Multiple speakers tell Escambia commissioners they believe child-welfare system harmed families, urge oversight of Families First Network

Several local parents and civil-rights advocates used the board’s Oct. 16 public forum to accuse the child-welfare system and contract caseworkers of removing children without due process and to ask the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners to increase oversight. Speakers said the county funds and oversees Families First Network, a contracted provider of child-protective services, and urged commissioners to demand audits, investigations and public transparency. “You can insist on transparency so this corruption no longer exists,” Samantha Mosley told the board, adding that she built a social-media community of parents with similar stories. Why it matters: Commissioners control oversight and some funding for locally contracted providers even if they do not direct court or judicial actions. Several speakers asked the board to use that oversight authority to seek audits and public statements and to notify federal investigators when they believe crimes have occurred. Details, claims and evidence: Mosley said her children were removed “with no warrant, no due process, and no valid reason,” and said parental rights in her case were terminated in August 2022. Jessica Saxon, who identified herself as a civil-rights advocate and said she is in active litigation, told commissioners she planned to serve affidavits she called “prima facie evidence” alleging deprivation of rights under federal criminal statutes; she cited Title IV-D, IV-E and IV-B federal funding programs and 18 U.S.C. §242 (deprivation of rights). Saxon said she would serve the board with the affidavits and asked commissioners to report alleged crimes to the FBI and appropriate agencies. Other speakers described individual hospital-based removals they said were contradicted by on-site testing. Crystal Mathis said testing at Sacred Heart hospital showed no drug exposure for her newborn, yet the case proceeded against her. Lee Ann Rhonda Miller and Larissa Orris described long dependency-court histories and ongoing disputes over custody and extended guardianship. Board response and limits: Chair Mike Koehler acknowledged the comments and said the county legal department would review any service of process. During the forum several commissioners said they lacked the authority to direct judges or court-appointed attorneys but could consider oversight or funding requests for contractors. The board did not adopt any immediate action or motion during public comment; speakers requested audits and investigations rather than asking the board to take a specific statutory step. What commissioners can and cannot do: Speakers emphasized court actions and alleged judicial misconduct; commissioners repeatedly noted they do not control judicial decisions but can request audits of county-funded contractors and refer evidence to law-enforcement or federal authorities. Commissioners said they would work with the county legal team where appropriate. Looking ahead: Several speakers said they would return with formal paperwork and public-records materials. Commissioners said staff would coordinate with the legal department if documents were served or if staff needed to respond to allegations. Quotes (from public forum): “Who is protecting the children in this county when even your contracted child protectors with our taxpayer money is being arrested for child abuse,” Samantha Mosley said. “I will not be silenced, and you will see and hear from me again,” she added. Jessica Saxon told the board she was serving “prima facie evidence” and urged commissioners to report the allegations to the FBI. Ending note: The statements at the public forum are allegations and personal accounts from parents and advocates. The board did not take a formal vote on these claims during the Oct. 16 meeting; commissioners said they would consult the county legal office and consider requests for oversight or audits of contractors.