr. DB to comply with drug testing. Thank you. Um Mr. Howitt had in his report discussed how parenting time was going um and maybe some concerns during the holiday break at this point in time. Um is there anything that you would like
to add about parenting time or uh the plan moving forward regarding that? Yeah. Um just for to kind of clarify um that statement. Um previously it was recommended by Bnee Moore to um do supportive visitation. Um Mr. We had two parenting times I believe with Bernie Moore at that point of that recommendation and she did not see a reason for them to be therapeutic. However, after a caregiver supervised visitation over the holiday break, um Bnee clarified that statement um that she would like them to remain therapeutic due to some of the concerns that were brought
up at that visit. um and sort of ongoing observations that Bnee had in her own personal communication with Mr. Dubbie. Your report indicates that perhaps there's some difficulty in in communication or your relationship with Mr. Dubbie. Is that still the case or is there any updates around um how well you are are working together? Uh yes, I was able to get into contact with Mr. Dudy recently um I believe towards the end of last week um to set up some transportation assistance as well as um get some updates on his CH appointment. So um tentatively
it is a neutral um interactions with Mr. Duby at this time. Um and in the meantime I have been utilizing um emails in order to have uh both and missing present sort of in a third party neutral space. Um in your report there's indication that during this review period uh placement had asked for replacement of the children and then rescended that. Are there any supports that the agency has assisted placement with um in order for them to maintain the children in their care? Yes, we've worked to create a safety plan that will allow um the
paternal grandparents to provide transportation um and assist since um the department has not been able to um approve them for placement, but we have been able to approve them for transportation to medical appointments. that was a very big help for this caregiver as that was one of the main things that um one of the main reasons uh of why she did not want placement anymore. Um additionally we have organized um a way to provide respit care at least once a month if not every other month um to give that family the break that they absolutely
need. Is there anything um related to the children that they need like any other referrals that need to be made or any other services they need to engage in? Not at this time. Um, tentatively, we are waiting for the primary care physician to rule out ADHD for M. Um, as well as, um, following through on ABA therapy for B. Is there anything else you'd like the court to know from your knowledge of the case or your report that you'd like to highlight? Not at this time. Okay. With that, your honor, I would just ask the
court to um admit into the record the court report that was submitted by Atlas on January 6th. Thank you. Objections? No, your honor. No. Thank you. They are received. Um questions for this witness. Um Miss Stang, we'll start with you. Yes. Thank you. Um, with regards to the issue of the intake appointment with CH, you testified that he should begin having therapy directed towards substance abuse um, in a few weeks. Is that accurate? Yes. Okay. And do we know an exact date that that is set to start at this point? Um, that was not given
to me by Mr. Dubie. Okay. Um, but it's believe that he has a a date rather than them just sitting they would call back at a later point from my understanding. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Um, and that it sounds like he has a psychological evaluation scheduled for tomorrow. Is that accurate? Yes. Okay. And that will help with um satisfying some of the mental health uh provisions of his case service plan. Correct. Correct. Okay. And then um regarding his housing, your court report states that he is currently residing with his parents and that you're still awaiting
uh proof of that housing. Is that accurate? Yes, that is accurate. What um proof would you prefer Mr. Dubie present to you to confirm that he is residing there? Um, proof can be um a lease agreement or in the event that the parents own the home, um, a letter proving that they lived there would be sufficient. Okay. Uh, is it accurate to state that you've gone to that home in the past? Yes. Okay. And were you able to actually enter that home when you had gone there? Can you repeat that? I'm sorry. Were you able
to enter the home in the past when you had gone to the home? Yes. Okay. So, to your knowledge, that would be accurate that Austin lives there with his parents based on what you viewed when you were at that home. Is that accurate? From what I observed, yes. Okay. So, you're just requesting that some form of legal documentation showing that the parents own that home and that Austin therefore is able to be there. Yes. Um, and then with regards to his employment, uh, your court report also indicates that you are awaiting proof of his employment
at Domino's. Is that still accurate? Yes. Okay. And would, uh, the most recent payubs satisfy that requirement? Yes, it would. Okay. Um, and then you also indicated that Austin is currently in the process of uh getting his own transportation and that's something that you're looking into resources to help him with. Is that accurate? Transportation resources were provided. Okay. So, there's nothing further then at this point that could be done by the department to assist with securing that transportation. Correct. To my knowledge. Okay. Um, and then for the drug screenings, um, the the first referral was
put in in November, but there was an issue with that and therefore a new referral was completed on December 22nd. Is that accurate? Yes. Okay. And uh, it was reported that there was a time when you had actually gone to the home and attempted to provide a drug screen to Mr. Dubie. Is that also accurate? Yes. Did anyone answer the door when you uh made that attempt on that day? No. Okay. Um are you positive that Mr. Dubie was home when you made that attempt? I am positive that someone was home. Um Mr. Dubie did
explain to me that he would be available at that time. Um and that he did not have work that day. So I had no reason to believe he would not be available. Okay. What time did you make that attempt? If you recall, it was around 12:30 p.m. Okay. And um are you aware or I guess has Mr. Dubie ever informed you of uh his sleeping schedule due to his employment? Yes. Okay. And what did he inform you with regards to that schedule? Um he did say that he struggles to get up early in the mornings.
