Stories

A CASA volunteer, Ann, was assigned to such a case. Ann is a mother who has 2 young children and she works in the medical field. Ann was assigned to 4 children (ages 4 months to 6) who had been often left alone, were undernourished and the apartment in which they resided was dirty and unsafe. Their mother was very young and these 4 children had been removed from her care. The mother demonstrated no ability to protect her children from a culture of substance abuse and neglect.

The CASA volunteer's priority was the protection and best interest of these 4 precious children but she saw something in the mother that indicated that maybe this young woman could overcome this cycle of generational neglect and become a good mother. The mother was overwhelmed and had no support, no family. Ann became a role model for the mother, made suggestions and participated closely when the children visited their mother. Ann answered questions about everything a mom has to do for her children, she demonstrated ways to hold a baby, ways to feed a child, talk to their teachers and even how to comfort a crying child. The everyday skills many of us take for granted were new skills for this mother. The CASA volunteer took books to the visits and read to the children, and the mother just watched. Eventually the mother sat down and listened to the stories, saying no one had ever read to her when she was little, that she never owned a book. After over a year of working with the children they were returned to the mother's care. The mother had much help from many community services (such as alcohol treatment, parenting classes, GED classes, counseling) to get back on her feet but she said much of her success came from the CASA volunteer because Ann believed in her and clearly cared so much about her young children and their futures. The children are returned home now. They are living in a small, tidy apartment, the children are healthy and doing well. The CASA volunteer is still visiting and happy to report the positive changes in the children's lives. Ann said now it's her turn to watch both the mother and children's faces light up during story time. We love happy endings for children and know the CASA volunteer played an important part of this success story.

About ten years ago, I was 11 years old and in fifth grade in Longmont. I had moved from Columbus, Ohio two years before with my mother and sister. We were escaping my mother's physically abusive second husband, and though we thought that Colorado would be a new beginning, it was really just another chapter in my mother's battle with alcoholism and mental disease. Unfortunately, my younger sister and I had to find a way to cope with our mother's issues.

Soon after we moved, my mother and I began getting in physical fights. I believe now that these fights were a result of my mother's mental issues and not, as I thought then, all my fault. I held a lot of blame for my mother's problems and tried my best to care for my sister when my mother was unable to. She would black out or physically assault me, and I would hide my sister in the basement, or even run away with her.

I was a very intelligent child. I loved school and tutored younger children. I had tons of friends and did my best to put on a front that nothing was wrong. However, when I got home at night, my happy-go-lucky nature disappeared. My mother's dependency on alcohol had turned into a full-blown problem. In the two years prior, she had received two DUIs and been in rehab. My sister and I went into foster care for the first time.

My first night in foster care was, to put it simply, awful. I was no longer being abused, but I still felt alone. I had all hand-me-down clothes from my foster home, and I had none of my personal belongings. I always wrote in a diary, and without that outlet I felt very lost. My foster family was okay, but foster care is just so hard to understand when you're young. I felt like an outcast, and I couldn't see my friends, or my sister.

Soon, I had my first meeting with my CASA volunteer, Stephanie Eichenaur. I immediately attached to her like a leech! It was explained to me that Stephanie would stand up for me in court and she would always make sure that I was okay. For me, Stephanie's role in my life went much farther. She was like my big sister, my best friend and the person I talked to when I was sad or lonely or happy.

Stephanie and I did lots of things together, but my favorite was bowling. We also had picnics and went to the library. She would talk to me on the phone whenever I needed her, and she made sure I got another diary. Stephanie made me a CD of music we sang to in the car, and I still have it.

Stephanie took me to every court appearance. She told the judge exactly how I felt about my mother, my foster home, and my overall situation. She was the first person I ever trusted. Stephanie gave me stability when I was at my most vulnerable.

In seventh grade, I met my best friend Heather Ricketts. When I went to her house, I realized that this was what a stable family was supposed to look like. I would stay over with her when my stepdad would kick us out of the house, or when there wasn't any food. Her parents would make me feel like a part of the family. They'd even let me celebrate holidays with them. They were the closest thing to a normal, stable family I had.

