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.
Instead, the consequences spiraled. Alex was charged with larceny. He and his siblings were placed with relative caregivers who struggled to manage his court dates and parole requirements. Facing expulsion from school over his criminal charges, Alex lost hope for a normal teenage life.
Everything changed when CASA Volunteer Jess entered Alex’s life. She recognized the deep trauma behind Alex’s actions and fought for his future. Jess advocated fiercely – meeting with Alex’s school, recommending mental health services, and even helping him attend a foster youth summer camp.
Two years later, Alex is working towards early high school graduation and planning for college. Because one volunteer saw his potential and spoke up when he needed it most, Alex found his path forward.
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To read more about the James children’s story, click here.
To read Lisa James’ story, click here.
NOTE: Names and details have been changed to protect confidentiality.
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.
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.
When law enforcement officers were called to the Wilsons’ apartment, they found the place in an unlivable state of disarray. Ms. Wilson, mother to eight-year-old Beth, had been having another severe mental health episode. Previously, Ms. Wilson had been investigated three other times for reports of substance use and Beth’s poor hygiene at school. Ms. Wilson had also repeatedly declined to seek treatment for Beth’s developmental delays despite receiving several referrals to specialists. After this final report, Beth was removed from her mother’s home and placed in foster care.
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