I was assigned to the case in June 2010. She was a happy and sweet two-year old girl. After a few months, the little girl was moved to another foster home to be with her new sister who was born severely drug-affected and spent the first few months of her life in an intensive care unit.
There were many challenges and obstacles throughout this case. The parents were inconsistent with visiting the girls and completing court-ordered services, which was very difficult for the girls. They would disappear and have no contact for months and then want to be part of their lives again.
After some time, the girls became legally free from their mother and there was a couple who wanted to adopt them. As the couple was going through the adoption process, a relative came forward and wanted to be a placement for the girls, but failing to follow through with the home study, the relative was found not to be a safe placement for the girls. The couple grew frustrated from waiting so long and stopped pursuing adoption.
The girls were still in the home of foster parents who wanted to make sure they ended up in a safe home, so they decided to start the process to adopt the girls. The state prepared for the trial on the fathers of the girls, but the judge postponed the trial date to give the fathers another opportunity to be present at the trial.
The trial happened a couple months later and the girls became legally free of the fathers. A few months after the trial, another relative came forward and expressed interest in adopting the girls. The relative failed her home study and was not a viable placement for the girls.
In March 2015, the girls were finally adopted by their foster parents. The foster parents never once complained and were incredibly patient through the entire process. The girls are very blessed to have such selfless people to take care of them.
It was an honor to attend the adoption hearing and be part of these little girls' lives. It was a long journey and took a lot persistence and patience, but it was worth it to see the smiles on their faces as they walked out of the courtroom knowing that they will be able to grow up as sisters in a happy and loving home.
About the CASA
Leslee was devoted to this case from the start and managed to endure all the twists and turns with patience and grace. The adoptive family relied on Leslee to help them through the process. She became an extension of their family and was almost as emotional at the adoption hearing as the they were. Leslee’s commitment to the case and to the CASA program has been crystal clear. She had a tremendous impact on the lives of these girls in her role as their CASA.
-Sheryl Thierry, CASA Program Specialist
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