Um, so whenever in the past we have had I've assisted with transportation or we have had a home visit in the mornings, I would call him um to try and wake him up as well as knock on the glass door at the front of the hall um which is by his bedroom. Okay. And when you uh made that attempt on that day that we've been talking about for the drug screening, um was that day and that specific time actually scheduled or was that just a day and time that in other conversation had been stated that
Mr. Dwey would be working? The day prior um I was doing a home visit with Mr. Doobie. Um he said he would be available in the morning. Um and I said great I will give you a call um when I have a finite time. Um so it was a rough estimate. Okay. And did you make that call that you important time you would make? Yes I texted him in the morning um giving a more accurate ETA of around noon. I called him when I was on my way and I called him twice when I was
at the home. Okay. But it can't you can't say for sure whether it was Mr. Dubie who was actually home when you made that attempt. Correct. Correct. I cannot say for sure. Okay. And then with regards to the uh three the two other I believe drug screenings that were attempted in this reporting period. Were those attempts made by you or was that made by a different agency giving the screenings? Um that was made by a different agency giving the screenings. the instructions of which were sent to Mr. Duby prior to um those screenings taking place.
Okay. Um and did you send those instructions via email or via text? Via email. Okay. Did you also send them via text or was it just email? Uh the instructions were just in the email. I did send a follow-up text to Austin to look at his email um because I had given some instruction for services. Okay. And then with regards to um the parenting times, are you aware of if there were any um indications given to Mr. Dubie that the dates of his parenting time would need to change or if those dates were the date
that were intended to continue? So when I say dates, I mean days of the week. Um, from my understanding, all scheduling of parenting times were communicated clearly with Mr. Dubie by um the therapist. Okay. Um, did Mr. Dubbie report any concerns or issues with the parenting time dates that had been uh set to you? Um there was a brief moment where parenting times were um we were attempting to move them to Tuesdays instead of Wednesdays. Um Mr. Dubie did explain to Bnee that that did not work with his uh schedule. Um so it was changed
back to a day that would work for him. Okay. And when you say schedule, are you aware of if that would be his work schedule or any other schedule? Work schedule. Okay. And so then to your knowledge the plan would be for the parenting time to stay on the uh days that that they currently are. Yes. Okay. And then um with regards to the uh parenting education classes that you referenced um was information with regards to where he would need to attend those sent to him as well already? Yes. Um the phone number to call
to set up parenting classes was sent via email. Okay. Um at this point, do you have all uh signed releases for the children by Mr. Dubie that you would need? Yes. Okay. And he uh provided those to you then upon request? Yes. Okay. Um what would you say would be the most uh important area of the case service plan that Mr. Dub needs to uh work the most on in the next reporting period. I think in the next reporting period um due to Mr. Dubie reporting soiety um really focusing on getting those drug tests done
um in whatever way we can accommodate them being done would be the thing to focus on. Okay. I have nothing further. Thank you. Yes. Um, as far as the drug tests go, what is the current plan for having him do the drug screens? U, the current plan is through um, forensic fluids. Um, the instructions for that are to call every day to see if your color is called. Um, and if it is cold that day, you have until the end of the day to complete the drug test. Um, and you would go in person to
their location in Jackson. Um, and then do that drug screening. Then how far is Jackson from his current residence? Um, it's pretty far. It is about a 50-minute drive. Um, are there other alternatives that you guys are exploring for locations to have a drug test drug screen? Yes. Um, it was asked in an email correspondence if um, Austin would like us to do manual drug screening from the agency since we are trained to do those um, during parenting times. Um, I never received a response about that in particular. Um, alternatively, based on a case conference
that occurred today, um, Berne Moore has also, um, been open to being retrained to do the drug screenings herself as well during parenting times to ensure that they are able to be completed. Um, as far as the, uh, younger of the two, did he have an evaluation this past week? Yes. And what was the evaluation for? The evaluation was for early on services. Uh were you present at the evaluation? Yes. Did they have is there any initial report or indication of what services may be available to him? Uh yes, a full review of his evaluation
