Jamilah Shamsid-Deen's life was in chaos.
She was addicted to drugs, and her five children had been taken away by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
That was three years ago, but Shamsid-Deen's life is better these days, a change highlighted by the return of her children during the Family Reunification Week held by county officials from March 1 to 7. The event marked the reunions of parents and children separated by the court system, and also was meant to put an emphasis the employment, housing and counseling services offered by county officials in hopes of giving the families some staying power.
Shamsid-Deen said the services are crucial for many mothers who have gotten their kids back and are trying to do better in life.
"It's a hard situation when you have your children removed from you and there seems to be no one out there who has your best interest," said Shamsid-Deen, who is now planning to enroll in school. "You have a lot of moms who get there kids back, but they don't have housing, they don't have an income, and they are pretty much left by themselves."
Reco Varnado, who works as a personal trainer, knows the difficulties parents encounter when navigating the system to reunite with their children.
When Varnado's son was taken from his mother due to alleged neglect, DCFS staffers asked him to come down to their office, he said.
"That day they gave me my son ... but, by the end of the day, took him back for false allegations," Varnado said.
After several months of going through the court process and seeking his son through another means, Varnado was eventually reunited with his child.
After his experience, Varnado decided to help parents who experience similar circumstances. He is now a mentor parent with Parents In Partnership (PIP), which helps parents reunify with their children.
"I wish I had known about Parents In Partnership — it would have been less stressful," Varnado said. "I had to navigate myself and basically learn the system myself."
Patricia S. Ploehn, the director of the DCFS, thanked Los Angeles Juvenile Court Judge Michael and the Board of Supervisors for supporting recent activities to celebrate Family Reunification Week.
For more information about DCFS' programs and services, call (213) 351-5507.
For more information on PIP, call (323) 725-4670.
Chico C. Norwood is a writer for the L.A. Watts Times.
Photos courtesy of the Los Angeles County Department of Children Family and Services.
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