Child Advocates Mission Moments

Miles Apart, Never Alone

Maya’s 18th birthday didn’t come with a cake or a party. Instead, it arrived with a change in her foster care status and a wave of adult anxiety. As a young adult in extended foster care, she moved into a transitional housing program in another county—miles away from her CASA volunteer, Emma. To complicate her new reality, Maya wasn’t navigating this isolation alone. Holding her hand was her five-month-old son, Noah.

Living in another county meant Maya was effectively stranded in a bureaucratic and geographic desert. She didn’t have a car, public transit was unreliable, and the local food banks and social service offices were miles away. Formula, diapers, and basic groceries felt less like standard necessities and more like luxury items locked behind a wall of logistical impossibilities. There were
days when Maya skipped meals just to ensure Noah’s bottles were full, staring at an empty refrigerator while trying to figure out how to stretch her dwindling stipend.

Despite the distance, Emma refused to let Maya slip through the cracks of an overburdened system. While Maya’s caseworkers were often bogged down by heavy caseloads and jurisdictional boundaries, Emma’s sole focus was Maya and her son. She became the bridge between Maya’s isolation and the resources she desperately needed.

Emma’s impact as a CASA volunteer was immediate and practical. Recognizing that food insecurity posed the most pressing threat to the young family’s stability, Emma didn’t just hand Maya a list of phone numbers; she rolled up her sleeves. Every week, Emma drove out to visit Maya, helped her shop for groceries, assisted with errands, and ensured that Maya never had to choose between safety and necessity. More than the groceries and rides, however, Emma provided something rare for a youth in foster care: consistency. For a young woman who had spent years watching adults walk in and out of her life, Emma’s dependable presence was a revelation.

Through her CASA volunteer, Maya learned that she wasn’t alone. She learned how to access resources, understood that asking for help wasn’t a sign of failure, and realized she was capable of building a good life for her son. Emma didn’t just help Maya survive the daunting transition into adulthood; she gave her the breathing room to begin planning for the future.

From Trauma to Trust

After years of parental abuse and neglect, Naomi entered the foster care system with her younger siblings at age 14. Although she was later adopted by an extended family member, the abuse continued, sending her and a sibling back into foster care a second time.

The repeated trauma made it difficult for Naomi to trust adults and left her carrying deep feelings of helplessness and shame. Every move meant a new school, more strangers, and another reminder that her siblings were far away. She never stayed long enough for friendships to grow or for any place to feel like home. About a year after reentering foster care, Naomi was introduced to her CASA volunteer, Monica, and everything began to shift.

When Monica became her CASA volunteer, she focused on building trust and becoming a steady, safe presence while advocating for Naomi. She helped Naomi rediscover the strengths and gifts that trauma had buried. With support from her care team and CASA volunteer, Naomi slowly rebuilt her confidence and began to believe she could heal and shape her own future. For seven years, Monica continued to show up week after week.

On her 21st birthday, Naomi exited the foster care system and began a promising new chapter. Looking back, she realized Monica had been the one constant through every season of her life. Naomi became the first in her family to attend therapy, graduate high school, and attend college. Monica was the person she spoke to honestly about life, her dreams, and navigating adulthood. In a card to her, Naomi wrote, “There is no surface large enough for me to be able to express the feeling of gratitude I have for you…I can confidently say that you have stood around to watch me flourish from a caterpillar into a soaring butterfly. I have so much love for you, always! Your good friend, Naomi.”

The Quiet Return

At age 16, Maya was a ghost in the system, having left her resource family placement without permission over five months ago. Her CASA Volunteer, Katie, remembered their last meeting clearly—a visit to the local library where they flipped through fashion magazines and took a slow walk through the young adult books aisle. It was a heart-wrenching loss to not see Maya regularly; she’d dedicated two years to supporting Maya as her CASA Volunteer, advocating for access to tutoring and regular orthodontic care.

Seemingly out of the blue, Maya’s social worker was calling. “About Maya, she’s back in her placement. Please reach out to her to re-engage.” Katie happily made calls and texts to Maya over the next several days, excited about the possibility of resuming their relationship. The text responses were short but undeniably Maya. She didn’t offer a dramatic explanation or even an acknowledgment for the months of silence, but instead offered vague assurances that they could meet “sometime soon.” Several more weeks passed without meeting and Katie came to understand that Maya simply wasn’t ready to meet again now or maybe ever. With no substantive contact and the court date looming, Katie wrote her final recommendation to the judge in her CASA court report: “due to the extended absence of the youth and lack of contact, it is my opinion that the CASA be relieved of the appointment.” Katie felt good about Maya being back in her previous placement with a caregiver that she trusted and adored but felt sadness at the lack of closure in her relationship with Maya as her CASA Volunteer. Katie submitted her report with a bittersweet sense of finality settling in. She wasn’t quite ready to let go.

A week later, Maya texted Katie. “I want to meet again. I want you to still be my CASA. Can we meet?” Katie was thrilled! When she met Maya the next afternoon, they picked up the conversation as if only a weekend had passed. It was as if time stood still. Their five months of no communication had no impact on their bond. A wave of complicated emotions washed over Katie. Where had Maya been and with whom? Was she suffering or struggling? Then came a quiet, profound relief. Maya was safe. As Maya spoke about a future visit to the library, Katie realized that the court recommendation in the judge’s hands was now inaccurate. She knew she’d be walking into the courtroom for the hearing with an addendum to her report asking to rescind her own request to be relieved as Maya’s CASA. Her role as Maya’s advocate, and her commitment to the youth, was far from over.

