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.
The fear of losing her brothers consumed Lisa. Sleepless nights and distracted days became her new normal. Despite being the youngest, Lisa carried the immense weight of keeping her family together. Lisa’s grades began to slip, chipping away at her already fragile self-esteem.
Everything changed when the James Siblings were appointed their CASA volunteer, Jess. With careful attention and compassion, Jess recognized Lisa’s unique needs. Jess recommended implementing an individual education plan to ensure that Lisa received the academic support she needed. Understanding the importance of trauma-informed mental healthcare, Jess advocated for Lisa to continue therapy with a new therapist she could trust and relate to. Additionally, Jess recommended art classes, which provided Lisa with a much-needed creative outlet and a chance to experience some adolescent normalcy.
Two years later, Jess’s unwavering advocacy has transformed the James siblings’ lives. Lisa is healing, resilient, and together with her brothers – a testament to the power of dedicated advocacy.
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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.
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 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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