Resources

Imagine the state taking your child for no other reason than because you failed to check the right box on a government form. For fathers in Arizona, this nightmare has been reality for decades.

Recently, a mother in Arizona sought to give her child up for adoption. When the biological father stepped forward—eager and ready to care for his child and prove his connection with a DNA test—an obscure legal rule nearly erased his role as dad. The father, despite going to court to prove his paternity, had failed to sign up for a particular government registry. This missing piece created an unusual legal loophole that allowed the court to take away his parental rights.

By: Darcy Olsen

Every member of the child protection community has access to lawyers — except for children. Nearly all states give accused parents attorneys. Abused children? They typically are on their own.

Today, Governor Laura Kelly signed the nation’s first executive order to comprehensively reform the taking of federal benefits from foster youth. The order aims to ensure abused and neglected children are not deprived of vital resources while in care and to support their transition to independence.

“Hearts Open, Mats Down: Lighting the Way for Arizona’s Children” is a community event hosted by radi8 Hot Yoga and the Center for the Rights of Abused Children on Sunday, November 17, 2024, 3:00 – 5:30 p.m., at the radi8 Hot Yoga’s Arcadia Studio, 3950 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix.

Phoenix, AZ — The Center for the Rights of Abused Children, a groundbreaking charity dedicated to protecting abused children, has been awarded the prestigious Norman Borlaug Humanitarian Award from Vizient, accompanied by a $50,000 prize. This recognition honors the organization's transformative impact on the lives of abused children under the leadership of founder and CEO, Darcy Olsen.

Darcy Olsen discusses the Center's mission to mend the child protection system and bring a permanent end to innocent children enduring violence.​

After a federal district court judge in California ruled that children in public schools are not protected by the constitution, the Center filed a brief in the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals arguing that children do not forfeit their constitutional rights when they walk through the schoolhouse doors.

Learn more about life-saving work that has helped more than 500,000 abused children across America.

 This new initiative is projected to reduce aging out of foster care by 34 percent.

Lerner & Rowe Gives Back has granted $20,000 to support children served by the Center for the Rights of Abused Children’s Pro Bono Children’s Law Clinic. The funds will exclusively fund emergency legal aid for abused children.

At the Arizona Capitol Times’ Best of the Capitol awards ceremony this evening, Darcy Olsen, founder and CEO of the Center for the Rights of Abused Children, was recognized as Arizona’s Best Non-Profit Leader.

Phoenix, Ariz. – Yesterday, the Arizona legislature passed a measure, brought by the Center for the Rights of Abused Children, to help abused children at the greatest risk of aging out of the foster care system find safe and loving homes. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs is anticipated to sign the bill. House Bill 2704, establishes the Foster Youth Permanency Project Team within the Department of Child Safety.