... your light will break forth like the dawn

In August of 2007, I was assigned to one of my first domestic violence cases. The father of the investigation beat his in-home girlfriend. They had a two month old baby. She was a cutie. Naturally, I went to check on the mother and baby since the father was arrested. Let's call the mother Lisa and the baby Ashley. The father will be called John.  I went to their apartment in far north Dallas. I knocked three times, no answer. I left a letter to call me and a Parent's Guide. This guide tells parents their rights and the role of the agency in the investigation. As I walked to my car, got in, wrote down my notes and time of attempted contact, I realized the letter and Parent's Guide was gone from the front door. I then called Law Enforcement to find out if John was still locked up. Nope. He's out. I asked dispatch to send an officer to check on Lisa and Ashley. They came and I remember it was blazing hot. The officers let me sit in the car while they attempted to get them to come out. I watched from my car. No response. The officers then came back to my car and asked me if I was SURE they were in there. I told them, I had no idea, but papers do not disappear. I knew that I didn't see anyone enter or leave the apartment, therefore someone was in there. This is when I pray. I prayed that my nerves would be calmed, that nothing too dangerous would happen, and that the mother and most importantly, baby Ashley were safe. For all I know, the mother and child could have been dead. Or severely beaten. They continued to knock with no answer. Since an emergency protective order was verified by the officers, they were able to enter the premises with the key, obtained from the office manager. I sat and waited while they got the key & realized 6 - 10 cops showed up for back up. It was awesome. It was a rush to see them there to HELP ME. They flirt and they make the situation less scary. It was great. Eventually, three cops went in and arrested the ignorant father, who returned to the place he was banned from. At this time, I went inside with the officers, checked on baby Ashley sleeping in her bassinet and rubbed Lisa's back while she sobbed. I told her where she was responsible for the wrong in this situation, the steps to make it right, and the hope of us walking through this together. . . but mama wasn't too happy. She cried, sobbed, so I drove her and baby Ashley up to my office. Due to her inability to protect herself or her daughter from a battering father, bail him out of jail, and bring him back into her home, she allowed her grandmother to care for baby Ashley. Great. The baby is safe. Now, the case was transferred to our on-going unit to rehabilitate the areas of Lisa's life that are weak. To strengthen the future of baby Ashley's life.

7 months pass. Lisa works her services, dots her i's and crosses her t's. The case is closed. I at this time, have forgotten about Lisa and Ashley. On a Friday morning in March at 7:45 AM, my favorite person to work with at the police station called me on my cell telling me John beat up Lisa again, and baby Ashley was there. She told me how Lisa was still communicating with John and they've had a secret relationship. The adrenaline kicked in again... See, somewhere within that time frame of working services, baby Ashley went home. Lisa showed the agency that she can chose her daughter over her unprotective, battering boyfriend and father to Ashley.

At that time, I called the police. They meet me at Lisa's. She let us in. I informed her of all this information of their secret relationship I knew about and informed her that her daughter has to go into foster care. I know, it's horrible. She had no relatives to care for her daughter and were not willing to help her because she chose her battering John over Ashley. In the previous case, we had a Family Team Meeting where all the relatives, community services representatives, and I determined who would care for this child if the parent's fail to take responsibility for her safety again. There was no one. At that time, Lisa sobbed so bad that the officer had to threaten to arrest her for failing to cooperate with a social services worker (me!). I packed her a bag and off I went to my office with the little cutie Ashley.

It's horrible. Turns out John is bipolar and has several hits on his criminal record. She was as addicted to HIM as he was to not taking medicine and battering her. He was on the wanted list and I got several calls from local police departments on locating information. At this time, he's locked up for three years minimum. Him behind bars, has allowed Lisa to work her services through the court, send baby Ashley with a relative out of the city, and get her life back together.

7 months later (TODAY), I got a voicemail on my cell phone from Lisa. She called to tell me that in November, Ashley will be returning home to her. She said that I helped her to make new beginnings for her and that she is excited to start over. She said that there are happy endings and wanted to me see how I helped save her family.

I praise the Lord for relief in oppression, delight in the agency's attempt to "loosen the chains of injustice and untie to cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke ... Then Your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will answer; you will cry HELP, and he will say: HERE I AM" Isaiah 58 - This is what I choose to see this experience as. I hope and pray that Ashley, Lisa and John see His Glory and promises revealed.