Legal Advocates for Children & Youth

Maria was born to a teenage mother who was unable to care for her due to substance abuse and homelessness. To prevent Maria from becoming part of the foster care system, her mother gave her to her friends' parents and asked them to care for her. Initially the family tried to assist the mother to resume care of Maria but when the child became critically ill, they filed for guardianship. After failing to visit her daughter consistently for six years, Maria's mother filed a petition to terminate the guardianship. At that point, Maria became desperately fearful of even seeing her mother and believed her mother would take her from the only home she has ever known. The judge appointed LACY to represent Maria to ensure her needs were being met and considered by the court. LACY worked directly with Maria, her guardians, and her mother to create an agreement that Maria would not be taken from her guardians and the only home she had ever known but Maria could gradually get to know her mother and other family members. The mother and her guardians have created a cooperative and friendly relationship and recently the mother asked the guardians to adopt Maria with an agreement for ongoing visitation.