On December 9 I received my certificate from a judge to be a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate).
I was appointed to a 14 year old teenager who was put in the system because of her parents addictions. Over the past two years we have developed a close relationship. The things I have advocated was to seek parenting classes for the woman who is caring for her, ask around if anyone could donate a laptop, which I succeeded to get for her, I've taught her life skills and healthy coping skills. Recently, I researched on my own and applied to get her braces and I was suppose to take her next week. To her first appointment.
The woman who has taking her in does not allow her sister in her home. Over the holidays I started taking out both my CASA child and her sister so that they could see each other. For my CASA child's mental health I feel that family is important. Her sister has been placed in a group home and feels suffocated and thinks of it as if she's in jail. Many restrictions. I am human and in a moment of compassion I asked my CASA child if she would want to live at my home if it were a possibility and she said yes. I then emailed my Case Ad-visor and she instructed me not to say anything to my child, but I already had. I have not talked about it since my Advisor told me not to say anything and continued being an Advocate.
Today I had a meeting with my Advisor and her boss thinking we were going to discuss options, but instead they said I could no longer be in the CASA program. No warning, did not ask the child I advocate what she needs and I said, "And you think doing this is in the best interest for my CASA child"? My CASA child called me as soon as she found out by her Social worker and cried and was hesterical that she might never see me again. If you could read the letters of the positive influence I had on this child, you will see, that what the CASA organization did was not in the best interest of the child. I am reporting this because I still am advocating for my child and asking that justice be done and do not let the system fail her?
My CASA's social worker Dena Hartley told my child's sister today that they will assign a new CASA to her. After the sister spoke to the social worker she called me from the group home. She was crying and worried about her sister. She knows how important I am to have in her life. She feels her sister may run away and she is not near her to help her because she is in this group home. What can I do? How can I fight this. I told her that I would bring her to all her dentist appointments because the foster mom did not want the responsibility.
Please help us. I lost a lot of respect for CASA and every case is unique. Every relationship is unique. I love my CASA child and she loves me.
Thank you. Melissa Warren
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