One year ago, a bedroom in\u00a0Fernando Canteli and Everson Ladson’s home in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn represented absence. A room that had been lived in, and then suddenly wasn\u2019t. But this winter, the room is alive again.<\/p>\n
For most of the year, comfort felt out of reach. The two were told the chances of their foster children returning were almost nonexistent.<\/p>\n
What You Need To Know<\/p>\n
In April 2022, a 1-year-old boy and 3-month-old girl were removed from their birth mother’s care. They were placed with first-time foster parents Fernando Canteli and Everson Ladson in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
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The family lived together until a foster care agency subcontracted by the city\u2019s Administration for Children’s Services and the children’s birth mother made claims against the foster parents \u2014 improper hygiene, lacerations, bruises. When those were all deemed unfounded, the agency made a claim of sexual abuse. The couple says they were targeted because they are a homosexual couple
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After the children\u2019s removal, the foster care agency moved to permanently close the couple’s Brooklyn home, claiming their type of home was \u201cnot needed\u201d in the foster care system. The couple\u2019s last recourse was to appeal to the State Office of Children and Family Services for a “Fair Hearing” to determine whether ACS\u2019s decision to remove the children was arbitrary and capricious
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In December, the Family Court judge gave the city a deadline: It had seven days to voluntarily relicense the couples\u2019 home. The children returned to Cantelli and Ladson\u2019s home on Christmas Eve<\/p>\n
The story begins in April 2022, when a 1-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl were removed from the care of their birth mother because of domestic violence. The siblings were placed with Canteli and Ladson, who were first-time foster parents.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the traumatized children settled into their new home, their case was overseen by SCO Family of Services, a foster care agency subcontracted by the city\u2019s Administration for Children’s Services.<\/p>\n
Almost immediately, the agency and birth mother began filing claims against the foster parents \u2014 improper hygiene, lacerations, bruises. When those were all deemed unfounded, the agency made a claim of sexual abuse.<\/p>\n
That too, was determined to be unsubstantiated. Still, the children were then removed from their care and placed in new foster homes.<\/p>\n
Canteli and Ladson felt strongly that they were facing a bigger obstacle than a series of unfounded allegations. They believed they were targeted as a homosexual couple.<\/p>\n
Ladson then recorded a call with an ACS Special Investigations case worker which seemed to confirm that fear: \u201cI think the foster care agency is kind of avoiding addressing this with you, or being honest to you about it, but the main issue that [the child\u2019s birth mother] has with you is that you guys are a couple. That\u2019s the only issue that she has with you. She\u2019s not gonna stop.\u201d<\/p>\n