um will be done on the 21st of January. Um but the initial impressions that were given to me for him um was definitely some speech delay and potential speech services um otherwise he actually performed very well during the evaluation. What does a full review of the evaluation look like? Is it a Zoom meeting or is it done in person? Um, from my understanding for them it was an inerson meeting that was scheduled. And then children are scheduled to start therapy with CH today. Yes. Um I noticed that um the maternal I'm sorry the the paternal
or Austin's parents were um denied for purposes of caregiving and case planning and that came through it looks like early December. Is that accurate? Uh they were denied for placement. Yes. Okay. The report specifically says paternal grandmother engaged in case planning however has been assessed inappropriate for placement or alternate caregiving. A placement safety screening was completed and denied on 12925. So, can we have a copy of why that denial happened? Is there like a detailed report or something that we can look at? My concern is if he's living with them and they're denied for placement
or even alternate caregiving um that that being his household might be an issue that needs to be on our radar, but also secondarily for purposes of if visitation ever moved to that home. Can you tell me how you're thinking about that? Yeah. Um, I can definitely provide a report um during the next court hearing or whatever. Um, thanks. But, uh, the grandparents were initially denied placement due to um, CPS history. um which I believe is in the process of um they are pursuing expungement um of that history in order to support placement um or at
least interactions with the children. Um currently it was brought up to me that um Mr. Dubie wants to move out um wants to get his own um residence. Um, with that understanding, we have not really considered um the interactions between that due to visits being therapeutic currently, um, not being in the parental home and his intentions to move out. Is he on probation or have any interactions with law enforcement in the last period if you know? Um, I believe he he was previously on probation. I believe he paid the fees that he was supposed to
um and completed that. Thanks. Any uh redirect recross or questions based on my questions? No, your honor. No, your honor. Okay. Thank you for your testimony. Okay. Any other witnesses? Miss Thomas? No, your honor. I would leave it to Miss Ting if she would like to call her client. Thank you. Yes, I would like to call my client. Thank you. Up to our witness stand you want to swear you in. Raise your hand. You sly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth. So you Yes, sir. Okay. Thank you. Uh Austin,
can you please state your full name for the record? Austin Dooby. Thank you. And you're the father of two of the children in this case. Is that correct? Yes. Okay. And uh were you able to hear everything that was just testified to by um the case worker? Yes. Okay. And so we're going to break that down and I'm going to ask you some questions about uh each different area. Okay. Okay. Okay. So, um with regards to your visits, um it sounds like you may have had a concern previously with regards to the request to change
the days of those. Is that accurate? Yes. Okay. Um, I've already um switched my like I already requested I get Wednesdays off so I can see my kids that day and I can't just keep going to my boss and saying, "Hey, I can't work this day. Hey, I can't work this day." So, I mean, that's where I was at at that. Okay. But you just heard the testimony of the case worker and it sounds like that is no longer being requested and your visits planned to be on the same days. Um, as far as I
understand, that's that it should stay on Wednesday from now on. Okay. And again, you're just requesting that that stay as is due to your work schedule. Is that accurate? Yeah. Okay. Um and then with regards to your work, uh where are you currently employed? Um I deliver uh I'm a delivery driver for Domino's. Um until I get a car and then I'm going to go out and seek better employment. Okay. And um are you able then to provide proof of your payub to the case worker to verify that employment? The way I get paid is
through a pay card and I have every text message of every dollar I've ever made for the last six months there on my phone uh for if that's sufficient proof that I get paid. Um and you're able to provide that to the worker then after the hearing today? Yeah, I can I can I can go back as far as she wants. Okay. All the way back to July. Okay. And if she would request that uh your supervisor or somebody at your employment uh in addition reach out to her just to verify your employment, is that
