Victory Stories
January 2012 Victory Story
CASA of New Hampshire
My name is Jamie* and I am sixteen. Two years ago, someone reported my father to DCYF for abusing and neglecting me. My mom wasn't charged, but she's mentally ill and there's no way she can take care of me. I think my dad was glad to get rid of me. He gave up his rights at the first court hearing.
Everything was happening so fast and everything was so scary. I didn't know what was happening and I didn't know who I could trust. A woman named Nancy said she was going to be my “CASA”. She said that it meant she was going to find out everything there is to know about my case, to tell the judge what she had found out and what I wanted him to know about me. She said she only wanted what was best for me.
I figured maybe she wouldn't hang around for too long because she doesn't even get paid to do this. But for two years, she has come to visit me every few weeks. She asks me what I'm thinking about and how I feel about stuff. Sometimes I'm glad to see her and sometimes I'm just mad at the whole world. It doesn't seem to bother Nancy ; she still listens. I know my mom had to decide for herself that she was okay with me being adopted. It's hard on her, you know? Some people are mean or talk down to her. They treat her like she's crazy and can't make good choices. I guess she's made lots of bad ones. But Nancy, my CASA, is kind and lets her talk about her feelings, too.
There were a few times when Nancy even told everyone to chill out because one of us wasn't sure about something or was feeling rushed to decide. Anyway, my mom trusts Nancy and asked her to come to court when she signed the papers because she felt kind of shaky. Nancy did. It meant a lot to me. Now, I'm getting ready to be adopted by my foster parents. I think I have a chance to go to college now and have a happy life.
*names and some details altered to protect confidentiality