Cassandra was born ten weeks prematurely in a “crack” house and was transported to the hospital by the Philadelphia Fire Department. After undergoing cocaine withdrawal Cassandra was placed in a temporary foster home.
In an environment where many children go unprotected, Child Advocates strives to ensure permanent resolution for children whose lives have been challenged and compromised. Child Advocates offers specialized legal help to these exceptional children and fights to secure medical services, special education, respite care and accessible transportation for children with special needs. With the help of a Child Advocate Attorney/Social Worker Team, Cassandra was placed with a foster family that was able to provide the consistent medical care she needs for her ongoing seizure disorder. Cassandra was recently adopted by her foster parents and is adored by all her new siblings.
hua mei
Last February, in collaboration with New York City’s Asian-American Legal Defense Fund, Child Advocates took on the case of Hua Mei, a 15-year-old Chinese girl who had been involved in a trafficking ring. Traffickers recruit children from acrobatic programs in China, bring them to the United States with the promise of income and a better education, and, once in the country, would confiscate their immigration documents. The children had been performing at 2-3 venues a day for four years, were not fed regularly, were sleep-deprived, had not seen a doctor in years, and had not been paid for several months. Hua Mei made the decision to escape, even though troupe members were warned that they would be hunted if they left and their families would be punished. It took a lot of courage for Hua Mei to call a friend in Philadelphia and relocate here.
Once here, Child Advocates attempted to obtain immigration status through a "T" visa, reserved solely for victims of severe trafficking. Unfortunately Hua Mei’s experience was not classified as such and governmental agencies refused to prosecute the men involved in the ring. Since she had been abandoned by her mother in China and sold to the acrobatic troupe by her grandfather, Hua Mei was eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, which was granted.
Hua Mei was adjudicated dependent, her immigration paperwork was filed and she went to live with a foster family who mirrored her cultural, linguistic and religious background. She is in school and has quickly picked up the English language. Volunteer Attorney Pam Ende is investigating possible performing arts programs for her to join. Recently, the Boston Globe and New York Times reported on the arrest of the three men involved in this trafficking after several other children escaped from the troupe. The Department of Labor tried to build a case against the traffickers, but the troupe members refused to testify and, unfortunately, the case was dropped.
malik
Already struggling to care for his infant sibling, Malik’s mother voluntarily placed Malik in foster care because of his behavioral issues. Malik’s father was incarcerated at the time. Though originally placed in a therapeutic foster home, Malik was institutionalized because he was involved in physical altercations with other children and tried to run away. He struggled in three subsequent therapeutic foster placements because of inconsistent wrap-around services, as well as his mother’s resistance to psychiatric services and medication, and her aggressive behavior with the various foster parents. Ultimately, Malik was placed with experienced foster parents who set consistent boundaries, and after a few rough months, he adjusted well in this home. Volunteer Attorney Veronica Rice from Dechert LLP and Child Advocate Staff Attorney Christine Trinkl Dougherty pursued adoption and battled bureaucratic delays until the adoption’s finalization hearing in October 2006. Malik’s progress continues in the loving and nurturing environment that his new parents and adoptive siblings provide.
ricardo
Child Advocates was appointed to represent 2-year-old Ricardo and 1-year-old Tomas in March 2007 after a Child Protective Services Report revealed that their mother had choked Ricardo. When she reported that “voices” told her to do so, the mother was hospitalized and diagnosed with a major post-partum depressive disorder. After DHS conducted a home evaluation, the paternal grandparents were awarded custody.
Ricardo and Tomas are doing well in the care of their grandparents, and visit with their mother periodically. She is participating in outpatient therapy, found employment at a cookie factory and is living alone in a rental apartment close to the children. The professional support team – Child Advocates, Community Legal Services, Lutheran Family Services and DHS – is providing collaborative assistance that hopefully will facilitate the goal of family reunification.
samantha
Every child deserves a chance. Without vigorous advocacy, many children remain powerless in their quest for a happy childhood. By exploring the changes made in the life of twelve-year-old Samantha, one begins to appreciate the impact of our advocacy.
Samantha’s life, prior to intervention by Child Advocates, was far from ideal. She lived with her mother, her fifteen-year-old sister, and her sister’s baby. Their house was dirty and contained a minimal amount of food and furniture. Samantha’s mother, a drug addict, was extremely irresponsible, occasionally leaving the children alone in the house for an entire night. The morning after one of these nights, Samantha’s sister realized that she needed to obtain assistance before the situation grew worse. She telephoned Child Advocates to inform them that her mother had “left the night before to get high and didn’t come back.”
