At just ten years old, Thomas had already experienced more loss than most adults. After years of housing instability and trauma, he struggled with big emotions and behaviors that others didn’t understand. When his mother refused to bring him home after a school incident, the court intervened, and Thomas began a long journey through foster care—moving more than 20 times in just three years.
To many adults, Thomas was seen as a problem to manage. His behaviors—running away, acting out—made it hard for adults to keep him safe. The foster care agency struggled to find a home that could meet his needs.
When the judge appointed a CASA volunteer named Steven, everything began to change. Steven saw beyond the behavior to the hurting child beneath—someone who needed a stable adult who wouldn’t give up on him. Even when Thomas acted out or shut down, Steven stayed. He visited consistently, advocated for trauma-informed therapy and an individualized education plan, and ensured Thomas’s needs were heard in court.
The trauma Thomas has experienced is significant, and healing is an ongoing journey. But thanks to Steven’s advocacy, he is receiving the care he deserves. With Steven’s support, Thomas is beginning to trust again and to believe that adults can be safe and consistent.
This is the power of a CASA volunteer: bringing hope and stability to a child who has lost so much. Your generosity makes this possible. With your holiday gift to CASA of Kent County, you give children like Thomas the steady, caring advocacy they deserve.
Early this fall, I decided to take a much-needed vacation to the American West. The rugged landscapes, open skies, and vibrant culture promised the perfect escape from my daily routine.
Trauma is often passed down through generations. Someone hurts a child, that child grows up without healing, and the cycle repeats. The saying “hurt people hurt people” exists for a reason. This cycle of trauma is a reality CASA of Kent County works within every single day.
CASA of Kent County Advocate Supervisor Molly Charlebois describes her first reunification story.
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