Amanda and Carle's Story

Amanda and Carle are two and four years old. They were unsuccessfully reunified with their abusive and neglectful mother multiple times, only to be returned to their foster mother additionally traumatized. They would hoard food because their mother would not feed them. They were afraid to cry because their mother would scream at them. Eventually, their mom’s parental rights were terminated, but only after Amanda and Carle had languished in foster care for two years. That is when Amy, their Children’s Law Center attorney, was appointed to represent them.

Amy knew it was important to find Amanda and Carle a permanent home soon. After she learned that their foster mother wanted to adopt the children, she urged the court to investigate this potential adoptive home. A second possible home—with an unknown relative in a far off state—also arose. However, Amy couldn’t ignore the fact that, after two years, Amanda and Carle had become emotionally attached to their foster mother. Amy talked with experts and therapists who all recommended that the children be adopted by their foster mother. Placing them with a stranger—even a biologically related one—posed too great a risk of further traumatizing the children.

Amy returned to court and argued to keep Amanda and Carle with their foster mother. Last month, the court vehemently agreed. The judge also recognized that Amanda and Carle had deserved a permanent home much, much sooner. Today, the children remain with their foster parent, awaiting their adoption day. Amy will continue to protect Amanda and Carle until that day comes.