C A S A

Court Appointed Special Advocates

for Children of Yolo County

A Child's Story*
Yolo County CASA IS a mission driven organization, taking a stand, making a difference, and changing a child's life ~ MY LIFE ~ forever.
As you read MY story PLEASE think about the other children that are in similar situations.

When I start to remember I think about when I lived with only my birth mom and my little brother, Sam. I didn't know I had a dad, until I was taken away from my mom at 5 years old.  My dad died when I was 7.

As young as I was - I didn't understand what was going on or what I was going through. I remember we moved a lot, lived with my mom's many boyfriends, in our car, in motels, in a van and once we got to go to live at a shelter.  

After my dad died we were introduced to my aunt and uncle.  Multiple times we stayed with them over night.  One morning when they took us back to the motel where we were staying with my mom we saw ambulances and police cars in the parking lot.  My MOM was taken to the hospital from a drug overdose.

We ended up staying with our aunt and uncle for a while . . . people we hardly knew.  I did the best job I could watching over my brother Sam - I fed him, changed him, and played with him.
Unfortunately, she broke her promise again and Sam and I were officially put into separate foster homes because Sam needed special care.

Lucky for me a nice lady came to visit, her name was Maggie and she told me she was a CASA.  Maggie made sure that Sam and I  got to see each other as much as possible.  Maggie was really cool and amazing because she always made me and Sam feel loved and understood everything.
Then suddenly once day my aunt and uncle could no longer take care of me and Sam because they were getting older and it was too much for them, so we were placed in temporary foster care.

We were sent to our new foster homes. Separated again ~ and I was placed in Sally's care.

My birth mom . . . she was given a lot of chances to clean up so she could have us back.

I remember the day we were visiting her and she . . . made  us a big promise . . . that she would get us back and we would live in a new house and have food and bikes.  I BELIEVED HER!!!
On December 12, 2006, at ten, my amazing foster parents, Sally and Joe adopted me.  A few years later they adopted Sam.  After Sam and I were adopted, we were no longer eligible for a CASA ~ our CASA ~ Maggie.  We call her Aunt Maggie, and still see her; she's part of the family.

Sam, tells me stories all the time about when we were little and never stops thanking me for taking care of him.