HomeMy WebLinkAbout20132398.tiffGinger V. Geissinger
Attorney at Law
August 21, 2013
Mike Freeman
Weld County Commissioners
1150 "O" Street
PO BOX 758
Greeley, CO 80632
RE: Three Outstanding WCDHS Caseworkers
Dear Mr. Freeman:
RECEIVED
AUG 2 3 2013
WELD COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
I am writing this letter to praise three caseworkers at the Weld County
Department of Human Services. The caseworkers that I am writing about are:
Kris Wolf
Stephanie Williams
Kyle Ragland
I am a juvenile defense attorney who practices in Weld County. I have
practiced in Weld County for almost 10 years. I have a client that I will call
Beth. Beth is 16. Beth has an infant baby boy. Beth has a mother who is a
meth addict and a father who is in a prison in Texas. Beth has no other family
in Colorado able to take care of her or her son.
I met Beth because she has a delinquency case. She was charged with a
misdemeanor for a fight at school. Beth needed help from the Weld County
Department of Human Services [hereinafter referred to as "WCDHS"] because
her mother disappeared in the middle of the case. Beth had no one to take
care of her or her son. WCDHS stepped in and opened child protection cases
and Kris Wolf was assigned. The Youth Services side of WCDHS assisted Kris
Wolf and this is how Stephanie Williams joined the case.
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Ginger V. Geissingger, Attorney at Law • r.o. Box 2001 7, Evans, CO 80620 • (970) 420-5762•
�mai�: gvglaw@hotmail.com • Web: www.gvglaw.org
Ginger V. Geissinger
Attorney at Law
Then, all of the drama started. Beth was in custody at the Platte Valley Youth
Services Center. Where do we put Beth? Beth needs to be with her son? How
do we help her? What do we do? What case do we use?
Kris, Stephanie, and Kyle Ragland came up with a plan. It was a plan that
made sense. It was a plan that satisfied the needs of the child protection and
the delinquency cases. It was a plan that held Beth accountable for her
criminal case but ensured she was safe. It was a plan that ensured that Beth's
baby boy was safe and had the services he would need.
The plan was to use the delinquency case to send Beth to live in the custody of
her aunt and uncle who live in Texas, want to care for Beth and her son, and
are appropriate. All that we needed to make this happen was for WCDHS to
pick Beth up from Platte Valley Youth Services Center, arrange to transport her
to DIA, put her on a plane, confirm she arrived in Texas, and to make a couple
referrals to transfer some Weld services for Beth and her son to agencies in
Texas.
The Weld District Attorney's Office, the GAL Vince Vigil, the family, Beth, and
everyone else agreed this was the best plan.
The only hindrance was the Weld County Attorney's Office. The County
Attorney's office proposed a plan that would have left Beth homeless, without
resources, without money, without a job, without food, and with no ability to
access services for herself or her son. Their plan was to turn Beth out onto the
streets alone with her infant son. That office deemed it was not the
responsibility of WCDHS to do anything to help a 16 year old teen mom
abandoned and homeless in Greeley, Colorado.
The Weld District Court ordered our plan.
Ginger V. Geissinger, Attorney at Law • r o. Box 200 i 17, Evans, CO 60620 • (970) 420-5762•
�mai�: gvglaw@botmail.com • Web: www.g'gIaw.org
Ginger V. Ceissinger
Attorney at Law
Kris, Stephanie, and Kyle are amazing caseworkers. They offered a reasonable
solution. They researched the services in Weld that would transfer to Texas.
They went above and beyond the call of duty. They ensured that Beth and her
child were safe and protected. They made sure this happened in a cost-
efficient manner without risking the safety of either Beth or her child. The only
other real alternative was long term foster care for Beth and her son.
Kris and Stephanie made all the arrangements and referrals requested and
ordered by the Court. They picked Beth and off to DIA they went. The only
wrinkle in our plan was at the airport. First, the plane was delayed. Then, the
plane was broken. The airline said they could fix it. Then the airline could not
fix it. After many hours, the flight was cancelled. The airline offered to pay for
a hotel room for the night and to pay for a new flight leaving the very next day.
So, Kris Wolf and Stephanie Williams selflessly stayed and ensured Beth was
safe and cared for that evening. I was informed every step of the way by each
of these three caseworkers just in case an emergency order was necessary.
Beth made it to Texas the next day on the new flight.
The happy ending to this story is due to the hard work of Kris Wolf, Stephanie
Williams, and Kyle Ragland. They stood up for what was right. They stood up
for what was in the best interest of these children. They stood up against
lawyers advocating for them to break County policies. They worked tirelessly
and they each went above and beyond.
Kris, Stephanie, and Kyle work this hard on every single case. They work this
hard on the easy cases. They work this hard on the complicated cases. They
are truly outstanding. They are shining examples of the great things that
WCDHS can do.
Ginger V. Ceissinger, Attorney at Law • P.O. Box 200117, Evans, CO 80620 • (970)+20-5762•
Email: gvglaw@hotmal.com • Web: www.gvglaw.org
Ginger V. Geissinger
Attorney at Law
If you would like to hear more about this story, please do not hesitate to call or
email me.
Sincerely,
Ginger V. Geissinger
Attorney at Law
Email: gvglaw@ otmail.com
Ginger V. Geissinger, Attorney at Law • P.o. box 200117, Evans, CO 80620 • (970) 420-5762•
gvglaw@hotmail.com • Web, www.gvglaw.org
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