Woman denied adoption

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A former Gallup foster mother said she was not allowed to adopt a child who was instead placed in the custody of embattled foster parent Cleo Juan.

Kim Anderson, a local foster mother of about 10 years, said she filed a petition with the Children, Youth and Families Department to adopt a nearly 1-year-old girl who temporarily lived in her home.

However, her petition was allegedly denied pursuant to a federal law entitled the Indian Child Welfare Act. The act encourages Native American parents to receive priority over parents of other races when it comes to the adoption of a Native American child.

Other factors are also allegedly taken into consideration. Anderson, a Caucasian woman, said, in her opinion, her request to adopt her foster child was denied because of her race. Instead, the girl was placed in the temporary custody of Cleo Juan who is of Native American descent.

"I was devastated because I wanted to be the mom," Anderson said.

Following the girl's removal from Anderson's home to Juan's residence, Anderson said Juan allowed her to visit the young girl; however, the visits didn't last long and Anderson was shut out of the girl's life.

Anderson said she is not certain, but that she assumes her former foster child was still in Juan's custody when the allegations of abuse surfaced.

Due to confidentiality agreements, CYFD could not comment as to whether the girl was one of the children removed from Juan's home last week.

"Why would she still have remained in foster care, when I was willing to adopt?" Anderson asked during a telephone interview. During her tenure as a Gallup foster mother, Anderson said she and other parents formed a support group, but that she was not always visited on a monthly basis by a CYFD case worker.

She also questioned whether the children are really the agency's priority, as CYFD Spokeswoman Deborah Martinez has said in recent days.

"I totally disagree with that statement," Anderson said. " ... these children are constantly placed back into situations that are detrimental. These kids live in the system sometimes until they're 18. It's just a vicious cycle."

Anderson moved from the area in August, but heard of Juan's story through friends who reside in Gallup.

"It's not a given that she did this. Your innocent until proven guilty," Anderson said.

Martinez declined comment about any specific cases, but said the agency's "thoughts and prayers are with the family."

She also said an investigation is being conducted into the matter involving Juan.