4 Year Old Benjamin Stanley: Why Can’t I go Home?

March 3, 2015

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4 Year Old Benjamin Stanley: Why Can’t I go Home?

Benjamin Stanley

UPDATE 3/18/2015

4 of the 7 Stanley Children come home. Image from Bringthestanleykidshome Facebook Page.

UPDATE 3/17/2015

Four Stanley Children to Return Home Immediately

From Michelle Stanley:

Today we had what is called a mediation meeting. That is a meeting where
licensed mediators mediate between all the parties involved to try to
come to a mutual agreement that resolves the issues in a way that is
satisfying to all parties. It was estimated that it would take about 3
hours but instead it took nine hours of waiting, discussing, breaking for
lunch, then mediating, and finally in the last 20 minutes an agreement was
made. The court house had to lock up or it would have gone longer.

Because of the paper everyone had to sign before the meeting stating that
everything mentioned during mediation was confidential, we can not give
the details as to what all went on. However the result of the mediation
is that the 4 youngest children will come home tomorrow on a 60 day home
trial basis and the older 3 children will come home on the weekends and
spring break (which happens to be next week.) We will still have the
adjudication hearing on the 23rd but the dynamics of it will be different
since we have reached an agreement today.

That is all we can say for today but we will share more later as we learn
what we can share since the meeting did not close as it should have (with
a discussion as to what everyone would be allowed to say) due to the fact
we ran out of time. We are thrilled that any children are being allowed
to come home because it was our understanding that if no agreement was
made then the chances of them coming home later would be slim do to the
powers we are up against.

So we praise God for the prayers that were answered and ask everyone to
continue to pray as this is still not over. The transition will be hard
due to the 2 months of exposure and influence on our children. But we
know that by God’s grace his loving mercies are new every day and we can
take it one day at a time. We love you all and again thank each and
everyone of you for your love and support and prayers. It has born fruit
and we give God all the glory for this wonderful victory.

Love,
Michelle

Health Impact News Editor Comments

It has been about 50 days now since a military-style SWAT team arrived at the home of the Stanley family in Arkansas, and removed all seven home-schooled children from the home. The parents have been charged with no crime, let alone been convicted of any wrong doing, and yet the children still remain separated from them, placed in foster care, as the State of Arkansas continues to collect federal funding for each child that has been placed into the foster care system.

Read the last update on the Stanley family that Medical Kidnap published here: 7 Children Kidnapped by State of Arkansas from Homeschool Family to Remain in State Custody

Hal Stanley, the father of the children and Baptist minister who has been required by the State to attend “parenting classes,” shared this letter written by a 19 year old girl who prays every day for his children held in captivity.

Has anyone tried to imagine the Stanley’s story through the eyes of 4 year old Benjamin?

by Rebekah Polder

Picture this: His yard has more cars and trucks in it then he has ever seen before. Armed Sheriffs and CPS workers come into his home, searching through his things, his parent’s things, the kitchen, the dining room, looking into drawers and closets… what are they doing? He doesn’t know.

Benjamin being taken from his home by force. Photo courtesy KARK4.

He’s never seen anyone do this before. These people are blowing to pieces every bit of security he has ever known. They’re asking him and his sibling’s strange questions as they go on with their strange search. He couldn’t possibly understand what’s transpiring in his home.

After hours of this torture he is told that he will be taken away by these obviously unkind intruders. In her distress, his mommy tries to comfort him… but he is ripped from her arms… he doesn’t want to leave with these people so he’s thrown over the shoulder of one of these mean strangers and toted out to an unfamiliar vehicle.

He is driven to a place he has never seen before. Strangers are all around him telling him what to do.

Where is mommy and daddy? He is sat at an unfamiliar table and given food that he is probably too upset and confused to eat. Where are the rest of his brothers and sisters? They’re not all here. Did some of them get to stay home with mommy and daddy? Why? Don’t they want to take care of him anymore? Maybe they love them better. But why? He’s a good little boy too! Why are all of these things happening?

All of his mixed-up questions go unanswered. He probably cries himself to sleep… only to dream the whole nightmare over again… Mean strangers coming into his home and going through his things, being ripped from his crying mommy’s arms, being thrown over the big Sheriff’s shoulder and being taken away to a strange place. Waking up, he needs to be reassured of his security by mommy and daddy. Where are they?

There are only strangers around to try and comfort him in his despair. He is forced to try to adjust to this hard, unnatural lifestyle. He’s encouraged to call one of the strangers of the house “Dad”. But wait, he already has a “Daddy” at home. He has two daddies now? He never had before. He is so confused… He begs to go home but is refused.

A supervised visit after the children were removed from the home. Benjamin is sitting on his daddy’s lap.

Later on he gets to “visit” with mommy and daddy in a strange place. They aren’t allowed to talk about all of the horrible things that happened on the 12th of January. Why? It was scary and he wants to know why it all happened. When the visit is over he is all the more confused. Why can’t he go home with mommy and daddy? Can they at least come back with him?

