When Aliyah had her first child at the age of 15, her large and loving family stepped up to support her. Aliyah’s mother adopted her eldest two children; later, in her thirties, Aliyah became the parent of two more children.

She struggled with an abusive partner and, following a domestic violence incident, found herself incarcerated when her children were six and eight. DCPP placed a parent aide in her home and Aliyah completed all required services while awaiting her trial, but was indicted nine months later. “They came to take me, so they took my kids.” Aliyah surrendered her children to a close friend, believing that she could regain her rights once she was released from incarceration.

Aliyah kept in contact with her children throughout her time in prison. “She continued to provide her children with love and support,” says her attorney, Sylvia. “Post-incarceration, she maintained contact with the children because of the relationship that she had with the adoptive parent. And the children knew her as mother.”

Upon release from prison, Aliyah learned that her surrender and her children’s subsequent adoption were not reversible. She was referred to LSNJ and received advice on child custody and post-termination of parental rights. She continued to fight to be a part of her daughters’ lives. When the adoptive parent moved out of state leaving her youngest daughter unsupervised, Legal Services helped Aliyah prepare pleadings and successfully file for custody. She has gone on to become a resource parent for other children in the system. “Her life has really come full circle,” says Sylvia.