THE LAST I HEARD, THEY WERE STILL IN CARE. THIS IS WHERE THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE, RIGHT HERE IN CHILDREN’S COURT. WHEN POLICE RESPOND TO A CHILD ABUSE CALL, THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE THE CHILD FROM THEIR HOME FOR 48 HOURS. CYFD THEN GETS INVOLVED TO DETERMINE IF THEY WANT TO HOLD THEM FOR LONGER. TO DO THAT, THEY MUST PETITION THE COURT AND THE JUDGE SIGNS AN ORDER. JOHN ROMERO IS A FORMER CHILDREN’S COURT JUDGE. BUT WE’RE SUPPOSED TO, BASED ON THAT PIECE OF PAPER, SIGNED THE VERY FIRST ORDER THAT AUTHORIZES THE CHILD TO COME INTO THE TEMPORARY CUSTODY OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT AND ONE OF THE IMPORTANT DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE IN THAT ORDER, IT IS CONTRARY TO THE WELFARE OF THE CHILD TO REMAIN IN THIS HOME. WITHIN TEN DAYS, A HEARING IS SCHEDULED TO DETERMINE WHETHER A CHILD WILL STAY IN STATE CUSTODY. AND AT THAT CUSTODY HEARING, THE JUDICIAL OFFICER NEEDS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE’S PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE CHILD HAS BEEN NEGLECTED OR ABUSED. BUT IN NEW MEXICO, THAT’S NOT EASY TO PROVE BECAUSE YOU DON’T NEED TO PROVE THAT THE FATHER IS A HEROIN USER. YOU HAVE TO PROVE THAT THE FACT THE FATHER IS A HEROIN USER CREATES IMMINENT, PUTS THE CHILD IN IMMINENT HARM BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF FUNCTIONING DRUG USERS IN NEW MEXICO. WHEN CYFD PLACES A CHILD BACK HOME, THEY GIVE THE PARENT WHAT THEY CALL A SAFETY PLAN. BUT THERE’S ONE PROBLEM. SO MUCH OF WHAT WE DO IS BY LAW, VOLUNTARY. THAT MEANS PARENTS DON’T HAVE TO COOPERATE WITH CYFD. MONIQUE JACOBSEN USED TO BE THE CYFD SECRETARY UNDER GOVERNOR SUSANA MARTINEZ. A LOT OF TIMES WHEN SHE HAS INTERACTION WITH FAMILIES, THE ONGOING FOLLOW UP IS VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION IN THE ACTUAL INVESTIGATION IS VOLUNTARY. JUDGE ROMERO SAYS A LOT OF FAMILIES DON’T COOPERATE. FEW OF US IS GOING TO SAY, YES, THANK YOU FOR COMING INTO MY LIFE AND INTERFERING WITH MY LIFE AND TELLING ME YOU’RE GOING TO HELP ME. I’M FR