He is refused once again. But why? He needs his parents. Why is he not allowed to stay with the people that have always loved and taken such good care of him? None of this mixed-up situation makes sense to him…

Benjamin and his siblings are still not back home with their parents. It has been 49 days since he was taken away from his happy home. He only gets to “visit” with his mommy and daddy twice a week! He has only gotten to go back to his home a couple times since the big ordeal. He still cannot contemplate what has happened over the last month and a half… He should and needs to be back with his parents and the government won’t allow him to go home.

The Stanleys haven’t been charged with any crimes, because there are no crimes to be found.

“When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence. For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.” Psalm 9:3-4

Rebekah Polder

Source: Bringthestanleykidshome Facebook Page

Please continue to stand with the Stanleys. We must make our voices heard. Please contact your pastors, family members, friends, neighbors, homeschool groups, attorneys and judges. We all need to stand up for what is right and get the word out about what is happening in our country. The Stanleys can’t stand up alone. We have a responsibility as their brothers and sisters in Christ to bear their burdens and to take up their cause!

Please contact everyone you can about this ongoing, massive injustice against two American parents and their children: friends, business associates, media, government officials at all levels from the Governor of Arkansas to Arkansas State Representatives and Senators to DHS to the Juvenile Court of Garland County, Arkansas. This is America and We the People have to stick together!

The DHS address is: 115 Stover Ln. Hot Springs, Ar. 71913
Call DHS: 501-321-2583
DIRECTOR DHS ARKANSAS (501) 682-8650

Garland County Sheriffs Department at 501-622-3690 or email Sheriff Mike McCormick directly at

mm********@ga***********.org

.

FOLLOWING IS A LINK TO DIRECTLY CONTACT GOVERNOR ASA HUTCHINSON:
http://governor.arkansas.gov/contact-info
The above link will allow you to send an email directly to the governor’s office.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE:
JOHN VINES In Session Phone: 501-682-6211
Out of Session Phone: 501-682-7771
TWITTER: @ArkansasHouse

Attorney Emord States that Arkansas Seizure of Stanley Kids is an Extraordinary Abuse of State Power

Does the State Ever Have a “Right” to Remove Children from a Home?

Published on March 3, 2015

Tags: Arkansas, Stanley family|

13 Comments

Dennis Duehning March 16, 2015 at 3:22 pm - Reply

On March 17 the western world celebrates the life of a 16 year old boy who was kidnapped in Britain by Irish pirates and taken as a slave to tend sheep in Ireland.  While he was there, he prayed and decided to obey God.  After 6 years of captivity, Patrick heard a voice in a dream telling him how to escape.  He walked 200 miles to the coast where he found a ship that took him back home.  Patrick studied to become a priest.  Later he returned to Ireland to teach the people about God..  He helped build schools and churches.  He was a missionary to Ireland for 30 years.  May God turn this unjust kidnapping of Benjamin Stanley into a story that will glorify his Name.

Dennis Duehning March 16, 2015 at 2:56 pm - Reply

Janice Anderson Here’s the problem with CPS in the US and the root of the problem.. IN 1997, the process was streamlined to allow private, for profit companies to contract with the states and counties to provide foster and adoption services. Private companies operate in this industry just as they do in the private section.. increasing the bottom line! The more children they take, the more they are paid, by the head, per child by the states and counties!! CAPTA…complete with goal, bonuses, quotas for their CPS agents! There are numerous companies across the US that provide these services and sign contracts with either the states or the individual counties.. For Instance, Omni Visions Inc, previously owned by Jim Henry, the former governor of TN.. His bother Mr. Haslam is the current director of DHHS in TN… While both claim to have stepped down from their positions with Omni Visions, Inc., there is a current contract ( on that has been in placed since before Omni Visions became incorporated) to provide these services.. It is increasing apparent that these companies use strong-arm tactics, threats, illegal search and seizure, kidnapping, illegal entry and every other tactic they can to take children from their natural parents in order to increase the bottom lines of the vendor companies contracted with the states and counties… The lives of our children are just too precious to allow this to continue! Our families are too important to allow them to be torn apart! A Google search will easily turn up companies that contract with states and counties to provide these services! Operating much like the private prison contractors, it behoves them to run at capacity that overflows the system without due process and without oversight.. because as one can easily imagine, “the fox is watching the hen house”… and the only thing important IS THE BOTTOM LINE of these private companies… Omni Visions Inc. operates and signs contracts with TN, KY and NC… Another is here:https://www.co.lucas.oh.us/index.aspx?NID=1810

Lucas County, OH – Official Website – Myths and Facts About Foster Care…
CO.LUCAS.OH.US

Michelle March 9, 2015 at 4:31 pm - Reply

Ok I am confused now if some one could be so kind and correct me if I’m wrong please. This is the 3rd article I have read about This family I am heartbroken and sickened at the same time. In one of the other articles it said something about the older children making up stuff against the parents all because they wanted to go to public schools but didn’t know or think anything like this was going to happen especially to the younger children. So with that said if I’m correct in that statement why haven’t the ones who accused their parents of stuff been talked to? Not that I think at this point it would matter to the state at all. I pray all return home safe to mom and dad and they can start the long journey of healing they will all need and go thru

