Two year old Nevaeh Alexander has been in foster care and around her family since she was born. She has a grandfather, great grandmother, uncle, aunt, cousins and etc that she knows and loves. A family in the North is trying to take her away from her family. Her cousin, Latrisha McFarland,  applied to adopt her after she found out that the other family had put in for the adoption.

According to research, kids are hardwired to take cues about the world, and draw a sense of physical and emotional security, from their parents/ and when they’re taken from their caregivers prematurely, their development may stall and potentially suffer irrevocable harm. “These early separations have a profound effect on the overall capacity for people to function and be useful members of society,” van der Kolk says. “Your brain is a predictive system. If people get ripped away from you, you get a brain that will say, ‘People will mess with me. People will hurt me. People will take advantage of me.’ That becomes your basic orientation as you grow up.” Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, director of the Trauma Center in Boston and a childhood trauma expert

According to care.com- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), social developments at age 2 include toddler separation anxiety and begin to show signs of separation anxiety -- even if they didn't as babies. 

There is the possibility the individual will permanently take on the “victim” or “victimizer” role. Long term control issues may be prominent. A serious effect may be the disruption in ego development, with an increased incidence of “borderline
personality” problems. Lack of self-awareness may be ongoing. There may be long term subtle language problems. As adults, these individuals may be rigid, inflexible, and not able to deal appropriately with aggressive impulses. 

The courts have decided that she would be better off with this family (who live far away) because it would be "nice" for her to grow up with her older sibling they adopted some years ago. They are willing to devastate  this two year old little girl and her relatives by taking her away from blood family in order for her to call other people uncle, grandfather etc.  Why risk all of that to satify this family's need? The needs of the many outweight the needs of the one. Latrisha will file an appeal. Please sign the petition and tell the Jewish Family Services and the Judge that this African American girl should remain with her family. Thank you so kindly - God Bless .