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.
Every teenager dreams of normalcy, but for Drew, life in foster care made that feel impossible. Crushed under the weight of responsibility – caring for his younger sister, worrying about his brother’s legal troubles, and coping with his parents’ absence – Drew began to crumble.
At 15, Alex James faced a devastating reality. His father was incarcerated, and his mother had disappeared for days, likely using drugs again. Feeling utterly alone, Alex shoplifted from a local store – a desperate plea for attention he hoped would bring his mother home.
When Lisa James entered foster care for the second time, her world was crumbling. Lisa’s father was incarcerated, her mother was battling addiction, and her older brothers were struggling. Alex was dealing with a recent shoplifting arrest, and Drew had just failed his junior year of high school.
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2025 Annual Luncheon | April 25, 2025
