CASA of Tarrant County’s first goal for children is to reunify them with their parents. However, we don’t just say we value it – we live it. In DFPS 2019-2020, 48% of Tarrant County children with a CASA volunteer were reunified with their parents; comparatively, only 36% of Tarrant County youth without a CASA were reunified with their parents last year. During June’s National Reunification Month, we wanted to share a couple recent stories of reunifications CASA volunteers supported.
Child Advocacy Specialist Megan, discussing a case where children entered foster care after one of their siblings was killed by their mother’s boyfriend– “At the beginning of the case, the mother was so distraught/grief stricken she was not able to complete her services and was not open in counseling. Her two young daughters were placed with a family friend. The advocate was amazing. She would go to almost every visit the mother had with her daughters. About halfway through the case, something clicked for mom, and she began working harder than ever. She was open in counseling and worked hard to get services completed. The advocate, Nancie, was able to help mom reconnect with her family who supported the mother’s ability to complete her services and regain custody of her children. Now that the CASA and caseworker are off the case, the mother’s family can still continue to provide support as they move forward as a family.”
Child Advocacy Specialist Tracy – “Andrea (age 17) was removed from their mom when she was four years old in 2008 and adopted by her paternal grandmother. She was eventually removed from the grandmother due to abuse, and she has been in care since 2012 and has experienced over 30 different foster care placements. During this time, she rebuilt a relationship with her biological mother who notified the department years ago that she would like for Andrea to live with her. At the time the mother first reached out, the home study was denied. CASA advocated for the Department of Family and Protective Services to reconsider the mother for a placement, and eventually they began the home study process for the mother. Andrea was recently allowed to complete a 30 day out-of-state visit with her mother while the home study is processed. Because of CASA’s and the Attorney Ad Litem’s approval, the judge granted the mom conservatorship over Andrea, and Andrea is now living with her mother full-time as she finishes high school.”
Please also see other reunification stories, including Justine’s journey to be reunified with her children and another video of mom Yvonne’s reunification with her daughter.
If you are interested in helping families work towards reunification, please check out our website on how to become an advocate or donate to CASA – your support helps us reunify hundreds of children with their parents every year. Thank you for your support of Tarrant County’s abused and neglected children and their families.