CASA makes a difference

Today I had the opportunity to advocate for a child who aged out of care a year ago and has decided he wants to come back into care and go to an SIL, specifically Phased In. Even though we dismissed out of this case a year ago this child has kept in touch with me. This child has attempted to hold down a job, but for various reasons each employment has been very short lived. He lives with his mother, but she has not been successful in teaching him life skills like how to schedule his own doctor’s appointments, how to drive, how to cook, etc. (she does have 3 little ones at home so that keeps her busy). He has decided he wants to learn a trade or even go to college. His mother does not know how to do FAFSA or any of those things, so he had reached out to me for help.  He has realized that he could have a support system if he were back in care that could help teach him these things so that he can be an independent adult. I love that I had the opportunity to speak with Phased In today and advocate on his behalf and tell them why I believe he is a good candidate for their program and why he should be given a chance. His volunteers resigned from his case in 2022 after serving for 5 years due to their children getting older and being in so many extracurricular activities and nearing graduation that they didn’t have time to travel to see him. Just because they resigned from his case, they are still a supportive part of his life. They sent him a graduation gift when he graduated high school, and they hope to be able to be a support if and when he gets to go to Phased-In. I would honestly be shocked if they do not select him for the SIL program. Stay tuned……..