LITTLE ROCK, AR – A state representative embroiled in controversy after giving away his adopted children sat down exclusively with FOX16’s Drew Petrimoulx.
Rep. Justin Harris defended his decision to rehome the children saying he was just trying to do what was best.
“Called us out of the blue the mom and said will you take my three girls.”
Justin Harris said he and his wife began the process of adopting the sisters about two years ago when they were contacted by a struggling mother.
But Harris said the oldest girl became so violent she had to be taken into DHS custody.
“Things just really got out of hand.”
The Harris’ kept caring for the other two girls but say eventually one of them also became violent and threatening to the Harris’ biological children.
“We tried to get help we reached out for help there was none.”
After three mental health professionals recommended the girls be taken out of the home, Harris says they went to DHS but were threatened with abandonment charges by the Director Division of Children and Family Services.
“You had to know that the law was on your side they couldn’t charge you with abandonment when you own children we being threatened,” FOX16’s Drew Petrimoulx asked Harris.
“Drew you’re assuming that I have the the money to hire and attorney, our adoption attorney was pro bono.”
Out of options, Harris says he sent the girls to live with a man who once worked at the Washington County preschool he owned.
“He was not fired he resigned. There was a good parting.”
And whose wife had been friends with his wife for more than 20 years.
“They had adopted three international children which was more stringent than the adoptions we do here in the United States.”
Harris says he was heartbroken to learn the former employee Eric Francis sexually molested one of the girls while she was under his care.
“Marsha and I whole heartedly regret doing it. But in looking at it everything was perfect it was a perfect situation.”
Harris puts the blame on DHS, who he says refused to help him because of his Christian believes and long running political feud with the agency.
“You’re making some lofty heady accusations of DHS, do you stand by it?” FOX16’s Drew Petrimoulx asks Harris.
“I stand by it. I stand by it and it’s something I’ve said for a long time.”
DHS says it cannot talk specifically about the Harris case including clarifying any inaccurate information. But the agency said it is concerned about the sensitive and protective information that has been released by Harris about the children.
DHS released the following statement:
“Though Rep. Harris is talking about this adoption, by law we cannot do so and are concerned about the very sensitive and protected information that has been released about vulnerable children. We also are prohibited from clarifying any inaccurate information. We can say that when parents adopt children from us, we disclose in writing medical and psychological information and diagnoses and have the adoptive families sign those forms.
Senior DHS officials have always been available to Rep. Harris when he had personal or constituent concerns and they have had many conversations over the years. That open-door policy would have been true in this case as well.
This is a sad and unfortunate situation. For us, what is important is the safety and well-being of children. So we are working with the Governor and the Legislature to ensure there is more oversight in place to limit families’ abilities to “rehome” children who come from state custody. The legislation also will prevent families from giving a subsidy to anyone else without DHS and court oversight.
We want every adoption to succeed and urge families to let us know if they are struggling. We understand that in rare cases, a successful adoption is impossible to achieve. In those situations, there is always an option.”
Rep. Justin Harris defended his decision to rehome the children saying he was just trying to do what was best.
“Called us out of the blue the mom and said will you take my three girls.”
Justin Harris said he and his wife began the process of adopting the sisters about two years ago when they were contacted by a struggling mother.
But Harris said the oldest girl became so violent she had to be taken into DHS custody.
“Things just really got out of hand.”
The Harris’ kept caring for the other two girls but say eventually one of them also became violent and threatening to the Harris’ biological children.
“We tried to get help we reached out for help there was none.”
After three mental health professionals recommended the girls be taken out of the home, Harris says they went to DHS but were threatened with abandonment charges by the Director Division of Children and Family Services.
“You had to know that the law was on your side they couldn’t charge you with abandonment when you own children we being threatened,” FOX16’s Drew Petrimoulx asked Harris.
“Drew you’re assuming that I have the the money to hire and attorney, our adoption attorney was pro bono.”
Out of options, Harris says he sent the girls to live with a man who once worked at the Washington County preschool he owned.
“He was not fired he resigned. There was a good parting.”
And whose wife had been friends with his wife for more than 20 years.
“They had adopted three international children which was more stringent than the adoptions we do here in the United States.”
Harris says he was heartbroken to learn the former employee Eric Francis sexually molested one of the girls while she was under his care.
“Marsha and I whole heartedly regret doing it. But in looking at it everything was perfect it was a perfect situation.”
Harris puts the blame on DHS, who he says refused to help him because of his Christian believes and long running political feud with the agency.
“You’re making some lofty heady accusations of DHS, do you stand by it?” FOX16’s Drew Petrimoulx asks Harris.
“I stand by it. I stand by it and it’s something I’ve said for a long time.”
DHS says it cannot talk specifically about the Harris case including clarifying any inaccurate information. But the agency said it is concerned about the sensitive and protective information that has been released by Harris about the children.
DHS released the following statement:
“Though Rep. Harris is talking about this adoption, by law we cannot do so and are concerned about the very sensitive and protected information that has been released about vulnerable children. We also are prohibited from clarifying any inaccurate information. We can say that when parents adopt children from us, we disclose in writing medical and psychological information and diagnoses and have the adoptive families sign those forms.
Senior DHS officials have always been available to Rep. Harris when he had personal or constituent concerns and they have had many conversations over the years. That open-door policy would have been true in this case as well.
This is a sad and unfortunate situation. For us, what is important is the safety and well-being of children. So we are working with the Governor and the Legislature to ensure there is more oversight in place to limit families’ abilities to “rehome” children who come from state custody. The legislation also will prevent families from giving a subsidy to anyone else without DHS and court oversight.
We want every adoption to succeed and urge families to let us know if they are struggling. We understand that in rare cases, a successful adoption is impossible to achieve. In those situations, there is always an option.”