This is a book about my thirty-five years in child welfare. These stories about families run the gamut of emotions —- from funny to sad to exasperating. Most people, I have been told, have no idea what happens within the confidential juvenile dependency court. In these pages, you will find out what happens behind courtroom doors as well as read about abuse, rehabilitation, generational cycles, and poverty. What I want is to have you, the reader, sit on the bench with me. I want you to see the hard work of protecting our most vulnerable population, but mostly to see that these are people. People who struggle with the same issues we all struggle with. Human beings trying to access dignity are recognized as worthy of help. These families often fail, but with our help, they can rise and succeed. If we can’t save the parents, we can and must fulfill our promise to the children entrusted to us to make their lives better before they leave the system. I hope my stories inspire you to think about what you can do to help families that are part of our American village.