One day, when I went to school, my mom told me to get off the bus at my aunt's house after school instead of coming home. Maybe she knew what was about to happen. When I got off the school bus that afternoon, I found DFCS (the Division of Family and Children Services) waiting for me on the front steps. My mom had been arrested for drug possession. That was the day I went into foster care.

I went to one foster home, and then a few days later I moved to a second home. That was when I met my CASA volunteer, Lisa. In our first meeting, I told her that I didn't understand why I couldn't just stay with Heather's family. She said to me, "I don't think that's how it works, but I'll look into it." And she did.

I knew that the Ricketts were already trying to help me. From day one, George and Barb had been on the phone with DFCS to see what was going on and to find out how they could help me. They thought it made sense to just have me move in with them. And that's what made sense to me, too. There were drug addicts and drunks on both my father's and my mother's side. Their house was the one place where I felt safe.

Lisa did everything she could to make it possible for me to go home with the Ricketts. She did a home visit and recommended some improvements to make sure it would meet all the state's requirements. They did everything they needed to do. Lisa recommended in her court report that I should be placed with the Ricketts, and everybody signed off on the plan.

I moved into the Rickettses' home right before my 14th birthday. They had a party for me, and I made sure Lisa was there too. I was able to focus more on school after I moved there. I got more involved in clubs, and I was even president of our school's chapter of the Health Occupations Students of America.

Lisa changed my life. The difference between Lisa and everyone else in the system was that Lisa was really interested in who I was. They all did their jobs, but nobody else tried to get to know me as a person. Lisa wanted to connect with me, not as a case she was working, but as a person. Even though she was brand new as a CASA volunteer, she did everything she could to help me get into a permanent home.

Jacke is currently attending Gainesville State College in Georgia and hopes to become an emergency room physician.

CASA Volunteer Bethany made a difference for Miranda!

Bethany, a new CASA volunteer (also a full time Miami University student) was assigned a case involving a then 5 ½ year old little girl named Miranda. Miranda had been thrown into the Juvenile Court system at age 4 ½. She was removed from her parents during a police stop. She was found in a car with her parents who had pills, drugs and were under the influence. Miranda spent almost a year with her grandparents whom she loved a great deal. Due to health problems, the grandparents had to relinquish custody to Children Services as they could no longer care for her. This is when Bethany steps in. 

Bethany met with Miranda weekly at her foster home to provide advocacy, support and encouragement to this scared little girl. At a meeting with Bethany's teacher to check on her progress, Miranda excitedly introduced Bethany to her kindergarten class as "Her special friend". Bethany was that and more to Miranda. Through their weekly outings, Bethany realized how important family ties were to this little girl. Bethany sought approval for Miranda to see her ailing grandfather. Once approved Bethany and Miranda went for a visit to the nursing home, not only did Bethany attend this visit to show Miranda support, she took photos for Bethany, the grandparents and parents. Sadly, Miranda's parents could not conquer their drug addiction to reunite with their daughter. Fortunately, relatives came forward from Indiana and expressed an interest in Miranda. Bethany was a bit apprehensive. Could they provide a forever family for Miranda? Would they love her unconditionally as their own? As soon as Bethany met with the relatives, she knew the answer was an astounding "yes". During the first meeting Miranda stayed close to Bethany and even stated she would give her a signal if she was afraid. The visit went wonderfully and Miranda was eventually placed in Indiana. 

Bethany advocated to the court for permanency for this little girl as she had already spent so much of her life with uncertainty. Miranda needed a chance at a family and a future. Bethany got creative to keep in contact with Miranda and due to the 3 hours distance began "skyping" with Miranda on a regular basis. Miranda is placed with wonderful relatives who love, care and support her. She will have a forever family and a forever friend in Bethany.

"Bethanys's support and stability gave Miranda the courage she needed to step into a new world that offered her many opportunities and much love. Miranda never had support or stability from her home before. We feel that this sums it up, Bethany was able to provide these essential needs for Miranda and for that, we are eternally grateful for the CASA program.

                         Bethany's "new parents" - Ann & Mike (7/11)