I have operated the Iowa grandparents rights organization since 2006 and as an organization we were thrilled when Iowa finally passed a bill through both houses and it was signed and made part of our Iowa code that gave grandparents the right to petition the Iowa court system for visitation to grandchildren. The bill meant for many grandparents the ability finally to present their case in court to try and get visitation to a denied grandchild. It was passed in March of 2007 and the Iowa supreme court overturned the bill as unconstitutional and it has had a devastating impact on our elderly society. The Dpartment of Human Services does not value the grandparent as a vidal member of a grandchild's life and when a child is taken from the parent or parents the child is then placed in fostercare or put up for adoption even when a grandparent is ready and able to raise the child. In Iowa we have no rights to protect our own grandchildren from the state. Our legislatures are willing to bring the situation back to the courts with an adapted bill but we need a minimum of 1000 signatures. for more information on grandparents rights please go to http://www.examiner.com/x-9752-Des-Moines-Grandparenting-Examiner
I have operated the Iowa grandparents rights organization since 2006 and as an organization we were thrilled when Iowa finally passed a bill through both houses and it was signed and made part of our Iowa code that gave grandparents the right to petition the Iowa court system for visitation to grandchildren. The bill meant for many grandparents the ability finally to present their case in court to try and get visitation to a denied grandchild. It was passed in March of 2007 and the Iowa supreme court overturned the bill as unconstitutional and it has had a devastating impact on our elderly society. The Dpartment of Human Services does not value the grandparent as a vidal member of a grandchild's life and when a child is taken from the parent or parents the child is then placed in fostercare or put up for adoption even when a grandparent is ready and able to raise the child. In Iowa we have no rights to protect our own grandchildren from the state. Our legislatures are willing to bring the situation back to the courts with an adapted bill but we need a minimum of 1000 signatures. for more information on grandparents rights please go to http://www.examiner.com/x-9752-Des-Moines-Grandparenting-Examiner
We signed the "Iowa Grandparents Rights for Visitation to Grandchildren" petition!
# 98:
5:39 pm PST, Nov 17,Nichole Kautz, Iowa
# 97:
10:01 am PST, Nov 17,Tina Chavez, Illinois
i have custody of my grandbaby after a year of trying. i love it. good luck to all
# 96:
8:33 am PST, Nov 17,Donna Vibbert, Wisconsin
# 95:
10:21 am PST, Nov 16,Name not displayed, Iowa
WE have not seen our grandchild for 11 months with the exception of an invite to a birthday party where 20 other people were present and a brief visit at Easter.
# 94:
11:34 am PST, Nov 14,Mike Kouri, Iowa
# 93:
8:21 pm PST, Nov 13,Lynda Tinnian, Florida
# 92:
8:07 pm PST, Nov 13,LESLIE HUTCHISON, Iowa
# 91:
8:01 pm PST, Nov 13,Jessica Aragon, Iowa
# 90:
7:46 pm PST, Nov 13,Jessica Gutierrez, Iowa
# 89:
7:34 pm PST, Nov 11,Mike Martinez, Texas
# 88:
7:31 pm PST, Nov 11,Shauna Flegeal, Iowa
# 87:
7:27 pm PST, Nov 11,Christina Trejo, Illinois
# 86:
7:16 pm PST, Nov 11,Boyd Hagood, Texas
# 85:
7:13 pm PST, Nov 11,Angelo Cerda, Texas
# 84:
7:09 pm PST, Nov 11,Lala Dennis, Texas
# 83:
7:03 pm PST, Nov 11,Maryellen Dennis, Texas
# 82:
3:38 pm PST, Nov 11,David Reed, North Carolina
I think grandparents should be allowed to visit the grandchild. No matter what "side" they choose even during a divorce or other extinuating circumstances you cant just deny the grandparents the right to see their grandchildren. It is inhuman and unacceptable by any standard, law, act, amendment, or priveledge we hold dear. That is why I think grandparents should be allowed to see their grand kids.
# 81:
9:08 pm PST, Nov 10,Beatrize Dennis, Iowa
# 80:
9:57 am PST, Nov 10,MELISSA MERRILL, Iowa
Have been involved with DHS for 3 years. We adopted our grand-daughter, our grand-son has been placed with his father after 4 years in our home. Now we or his sister can't see him. HELP!
# 79:
7:42 am PST, Nov 9,Name not displayed, Iowa
I'm am so lucky that I did have my grandparents their to help me !
# 78:
10:39 am PST, Nov 4,Myra Elliott, California
I am a grandparent and if the grandparent wants to be active in their grandchild's life if they pose no threat in the grandchild's life i am for the grandparent being in the children s life as some grandparents already raise their grandchildren in this world why deny the grandparent of the right to be in their grandchild's life. they need that blood line,it's not the grandparents fault that their daughter or son neglected their responsibilities. i know a lot of grandparents that would love to raise their grandchildren but because of their off spring being mad at them their choice to raise them are out and then they get out in foster homes that the tax payers have to support when the biological grandparent would love to accept the financial responsibility to love and raise them.why not make it a law to let the grandparent get first choice to raise the children instead of putting them in a home to which they don't know the people look at all the tradgedes that goes on in foster homes,or where our children are being raised by same sexes why put that child in that situation let the grandparents have their rights .and if the children who have their children taken away are unfit then make it to where their rights as being a parent is taken away so they dont have more children.
