Angel moved to the U.S. from Guatemala when he was 3. He quickly took to school and made many friends, always earning high marks and playing sports. Angel needed a little help in school and was frequently put down by his stepfather. Eventually, when Angel was 13, his stepfather hurt him. His mother immediately left, and was connected with the Law Center’s Domestic Violence Program to obtain a protection order and a referral to start divorce proceedings. Angel’s mom also worked with an education attorney to make sure that Angel had what he needed to be successful in school.
*Name and story has been modified to protect the identity of the child