 SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN
The following case examples are actual cases that CASA/GAL’s worked on diligently to make a difference. To protect the child some case information has been changed.
Meet "John"  Three years ago, at age seven, John was in a specialized group home. He was physically aggressive, fighting and biting peers and adults, self-mutilating and suicidal. Because of this behavior, he was frequently kicked out of school and hospitalized in psychiatric units. Concerned about John's deterioration after years in the system and many failed foster home placements, finally, his attorney asked that a CASA/GAL be appointed. When a CASA/GAL was assigned to his case, she spent many hours visiting with John, getting to know him, his likes and dislikes, and because of the consistent time that she spent with him, she was able to track and document his self-destructive and aggressive behaviors to the times that correlated with his mother's visits. With this documentation she was then able to get the mother's visits structured and supervised. She came to his side, at the group home, when he was violently out of control, so that he wouldn't have to be hand-cuffed, for safety, to be hospitalized. She checked on his medical, dental and educational needs and progress and stood up for his rights, even within the system's own red tape. She located his sister and started visits between them. She spent time with him - talking, planting vegetables, taking him on outings, getting him involved in healthy sport activities, going to his games and supporting his efforts, taking him to his court hearings, giving him structure, guidance and yes, even entering contract agreements for behavioral improvements, celebrated his birthdays, an experience he hadn't had, and praising all his small efforts and accomplishments. Besides all of the time she spent directly with John, she documented all his problems and his progress in court reports, went to court on his behalf and made his wishes known to his attorney and the judge. She advocated for John's "BEST INTEREST". Today, after many hours of quality time and attention spent with John by his CASA/GAL volunteer advocate, he is in a foster home. A home that the CASA/GAL helped to secure. His foster home parents are now considering guardianship. It looks like John is finally going to have a safe and permanent home. He hasn't been kicked out of school nor hospitalized in several months. He is an honor student and the president of his class. He plays baseball and football. John has experienced protection, trust, friendship, support and learned how to establish and maintain good and healthy relationships. None of this would have been possible for John, had it not been for his CASA/GAL.
Taneesha's abuse history began when she was 3 years old. She had endured crucial physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Taneesha had been adopted twice before only to enter into homes which continued to abuse her sexually and physically. Her mother abandoned her at age 3, and then she became another "victim" of the system which was designed to protect her. At age 7, Taneesha could not trust anyone. The years of abuse, and disappointment developed a "rage" within her, that was evidenced when she went crazy and her behavior was out of control. In psychological terms, her object-relations, were distorted and she was on a path of isolation, alienation, and psychosis. Indeed, she was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for two attempts at suicide. Apparently, she could not tolerate anymore the feelings of "NOT BEING LOVED AND ACCEPTED" that she tried to run out in front of a car and also attempted to hang herself. The group home had her on several psychotropic medications to reduce the symptoms of major depression with psychotic features. She was referred to our program and was assigned a CASA. This special CASA was a grade school teacher who had worked with difficult children before. She was able to set boundaries with Taneesha both demonstrating that this adult would not harm her and would not abandoned her again. Fortunately, the CASA located a couple who was interested in adopting Taneesha. The CASA was concerned about moving Taneesha into another placement because the prior adoptive arrangements had ended with broken promises. For example, one adoptive couple promise to pick up Taneesha and take her home in time for Christmas, they never picked her up and as a result, she spent the Holidays in a children's psychiatric unit. If there had been one more placement failure, the chances of this child being institutionalized the rest of her life was highly possible. Keeping this in mind, the CASA monitored Taneesha in her new home for over one year. When a child has had several failed placements it is not unusual for them to "act out" in their new placement because they believe that they are unlovable and undeserving of a home. Fortunately, the CASA understood this may happen and spent many hours educating and explaining, to the new perspective parents to anticipate the difficulties that may arise. Through the dedicated efforts of this CASA, in procuring a home, monitoring the new placement, and "staying with the child" a successful transition would not have occurred. Today, Taneesha is 13 years old she is now in public school, not on any medications, and has developed friendships. She is healthy and now has a sense of security that "people do care and love her".
In San Bernardino, there is no system in place to address the cross-over from 300 to 600 cases. Since 1992, when the Judicial Council Guidelines changed to include service to the delinquency population (although 300's are to be given priority where there are limited resources), Child Protective Services suspends all 300 cases when they escalate to 602's, despite the circumstances of the child. To demonstrate the severity of these types of situations, the Executive Director of SBCAP has on one occasion had to file action under Section 829 and 831 of the Welfare and Institutions Code to get CPS to file on a 602 minor who was previously under the CASA GAL program, and had completed the probationary term. This 15 year old teenage mother had her young baby taken into custody by CPS, and was ordered to comply with Family Reunification Plans, which she could not possibly comply with. CPS provided no services for her, and she had no family / parent or guardian to assist her in seeking support. She was eventually filed on and placed through this agency's effort and the persistence of her previous CASA/GAL who had been reassigned to the 15 year old mother, under her infant's case. That was 2 years ago. Today, 3 years later, this young mother has completed her GED, started her second year of college, completed all of her family reunification plans, turned 18, is out of the court system herself, employed and has custody of her child. The child's case is up for review and is expected to be dismissed.
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