The Crew

The Crew
Christina, Matthew, Joshua and Katie Grace XiHua

Saturday, July 3, 2010

GOOD NEWS ON A CURRENT CASE! ( The photo on the side is NOT of any case) (Click here to find out more about FL- GAL)


I volunteer as a Guardian Ad Litem ( a court appointed advocate) here in my county. I cannot discuss any details of my cases, however I can say that I am so happy with the outcome of my current case. (I can describe the following, because it could be about any one of thousands of cases story.)

I am representing a sibling group who had been placed with a relative while the case continues (a very common placement). The children love this relative and are in the best care and the SAFEST care.

A couple of months ago, in court, it looked as though (despite what I pleaded and my report recommended) the children would be placed back where I knew they would not have safe, caring lives. The judge was sympathetic, but it was LEGALLY the right thing to do because certain goals had been achieved. I came out of court that day so upset and heartbroken and genuinely afraid for the kids.

Well, 2 months later, just before the final ruling, everything turned for the good, suddenly everyone was in agreement, ALL PARTIES, that the children should remain permanently in the care of this relative. EVERYONE was happy with the outcome.
There can still be some loopholes in the future, so it is not a forever guaranteed union, but it is very stable and safe and I hope it will remain that way.

God is so good. I prayed about this so hard. He cares so much for their little hearts and minds.
Please pray that they will remain in safe care always.

7 comments:

  1. It makes my heart happy that you are truly concerned about the children that you represent. Our older boys were adopted out of foster care, and there Guardian At Litem didn't even know who they were! I hope we were the exception, and you are the rule! Thanks for caring for the children!

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  2. God is so good!! Thank you for being an advocate for these little ones, your prayers included. They, and you, will be in my prayers too! Any news on your adoption situation? Praying for that as well!
    Blessings~

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  3. Thanks Girls! Oh Terri! I hate to hear that the boys' GAL didn't involve themselves like they should have. I imagine, just like every other aspect of the child's journey, there will always be some people who aren't fulfilling their duty to the child's best interest, sadly. Also, maybe because I am a volunteer, and I only take a couple of cases at a time, I have a lot of time and care invested in each of my cases. We need more volunteers who will do the same! Or more people like you to adopt from foster care! It is so awesome that you adopted from foster care!!

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  4. Such a good news, I am so glad that they are safe and sound, and hopefully it will stay that way. Maybe the relative would want to adopt forever??

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  5. Yes, Mireille, the relative would love to do that! If it becomes a possibility!

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  6. that is awesome! I don't think I could do what you do, for the same reason I don't want to adopt out of the system, typically what they find best is for the birth parent know matter what they have done, its never about the childs best interest, it would break my heart and sleepless nights knowing there was nothing I could do. So awesome that you do it! and yay for the outcome this time!!!!

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  7. Oh, Annie.
    I'm so happy you stopped by my blog because I never would've known about yours. And here I stumble. Here I fall. Here I land. And here I rise. Because of you and what you do and who you are and what you represent.
    I cannot think of a more appropriate Guardian ad Litem. I am proud to know you.
    And I'm so happy the boys are such great buddies. J just mentioned Matthew today.
    Funny little God we serve, eh?
    Thank you, Annie.

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Many hungry children near the boarder of Myanmar and Thailand-click on photo