We protect children who have endured torture, sexual abuse, and near-fatal harm. In these cases, safety comes first. We support “aggravated circumstances” laws that allow courts to end forced reunification when a child has suffered extreme cruelty and move children quickly into safe, loving homes.
News & Press
Events & Testimonies
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I need to tell you about Zaiden
This is not an easy read. But to understand just how broken the child welfare system is, I need you to stay with me. In April of this year, police in Wichita, Kansas responded to a domestic disturbance call at the mobile home where two-year-old Zaiden Javonovich lived. Brandi and Patrick, Zaiden’s parents, were not [...]
Research & Reports
When Parental Substance Use Endangers Children: Defining Imminent Risk for Child Protection Systems
The federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act provides a minimum definition of child maltreatment that includes imminent risk of serious harm. Yet, in practice, many state and county child [...]
Resources & Tools
Michigan Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Child Trafficked by Parent; State is not Obligated to Attempt Reunification
In a major victory for child protection, the Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that the state is not required to attempt reunification with a parent who trafficked her child. This landmark decision, In re Barber/Espinoza, affirms Congress’s intent in the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), which intentionally allows states to forgo reunification when children suffer extreme physical or sexual abuse.
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Model Reforms
On Wednesday, May 7 at 11:30 a.m. ET, the Michigan Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case of In re Barber/Espinoza—a case that will determine whether a woman who trafficked her 9-year-old daughter can still claim parental rights.