Maria

Maria’s mother became addicted to heroin soon after Maria was born. When she was just two years old, shots were fired in their apartment during a drug dispute and the police raided their home. They placed Maria into foster care and the court appointed Amy as her Children’s Law Center attorney. Maria was only in foster care a short time when her older cousin offered to take her. She thrived with the family for several months until her cousin suddenly demanded that she be immediately removed for no apparent reason.

Upon hearing the news, Amy reviewed stacks of home studies to find Maria a permanent family and prevent the trauma of yet another move. She discovered the Garcia family and felt they would be wonderful for Maria. Unfortunately, social services had placed Maria into the first available foster home without reviewing the families history, or informing Amy. When she discovered this, she immediately starting looking into the family and discovered that the home had a history of untreated domestic violence. Amy went to visit Maria and discovered the house did not even have enough beds for all the foster children they were housing.

Without delay, Amy went to court to request the judge remove Maria from the home. The court agreed. The Garcia’s file was passed onto social services and they agreed that the family was a great match. Maria was quickly moved to the Garcia home, settled in within weeks and was adopted the following year.