Please help keep this loving family together.

Hello. My name is Shawna and I am raising funds for my best friend’s attorney fees, to become legal guardians of their foster children.

Maria and her husband Jeff decided a little over six years ago to open their home to abused and neglected children, through the state of Montana’s foster care system. The first child who came into their home, I’ll call him “A” has changed their lives forever. A couple of months later, his biological mother had another son, “B”. Of course, Maria and Jeff immediately befriended their mom and during the reunification process, they all became a blended family. The Reeds continuously offered unconditional love, support, and friendship.

In the course of the last 6 years, they have loved 18 foster children as their own and have been able to adopt four of these kids. I have watched the children under their care flourish and heal. Maria and Jeff have dedicated themselves to the prescribed therapies to help the boys begin to thrive. They have attended countless hours of appointments, visitations and hearings.

Working with Child Protective Services (CPS) has been very challenging. It has taken a great deal of patience and devotion. The state’s goal is always reunification with biological parents. However, because of an antiquated and discriminatory law, the Indian Child’s Welfare Act, or ICWA, it is nearly impossible for a non-native family to adopt a Native child.

Three years ago the boys came back into the state's custody. The trauma endured made it almost impossible for the boys to remain together. They were eventually separated, "A" remaining with the Reeds and "B" going to live with a loving family, the "M" Family. Close contact between the boys remained intact with the two families working together and the boys started to thrive.

The Reeds and Family "M" were feeling confident they were going to be able to become legal guardians for "A" and "B". Due to the ICWA law, the state located distant relatives of the boys and began the vetting process. Even with letters from teachers, therapists and their biological mom encouraging the State/CPS to keep the children in their foster homes, the decision was made to move the boys out of state to Washington.

Today my best friend’s children have been given to people they have only met a couple of times, in the last few weeks. After more than SIX years in their stable, loving home, CPS has moved the children to live with strangers who reside out of state. Jeff and Maria are doing everything they can to keep the children in their homes. They have met with a lawyer who has fought for cases like theirs and against ICWA.

I am pleading with everyone to help offset this large and unexpected expense with a kind donation. Funds raised will be applied to the lawyer’s fees above the retainer and continued services.

Thank you for taking the time to read my request and God bless you for your generous donation. If you are unable to contribute monetarily, please keep A and B in your prayers. Let’s get these boys back home!