Michael's Story

Michael was molested by his older brother when he was a young boy. The situation destroyed his family. His parents weren’t abusive and they didn’t abuse drugs, they just didn’t know how to deal with such a horrifying act. Sadly, Michael’s trauma was treated as the “family secret” that no one ever talked about. As Michael grew up he became angry and nearly uncontrollable. He fought constantly with his parents, skipped school, and ignored all consequences. At his worst, Michael violently attacked his mother with a bat. That’s when his parents placed him in foster care and Andrew became his Children’s Law Center attorney. For months, Michael repeatedly ran away from foster homes. He refused help from anyone and, as is often the case, Michael’s anger got worse before it got better. Everyone else gave up on Michael. Michael’s Judge and social worker anticipated that he would languish in foster care for five more years only to emancipate as an adult, alone. Andrew thought differently. Andrew believed there was still a potential future for Michael at home. Andrew urged Michael’s parents to enter family therapy. After they agreed, Andrew argued in court that reunification with Michael’s parents should be the goal, not emancipation, and eventually the Judge agreed. After months of therapy, Michael returned home after two and half years in foster care. Today, Michael is a high school graduate and excited about beginning basic training in the Army. Most importantly, Michael has a family . . . because Andrew never gave up on him. Names and identifying facts in this case have been changed to protect the children we serve.