something that you'd be willing to set up as well? Domino's number is on Google and anybody can call and they all know me there. Okay. But if it was if if for some reason it needed to be a supervisor, is that something you'd be willing to talk to your supervisor about and arrange? Yeah, I can have him call her Thursday. I work Thursday. Okay. And then um with regards to the testimony that was given for uh the intake at CH, um you've already had that. Is that accurate? Yes, I attended a CH appointment and um
on Monday and this is what I wanted to bring up too because uh I'll say mistaken the truth but she mistaken the truth quite a few times during her testimony. So I have the date right here that I sent her in text message which she's claiming I did not that my first uh appointment is in two weeks on Monday at 1:00 and that is not like a number date. No, but in two weeks I on Monday at 1:00 is a click on a calendar on a phone away from figuring out. So are you then stating
that your first appointment would be on Monday, January 26th? Yes, at 1 p.m. Okay. And with regards to the psych evaluation, it sounds like you have that scheduled for tomorrow as well. Is that accurate? Yes. And I did not have any idea about that until I was right there hearing it. So, I mean, I'm a little bit concerned about the communication still. I mean, it's been a problem for the last since it started. Okay. Are you receiving email communication from the casework? I am getting some of the emails, but not all of the emails that
I'm being told that I'm being sent. I'm I I signed the documents, the ones that said uh to complete and sign. I clicked on them all and I completed and I signed them. Um, as far as like the drug testing, I don't have an email that suggests anything about drug testing. Um, I have an email about Braxton's early on appointment, which I I responded to those. So, I responded to every email that I have received. Um, and the ones that I have not responded to, I have not received. Okay. So, so then you're testifying today
that any email that you've ever received from the caseworker or at least ever received in the last reporting period, you have responded to. And then the ones that you haven't responded to, it's safe to assume you did not receive those. Yes. Okay. Um, with regards to the drug testing though, we heard testimony today that it sounds like if you are uh willing to have the drug testing completed by the case worker during your parenting time or even by Bnee more potentially that would be a possibility. Is that something that you are um agreeable to? I've
already agreed to it. I don't know why she said I didn't, but I' i've already said a long time ago, which is why I haven't brought anything up about it since, and I've been waiting this entire time for it. Um, as far as uh drug testing, I did agree to drug test today before I leave. Um, and then, uh, as regarding to the drug testing that she showed up to to do manually, um, I will state that I was home, but I was sleeping. Uh, I had a text message from early in that morning, but
no missed phone calls. Okay. So, you weren't avoiding that drug testing then. You just did not know that she was there and didn't Absolutely. I did not wake up until about 1:45 2:00 p.m. that day. Okay. Is when I actually got out of bed, I seen the text message from her and I said, "Oh crap." But I didn't figure, you know, that she had been there because I did I did not wake up to a door. I did not wake up to my phone ringing. Nothing like that. I had zero missed calls, but I did
have a text from her that morning. Okay. Um, so it sounds like then moving forward, you're happy to agree to and arrange the drug testing, even if you've already agreed to it. Uh, to to start at this point, I I I will go purchase my own drug test and start bringing them in because uh I just I mean, I don't do drugs. I was 130 pound skeleton when I did drugs. I'm 200 pounds in fat right now. I mean, that's like the opposite. So, okay. Uh, I have no symptoms of drug use at all. So,
um, I'm okay and I've been okay with the drug testing since the very beginning. I am just waiting. Okay. Um, and then you heard the testimony with regards to the documentation that is being requested to prove that your parents own the currently residing in. Uh, I'm sorry, repeat the question. I could I couldn't hear you at the end. Uh, did you hear the testimony given by the case worker just now? uh with regards to you needing to provide documentation showing that your parents legally own the house that you're residing in. I don't understand why that
is like any of their concern whether my parents own their own house or not. Um where I live maybe um I can write something up saying that I live at that address but as far as like them proving ownership of the house I don't understand why that is necessary. Okay. Okay. So, you understand that the department is requesting proof that either uh if you did have your own apartment, for example, that they would need proof showing that you were actually renting that apartment. Correct. Yeah, I can show that because, you know, that's not um anybody
