Two young sisters, Esther and Hailey,* were trapped in a world of chaos and uncertainty. Their mother’s battle with substance use had turned their home into a dangerous environment. Despite community support, the situation grew dire. Esther, drawn to dangerous objects around the house, eventually harmed herself with kitchen knives while unsupervised. With their father having chosen to remain absent and uninvolved, the girls were left without the protection of their parents.
A glimmer of hope emerged when Esther and Hailey moved into their grandparents’ foster home, but trauma the sisters experienced continued to manifest in challenging behaviors. Enter Kim, a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), who was appointed by the judge to give a voice to Esther and Hailey’s best interests. Instead of seeing problems to be managed, Kim recognized the reality of Esther and Hailey’s behaviors: The two children were working through deep emotional wounds.
Kim helped coordinate a network of support for Esther and Hailey. Her advocacy led to Esther’s autism diagnosis and subsequent IEP in school, while Hailey received crucial trauma and ADHD evaluations. Kim’s advocacy efforts opened doors to vital resources: mental health services, educational support, and even opportunities for joy through summer camp and art therapy.
When the grandparents made the decision to adopt Esther and Hailey, Kim helped strengthen the new family bond by advocating for family counseling and educational resources. Kim understood that healing happens not just individually but also as a family unit.
Today, Esther and Hailey are thriving in their forever home with their grandparents. Through Kim’s compassionate advocacy, a story of trauma has transformed into one of hope and healing.
*Names and details have been changed to protect confidentiality.
This story is featured in the Spring 2025 edition of CASA Connect, CASA of Kent County’s quarterly newsletter. Click here to view a pdf version of this newsletter.
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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.
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