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Success Stories
CASA Volunteer’s Diligent Search for Relatives Finds Aunt to Provide Permanent Home for Two Young Children
In Northeast Georgia, two young children were placed in foster care due to neglect – their mother was taken to jail, their step-father abandoned them due to an impending divorce and financial issues, and their biological father could not be found after a search. June*, a CASA volunteer, was assigned to the two children. She did a very diligent search for relatives on the West Coast and found an aunt (the mother’s sister) who could provide a stable home life for the children. The aunt did not even know the children existed since she had not talked to the mother in seven years. While the goal was to reunify the children with their mother, that was not accomplished once the mother never contacted child welfare when she was released from jail. So, the process of interstate custody transfer was started and completed for the children to live with their aunt. The children have adapted very well, and their aunt and uncle are in the process of adopting them.
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Teen’s CASA Volunteer Is Key to Finding Older Sibling to Provide Home
CASA volunteer Chris* was assigned to a teenage boy – James* – who had been in foster care for five years in the western part of the state. It was thought that James would end up aging out of the foster care system. Once Chris was assigned to him, things began to turn around. Chris built a strong relationship with James and was determined not to just wait around for him to age out of the system. Chris helped to find James’ older brother, who turned out to be someone who James could potentially live with permanently. Chris not only helped James, but also supported his brother as he took the steps to bring James into his home. James now lives with his older brother, thanks in large part to the consistency, investigation and devotion of his CASA volunteer Chris.
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CASA Volunteer Helps Five Special Needs Siblings Find Adoptive Homes
Five special needs siblings in North Georgia were placed in foster care due to sexual and physical abuse. Margaret*, a CASA volunteer, was assigned to them. While all five children were not in the same placement, Margaret diligently visited all of them monthly, visited their schools and foster homes, and observed visits with their parents. Sadly, the parents did not turn their lives around in order to have their children placed back with them. After their parental rights were terminated, three of the siblings were adopted by one family. The two teenage boys were still waiting for a permanent home. Margaret talked with friends and CASA board members about helping to find an adoptive home for them. She also helped the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) look over case studies of prospective adoptive families and helped to interview each family, exploring their abilities to care for children with special needs. After a year, a wonderful pre-adoptive family has been found. Margaret continues to visit the boys and actively promotes visits between them and their other three siblings.
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CASA Volunteer Corina* Proves Most Knowledgeable about DJ’s* Case
In North Georgia, DJ’s* case was considered a ‘cold case.’ His parents’ parental rights had been terminated five years earlier, yet he was languishing in foster care with no immediate plans for placement in a permanent home. In steps CASA volunteer Corina*. Not long after being appointed, Corina attended a meeting with several officials in the child welfare system to talk about DJ’s case. It soon became evident that Corina was the one person who knew the most about DJ and what his needs were. She listed numerous support services that DJ needed, yet had never received. At the conclusion of the meeting, it was decided that DJ would receive the recommended services and he would be moved to a specific pre-adoptive foster home.
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*Names have been changed for confidentiality reasons
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