The goal of a foster care case is set by the court, specifically the presiding juvenile judge. With very few exceptions, reunification of children and parents is the initial goal. Reunification means that the parents will work toward fixing the situation that brought the kids into foster care so that the children can be safely returned home. Parents will be given a case plan with things to complete such as drug treatment, counseling, parenting classes, etc. These services are provided by the Department of Human Services to help the parents become stable caregivers for their children. The case plan is not just a checklist; parents must be able to implement the skills they have learned.
Reunification is an important goal because children love their parents and want to be with their family of origin. As a society, there is real value in rehabilitating parents and stopping the cycle of drug abuse, physical abuse, etc. However, the most crucial consideration is the best interest and safety of the children. When children cannot safely return home, it is the intent for them to find a new permanent home with extended family or adoptive parents.
Answered by Team Lead & Advocate Supervisor Victoria Boyd
Answered by Team Lead Kristen Smith
What’s it like to 
When looking for adaptable, caring, and supportive volunteers, CASA won the lottery with Susan Hantz. A retired nursing professor, Susan has volunteered with CASA for three and a half years, serving six children across three different cases. Susan has served these children relentlessly as is exhibited by her time, attention to little details, and use of trauma focused care.
The relationship between an advocate and a teenager differs greatly from a relationship between an advocate and a young child. As the signs and effects of persistent trauma and neglect manifest differently in older youth, it’s an advocate’s role to recognize these signs and respond appropriately. On a day-to-day basis, how a CASA volunteer communicates with their child differs based on age, emotional intelligence, and level of independence. While young children may need a hand to hold while they walk, teenagers often just want someone to walk beside them and ask them how their day was.
Though he says some moments are more challenging than others, Joe knows being a CASA is worth it when he sees both of the boys succeed in school or in their jobs. With each twist and turn, Joe is not scared of the process, but takes life as it comes and does what he can to be a mentor and helper to his teens. When asked to give advice to prospective CASA volunteers, Joe simply said: “Prepare yourself for frustration. Be patient, hold your judgment, keep your compassion, and try to understand a child’s background.”
From the very beginning of the case, Debbie told the kids she would always be honest with them. She insists she doesn’t sugarcoat things. “They need to know that somebody cares enough to be upfront with them.” When she’s checking in with the kids about their health or discussing important topics like placement and adoption, it’s too important to do anything but lay down the honest truth. That doesn’t mean those conversations are easy. The eldest, a teen boy, shared with Debbie that he thought he was too old to be adopted and worried that he was preventing his younger siblings from being adopted. What kind of trust must Debbie have built for this sweet boy to be so vulnerable?
This has been a tremendous year for many of our teens! In total, fifteen of our young people graduated high school or earned their GED this spring. Talk about beating the odds! We are proud that CASA could play a role in any of their success. One of our graduates shared, “My CASAs have helped a lot. They are very supportive in many ways. Maybe most importantly, they have provided emotional support which encourages me to reach my goals.”