Justice for Michelle's Family: Bring the Kids Home

Why I'm Asking for Help: A Mother's Plea to Bring My Babies Home

My name is Michelle Christian, and I'm a mother of four beautiful children: Keyoni (12), Kelsey (10), Kaden (7), and Owen (3). For over a year, our family has been torn apart by a broken CPS system that is supposed to protect children but instead has failed mine.

My children were taken in March 2024. Since then, my partner and I have completed every program and jumped through every hoop the court required: parenting classes, domestic violence support, anger management, and more. We've done everything we can, but it still hasn't been enough.

What breaks my heart most is what happened to my daughter, Keyoni.

While in the care of CPS, she was:

- Sexually assaulted

- Beaten by other residents

- Physically mishandled by staff

- Ran away multiple times, sleeping outside or in parks because she didn't feel safe

And yet no one told me. I found out through other family members and after begging for information. She was even arrested, and CPS never contacted me despite the fact that I still have legal parental rights.

My daughter told her worker that she wanted to move placements and see her family. But the response she got was a threat: If you ask to move again, we'll send you farther away, and you won't see them anymore. That broke her spirit. She started to believe no one would help her.

I've tried to stay strong. I've written letters. I've prayed. I've shown up to every hearing. But I've also watched CPS workers lie in court, deny me access to my children, and ignore abuse. We've reached a point where the only way to protect our rights and bring our children home is with a private attorney.

What the Money Will Be Used For

We are asking for $12,000 to pay for:

- Retaining an experienced dependency attorney

- Court filings, expert testimony, and case review

- Pursuing civil rights complaints for what happened to my daughter

- Fighting the detriment finding that is keeping us apart

Public defenders are overloaded and under-resourced. We need someone who will fight for our truth, not just go along with the system.

How You Can Help

I know times are hard. But if you believe in protecting children, in giving families a second chance, or in standing up to injustice, I'm asking for your help.

Even $10 makes a difference. And if you can't donate, just sharing this could help reach someone who can.

From one parent to another, thank you for reading, for caring, and for standing with us.

With hope and love,