Last night a group of mothers met with me at Advice & Aid Pregnancy Center.  For about an hour I responded to their legal questions regarding their struggles in raising their babies under challenging circumstances.

One mom told how her husband will be deported to Guatemala in the fall.  He will leave her with their toddler and an expected newborn.  Another recounted how she had been molested by a family member.  A young mom told how she had been raped at the age of 14.

We talked about restraining orders, child support, disability benefits, and custody.  The women impressed me with their courage, strength, and devotion to their children.  I felt privileged to serve them.

Foster children who participate in their court proceedings gain a sense of control and ownership.  They may  better understand the process.  The court gains valuable insight by engaging youth in solving their own problems.

Yesterday I attended a presentation in Lawrence, Kansas by the American Bar Association’s Center on Children and the Law .  Their Youth Empowerment Project tries to involve foster children more actively in their court proceedings.

Courts must consult with foster children according to the federal Child and Family Service Improvement Act of 2006.  In Kansas, foster children are recognized parties in their court proceedings.  Nonetheless, sometimes matters arise in court which could inappropriately disturb young children.

Children are required to attend their juvenile offender hearings.  In custody litigation, children usually do not attend their trials.  Instead, judges use other means to solicit the preferences of children, such as custody evaluations and CASA reports.  Some judges will interview children in private chambers with only the lawyers present.