To: The Honorable Judge Emilio Chavez, The Eighth Judicial Court, Governor of New Mexico, and the New Mexico Attorney General

Kayla and Brandon have been the unwavering pillars of love and support for many foster children since they began fostering in 2021. Among these children is a little girl they have cherished and cared for, and now their daughter who recently turning eighteen and whom they are proudly adopting. Currently, they are the hopeful guardians of a nine-month-old baby boy. This innocent child came into their lives when he was just three weeks old, abandoned at the hospital. Since then, Kayla and Brandon have showered him with unwavering love, compassion, and stability.



However, the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) is threatening to dismantle the safety net Kayla and Brandon have woven for this child. The agency is planning to enact an Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) to move the baby to Missouri. The concerning part is that the proposed Missouri family is not biologically related and has only adopted one of the five siblings, one sibling is in a group home in Taos. CYFD is considering them family just because they have adopted one of the children. 


Despite Kayla and Brandon's repeated requests for a bonding assessment to demonstrate the deep emotional connection between them and the baby, CYFD has continuously ignored them. Without any regular caseworker and no related hearings, their hands are tied, and they are wrongfully being prevented from advocating for the baby’s best interests. Courtesy check-ups from the daughter’s caseworkers are insufficient to address the pressing needs of this case. 

According to the 2024 New Mexico Statutes Chapter 32A - Children's Code Article 4 - Child Abuse and Neglect Section 32A-4-27 - Intervention; persons permitted to intervene and 2024 New Mexico Statutes Chapter 32A - Children's Code Teg Article 4 - Child Abuse and Neglect ion Section 32A-4-31 - Permanent guardianship of a child. Rights are not being followed.



update: they just celebrated his 1st birthday with all their closet friends and family. He is striving and happy with this family, where he belongs. 

This petition demands that CYFD recognizes the foster family's rights to intervene and calls for immediate action. This includes conducting the necessary bonding assessment and halting any plans that ignore the emotional welfare of the child and the settled family bond. For the welfare of this innocent child, sign this petition urging CYFD to prioritize the child’s emotional and physical well-being above all bureaucratic hustle.