Today we’d like to introduce you to Darcy Olsen
Hi Darcy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I founded the Center for the Rights of Abused Children with a foster baby in my arms and a deep desire to help children grow up safe and loved. The idea for the Center began to take shape when a social worker told me that city shelters were overflowing with newborns because of the opioid epidemic. It was a moment I couldn’t turn away from. Over the next few years, I fostered ten boys and girls and saw firsthand the heartbreaking failures of the system—siblings being separated, children caught in endless cycles of re-entry, and, far too often, young lives ending tragically early.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Smooth road? Ha! Let’s just say it’s been more like a rollercoaster—with some loop-de-loops, surprise drops, and the occasional scream (sometimes theirs, sometimes mine!). Taking in ten children has been the most challenging, chaotic, and beautiful journey of my life. There were moments when I questioned if I could handle it all. But there were also dance parties in the kitchen and victories that made every struggle worth it.
And, oh, the stories I could tell—wait, I am telling them! Stay tuned for my upcoming book, where I spill the tea (or maybe the cookie dough) on what it’s really like to open your heart and home to so many little ones. Let’s just say it’s not for the faint of heart—but it’s absolutely for the full of heart.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I help fight for the kids who have no one else. Through the Center for the Rights of Abused Children, we offer free legal help to abused children through our one-of-a-kind Children’s Law Clinic. It’s a game-changer because let’s face it—no child should have to navigate the justice system alone. Beyond that, we work to change laws to make life better for these kids. Whether it’s ensuring they have the right to an attorney, helping find stable homes, or reducing the number of kids aging out of foster care, our mission is to make sure every child has a safe and loving home.
Hands down, I’m most thankful for changing the lives of kids who otherwise would’ve had no one in their corner. To date, we’ve helped about 1 million children nationwide. That number blows me away every time I say it. But it’s not just about numbers—it’s about the kids who are no longer sleeping in shelters, the siblings reunited, and the teenagers who don’t have to face adulthood alone. Every one of those numbers has a first and last name.
What sets me apart? Honestly? I’m not afraid to jump in with both feet. When a social worker told me city shelters were overflowing with newborns because of the opioid epidemic, I couldn’t just sit back. I fostered ten children as a single parent, and I’ve seen the foster care system’s failures up close and personal. That’s where the passion comes from—because I know we can do better, and I won’t stop until we do.
Also, if awards are your thing (hey, they’re nice but not why I do this!), I’ve been named an Angel in Adoption, received the Adoption Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and racked up a few honors back home in Arizona, including Non-Profit Leader of the Year. But honestly, my favorite recognition comes from the kids who no longer feel invisible. That’s the real win.
P.S. I’ve got a book in the works, so stay tuned for the behind-the-scenes look at the wild ride of taking in ten kids and starting a movement.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
The Babylon Bee & Radi8 Hot Yoga in Arcadia!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thecenterforchildren.org
- Instagram: darcyannolsen
- LinkedIn: Darcy Olsen
Image Credits
Sandra Tenuto Photography & Jared Platt Photography
