Everleigh Grace

Published on June 5, 2026 at 10:22 PM

There is a question that has haunted me for months

Why is it so difficult to verify that a child is safe?

Not to bring her home.
Not to overturn a court order.
Not to relitigate a case.

Simply to know that she is safe.

My daughter, Everleigh Grace, entered this world in January 2024. Before she ever took her first steps, before she could speak a single word for herself, decisions were made that would separate her from her biological family and place her entirely in the hands of strangers.

The public is often told that the child welfare system exists to protect children. Most people believe that when concerns are raised, agencies investigate. When allegations surface, oversight increases. When a child cannot speak for themselves, responsible adults make sure someone is watching.

But what happens when the people asking questions are the child’s own family?

What happens when those questions go unanswered?
What happens when visitation is restricted, communication becomes limited, and transparency disappears?

Those are not hypothetical questions. They are the questions surrounding Everleigh’s case. For nearly two years, family members have attempted to obtain answers about her wellbeing. We have asked for accountability. We have asked for oversight. We have asked for verification.

Not assumptions.
Not promises.
Verification.

A child placed outside of her biological family should never become invisible.

Yet that is exactly what many families experience when they enter the child welfare system. Information becomes difficult to obtain. Decisions become difficult to challenge. Concerns are often dismissed as emotional reactions from parents who disagree with the outcome of a case. But child safety should never depend on whether someone likes the person raising the concern.

A valid concern is a valid concern.
A child is a child.
And every child deserves protection.

The reality is that children in state care are among the most vulnerable members of our society. They depend entirely on adults to advocate for them. They depend on systems to function properly. They depend on oversight mechanisms to work exactly as intended.

When those safeguards fail, children pay the price.

The purpose of Justice4EverleighGrace has never been to attack individuals.

It has never been about revenge.
It has never been about creating division.

It is about one simple principle:

No child should disappear behind paperwork.
Every child deserves visibility.
Every child deserves accountability.
Every child deserves to have concerns investigated rather than ignored.
And every family deserves the ability to know that a child they love is safe.

The hardest part of this journey has not been losing court battles.

It has not been criticism. It has not been public scrutiny. The hardest part has been living with uncertainty. Uncertainty is its own kind of punishment.

Every day that passes without answers creates another day of wondering.
Another day of worrying.
Another day of asking whether someone is paying attention.

Because children cannot advocate for themselves. Adults must do that for them.

So we will continue asking questions.
We will continue documenting concerns.
We will continue demanding transparency.
And we will continue speaking Everleigh’s name.

Not because it is easy. Not because it is popular.

But because one day, when Everleigh is old enough to understand, she deserves to know that people never stopped fighting for her safety, her visibility, and her future.

A child should never be forgotten.

And neither should the responsibility to protect them.

Justice begins with accountability.

Accountability begins with transparency. And transparency begins by asking the questions no one else wants to ask.

Call to Action

If you believe every child in foster care deserves transparency, accountability, and meaningful oversight, please share Everleigh’s story. You can also learn more about the public petition regarding Everleigh’s safety and placement concerns on our (how you can help page) and read more about the petition "Reunite Everleigh Grace Landrum With Her Family and Ensure Her Safety⁠."

This is not just about one child. It is about ensuring that no child becomes invisible once they enter the system.