A Path Home: How Advocacy Reunited a Family by Troy Mainzer, Carlton Fields

By Troy Mainzer, Carlton Fields, P.A.

In May 2023, I was appointed along with co-counsel to represent a young man in Tampa, Florida who had been picked up by police and sent to the Hillsborough County detention center. He had been sleeping outside due to circumstances that led him to leave his home. Despite sleeping outside (really, he was staying awake outside all night for his safety), he still would manage to get himself to school every day. We knew this young man needed Crossroads’ help to find structure in his life and be able to realize his full potential. After I visited him for the first time, I knew he was a special young man and promised to do everything I could to help him. We were able to get him placed into the Lake Magdalene Respite Facility, where he stayed for a few months. This is uncommon, as most children are not permitted to stay at the respite facility for an extended period of time. However, even they knew he was a special young man and helped to buy us the time we needed.

We were able to get in touch with his grandparents in Kansas City, who were unaware of their grandson’s circumstances due to his limited ability to contact them. They agreed to let the young man come live with them, but the process to get him there would not be easy. The mother would not cooperate with us, making the process a logistical nightmare. Over the next few months while we worked to secure custody for his grandparents, I visited multiple times per week at the respite facility. I brought him clothes and other necessities he needed, and would regularly bring him lunch and/or dinner. We would throw the football and talk about sports, life, his hard times, career advice, and other things. He would frequently call my cell phone when he needed someone to talk to.

After finally securing a hearing before Judge Tibbals, the young man’s grandparents flew down from Kansas City to be at the hearing in person. Their love for him couldn’t be more obvious. They flew on a flight that was repeatedly delayed and arrived in Tampa at 3 a.m. and were at the courthouse by 8 a.m. After a successful hearing, I drove the grandparents to the respite facility to reunite with their grandson that they had not seen in years. Everyone was in tears. I then drove them to a hotel where they got ready and took a flight back to Kansas City. This was a day I will never forget. Thanks to Crossroads, this young man is on his way to a much better and successful life.