Foster Family Says DCF Put Them In Custody Battle For Boy
BOSTON (CBS) - As veteran foster parents Sue and Wayne packed their kitchen dishes Friday afternoon -- they struggled with the meaning of their approaching move.
"The last thing we want to do is to let down this little boy," Sue says.
They've taken in dozens of foster kids over the last decade – even adopting one.
But this situation is different.
"I'm hoping he'll be in the car with us," adds husband Wayne.
We are only using first names to protect the couple's foster son – an emotionally troubled 4-year-old we'll call "Nikko" -- who made a dozen other foster stops before landing in their home on the South Coast.
"We love this little boy like he was our own," says Sue. "I can't imagine life without him."
But that might happen.
"Nikko" has made huge strides here over several months – and the couple's daughter is applying to adopt him.
In the meantime, Sue and Wayne thought the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families had blessed the youngster's move south with them.
"We thought we would be his forever home," says Sue. "'Nikko' loves us and wants to come to North Carolina. But DCF is going to stop that."
Indeed, she's talking about a recent snag in essentially swapping "Nikko's" Mass Health insurance for the equivalent in North Carolina – allowing him to get much needed medical treatment and counseling on the public dime.
Trouble is, they've now been told he's 'Title 4E ineligible' – meaning he can't get the insurance transfer – and therefore can't go with them.
"I don't know what they're thinking," laments Wayne.
"If we won the lottery tomorrow this wouldn't be an issue," says Sue. "We'd go right out and buy "Nikko" health insurance."
But they can't do that on Wayne's wages as a heavy machine operator.
And so next week, they've been told DCF will pluck the youngster from the stability of his tidy room – and move him to his 14th foster home.
"It should be about him – what's in his best interest," says Wayne. "That's all we're concerned with."
And with time growing short they're hoping someone will solve the apparent insurance disconnect – and intervene for "Nikko."
"He's the one who keeps reminding us why we're doing this," says Sue. "It's for him. It's not for us."
DCF declined to give its version of events, because the agency never comments publicly on specific foster children in its care.
Sue and Wayne say DCF is coming to move "Nikko" to another foster home on Tuesday.
"His life up until now has been tragic," Sue says. "We don't want to perpetuate that."
The couple has been told that DCF is furious with them for going public with "Nikko's" plight on YouTube – and for talking with WBZ-TV.
But they've also been told that Governor Baker's office is now in the loop.