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.
As the CASA staff member in charge of volunteer recruitment, I get a lot of questions about what training is like. So, I decided to find out for myself! I attended all five weeks of training, completed online pre-work, observed a court hearing, and was even sworn in as an officer of the court.
At CASA of Kent County, we embrace five values that drive our work: Be Curious, Forge Community Connections, Strive for Excellence, Take the Next Right Step, and Believe in CASA’s Mission. Earlier this year, Executive Director Stephanie Sheler asked staff members to decorate their doors to represent each of those values. Some were more enthused than others by the thought of arts and crafts, but everyone jumped in with unique ideas of how to represent their assigned value.
Noah* was just fifteen years old when an increasingly tumultuous relationship with his parents escalated. Eventually, they permanently kicked him...
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