we were given about 12 hours notice that the little boy is going to be taken away from us the next day. and we tried, we called everyone, we pleaded with them but nobody really listened to our voice, and then they came in the morning and took him away from us. and why they say they were taking him away? at that time, when he was taken, before he was taken, we didn t really get any answers apart from that they don t think the placement is going to work long term. that was more than three years ago. they challenged the decision, the council apologised, an independent social worker decided the boy should return to the couple, as did an adoption panel. but in april last year, the council changed its approach after another assessment. the little boy will stay in foster care. we don t believe that s the right place for him to be, and we ve always believed that, that s why we fought on for him. he thrived in an adoption placement
taken away from us the next day. and we tried, we called everyone, we pleaded with them but nobody really listened to our voice, and then they came in the morning and took him away from us. and why did they say they were taking him away? at that time, when he was taken, before he was taken, we didn t really get any answers apart from that they don t think the placement is going to work long term. that was more than three years ago. they challenged the decision, the council apologised, an independent social worker decided the boy should return to the couple, as did an adoption panel. but in april last year, the council changed its approach after another assessment. the little boy will stay in foster care. we don t believe that s the right place for him to be, and we ve always believed that, that s why we fought on for him. he thrived in an adoption placement with us, he loved having a mummy and daddy and he was doing
to house nine residents at one time and because every mother comes at a different stage of their pregnancy, that leaves us the ability to serve approximately 85 mothers a year. gretchen: the moms are required to work, being involved in a career center. at the time that you re housing them, you re also trying to guide them as well. one of those decision social security what will they do with their child. you also provide counseling for that? we do. we provide counseling for our mothers if they decide to parent their baby or if they choose for adoption placement. our counselors work with them to decide what the best plan for them is and where they want to go. our mothers that are undecided at the time receive counseling throughout their pregnancy to make the best possible choice. gretchen: all right. we mentioned you re nonprofit. tomorrow night you have a casino night coming up to try to raise funds. if people want to get involved, what can they do? if they want to become involv
seeks to preserve the integrity of families, native americans. but it cannot be used as a bludgeon to destroy the integrity of an existing family. reporter: the assistant attorney general for the cherokee nation says the law is clear. some of the protections provided by the indian child welfare act, there s a mrailsment preference if the child is removed by the state or if they re placed in private adoption placement. the first preference is for a family member. reporter: but in cases like this, what about the child? everybody keeps saying how bad they feel for us, but, i mean, she s a 2-year-old girl who got shoved in a truck and driven to oklahoma with strangers. reporter: the couple thought the transfer would happen on new year s day, but it happened on new year s eve, a lot sooner than they were prepared for. they ve gotten to speak with
indian children and their families together. cnn legal analyst avery freedman says in this case, the law was misused. it s a wonderful law which seeks to preserve the integrity of families of native americans, but it cannot be used as a bludgeon to destroy the integrity of an existing family. the assistant attorney general for the cherokee nation says the law is clear. some of the protections provided by the child welfare act, there s a placement preference, if children are removed by the state or if they re placed in private adoption placement. the first preference is for a family member. reporter: but in cases like this, what about the child? everybody keeps saying how bad they feel for us. but i mean, she s a 2-year-old girl who got shoved in a truck and drove to oklahoma with strangers.