Case Study 2

Marchman Family:

Sea Marchman, mother, 6/10/75

Ed Marchman, father, 7/1/77

Cloud Marchman, son, 3/12/01

Skye Marchman, daughter, 2/21/00

REPORT INFORMATION:

On March 15, 2007 an abuse report was received alleging the mother and father of the two children were leaving the children at home alone while they went out partying at local bars. The report stated that the parents often leave the children without food and that Cloud suffers with asthma and does not have his medicine.

The Department sheltered the children on March 15, 2007. The children were home alone and the parents could not be located. The children told the investigator that their parents left early in the afternoon while they were watching Mickey Mouse Club. The children said their parents go out a lot and usually leave them home alone. They do not know the neighbors and are not to go outside. Both Cloud and Skye asked if this investigator had some food as they were hungry and had not eaten yet that day. The refrigerator and kitchen cabinets were bare except for some cans of beer and a few pieces of bread. The house was messy – laundry piled up, dust thick on the furniture in the living room, papers on the floor, dirty pots and pans in the sink, and trash running over in the garbage cans. The children’s bedroom had twin beds but no bed linens – the children appeared to sleep on the top of bare mattresses. The other bedroom (parents) was clean and the bed made. The children’s clothing was appropriate, but quite dirty. The only relatives live in Michigan and the children did not know how to contact them.

Parents’ Statement:

The parents contacted this investigator the next morning; the parents demanded to know where the children were and why the Department took them. Both Mr and Mrs. Marchman came to the office to meet with the investigator. The Marchmans’ smelled of alcohol and cigarette smoke. When asked where they were on March 15th, they said they were at a neighbor’s house. After questioning them further and advising them that we spoke with the neighbors, they admitted they went out drinking at the Town Talk Bar. They also admitted that Mr. Marchman lost his job as a warehouse manager three months ago because of his drinking. Both of the Marchman’s said they have problems with drinking.

The investigation was closed with verified findings.

Reasonable Efforts:

The children were removed on March 15, 2007 due to inadequate supervision and medical neglect. Cloud needs his asthma medicine and treatment to regulate his breathing. It was the Department’s position that the parents behavior will continue without intervention and that the children remain in shelter care until suitable relatives are located and while the parents’ get treatment.

Shelter Hearing:

On March 16, 2007 The court ordered the children into shelter care.

On March 16, following the shelter hearing, the Marchman’s provided the case manager with the names of relatives who would be interested in caring for the children. Ed Marchman’s mother and father, and Mr. Marchman’s sister, Clare Smith. All live in Michigan so the ICPC process was initiated.

On April 10, 2007, the department received notification that the paternal grandparents were approved as placement for the two children. Travel arrangements were made and the children moved to be with their paternal grandparents on April 25, 2007.

The permanency goal for the children is reunification. Mr. and Mrs. Marchman are making excellent progress with their case plan tasks and treatment program. It is expected that the children will be reunified by the end of the summer.