Foster Children should not be released for overnight, unsupervised visits to parents convicted of child endangerment

After almost three years in foster care, I was awarded custody of my great niece and nephew. At ages 1 and 2, they were left alone in a filthy house while their mother went out to buy drugs. When the police arrived, they found the kids very dirty, in diapers only - alone in a house that was filthy with feces and trash everywhere. There were swords and knives within their reach as well.

The oldest child had already been a victim of a tragic accident while in their care, suffering 3rd degree burns over more than 10% of his body including the entire left side of his face and neck. He is still receiving care for this today.

The mother was convicted of two felony counts of child endangerment and is currently on probation. She was released from jail July 2011. Now the judge will sign an order releasing the children to the parents for unsupervised, overnight, weekend visits. The court order states: The court finds that appointment of a parent as managing conservator of the children is not in the best interest of the children because the appointment would significantly impair the emotional development and physical health of the children.