else's like private life business. I mean, um but like if I'm signing a lease agreement, yeah, I can I can show her a lease agreement. That's that's no problem for me. Okay. So, you're you're just stating that you're concerned about uh being required to give legal documentation that isn't necessarily yours. Yeah. Or anything to do with the case itself. I don't understand why they're all excited about figuring out if they own their own home or not. Okay. Uh there was testimony given that you're looking into getting your own housing or that's something that you're wanting
to do. Is that accurate? Uh yes, it is. um it is in the mid future like not near future but like I am I'm working towards it. Uh right now I'm at the verge of getting a car and then step one after that I make more money. I make more money I can get a place. Okay. Um are you aware of if the let's say reification did happen with your children um are they able then to be residing in the home that you're currently living in? There's a Yeah, there's a room. There's an extra spare
room, um, have everything they need, food, uh, clothes, every everything that they need. Okay. Um, and are you aware then of if your parents, since you're living with them, they're okay with the kids, uh, living there as well if reunification occurred? Um, my my parents love their grandkids. Yeah. Yes. But can you answer the question I just asked you? Uh I I don't see um I I don't see uh what the issue would be with the kids staying at the house. I mean my my whole goal is to be their dad. So uh Okay. So
your parents haven't stated to you that you know the kids can't live with you with your with you living here if if that were the case? No, they would not they would not say that. No, they would never say that. Okay. And then um with regards to the releases, it sounds like you've already signed all releases requested and taken care of that. Correct. Yes, I signed all the documents sent to me uh for uh my youngest son. Um I and I completed and I signed all those documents uh to the point where uh it said
thank you for completing the document and then all that stuff. So I I made sure that I finished it. Um, and then I went through and I went back um about 30 to 60 days. I don't remember exactly how far I went back, but I went back quite a bit to grab the rest of them and and then uh I I signed what I could find. Okay. And there was testimony uh given today and there was an attachment to the court report um regarding a visit that you had at the caregivers home on December 26.
So in that letter that I'm referencing there was uh there were it was stated that you had uh cussed at the children or cuss uh with the children present during those visits that the visit wasn't appropriate. Can you elaborate on your perspective of what occurred during that visit? Yeah, I never said a cuss word to either one of my boys. What happened was from from finish is now the guy was having a tantrum and I wanted him to put something away and he was not going to have it. him. So, he started throwing a fit
and I told him, "Okay, we're going to go to timeout." So, I tried to put him in timeout, but he was fighting me and he was not having that either. So, Brooke suggested that I just let him be and go to a little hallway that he goes to and has his tantrums in. So, uh I let him go and he went into his little hallway and started punching the door. Uh, I wanted to cool down for a minute because I was a little um I have not seen Malikai portray that um degree of uh like
anxiety or whatever it was that was causing him to freak out um at that time. So, it was new to me too. Uh and I was I collected myself and um I went I went to him and when I was calm I looked at him I said are you okay now? Um, and he said no. So, what I did is I gave him a big hug and then I tickled him and then he was all right after that. But, um, the swearing thing, I told him that he was not going to freaking act like that.
I did say that. I'm not going to lie. I said freaking, but I did not say an actual cuss word to my voice. Okay. All righty. Is there anything else in the court or that was testified to today uh with regards to this matter that you would like to elaborate on? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Repeat that one more time. I'm sorry. Is there anything else just in general uh with regards to the court report that you uh had a chance to review before today or with regards to the testimony that was given by the caseworker
that you want to elaborate further on or give your perspective of? Yeah. Um I would uh ask why the other two reports um the one that were under uh supervision of a therapeutic session uh were not included. Um but uh the one bad the one bad visit in the one time that you know Malachi showed me uh behavior that he doesn't ex exploit all the time but it does happen and I I'm I'm getting ridiculed for one mistake that I made out of this whole time when all my other parenting has gone nothing but flawless.
