Success Stories

When he was two years old, Garrett’s abusive father took him away from his mother and moved to Texas, where he soon ended up in the foster care system. . . . We want to thank the Quality Inn Central Denver for donating 7 nights lodging, and the county department of social services for providing travel assistance to Colorado for Garrett’s mother and half sister  during a week-long holiday visit in December.

Three years ago, the Children’s Law Center reached out to our supporters on behalf “Ann.” Today, she is a Daniels Fund Scholar, headed to Colorado State University! Ann was 15 and had been in foster care for seven months. Without divulging too much information, she has had a tough time. 

Karen is an outgoing, funny teenager. She started at a new high school last month and, like many girls her age, decided to go out for the cheerleading squad. However, unlike many other girls, Karen lives in a foster home. She soon learned that the school fee for cheerleading uniforms and other related expenses was more than $600. She did not have the money, and it looked to her as if she would not be able to join her friends on the squad. Her foster parents, her case worker, and her school’s cheerleading coach all wanted to help her, but no one knew where to turn.

Jenny, Joseph, Christopher and Rita were born into a home filled with violence and neglect. At only eight years old, Jenny was often left at home to care for her three younger siblings—the baby, Rita, was only a year old. When there was no food in the house, Jenny would knock at neighbors’ doors asking for help. Finally someone reported the situation. The boys were placed in one foster home, and the girls went to another.

The Children’s Law Center was appointed to represent all four children. Although the court put a plan in place to help their mother regain custody, she didn’t follow through and eventually stopped showing up at meetings. On the day that her parental rights were terminated, she did not show up for the hearing.

Tate was only seven years old when his teacher noticed distinct bruises covering his arms. After being examined by medical professionals Tate had too many bruises to count. Tate soon confessed that his mother had beaten him with a shoe and he was immediately removed from his home. Tate also endured sexual abuse by both his mother and her boyfriend. Tate’s father, who had not seen him in several years, stepped forward to care for his son.

When Sally was two years-old her mother abandoned her to a neighbor. Jane took the girl in and never alerted Social Services. Nine years later, Sally’s older sister visited Jane and asked if she could take in Sally and care for her. Jane agreed and the little girl completely lost touch with the only mother figure she ever really knew. Six months later, Sally was removed from her sister’s home and placed in foster care.

Kerri took her clients Anna-10, Beth-7, and Caitlyn-6 to a Rockies game on a very crisp Colorado day early in the Rockies season. The three little girls were so excited. It had been a very chaotic few months. They recently moved to their grandma’s house because their mom was an abusive alcoholic. . . .

Leanne was removed from her home at ten months old by the police during a domestic violence dispute involving her biological mother. She was initially placed with relatives who could only provide temporary care for the little girl. For months Leanne’s Children’s Law Center attorney, Betsy, explored all of Leanne’s family connections, but mental health issues and drug use plagued the entire family. She needed a permanent adoptive home. After multiple visits with Leanne, Betsy became concerned that Leanne also suffered developmental delays. At 18 months old, Leanne wasn’t speaking and barely interacted with others. Like many foster children, Leanne had special needs that would make it all the more difficult to find an adoptive home.