Failure to “Cooperate”

The Rodriguezes refused the plans, not wanting to place their children on dangerous psychotropic drugs. Instead, “we insisted on actual educational services they [the state] are required by law to provide, and which they also get federal funds to provide,” said David. The bottom line, they charge, is neither Valley Mental Health nor the public school system wanted to foot the bill for the children’s educational needs.

Discouraged, the Rodriguezes applied for Social Security benefits to send the children to private facilities, following a recommendation of one of the evaluating doctors.

Teresa said she and David were warned by workers on their case that if they failed to “cooperate,” Utah’s Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) would be called upon to take the children. They were accused of isolating and environmentally depriving their children — a charge aimed at their homeschooling, which commenced only after the older children were failing in public school. They were also accused of making their children mentally ill in order to receive money — although they received no benefits, and only considered asking for them after it was recommended by a state employee.

Law enforcement officers stormed the Rodriguez home in December 1996, taking the four terrified children into custody. According to Teresa, force was used on them, including pepper spray to compel 8-year-old Jessica to let go of her mother.

continued...

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