A Montana family claims they lost custody of their 14-year-old son after opposing his interest in changing gender, and while the governor’s office defended the move, it emphasized to The Post that the state does not remove minors to provide services. gender transition.
State Children and Family Services (CFS) reportedly took custody of the teen from her father Todd Kolstad and stepmother Krista this month, prompting the parents to talk about how The action has “destroyed” his family and “trampled” his rights.
The allegations, first reported over the weekend, prompted Gov. Greg Gianforte’s office to look into the case and defend CFS workers.
Parents told Reduxx that their problems with the state agency began when officials received a call in August 2023 that Jennifer, whose name was changed for publication at their request, expressed suicidal thoughts at school.
A CFS social worker came to speak with the teen and inspected the home where Jennifer claimed she drank toilet bowl cleaner and took painkillers in an attempt to take her own life, the outlet reported.
The father and stepmother lost custody of their 14-year-old son earlier this month. Facebook
The teen reportedly showed no related symptoms and a test at the hospital showed she did not consume any toxins.
But her stay at the hospital lasted for several days, during which the staff noticed that Jennifer identified as a man and wanted to be called Leo. Parents said they objected quickly, but to no avail.
“We were very clear with the emergency room staff, as well as with [CFS] that this goes against our values, morals and religious beliefs,” Krista Kolstad recalled to Reduxx, accusing the hospital of systematically undermining her and her husband’s authority.
The boy has reportedly expressed interest in transitioning to a boy. Facebook
Jennifer was eventually moved to a specialized residential care facility in Wyoming due to her parents’ concerns. Kolstad told Reduxx that she and Todd were concerned about Jennifer being cared for in the state, where minors can receive gender-affirming care without parental consent.
“They showed up at our house to serve us papers to remove Jennifer from our care,” Kolstad alleged. “I was told the reason was that ‘we were unable or refused to provide medical care.’ “That is simply not true.”
Jennifer subsequently returned to a Montana youth center in September, where she remains. Earlier this month, a court remanded the teen into CFS custody, Reduxx reported.
“We were told that allowing Jennifer to transition and live as a child was her ‘therapeutic best interest’ and since we are not willing to follow that recommendation, the court gave CFS custody of Jennifer for six months,” Kolstad told the half.
“Our family has been destroyed by this. “We have little to no contact with Jennifer and our rights as parents have been trampled.”
The Kolstads said the child will be placed with her biological mother in Canada, which worries them because they don’t believe she is suitable to care for Jennifer, with whom she has not had much of a relationship, according to Reduxx.
The governor’s office said it reviewed the case. Facebook
However, Montana Gov. Gianforte said in a series of social media posts that state policies and laws were followed after a review of the case.
“Upon hearing recent allegations related to a child welfare case, I asked Lt. Governor Kristen Juras, an experienced attorney, constitutional conservative, mother and grandmother, to review it,” he wrote.
“In consulting with the director of DPHHS and personally examining case documents, Lt. Governor Juras concluded that DPHHS and the court have followed state policy and law in handling this tragic case.”
Gianforte said Juras would continue to monitor the case.
In a statement to The Post, Gianforte’s office said the state does not remove minors from their homes to provide gender transition services nor does it use public funds to pay for those services while a minor is in state custody.
“As described in its purpose statement, Child Protective Services protects children who have been or are at substantial risk of abuse, neglect or abandonment,” a spokesperson said.
“Additionally, the Governor has asked his Department of Public Health and Human Services to codify a formal policy and/or develop a regulation to clarify and ensure that the definition of abuse or neglect does not include the right of parents to refuse to provide services.” of gender transition to their children. his minor son.”
The Post has contacted the Kolstads.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn