alot of people tell me CPS keeping my kids from me because I have no job is discrimination .... they say that there are billions of non working parents with there kids at home with them that to keep me from my kids and my kids from me for that reason ... is down right Discrimination .... what do you think?

Well as with a lot of people who write into us, in this case we need more information.
-Are you on welfare?
-Is there child support coming form some source?
-Why are you out of work?
-Are the living conditions in your home safe for a child?
-Were there any other reason your chidren were taken?

Ok so from reading your page I am assuming that because your ex had custody, either he fought for custody in court during a divorce or after the birth.. either way doesn’t really matter he had physical custody of the children. Then he passed away.

Depending on what happened before can have a huge effect on why the state would have then taken the children away from you after you drove to Florida to get them and to have them live with you. If your ex had physical custody of the children, you literally and legally have no right to custody/visitation until that has been established in court. If anything you’re lucky your ex’s family hasn’t pressed charges on you for kidnapping.
What you will need to do to prove to the state that you are a more fit parent for your children than you ex’s sister or family is to do what all non custodial and adoptive parents have to do. you have to work with CPS to prove your a MORE fit parent than the current.. this means you will probably not need public assistance, you will have a stable home environment with a steady income, you will have minimal to no criminal background (involving drugs, domestic disputes, assault, dui, etc etc) Also CPS will look at your current life and children as a reflection of your parenting abilities and skills; they will check into truancy, grades, they will interview them as well as perform a home study where they will observe you etc for a period of time. It is NOT impossible to get custody of your children as long as you can prove that you can provide a BETTER life for your children than they currently can have.
You can wing this on your own, but I would strongly suggest an experience family lawyer (I mean this is your kids we’re talking about right) but with you not having a job I’m sure that’s not financially possible.

CPS keeping your children with the custodial family is NOT discrimination, so please don’t try to make yourself a victim here. I’m not trying to disrespect you in any way, but our laws are in place to try and provide children with the best possibilities and life possible. If you can provide that, then all the power to you and good luck. But maybe what you need to do is really sit back and ask yourself what is right for your children, maybe the life that they can have now is more than you can offer them and maybe you have to sacrifice your pride and your comfort to give them that chance. If you don’t think thats the case though after carefully considering everything (how much space your living arrangement can provide, what kind of neighborhood you live in, can you afford to pay for all the field trips and opportunities that will come up during school, and after school for college/cars, etc.) I know as a former single parent that money doesn’t make you a better parent by any means, but at the same time I worked 2 jobs while going to school full time to get a better career. And you do need some money to keep things afloat. Having no job is a big hurdle for sure and yes the economy is tough, but America is the land of opportunity no matter who you are and where you’re from. Get yourself a job and start fighting for your kids. There aren’t dream jobs out there right now (trust me I know, I’ve been laid off for a year now) but there are opportunities. There are plenty of low wage jobs, work/school opportunities etc. Get out there and good luck with everything. I’m glad to hear the court let’s you call your kids at least! A lot of non custodials dont even get that

I look for work daily ... posting resume and putting in applications ... I call up and check on the applications ... I am trying to get work ... I did get a home study ... everything pass except to me not having a job ... thats the only thing failed on the home study ... I have plenty bedrooms ... my home is clean ... and the 2 kids I have at home with me is well tooken care of .... yes I have phone visitation with me kids ... 3 a week is order but I get them to answer the phone 1 or 2 times a month if I am lucky ... this I am told is a violation on there part and that I can file contempt charges .... I have a stable home ... I have live here in my home for a year and half ... my sister whom has my kids has 3 kids plus my 2 kids and has had several evictions from homes in life ... and I have never been evicted ever .... speaking of evicted she was just recently evicted in july will having care of my kids ... also I believe she needs to come to ohio and get her son and worry about raising him before raising another persons children ... I mean your own children should be your top of the list ... she gets money to care for my kids which I dont argue that she shouldnt but I do think she should be spending it on them ... as in keeping a home over there head with out worrying my kids are being evicted out of the home ... where is that a stable inviroment for them? my ex husbands family all live here in ohio as just about all my family live here in ohio and all would tell you the kids belong here with us ... me and there siblilings .... my ex mother n law is hurting as much as the rest of us ... she has it worst then I we it comes to contact with the kids ... she calls 3 or 4 times a week and my sister dosent answer the phone to her either ... and my 2 kids are all she has left to her only son ... my ex husband .... and they deprive her from speaking to them ... I know she is hurting badly she pretty much lost her only child and grandchildren in one shot ... guess it hard to put into words the sitution ... cause often words get twisted ... oh yes I do recieve goverment assitance ... medical ... no cash ... I believe some one had asked ... also there is nothing stopping me from my kids except the job ... nothing ... no I never abuse my kids ... I never hurt them, mistreated them, nothing .... and family , friends, and my ex’s husbands family would tell you I am and have always been a good mother .... and there is no reason to keep the kids from me ..... none

Well I think you have a case then to fight you definately have the right and an obligation to your children because it doesn’t sound like they are in the best situation. The hiring season is coming up and if you’re open to retail work I know there are tons of places starting to hire. The work is not glamorous, the hours suck, and so do the pay but having a job and gaining access to health insurance that isn’t medical will strengthen your case. That’s really the only advice I can offer you, fight the good fight for your kids sake if you can. Consider looking for a new place to live that has more employment opportunities etc if the jobs have dried up where you are. It’s just important that you meet the criteria CPS has in order to get custody of your kids, it’s not discrimination though that they aren’t giving you the kids because of your employment situation.. that’s just the system, it is put in place to prevent people (i’m not saying you necessarily) from having more children than they can financially support. CPS also is leery of giving custody to parents who have lost custody or don’t have physical custody of their other children etc. so keep that in mind as well. Again I suggest you get representation to straighten this all out. Best of luck to you and your family.