11/28/2018
Families are the goal
Deprived court is likely the last place you think you will see a beautiful moment. While sitting in the jury box waiting for my case to be called, I witnessed the most beautiful thing. A dad and his wife walked in and they were in trial reunification with their child. He looks so nervous.... I quietly think to myself.... “I wonder if he relapsed”.... but he was patiently waiting to talk... when it was his turn, he turned me to tears..... this young man starts to speak....He was there to thank all the parties. He knew the name of the prosecutor, and he thanked her. He looked at the child’s attorney... and he thanked her. He smiled at the judge, giving his EXACT days of sobriety, and he thanked her. He thanked the DHS worker... and then he asked something amazing. He asked the Judge to have the officers who arrested him to be present when his case was closed. I think his words were “I gave them the business”😂😂.... but he thanked every person in the room for holding him accountable and then HELPING him. He was clean. He was sober. His family was back together. And it was the work of the system that helped him. I sat there in tears... as a former prosecutor who would have loved to hear this from a parent..... I was moved. If you are in this industry.... social workers, judges, police officers, foster parents, CASA, Child’s attorneys..... THIS IS WHY WE ARE HERE. This one moment is what we are all waiting for. And I was so lucky, today... to see Craig County Deprived “team” get their props..... ❤️❤️❤️❤️
