When DHR showed up at our door, they said they were doing a ‘wellness check.’ Next thing I knew, my child was gone. No warrant. No emergency hearing. No call to her father, who had full legal rights. We were left in the dark for weeks.”

This mother, who asked to remain anonymous, is just one of many families in Alabama who’ve experienced traumatic removals without due process. Despite having no history of abuse or neglect, her daughter was placed in foster care — with strangers — and the father was never notified.

“They never gave us a real reason. They claimed there was a safety concern, but we never got any documentation. And the judge kept pushing court dates out. It’s been over a year.”

Her story isn’t rare. It’s part of a larger problem — one where DHR operates with too much power and too little oversight.

If this sounds familiar, know this: you’re not alone, and your story matters. You can share your experience [via our Submit Your Story page].