Story of Hope: Karin Kohler

Advocate Karin Kohler was assigned a sibling group of two in March of 2022. The children were initially removed due to emotional abuse and neglectful supervision. The children were 14 and 10 years old and placed in a relative home. Karin started to gather medical documentation for all children due to the history of psychiatric hospitalizations. Due to their hospitalizations, they had missed a great amount of school. Karin reached out to the school to ensure the children were attending school regularly and ensure that appropriate educational accommodations were in place. The children had many tardies and absences. The concerns were noted in her court report and Judge Burley assigned an Educational Surrogate.

She continued to reach out to the school regularly to be kept up to date on their progress and attendance. Unfortunately, the children were removed from their placement and placed with other relatives. Karin was able to secure bunk beds for the new placement to help ensure the placement would be appropriate and the children would have appropriate sleeping arrangements. Although she was able to secure and deliver school supplies to the children prior to the placement change, the children were not able to move with their supplies that had been provided previously. Karin was quick to arrange with her supervisor to pick up new supplies because school for the children was starting the next day and did not have anything at the time.

Shortly after school started in August 2022 the oldest child was hospitalized again and required a 5-week outpatient stay. Once she was able to return to her school Karin was meeting with the school guidance counselor to ensure that the child’s 504 accommodations had transferred and was in place. Karin soon learned that the school was not aware of her previous 504 accommodations. She was able to get a 504 scheduled within 2 weeks.



Karin has been a great advocate focusing on educational and safety advocacy for both children and has been sure to keep everyone informed for the children’s best interest.