Crystal March 5, 2015 at 4:11 pm - Reply

I am praying for you and your sweet babies. I too have had a very similar situation happen to me in which the grandmother and state took my 5 year old son from me and any legal actions I tried to take were postponed by the grandmother and fathers lawyer. I was in an abusive relationship with the father and left so my baby did not have to witness the guns being drawn and threats of suicide by the father. But one call to dhs got him taken from me and so many lies to follow. It ruined my life and a happiness that I will never ever get back. And knowing that dhs will not listen makes it all the more frustrating. I pray that your babies are returned and for now you can find the strength to go on. God is all around and when you put your faith in him, he will see you through anything and everything that you are facing.

Sarah March 10, 2015 at 9:10 pm - Reply

I to have been through the same thing where the baby sitter harmed my child and when I picked him up I took him to the ER because I didn’t know what happened.  Dhs took my two boys a week later the baby sitter admitted to what happened and was put in jail for 2 years.  Even after that they kept my kids for three months making me attend psychological apps and a bunch of classes and making me take them during my working and school hours.  I just finished nursing school and have my boys back but they tried to break me so bad acusing me of crazy things with nothing to support they made my life a living hell.

LP March 4, 2015 at 10:12 pm - Reply
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What in the world were they thinking?
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kelly benoit March 4, 2015 at 4:59 pm - Reply

i cait understand this two loving parent that dont beat there kids there was no drugs in the home and home schooling there own children is that a crime i think not my heart goes out to the parents and there 7 angel this really upsets me to the max i could see if they where getting beat really bad and the parent was not feeding them and if they found and the parent did drugs but nothing i pray that the children come home

tiffany March 3, 2015 at 4:49 pm - Reply

That’s just messed up RETURN THE KIDS BACK I hate how people in dhs think they can just come in and take our kids when we ain’t doing nothing wrong or people so jelious that they have to turn someone in its sick. This child wants his parents and deserve to be with them. I feel so bad for them kids there going to have a lot of emotional and separation problems

Cheryl March 4, 2015 at 11:04 am - Reply

Contact everyone on the contact list above, and you’ll get those kids returned to their family faster.

Mary Bissell March 3, 2015 at 4:27 pm - Reply

I noticed the looks of the two little boys when you first posted that picture. They reminded me of my 15 month old nephew after he was taken. His grandma, my mom, saw him a few weeks later and said that all the happiness had gone out of his face. This kind of abrupt separation from parents must be so devastating for young children. Four year old kids can feel abandoned when their parents drop them off at the first day of preschool. What affect does being transferred to a different home have on them? They don’t know why it’s happening. How is this any different from kidnapping? My mom says that CPS acts as though kids are inanimate objects that can just be moved around.

Fawna March 3, 2015 at 3:24 pm - Reply

My heart breaks for you and your family.  I know first hand how it feels.  I have been in a very similar situation.  My son was just about the same age as your son.  I hope everything works out for the best and you guys get your babies back soon.  It is awful that these horrible  people have so much power given to them that they can just rip your children  out of your arms when they want to.
I cant say how sorry i am that this is happening  to  yet another family who doesnt deserve  this.  You are all in my prayers.

Sabrina March 3, 2015 at 11:43 am - Reply

I fully support the plight of the Stanleys. What has happened to them is wrong and its shameful what psychological damage the state has done to the children! I am not going to sugar coat anything, I feel anger first and it’s only natural when you hear that children were taken away from loving parents who did NOT commit a crime. It makes a person feel ashamed to live in Arkansas. What a haneous act against this family!

Freddie Verzosa March 3, 2015 at 8:50 am - Reply

I am so sorry for what you are going through, its truly a heartbreaking. I can actually say that I know how it feels like cause my kid’s been gone almost 9 months. There has not been one night that we have stop thinking about our children .Just wanted you all to know I am here as your brother to support you . If you ever need anything, or even just to have someone to talk to, please be sure to contact me.  I will continue to pray for you and your family, Blessing to you all. 
Verzosa Family

4 Year Old Benjamin Stanley: Why Can’t I go Home?

Four Stanley Children to Return Home Immediately

Has anyone tried to imagine the Stanley’s story through the eyes of 4 year old Benjamin?

Attorney Emord States that Arkansas Seizure of Stanley Kids is an Extraordinary Abuse of State Power

Does the State Ever Have a “Right” to Remove Children from a Home?

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4 Year Old Benjamin Stanley: Why Can’t I go Home?

Four Stanley Children to Return Home Immediately

Has anyone tried to imagine the Stanley’s story through the eyes of 4 year old Benjamin­?

Attorney Emord States that Arkansas Seizure of Stanley Kids is an Extraordinary Abuse of State Power

Does the State Ever Have a “Right” to Remove Children from a Home?

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13 Comments

Join the DiscussionCancel reply

Top Stories This Week

Has anyone tried to imagine the Stanley’s story through the eyes of 4 year old Benjamin?