Meet Stevevonna Evans of Haven’s Future A Non-Profit On A Mission to Help More than 2.7 Million Children and Their Families Affected by Children and Family Services.
There are often times when we must go through horrible, life changing events, even if it is losing loved ones and those closest to us to be awakened and to find the silver lining, the meaning behind it all – or sometimes just a calling you never thought you had in such an event that shook you to the core and made it your promise to speak up, advocate, and made sure other people didn’t have to endure the pain and hardship as you.
In this case, that’s what non-profit founder, Stevevonna Evans, who has endured when the mother of four, who tragically lost her daughter Haven, at just five weeks, sending her and her family into a CFS infestation, one of what would eventually become two cases, removing her two living children and building a case against them would be just the beginning.
The investigation was launched when Evans was at the hospital, after EMT revived her daughter Haven however, couldn’t figure out why she had stopped breathing when they noticed that her arm was broken. At first, the investigation was simply a norm and the CFS concluded that they didn’t believe anything was done wrong by Evans or her family; however, the family was forced to (at first) temporarily part ways. Stevevonna and her two other children went to stay with her mother for six weeks while her husband remained at home. The issue however, is after the six weeks already being away from home and separated from their father, the CFS came back to eventually remove both children from the Evans. “I can’t really explain what those feelings were other than devastation, fear, confusion, and anger” says Evans.
Six months later, Haven’s coroner’s report was released along with two other specialists who all concluded that her arm being broken was not due to abuse because there was no surrounding muscle or tissue damage and two of the three specialists concluded that it was something that happened during birth. This case lasted over a year, and Evans was able to gain full custody of her now 17-year-old son; however, the judge ruled that it would be detrimental to her now 9-year-old son to return him to her as he’d been with her mom longer than with her, so her mother adopted him.
Fast forward four years, Stevevonna had another son, and an anonymous tip was reported to the CFS from a concerned person, who stated they “were in fear of the same thing would happen to my new baby as what happened to my daughter” explains Evans. Her son was sent to live with Evan’s sister as the case would last nearly two years for the Evans to only have the same judgment that was ruled before, “since her [her son] has never lived with you, it would be detrimental to him to remove him from the only home he’s ever known.” Evans parental rights were terminated, so her sister adopted him.
Through this battle, Stevevonna has discovered that she’s not alone and that this happens more than what many are aware of. With this experience and her extensive research, Haven’s Future was born. A registered non-profit whose sole objective is to help protect the rights of children and their families, as they navigate through the difficult, confusing, and detrimental system that is Children and Family Services. Did you know that out of the 3.5 million children removed from their families every year by Children and Family Services, 2.7 million are wrongfully removed, and of the 800,000 children who were accurately removed their chances of experiencing emotional, sexual, physical abuse, and even death are much higher in foster care then they are with the offending parent.
That is why the charity’s long term goal is to build as many facilities nationwide to help these families fill the gap within the system. Their facilities will have 2 and 3 bedroom suites where the families will be monitored 24/7 to ensure the safety of the children. In addition, they will provide all the services that CFS typically recommends a family do, such as :
- Parenting classes,
- Anger management,
- AA, and
- Therapy sessions
Additionally, they will also be in partnership with a group of lawyers who will assist the families in fighting their cases.
Haven’s Future will be hosting their first annual Week of Foster Caring Events May 19 – 23 in honor of Foster Care Awareness Month. A week dedicated to over 300 foster children and parents in Adelanto and surrounding areas designed to support and recognize children in Foster Care.
Have you been effected by the CFS or know someone who has? Would you like to share your story with Haven’s Future? If so, email info@havensfuture.org
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