One Caring Adult Can Change Everything

At age 16, Avery was separated from her parents due to neglect. Since entering foster care, she’s lived in five different homes. Each move added fear and instability. Her grades fell, her trust in adults was shaken, and she carried fear of not knowing what her future would look like. She did not have a place to call home. Yet through it all, her CASA Volunteer, Felicita, showed up.

Avery and Felicita’s relationship grew slowly, but it was not easy. Avery withdrew for months at a time and struggled with fear, anger, and depression. But Felicita stayed consistent, reminding Avery she was not alone. Avery began to see that Felicita was not going anywhere. One day, Avery texted her: “I miss you…can we meet?”

Their bond grew into something extraordinary. Their visits are a mixture of deep conversation and laughter, but also difficult conversations about choices and consequences. They genuinely care for each other.

On one visit, Avery repeatedly asked how Felicita chose her. She later told others, “My CASA chose me!!” It was her way of saying, “I have someone. I belong. Someone sees me and believes in me.” This was never a case assignment for Felicita. Rather, it was Felicita’s choice to be part of Avery’s life and, in turn, to have her own life enriched by Avery.

This year, Avery will turn 21 and age out of the foster care system. With Felicita’s encouragement and support, Avery craved a new story for her life. She sought out therapy, graduated from high school, and learned how to become an independent adult. She is now pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher.

Avery’s journey shows that when one caring adult shows up and stays, a young person’s story can change forever.

Turning Support Into Success

Will was 15 years old and just a few months into foster care when he first met his CASA Volunteer in October 2021. His CASA Volunteer quickly became the consistent adult in Will’s life. His CASA Volunteer remained steadfast through the years and the changing of four social workers, ten placements, and four high schools.

Will graduated from high school in June 2023. During his senior year in high school, Will moved a few times and changed schools once. Will struggled to maintain passing grades but remained motivated to earn his high school diploma during the tumultuous year. In order to recover credits quickly, with the help of his CASA Volunteer, Will enrolled in a continuation school for his final semester rather than return to his school of origin as he had hoped. His CASA Volunteer advocated for Will to participate in senior-year activities at his high school of origin. As a result, Will joined the school choir and attended his senior prom.

After high school, Will tried to take courses at a community college and worked a variety of jobs. He found his passion when he started a vocational training program to become a medical assistant. In May 2025, Will earned his medical assistant certificate and is currently applying for medical assistant jobs.

Will has worked hard to be where he is today. His CASA Volunteer continues to support Will by guiding him to make informed decisions, supporting the decisions Will makes, and empowering Will to chart his own path in life.

The Power of Showing Up

When Alex entered foster care, he made it clear he didn’t trust adults, especially those connected to the system. He was convinced he could take care of himself and didn’t need support from others. Like many youth with complex trauma, he spent much of his time absent from placement, avoiding services and keeping people at a distance. For seven weeks, he refused to meet with his new CASA volunteer, despite repeated outreach attempts. Every week, on the same day and at the same time, the CASA volunteer showed up, speaking through a closed door, offering a steady reminder that someone cared and wasn’t going anywhere.

Then, in the seventh week, the door finally opened. That small moment of trust turned into something meaningful: a car ride to grab a meal, a long conversation, and an unexpected breakthrough. Alex apologized, not only for refusing visits, but also for past behavior that had been hurtful. He talked about the pain of family conflict, the lies that kept him from people he loved, and the intense pressure he felt to manage school, appointments, and life as he approached adulthood. He shared how much he valued his current placement, saying he didn’t want to move again. Before the visit ended, he asked if they could start meeting each other regularly. He even offered to confirm visits ahead of time to be respectful of the CASA volunteer’s time and gas. As he got out of the car, he said, “I appreciate you, bro,” before offering a hug.

This moment is the heart of our mission. Showing up, building trust, and being a constant for youth who’ve had little reason to believe anyone would stay. It’s a powerful reminder that persistence, compassion, and consistency can open doors that once seemed permanently closed.

Multiplying Confidence, Dividing Barriers

When retired math teacher and Child Advocates tutor, Jane, first started meeting with her 5th grade student Beth, she observed significant gaps in her math knowledge. In their second month of weekly meetings together, Beth quietly shared, “I didn’t go to school for second, third, or fourth grade.” Without any judgement or shame, Jane worked with Beth to introduce foundational concepts that would have been taught during those school years, while also helping her understand her current coursework. Jane shared that balancing the two goals of filling in the gaps while also helping her stay afloat has been challenging but deeply meaningful.

As the school year comes to a close, Jane and Beth plan to continue meeting together weekly during the summer and throughout her 6th grade year. Jane has created a new summer math unit designed specifically for Beth, centered around her love of soccer. Jane’s hope is to make learning more engaging and relevant to Beth’s world, while continuing to build the foundational knowledge that she knows will be needed in middle school.

Recently Jane shared “Beth has a fantastic work ethic and doesn’t give up, even when the work is difficult for her. I absolutely adore her”.