I was just five years old when I entered the foster care system with my older brother by my side. In 2007, I was adopted by a family in Spokane, but my brother was sent to an all-boys group home designed to ‘straighten out’ wayward youth. It stripped away his childhood and he was propelled into the vicious cycle of juvenile detention centers until he turned 18 years old.
As we navigated early adulthood and difficulties in our relationship, my brother became a parent. I reckoned with mixed emotions over the next several years, as I tested the waters to see how I could be in my nephew’s life while maintaining healthy boundaries. When my nephew was a toddler, I started spending time with him almost every weekend. Our bond continued to strengthen, but I soon grew concerned about his living conditions.
My nephew’s mother made a living through sex work and struggled with substance abuse. Their home hosted a rotating group of individuals who also engaged in frequent substance use, creating dangerous and unsanitary living conditions. Despite several in-person visits from Child Protective Services (CPS), the criteria were never met to remove my nephew from the home.
Taking on daily care during COVID
During the COVID-19 shutdown, I cared for my nephew nearly every day. While I was more than happy to take care of him, but I was not his legal guardian. His school had previously handed me the Becca Bill, citing my nephew’s attendance issues when not in my care. If I was going to act as his guardian, I needed to be able to ensure his needs were met.
In the spring of 2021, after years of research and contemplation, I was referred to Northwest Justice Project (NJP). I felt desperate for professional guidance. That guidance came from an NJP attorney and her legal assistant. I brought them over 280 pieces of evidence and they quickly worked up a game plan. After navigating some legal hurdles, the court granted me guardianship, allowing me to care for my nephew over the next two years.
Then, in early 2023, I contacted NJP again to discuss relocating out of the state with my nephew. Both parents objected. At that time, my brother was incarcerated and representing himself in court, while my nephew’s mother had a court-appointed attorney. Both parents tried to have me removed as my nephew’s guardian and replaced with my brother’s biological mother—the same mother whose ongoing drug use and neglect resulted in my brother and I going into foster care.
My new NJP attorney maintained a calm composure throughout the trial process. The judge was compassionate. As he listened to the legal briefing and argument, he recognized the complexity of the situation and granted the relocation.
The ability to have a fresh start away from Spokane was an immense relief and truly a positive change for my nephew’s well-being.