Both boys react to me well. They love me. They listen to me. They know me as dad. They want me to be their dad. They ask me if I if they can come live with me and I have to tell them, I'm trying. I'm trying. And you know what? Uh I feel like I'm getting nowhere because I'm being attacked for the one thing I do do wrong versus the 10,000 things I did right. Okay. So, you're frustrated uh that only maybe some of the, you know, things that have I just I just I just feel
like a little bit of um I I don't know if if it's because I'm the dad and I'm not the mom or what it is. stuff. But I love my kids just as much as any other parent loves their kids. I will go to war for my kids. If my kids are in danger, I don't care what the court says. I will save them. That that that is the bottom line here. So, okay. So, you want what's best for your kids and you are willing to do what is necessary and required of you to ensure
that the kids are safe and taken care of and have a relationship with you. Is that accurate? Yes. Okay. I have nothing further. Thank you. Questions Thomas? No, your honor. Thank you, Mr. No, your honor. Okay. Thank you for your testimony. May return to your seat. Any other witnesses, Miss uh Stang? No, thank you. Okay. Anyone you'd like us to hear from, Mr. Howitt? Um, Miss Breman. Okay. Um, ma'am, come on up to our podium first and give us your state. Spell your name, please. Yeah. Okay. Um, Abigail Brookman. That's my name. So, and I'm
the kids. I'm his mom. I'm the Could you spell I'm sorry. A V I G A I L B R I G M A N. Abigail. Head to our witness stand. Thank you. All right. Do you sound soly swear affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? So help you. Yes, sir. Um, prior to this court involvement happening, what was your relationship like with your grandchildren? Um, I spent tons of time with them. I felt like I was their only avenue while all the parents were in the mess they were
in for normaly. I was picking them up on every weekend like a normal thing for me to do. Um, I just have been there since they were all born, since I consider my oldest is their oldest brother who is not biologically mine, but I've been in his life for eight years and he is my grandson. I have pictures all over my walls. I have holidays with him. I have holidays with all my grandkids. So, I don't limit that to just my biological. And I feel like I've been suppressed when I feel like I've been there
avenue. Um, and currently what is your what are you allowed to do with your grandchildren? Nothing. I'm sorry. I'm just I I hate to do this, but I'm going to object to this line of testimony. I'm unsure the relevancy as it relates to the re the purpose of a review hearing. Um, the progress that Mr. Jubie is making on his case service plan um and the progress being made towards the goal of reunification. So I just would um object on those grounds at this time. Your honor, from my perspective, I in the process of evaluating
or investigating um this fragment as a uh support for placement, which there's been some instability with placement currently, and I think that she could provide support if um permitted by the department. Yes, I did see that in the uh court report and also raised some questions um to Atlas Dimmick about uh about that issue. So, I'll allow it for limited purposes uh understanding that it may affect the permanency uh for the children if Mr. Dubie or mother is not able to uh accomplish their goal of reunification. Certainly, relatives and permanency will become a question. So,
I'm going to roll the objection. Go ahead. Um, so just to to clarify, currently you're not allowed to see the grandchildren or only supervised. Um, I believe that the uh CPS I I want to say approved me to they approved my husband to supervise me. Why I take my grandkids to their appointments because I have a pass history. I did not lose my rights to my kids. I did raise my kids. And what is your understanding of your CPS history? I what's on there that I was told that is hindering me is I did have
um drug usage myself in the past. I have not been dishonest with any of the court hearings that's ever come about with the parent. So, um I have I was charged with usage and then neglect with a past CPS case. Have you um attempted to obtain your CPS records? I have asked um but I don't know if I was asking the right people cuz I have asked Atlas, but I'm not sure being a third party um that I'm asking the right people. I don't know who to ask. I don't know what avenue to go down.