Child Advocates took on the important responsibility of advocating for Samantha. While Philadelphia Department of Human Services (“DHS”) worked towards finding an appropriate home for Samantha, Child Advocates made sure that Samantha’s best interests were met. Although DHS was unable to find local relatives with whom Samantha could live, both the Child Advocates and DHS were aware that Samantha had an uncle in Florida and that his home might be a possible home for Samantha. Unfortunately, the administrative procedure of transferring the Pennsylvania case to Florida is lengthy and quite complex. Therefore, however, DHS focused its energy and attention on foster care for Samantha, resulting in numerous placements for Samanatha. Child Advocates continued to advocate for Samantha’s placement with her uncle, who remained interested in caring for Samantha. Finally, authorization was received, and Samantha’s aunt and uncle welcomed the opportunity to make Samantha a permanent part of their life. Samantha was overjoyed when she heard the news, exclaiming she was “so excited to be with my aunt, uncle, and cousins in their home!” Child Advocates receives frequent updates on Samantha from her aunt and uncle, and she continues to thrive. After being granted the fair chance that she deserves, Samantha is delighted to call this new place her home.
theresa
Theresa became involved in the child welfare system when she continued to miss follow-up appointments from a stab wound. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia alerted the Philadelphia Department of Human Services(DHS). Mom was drug dependent and unable to care for her daughter so DHS placed Theresa in a foster care home. Child Advocates was asked to step in and help.
Theresa bounced from home to home due to behavioral problems. In April 2008, she ran away – she was considered by many to be a lost child. Theresa was found two months later due to shoplifting charges and placed in a juvenile detention facility.
Her Child Advocate Team, comprised of Volunteer Attorney Jim Wells of Haines & Associates and Staff Attorney Marti Little, visited Theresa almost every week. Initially, Theresa didn’t speak to them. She wanted to go home to Mom and was angry at a system that kept them apart. But Mom was still using drugs and couldn’t afford to heat her home.
Relentlessly, Theresa’s Child Advocate team continued weekly visits, believing that they could help her. One day, Marti brought Theresa her favorite book. Her smile told Jim and Marti that they had made a connection! Theresa felt that her Child Advocate team cared about her and she decided to trust them. Her life began to change!
Child Advocates fought to remove Theresa from the juvenile detention facility. In fall 2008, she was finally moved to an appropriate home that could address her needs. Theresa participated in counseling and became a role model for the other girls, teaching them how to crochet! Mom completed drug and alcohol counseling for addiction.
Theresa’s family rallied together, and today, Mom’s utility debt is being paid! In June 2009, Theresa moved back home with Mom. They will soon celebrate Theresa’s 16th birthday together!
jessica
In August 2005, 10-month old Jessica* arrived at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children with evidence of blunt trauma to her abdomen, four fractured limbs and a dislocated right femur. Jessica’s mother denied abusing her. Child Advocates was appointed to represent Jessica.
Jessica’s Child Advocate team was instrumental in highlighting her case to law enforcement authorities, and in ensuring that her medical records were reviewed by child abuse experts. Criminal charges were brought against Jessica’s mother, who eventually pled guilty to physically abusing Jessica.
Jessica’s volunteer attorney and staff social worker guaranteed that her foster family had the needed resources and training to care for Jessica’s ongoing medical issues, which required constant monitoring. Jessica participated in speech and physical therapies and attended a specialized preschool.
Despite the guilty plea, Jessica’s mother refused to take responsibility for Jessica’s injuries. Jessica’s Child Advocate team requested an expert psychiatric parenting capacity evaluation to determine whether Jessica could ever be safely returned home to her mother. The expert provided critical testimony at the contested involuntary termination of parental rights hearing that paved the way for Jessica’s foster family to adopt her in 2009. Jessica is now happily adopted and is doing well with a loving family.
sarah and amy
When North Penn Legal Services contacted the Support Center for Child Advocates, the Court had already found Sarah and Amy* to be severely neglected by their mother and father. Sarah had been sexually abused by a cousin. Both parents were drug-addicted and the girls had witnessed their mother’s arrest for drug use; they were traumatized. Sarah and Amy needed help, so Volunteer Attorney Joy Grese of Morgan Lewis and Social Worker Megan Somsanith stepped in to help.
Sarah and Amy were placed in a foster care home where both girls thrived. They performed well in school and received counseling. Sarah received sexual abuse therapy. The Child Advocate team established a reunification plan for their family, which included housing and drug rehabilitation goals for the girls’ parents. Volunteer Attorney Joy Grese partnered with the Court to establish rigorous standards for reunification. Sarah and Amy’s parents found stable housing with a relative and successfully completed drug and alcohol treatment. For three years, Child Advocates worked with the Court and family to ensure that all services were utilized to achieve the best outcome for Sarah and Amy.
Today, the girls are doing well at home with their mother and father. Both parents are drug-free and the entire family continues to receive counseling through Tabor Services.
*Names have been changed to protect identity.
report abuse
If you suspect a child is being abused, you should call the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare hotline at 800-932-0313. In Philadelphia, you can also call DHS directly at 215-683-6100
If you think that someone abused you or a friend, you should tell a trusted adult right away. You can also call 800-932-0313 or 911 anytime.
