Ms. Tornero and her Son Eugene

 Eugene loves his mother – and he will tell you that in an instant. It is what he told his lawyer, Chrissy Smith, when she first met him.

Chrissy was appointed to be Eugene’s guardian ad litem, responsible for advocating for his best interests, after he was placed in foster care.

Chrissy met with Eugene and his mother and then spent several days interviewing people who knew them, such as Eugene’s teachers and neighbors. She quickly realized that Eugene loved his mother and was very attached to her. In turn, Ms. Tornero was an excellent advocate for Eugene, who has autism and needs extensive therapy and a special school setting.

In the days before Eugene was placed in foster care, Ms. Tornero had become overwhelmed with caring for Eugene. Eugene’s special needs require patience and he cannot be left alone. As a single mother with limited financial resources, Ms. Tornero had become exhausted and had no one to help her.

Chrissy worked with Ms. Tornero and the child welfare agency to develop a “safety plan,” a strategy to help Ms. Tornero keep Eugene safe if she became overwhelmed again. Chrissy also arranged for some family services to help Ms. Tornero take care of Eugene.

Eugene is safely back with his mother – his first and best advocate.