TO THE HONORABLE JUDGES OF THE ABOVE STYLED COURT:

The Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services respectfully submits the followinq report.

BACKGROUND HISTORY, The above—named children were adjudicated dependent on December 8 , 1981 due to the cause of neglect by the mother, Lori Anderson. Ms. Anderson had been unable to adequately care and supervise them.     On one occasion, the two younger children were found to be wandering alone on S. R. 595, a heavily—traveled thoroughfare.

These two younger children, Robert and Christina Anderson, were placed in foster care on December 8, 1981 with their care, custody and control awarded to Health and Rehabilitative Services. Franklynn Anderson, aka “Frankie”, was placed under HRS supervision with custody remaining with his mother.  

The maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Brown, very reluctantly allowed their daughter, Lori Anderson, and their grandson

Frankie, to live with them after Lori’s home had been condemned by the Pasco County building inspector. This living arrangement was to be temporary as Lori Anderson had been approved for H. U. D. housing. Due to a lack of transportation (Lori has only a bicycle) and non—access ability to a non—public telephone (Lori’ s parents have no telephone) combined with the Browns’ non—supportiveness of Lori’s situation, H. U. D.’s approved housing certificate expired with unable to obtain other living accommodations. Health and Rehabilitative services made every effort to assist Lori during this time, but due to the area and its ‘landlords’ / realtors options to rent their real estate to tenants without children, all helped to create a difficult housing problem for Ms. Anderson.

CURRENT SITUATION, Robert and Christina Anderson have adjusted fairly well to their foster home. Robert has not always been so well—adjusted, but has improved considerably due to his  foster parents’ patience. Robert now relates more easily to his visits with mother.

Lori Anderson is transported to the foster home for scheduled monthly visits by this counselor.     Bobby and Tina have mixed reactions upon seeing their mother. Tina “puckers—up” as if to cry, whereas Bobby now smiles. Bobby, after having a visit with his mother in the foster home used to experience a rather difficult separation which caused emotional trauma when it came time for his mother to leave.

    He now accepts his mother leaving him more easily. Christina, aka “Tina”, Anderson is the youngest of the sibling group at age 1 ½ years.     Tina does not relate too well as has been observed during foster home visits.     She does appear happy to see her mother, but objects to being held and taken away from her foster mother.   Both children appear to recognize their mother, but are not able to comprehend the situation which is understandable in children of this age.

The maternal grandparents, the Browns, visited only once with their grandchildren, Christina and Robert, in the foster home. A request, by the foster parents, that the children visit with their mother, brother and grandparents on Easter Sunday met with some opposition from the Browns when Lori asked about it.     However, after the Browns learned that the children would be visiting only for the day and not overnight, and also that the foster parents would be providing all necessary transportation, Mr. Brown then agreed to it. The Browns have not been very supportive of their daughter, Lori, and have not assisted in finding other housing for her. They are also most uncooperative with Health and Rehabilitative Services.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown have always complained to this agency about its’ inability to find other living arrangements for both their daughter and grandson.   The Browns have refused to accept any responsibility for their daughter or her current problems.   They have difficulty in compromising their plans and lifestyle.

At this time, they are willing to allow their grandson, Frankie Anderson, to live with them until the last day of school which is June 11, 1982 . On that date, however, he will need to be placed in a Shelter home if his mother is unable to find other living arrangements. The Browns, knowing that HRS cannot “place” their adult daughter, Lori, are willing to allow her to stay. Needless to say, this situation is creating unnecessary problems for Lori Anderson and her son.

PARENTAL SITUATION, Lori Anderson was involved in an automobile accident at age 16. She was also hospitalized, at a later date, for spinal meningitis which has left its’ impression on her ability to function well. Lori ‘s application for S.S.I. has been denied, but she has need of vocational rehabilitation in order to better prepare her for employment, preferably on-the-job training. As of this date, Lori has made some progress toward vocational rehabilitation by following—through on scheduled interviews, but prognosis for her employment is poor at this time.

