DEARBORN, Mich.—Michigan has passed a law giving special priority consideration to relatives when The Department of Human Services places children into foster care, reports The Arab American News.
Signed into law by outgoing Governor Jennifer Granholm, HB 4118, also known as the “Amer Act,” is named after Ahmed and Rehab Amer who pushed for the legislation.
According to the news report, The Amers lost two children to foster care in 1985 when Rehab was charged with negligence in the death of her two-year-old son, Samier, who died from injuries from a fall in the bathtub. Rehab was a few steps away from answering the phone. Her son's death certificate read "homicide"
The Amers did not get their children back even after a jury acquittal a year later in 1986 and a court order to give the children back to them. Their third newborn child was also taken away shortly thereafter.
According to the news report, the children, Mohamed Ali, 3, Suehier,1, and Zinabe, 4 months, were sent to live with a Christian family in Clarkston, Mich.. and have had no ties to their biological family.
"We are just blessed to have this, preventing others from going through what we went through." Rehab Amer said.
Arab Couple Helps Change Foster Family Regulations
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