Polish courts have taken away the newborn daughter to 42-year-old mother of three because the home is a mess, the mother is helpless and the father too-old.
The family – parents unmarried – live on a farm in a village near Wronek, central Poland. Wioletta Wozna has three children ages 7, 9 and 11, and, two weeks ago, birthed a daughter, Rose, who was taken away by courts five days after her birth.
Judge Jolanta Biniak claims that the well-being of the child is in danger – the mother and Rose’s father cannot guarantee a proper upbringing for the baby. The courts support the opinion of the social worker who states that the floors are dirty, dishes dirty, crumbs are on the table, the mother is helpless and the father takes care of the animals and is 63 years old – too old to guarantee proper care. The newborn is in the care of a foster family.
For three years now, a social worker attends to the impoverished family.
The daily Gazeta Wyborcza reported on the case Wednesday, on Thursday, new information surfaced.
Thursday, the paper reports that the social worker’s did not have an official testimony in the court’s decision because she was on vacation. Iwona Januszak claims that the courts made the decision based on false or exaggerated information. Januszak adds that there was not even a court-appointed psychologist assigned to the case.
“Actually, our psychologist is just now returning from vacation and will go there tomorrow,” states Joanna Lesniewska of the regional social welfare office, responsible for dispatching a psychologist to the case.
This is the second attempt courts have made to remove the children from the home. In 2004, social workers attempted to take away the three older children, but the father, Wladyslaw Szwak, blocked the door and threatened suicide. It was decided that it would be less stress to leave the children in place, but keep a close watch on their care.
Januszak claims that the situation has improved since that time – locals have reached out to help the family, as have, more recently, readers of Gazeta Wyborcza. (mmj)