# 77:
6:35 pm PST, Nov 3,Jimmy Dennis, Illinois
# 76:
9:57 am PST, Nov 3,Name not displayed, Iowa
# 75:
12:51 am PST, Nov 3,David Wright, Iowa
# 74:
7:33 pm PST, Nov 2,Justin Derifield, Iowa
# 73:
4:55 pm PST, Nov 2,Jason Rasmussen, Iowa
# 72:
4:42 pm PST, Nov 2,Amanda Edwards, Iowa
i am not a grandparent but i am a mother of 4 children who are currently living with strangers due to mistakes i made that my children and whole family are having to pay for now. im asking everyone to sign this petition to give grandparents back thier rights and in hopes to bring my children back to thier grandma and the rest of this family too. so come on people please help get this going help bring these babies and others back to the loving arms of thier heartbroken families
# 71:
2:54 pm PST, Nov 2,Betty Brewer, Iowa
# 70:
11:48 am PST, Nov 2,Christopher Wright, Iowa
# 69:
11:45 am PST, Nov 2,Paula Wright, Iowa
# 68:
11:17 am PST, Nov 2,Char Lundgren, Iowa
# 67:
9:37 pm PST, Nov 1,Steven Slagle, Iowa
# 66:
6:50 pm PST, Nov 1,Kimberly Swolley, Iowa
# 65:
2:40 pm PDT, Oct 31,Donna Exline, Iowa
# 64:
9:54 am PDT, Oct 31,Patricia Hampton, Iowa
# 63:
4:38 pm PDT, Oct 30,Robin Dennis, Iowa
I do not believe that it is fare to my grandchildren that I as there grandmother do not have a right to stop this from happening to them they love there grandmother and I am willing why is it that they have to live with strangers and no one even gave grand mother the chance to help its just not fare there mother has some issues and they are taken I was relieved but at lest give the grandparent the chance to care for her grandchildren
# 62:
10:35 am PDT, Oct 29,Debra Rice, Iowa
# 61:
10:24 am PDT, Oct 26,Linda Johnson Prestholt, Iowa
As a pastor, I constantly see grandparents wanting an active role in grandchildren's lives, and because of divorce etc parents refuse to allow grandparents visitation. This is wrong, grandparents have a right to see their grandchildren. Also, ALL children need mentors and adult models.
# 60:
8:33 am PDT, Oct 19,Anita Weston, Iowa
# 59:
1:40 pm PDT, Oct 17,Betty Newman, Iowa
# 58:
7:36 am PDT, Oct 15,Lisa Finn, Iowa
Grand Parents need rights to see there Grandchildren. I am a Grandma to 2 little boys and one of them I never see.Due to his Mother.I raised that 4 yr old for 18 mths or so..From the time he was 2 mths old to almost 2 yrs of age.Ryan called me Ma Ma! As I sit here and am seeing all this and am writing to you..Talk about all the memories that are fludding back. Not that they ever went away of course.I am a low income budget...and have gone to Legal aide for help for me to have Grandparents rights and they don't take those kinds of cases anymore.And I cant aforrd a lawyer. I have every right to see Ryan. I love him with all my heart and he is part of my family and as he grows up he is going to be wandering why Im not in his Life.And the way things are thats not fair. Murders have rights!!!!!!!!!! Whay can't Grand parents? Look at that picture and tell why thats ok but we don't have rights? Lisa Finn
# 57:
9:58 pm PDT, Oct 14,Name not displayed, Iowa
# 56:
10:32 pm PDT, Oct 13,D. Lutgen, Iowa
# 55:
6:13 pm PDT, Oct 13,Dolly Panos, Iowa
We are the proud grandparents of a 3 yr. old little girl. My son and his wife has decided to divorce. It scares me to death that if he doesnt get split custody we will never see her. She is our life and it would just kill us not to see her.
# 54:
4:12 pm PDT, Oct 13,Cindy Wagner, Iowa
# 53:
2:21 pm PDT, Oct 13,Name not displayed, Wisconsin
# 52:
1:12 pm PDT, Oct 13,Meghan B, Iowa
I would never wish for my children to be placed in foster care or put up for adoption when they have loving grandparents and other family available to care for them. Who would ever put their children in the home of strangers? or with an unfit parent over a trusted grandparent?
# 51:
9:18 am PDT, Oct 10,Diane engen Engen, Iowa
I ahve not seen my grandkids in 3 years. we practically raised them and the DHS and court gave them to fathers who are not fit. Please help
