Standing Beside Maria: A Story of Courage, Love, and Systemic Gaps

Recently, we’ve had the privilege of supporting Maria, a mother whose strength and resilience is deeply moving. Maria is a survivor of childhood trauma and domestic violence at the hands of multiple perpetrators. She has lived through the unimaginable—the removal of all four of her children. Today, three of them remain in out-of-home care.

But there’s hope. Maria’s eldest, just 12 years old, recently made the brave decision to return to her mum. She restored herself to Maria, seeking love, safety, and connection. The other children are still in kinship and departmental foster care, where we’ve heard troubling reports of abuse.

In response, the Jannawi team has stepped in to advocate for Maria and her youngest children. We recently attended the Children’s Court Dispute Resolution Conference (DRC) and have been working hard to improve contact visits. Previously, these visits took place in public parks—often cold, dark, and cut short by early evening. It wasn’t fair to Maria or her children.

So, we opened our doors. For the past two weeks, we’ve hosted visits at Jannawi—offering a safe, warm, and welcoming space where Maria and her little ones can reconnect. While Maria originally hoped visits could happen at home, concerns were raised about how emotionally overwhelming that might be for her youngest, who are just 2 and 3 years old. These little ones cry every time they have to say goodbye. It’s been happening for over a year.

Our goal is to provide the court with meaningful contact reports that speak to the love and bond this family shares. We hope these reports help shape a more compassionate, just outcome—one that supports reunification.

Maria’s story is not an isolated one. It shines a light on systemic issues within the child protection system. Out-of-home care providers are often not equipped—or incentivised—to support reunification. Their focus is on foster carers, not birth parents. Mothers like Maria, who have survived severe violence and live with mental health or substance use challenges, are often met with judgment rather than support.

This is a social justice issue. Families like Maria’s deserve the opportunity to heal and rebuild. And they need the right support to do it.

At Jannawi, we remain committed to walking beside families like Maria’s. We’ll continue to speak up, advocate, and act—until the system reflects the dignity and humanity every family deserves.