I'm just I'm not I don't want to go away and I'm not going away. I love my grandkids. I love my son. I'm a huge support system. I have a really good rapport with the caregiver that has the kids now. We're really close. We talk on a daily basis. I don't know. I don't know where to go. I need help and I'm asking for help. I'm asking for the course of you and to give me something. My grandkids love me and I've been around for a long time. Um, and then just briefly, you were at
the Christmas visit. Yes. Would you say that? Have you reviewed the letter that was provided in the court report? Um, would which recollection of the visit would you say is more accurate? Um, I would say the letter is. I do believe that um my son has emotional things that he does need to work on. Um, I've known that for a long time and that's why we're sitting in the courtroom today with my, you know, my grandkids in the balance. I don't think it's a lost cause by any means. I just think he needs that extra
support system. So, I have nothing further. Any questions, Miss Thomas? No, your honor. Thank you, Miss uh Stay. Just a few. Thank you. Um, you have testimony with regards to uh your house that Austin is currently living in. Correct. Yes, he he lives at my house. I don't know if I heard you right. I'm sorry. That's okay. Um, do you own your house? Yes, I do. Okay. If it were uh still being requested by the department for uh proof of you owning that home, is that something that you'd be willing to uh provide to Austin
so he could give that to the department? Yes. I I uh today was the first day I learned of needing that at all. I did not know that. I would have given it to him when whenever it was requested. Okay. So, that's something that that you'll get to him so that he can uh provide that. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Thank you. And then with regards to uh you know if reunification occurs while Austin is living with you um are the children from your perspective and your uh you know what you'll allow in your home are they
able to live in the home with Austin if that were to occur? Yes ma'am. Okay. I live in a four bedroomedroom house and um I have space I have an empty room that would um be appropriate I think. So okay I have nothing further. Thank you. Okay. Any redirect? No, your honor. Thank you for your testimony. May return your seat. Thank you. Anyone else you'd like us to hear from? No, your honor. All right. Let's go to closing comments beginning with Miss Thomas. Thank you, honor. I think at this juncture there's um some kinks that
really need to get worked out and I think it's more related to the um case management component. Uh Atlas has done a really good job of including um the attorneys on her communications and their communications with Mr. Jubie. Um it is concerning that he's reportedly not receiving those, but the rest of us are. Um that it seems at the convenient times that he's not receiving those. Um so I I have and will um instruct Atlas to include all contacts moving forward and to um also make sure that there's red receipts on the emails being sent.
Um I think at this juncture, Mr. Dubie is in the beginning phases of his um treatment plan. um that the conditions that led to adjudication and to removal are still um present although being addressed. I would encourage him to continue to do what he's doing. Um and I think that a lot of the issues related to family support have already been discussed in team meetings. Um, and I don't know how else the family can um receive the support um or the knowledge or education or try to help with the understanding of um what's policy and
um that the children have been entrusted to the department and that the department's policy um has to govern unfortunately um and that differs from how families operate when they're not under the court jurisdiction or when the children are not removed. Um, but I think that a lot of these issues are ripe for family team meetings. Um, and I just would encourage the parties to continue to communicate and work together collaboratively. Um, because there are a lot of children involved. Um, the family does love all these children and they're working very hard. Um, and it it's
not convenient in any um way, shape, or form to have to um have to comply, I guess, with the oversight of the department. Um, however, that is the situation we are in. So, I'd ask the court to consider that um moving forward. Uh, I think parenting time status quo until there's um some demonstrated consistent progress um in that area. With Miss Moore being able to attest to that, I think that a psychological evaluation will also give her some information about um any other areas that might need to be worked on during their time together. Um
otherwise, I think setting this for 90-day review with the other parents um review hearing would be appropriate. Thank you. Miss uh St. Thank you. Uh so I I think that the record reflects that there have been some communication breakdowns um during this last reporting period. There's been some uh errors and miscommunication with regards to some of the services being started or um appropriately scheduled or referred. Um I think that it can be said that that is you know due to no fault of just one person. I think that there's uh been some issues with both
