Adoption woes lead to couple's lawsuit against agency

BY CALEB HALE, THE SOUTHERN

Monday, June 19, 2006 6:38 AM CDT

MURPHYSBORO - A botched adoption in 2002 has left a Murphysboro

woman embroiled in a legal battle against Lutheran Social Services of
Southern Illinois, an agency she says retaliated against her because she
had a problem with her caseworker.

Paula Cade said she and her husband, Floyd, have poured almost
$20,000 into the lawsuit, seeking millions of dollars in damages against
the agency.

Cade said an LSSI caseworker made unfavorable amendments to a

completed home study days before she was scheduled to adopt a child.
She alleges the change was made after a grievance she filed against the
agency. Cade said the adoption fell through right before the birth mother
had the child and the woman was forced to pick new adoptive parents in
the labor room at the hospital.

Since then, Cade claims LSSI has blacklisted her, making it nearly
impossible for her to work through another adoption agency.

"I seriously doubt I could get another adoption agency to look at us right
now," Cade said.

LSSI regional director Larry Johnson declined to comment on specifics of

the case, citing confidentiality rules the agency follows under state
regulations. Johnson said his agency follows standard adoption
guidelines placed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family
Services. Any questions that may arise about the adoptive parents are
taken seriously, he added.

"All I can tell you is when we are working with children we are looking at
the children's best interest," Johnson said. "We're trying to make the best
choice for the child, not the best choice for the parent. We follow DCFS
rules and procedures."

This is the second time Johnson has defended his agency against client
claims in as many months. Last month, The Southern reported on a
Johnson County foster parent couple, David and Elizabeth Avery, who
claimed LSSI was removing foster children they had sheltered for several
years without explanation. The couple also alleged it was retaliation by
the agency.
Cade contacted The Southern after reading the story about the Averys, to
explain her own conflict with the agency.

"The reason I came forward is I saw it was happening to another couple,"

Cade said. "I don't know what's going on with LSSI. I don't think other
agencies do it this way. I think this is unique to them."

Cade said she has reported her problems to DCFS, adding officials there
have been slow to catch up on what has happened with her case.

"They had no idea any of this was going on, and LSSI had a duty to
report this," she said.

Officials at DCFS could not be reached for comment by the time this
story was published.

Johnson said all decisions made within the agency regarding child
welfare, no matter how minor, are run through more than one person. "If
we have questions, it is not just the person that is working with the
adult. The worker that has questions goes to their supervisor and often
we get an outside evaluation as well," he said. "We don't want to make
these decisions lightly."

Johnson noted almost any decision the agency can make is subject to
criticism by one party or another; however, lawsuits from clients are
actually rare, he added.

"Lawsuits haven't been a big issue," Johnson said. "Like any other
provider of any kind of service you're always open to them, but in my 26
years here lawsuits are very infrequent."

Johnson added he does carry personal liability insurance as an extra

safeguard.

Meanwhile, Cade said she and her husband continue trying to adopt a
child and would like to adopt one from Ethiopia in the future. However,
she said personal adoption is expensive and most of her money right now
is being thrown into a court battle she said it is necessary to fight.

"I had the dream every other wife has - the 2.5 children, the picket fence
and the cocker spaniel," Cade said. "I got the cocker spaniel and the
picket fence, just not the kids."

caleb.hale@thesouthern.com
(618) 529-5454 ext. 5090