CASA Heroes

Every CASA volunteer is a hero for the child they serve. Sometimes the difference is small and subtle, and other times it is clearly life changing. Following are several stories of kids who have benefited from a CASA volunteer.

Diane Pingree - CASA

Diane Pingree has been an advocate for numerous children. Here is one of her cases.

“My second case involved two boys, an eight year old and a three year old. They were removed from their homes because mom had a bad drug problem – methamphetamine—and had relapsed. It was the second time the boys had gone into foster care. I thought there was no way she would ever get her kids back, but she went to rehab, got a job, and now that she is stable and back with the dad, the kids have been returned.

I am still active on the case, because the court is monitoring the family, but I’m really pleased with both how hard the court and county worked to put the family back together, and how hard mom and dad worked to get their boys back.  It is very heartwarming to see the family moving in the right direction.

But as much as I enjoyed seeing the family reunite, my greatest joy is just getting to know the boys. They love to sing—every time we get in the car we make up new songs and laugh our heads off! They always ask me a million questions, and I love seeing the light shine through them! And I love when the boys open up and share their true feelings. All three boys have been sweet and a pleasure to be around, I really truly enjoy my time with them.

Larry Boehm - CASA

Larry Boehm became a CASA in 2005, and shares this story.

“It was May 2005. I sat in the CASA office reviewing “Todd’s” file. He was 13 years old, diagnosed as manipulative with explosive reaction, having severe anger management issues, ADHD, in Special Ed classes, and possibly bi-polar. He was on three psychotropic drugs to control his anger. He was born to a drug-addicted mother who deserted him when he was 6 years old. He lived with his father until he was 8 when his father was deemed unable to provide appropriate care due to “severe emotional disturbance.” He was then placed in two different foster homes and removed from both after a short time because of severe anger management issues. His maternal grandmother took him in, but in January 2005, he was removed from her home due to severe emotional issues. Now, as I entered the case, he had just been moved to his fourth placement in five years.

When I met Todd he was defensive. He concluded that I was just another person from the county bureaucracy he would have to deal with, and that I was somebody who wouldn’t make any difference in his life.

One day he asked, “You get paid to come see me, right?” When I replied “No, I don’t get paid. I’m here because I care and want to help you,” our relationship changed. This gave me credibility with Todd. As he opened up, I could tell that he was immature for his age, but at the same time, very intelligent. He could be very engaging, funny, and laughing one minute, and withdrawn, depressed, and unresponsive the next.

Since being assigned to Todd, he has moved through two more foster homes and 4 group homes, each move initiated due to his anger management issues. And, each move meant a new school, a new teacher and different curriculum. As a result, there are large gaps in Todd’s education. And yet Todd has grown. We talk continually about dealing with his anger, and this year he put it into practice. As a result he will attend a mainstream high school—his first time ever—for his senior year.I don’t know how Todd’s story is going to end, but however it goes, I’ll be there with him to help him through the next stage. And I feel honored and privileged to be able to do so.”

Since 2006 Allyson Prero has served as a CASA for many foster kids. Recently Allyson went to extraordinary lengths to help a foster youth.

At seventeen years old, this youth had been in the foster care system since she was two, and had no memory of her birth family. Then last summer a woman, who turned out to be her older sister, contacted her, saying their mother was on her death bed, and it was “mom’s last wish is to see you before she goes.” Although her mother lived in Colorado, the girl was determined to see her before she passed away.

With the court’s approval, Allyson volunteered to use her own personal vacation time to accompany the girl. They left immediately, and the girl was able to be with her mother when she died.

This was obviously a very emotional experience for the girl, and during the stay a few of her older siblings (who were in trouble with the law) convinced her to run away with them. Allyson extended her visit, working with the local authorities to try to find the girl, but eventually had to return home without her.

Julie Stark - CASA

Every week we receive new case assignments from Placer County Juvenile Court. With a bit of work, we are able to match each child with a CASA. And then the magic starts to happen and hear the stories start coming in. We are pleased to share one such story from CASA Volunteer Julie Stark.

“Becoming a CASA was something I really wanted to do because children are so important to our future.  A positive influence could help change a child’s path.  I knew it would be good for the child but didn’t quite realize how it would have such a positive influence on me.   I love my role in the CASA program and see that I am making a positive difference in a child’s life just as the child is making a positive difference in mine.

I was with Benny last week at a Team Decision Meeting and when I picked him up from school he brought along his teacher to meet me. He said that he was telling the teacher he had the best mentor (that’s what he calls me) and he wanted her to meet me. Once we got in the car he asked what happens when he goes home to his dad’s….would I get another “kid in foster care”?   I said yes, and he said that will be luckiest little boy around. Of course it just made my day and I must have had the biggest smile on my face ever ”

Laura Vizenor - CASA

Laura Vizenor became a CASA volunteer in early 2006. Her first case was Brian (not his real name), an eleven year old foster boy, whom she worked with until he was adopted in January 2011. Here is her (and his) story.

“I became a CASA out of a need to do something for others. My brother was habitually homeless, and I looked to help that population, but soon found that I wanted to work more “upstream,” and youth seemed like a good fit. My sister suggested CASA, and I soon found myself in training at Child Advocates of Placer County. Brian came from a home full of violence, substance abuse and neglect. When I met him, he was just a little kid who barely reached my shoulders (and I’m only 5’3”), but he was placed in a level 14 lockdown group home. Whereas most of the boys in the home were there because of inappropriate behavior, Brian was there because he had tried to hang himself.

In our first meeting he was very quiet, somewhat anti-social and displayed various nervous twitches. One of the group home workers told me,“When he likes you, he will poke you hard.” Our first visits, which usually involved going somewhere to eat, were very quiet and uneventful. If I asked him about his family, he shut down. I had no idea if I was doing any good, until one day at the end of our visit he poked me in the ribs, and I thought “Aha! He likes me!” Changes in his behavior were slow, but eventually he progressed to a level 10 group home, and then to a foster home. Here, everything changed. The foster father was kind, consistent, patient and solid, and he and I were on the exact same page when it came to discipline and behavior. Brain’s behavior changed from awkward and “pokey” to polite and “huggie,” and he realized he was lovable and capable.

Now, he is a lanky 6-foot tall lovable kid, adopted by a “new” dad. Although I have two kids of my own, Brian is also “mine,” and he’ll be a part of my life forever.

To me, this is what being a CASA is all about: you spend time with a kid, earn his trust, help him through a rough patch, laugh, cry, love. You get PUSHED out of your comfort zone, constantly challenged
– to figure out how to help this kid, how to keep your mind open, how to gather information from vastly different sources, how to speak up when needed.

There were scary turning points, some minor disasters and a few major miracles. I learned so much! I see through different eyes. My mind is blown. That’s what I got from being a CASA. And I am really, really grateful. Thank you Brian.”