Breaking the Cycle: How Joe Helped Lenny Find Hope

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.

In some CASA cases, children try to cope with their own trauma by acting out toward others. Sometimes this leads not only to removal from their home but also to criminal charges against the child who has caused harm. Foster care is already difficult to navigate—adding a court case makes it even more complicated and increases the need for strong advocacy.

When CASA volunteer Joe learned about the Andrews family’s case, he felt called to step in as an advocate for 13-year-old Lenny Andrews. Lenny had been sexually abused as a young child by someone outside of his home. Although he was now safe from his abuser, he had never received the trauma therapy he needed to begin healing. Without that support, he struggled to understand his feelings and, in his pain, acted out against his younger sister.

When allegations arose against Lenny, his parents were overwhelmed. They loved both of their children but didn’t have the resources or knowledge to provide a safe, supportive home for them at that moment. The court ultimately intervened, placing Lenny in foster care and assigning him a series of requirements to complete for a juvenile delinquency case. Meanwhile, his parents received a parenting plan from the foster care agency to help them learn the skills needed to navigate the complex situation.

This was a time when Lenny could easily have been seen only for his mistakes. But Joe saw beyond the behavior to the hurting child underneath. He showed up for Lenny—listening without judgment, encouraging him through difficult therapy sessions, and reminding him that healing and change were possible. Joe’s steady presence gave Lenny something he hadn’t felt in a long time: hope.

With Joe’s advocacy and encouragement, Lenny began to engage deeply in his required therapy. For the first time, he received trauma-informed care that helped him address both the pain from his own abuse and the guilt he carried for his actions. Joe made sure Lenny’s voice was heard in every meeting and court hearing, ensuring the adults around him recognized his progress and potential.

Over time, Lenny worked hard to meet all of his requirements. The Andrews family, supported by professionals and guided by their CASA volunteer, also grew stronger and more equipped to care for both children safely.

Thanks to the combined efforts of Lenny, his family, the professionals involved, and CASA volunteer Joe, reunification became a safe and realistic outcome. Lenny returned home to his parents, and together they continue working toward healing and stability.

Through his dedication, empathy, and belief in Lenny’s potential, Joe helped transform what could have been another chapter in a cycle of trauma into a story of hope, growth, and second chances.

This story is featured in the Winter 2025 edition of CASA Connect, CASA of Kent County’s quarterly newsletter click here to view a pdf version of the newsletter.