sides of getting things to be where they need to be, but it sounds like at this point communication is uh getting back on track with everybody and uh the services are, you know, being complied with. There's things scheduled um as far as psychological uh evaluations and then with the intake with CH and the therapy beginning. Um, and I know that Austin is um, hoping to be able to do everything he needs to do to be able to have his kids uh, back in his care as he testified today. So, um, we would request the standard
review period so that we can come back and show that uh, Austin has significant progress in his case service plan. Mr. How? Yes, sir. I would say as far as the kids are concerned, I think they're in a really good spot right now in their setup for services. Um, and I would expect continued progress and improvement on that end. Um, as far as Mr. Duby, I think he's made some strides in some areas of the communication errors. Um, and kind of a barrier and getting some things started, but I'm excited for him to get a
psychological evaluation if he is available tomorrow. Um, but I'd just ask that he continue to engage with uh, Miss Renee Moore, that she continue to have the discretion over parenting time uh, moving forward. And um, I trust that at family team meetings and um, other avenues that we'll continue to explore um, other relative support to um, kind of ease the burden off of the caregivers. Thank you. Thank you. The court um finds all interested parties were given notice for purposes of today's first review and permanency planning hearing for Mr. Dubie. I do find the goal
to be appropriate. Uh reunification will remain the goal moving forward in the next report period. The order uh will also reflect reasonable efforts towards that goal have been made. Uh the record is uh replete with examples of that as well as the court report. So thank you uh Atlas Demick for your efforts on that. Our um attorneys are also in satisfaction of their obligations. Thank you, Mr. Howitt. Um couple of homework assignments for Atlas Demick include, of course, what we talked about on record. Um some of the information about the reason that uh Austin's parents
have been denied for further involvement, we'll say, with the children. I'd also like you to make your own independent evaluation of that information. And if you feel that um that the grandparents could or should be utilized uh more uh for caretaking with these two then take it to Mr. How it or bring it to me through Miss Thomas so that we can expand that despite the uh initial barriers that you may be hitting there as it if they are indeed well as well bonded um as it as they may be to this caregiver as well
as the challenges presented to the current caregivers. Um, I would expect that we would uh be able to expand that for uh both boys so that they could have um better support. Also, I agree with Miss Thomas that I think it would be u just courtesy copies of the emails and contacts that you send out for referrals could be useful in the next report period with your core report. That being said, so I listened carefully to the testimony that you gave us today, Mr. Dubie. And um I think it's important to understand that um questioning
Miss Demick, questioning the caregivers, questioning Miss Bnee Moore, um and accusing a lot of other people of not having communication or being facitious or untruthful. um really compromises your credibility in this court because then if something does happen, I have to wonder if it's really happening or if it isn't happening. you're better off simply taking responsibility or not saying anything at all um if you're not able to accomplish the service because there's uh no ground here uh for me to entertain that everything is everyone else's fault and uh no one else is telling the truth
about what's happening and you're only getting emails when you need them or want them. So don't bother with that because it will just further undermine your credibility moving forward and then you'll have more work to do in order to earn that credibility back which means more work to do to earn your kids back. So go to your drug testing, go to your parenting time, do what you need to do um and take responsibility for it or don't say anything at all if you're not able to do that because at the end of the day it's
not really about you. It's about what's going to happen to your voice and that's what I have to look at. So, I hope to see uh more progress. I appreciate the services that you are engaged in and the plans to engage in those services in the next report period. And I look forward to looking at your progress at the next corner. I would offer to the parties March 24th at 9:00 a.m. It's a Tuesday. If you're able to join us, does that work for everyone? March 24th for our next review and pharmacy planning hearing. Yes.
Yes, your honor. Your your honor, is is there a reason to not keep it with the other parents? Is it just not available? Um, it's just simpler to go through them different like there's it's already so long. The other hearing that we had yesterday took all afternoon. Yeah. So, I would rather just make enough time so that I can hear Mr. case and hear the case for the parents. I appreciate your enthusiasm for tackling all of the same. Well, just um when did we set the other one for April 6? Yeah, sorry. April 6th at
1:30. Yeah. See, I have the I have another case already set at 2:30 to be consolidated with the termination trial as well. So, that would be a tough form to get in, I think. Yeah, understood. So, um maybe next time. All right, March 24th at 9:00 a.m. Unless there's any questions, that's all for today. Share your thoughts in the comments and don't forget to subscribe for more courtroom breakdowns.