Lori Anderson completed and signed a Performance Agreement with Health and Rehabilitative Services on December 10, 1981 (see copy attached). In this Agreement, Ms. Anderson was to continue with counseling at Human Development Center, obtain Parent Effectiveness training or similar counseling, obtain adequate housing, attempt to find employment and visit regularlv, on a monthly basis, with Christina and Robert.

Ms. Anderson currently attends Human Development Center on a weekly basis for counseling and has received similar parent training but this counselor has many concerns regarding her ability to effectively “parent” and supervise Frankie who can be catagorized as a typical boy, not to mention her ability to be consistent with the two younger children if custody was returned. Lori Anderson has kept scheduled appointments with HRS’s Vocational Rehabilitation office with her attempts at i 0b training, She has also visited regularly with Christina and Robert in their foster home. Ms. Anderson has failed, however, to find other living arrangements which was a primary prerequisite needed to return the children. Although employment is also desirable, A.F.D.C. would be another alternative for Ms. Anderson, if not employed.

Marcus , aka “Mark , Anderson , separated from Lori approximately a year ago. During a recent interview, Mr. Anderson indicated that he had always wanted all three children. He stated that Lori had threatened suicide if he were to have taken the children from her. According to Mark Anderson, he left his wife because she was unclean and unkept in her housekeeping, did not provide enouqh hot meals and was qenera11y incompatible. Said he stayed with Lori for 9 years, but then met another woman, Janet Marbs, with whom he now lives. Ms. Marbs is divorced and has two teenage daughters approximately 15 and 16 years old.

On March 17, 1982, prior to relocating to the State of Pennsylvania due to a job transfer, Mark Anderson also completed and signed a Performance Agreement with HRS (please see copy attached). As of this date, Mr. Anderson is meeting sufficient compliance with his Agreement (i.e. steady employment, consistent living arranqement and adeauate housing, as well as frequent con— tact via telephone calls with HRS). Mark Anderson is employed with Hinkel—McCoy in Bluebell, Pennsylvania as an instructor of college—level C. E.T.A. employees.   Mr. Anderson would very much like custody of all three children. He has initiated divorce proceedinqs against Lori Anderson as he plans to marry Janet Marbs as soon as his divorce is final.  There is a possibility that his marriage to Lori Anderson is not legal as they were married in Alabama when he was 19 and Lori was only 17 .  According to Mark, his mother gave verbal consent on the telephone for Lori because her parents could not be located.   Althouqh the legality of this marriage is being investigated by Mr. Anderson’s attornev; the matter of the children’s paternity is not an issue as Mark Anderson has never denied being their father.   Health and Rehabilitative Services has requested a home study to be completed on Mr. Anderson’s residence in Pennsylvania via the Interstate Compact procedure. At the present time, this agency is requesting placement approval only for Frankie Anderson with possible future placement for the two younger children, Robert and Christina Anderson.

EVALUATION, Lori Anderson realizes her situation, moreso now than ever before, and has agreed to allow Frankie to live with his father, Mark Anderson in Pennsylvania, pending the home study evaluation, HRS’s recommendation and the Court’s approval. The Browns would prefer their grandchildren to be adopted rather than live with their father. This counselor informed Mrs. Brown that a decision of that magnitude would not be hers to make, but that it would be determined by HRS only if there was no other relative placement available.

Frankie Anderson has indicated that he wants to be placed with his father.  This is understandable as the environment in which Frankie now finds himself is extremely negative whenever his father is discussed.

RECOMMENDATION ,    Health and Rehabilitative Services, at this time, is respectfully recommending to the Court that Franklynn Christina and Robert Anderson be continued in dependency status with Christina and Robert Anderson to continue under the care, custody and control of Health and Rehabilitative Services in the foster care program.  Case to be again reviewed within six months if placement with father is not recommended from Interstate Compact home study. If the home study is favorable, then case to be again reviewed prior to out—of—state placement.

Respectfully submitted this 1^st day of June, 1982 .