A CASA Volunteer's Story
Thursday, June 24, 2010 - 12:34 - www.voicesforkidsofsv.org
by CASA Volunteer, Michele Jones
On October 16, 2007, I stood
before the judge and took the oath to be a CASA Volunteer. A few months later,
I was appointed to advocate for an infant that tested positive for drugs at
birth. While in the custody of
the Department of Social Service, the infant resided with family members, including
the drug-addicted mother. With the goal
of giving custody of the little infant to the family, the Department tried to
work with the mother to help her conquer her addiction. I must admit that, even though my training
was very thorough and informative, I was nervous to set up my first appointment
with the family and to meet my CASA child.
Overcoming my nervousness, I
made the initial step on what would be a long journey. Walking into the smoke-filled house, I was
greeted by family members and the baby's mother, who also dwelt there. My CASA child was suffering from a cold and
its eyes looked so drawn in. As I held the
baby, I noticed its little body reeked of cigarette smoke. Equally disheartening was the family’s
complete denial of the mother's troubled background of substance abuse; they
disregarded it as recreational use. I
left there with a burdened heart and a determined mind. I immediately realized that my CASA child, who
could not defend or speak for itself, was in a deep dilemma if it was to be
placed in such an environment. Upon
investigation, my intuition started to become a reality when I discovered that
this drug-exposed baby had not been examined by a pediatrician since it was
born, even though it was experiencing recurrent ear nose and throat illnesses. Furthermore, the mother had not even attempted
to receive treatment for her drug addiction.
For the following year, I
advocated and aggressively fought for my CASA child’s medical needs and everything
else that was in its best interest, while the baby's mother and family rejected
any avenue of help. In lack of other
options, the Department was still looking at the family as a viable placement. Therefore, I began to search for other
relatives. I remember spending a couple
of days browsing through the pages of phone books and records at the court
house, endeavoring to locate other family members that may be able to
adequately care for the child. Finally,
it paid off. Without delay, I contacted
them and made an appointment, at which time they expressed their desire to help.
After reviewing CASA's Court Report, the
judge allowed the child to be temporarily placed in their care and supervision.
From that point on, my CASA child began
to develop both mentally and physically.
Health issues were diligently addressed and the reoccurring ear nose and
throat concerns dissipated. Within the next 6 months, the new family
members were awarded full custody of my CASA child and the case was closed.
It's not always easy to be a CASA.
And, yes, this case was extremely
frustrating at times. At times, I felt
as if I was spinning my tires. But then
there comes that moment...that special moment when you break free. At that instant, you realize that without
CASA, the judge would not have had access to the vital facts which turned the
case around. To this day, I receive
pictures of my CASA child, no longer a sickly, at-risk infant, but a happy
little child thriving in a kind and compassionate family. I feel privileged to have advocated and been
the voice of a voiceless child.