A Former CASA Child Tells her Story
My mother had a bad drug habit and had trouble taking care of me. I was left in the house by myself for days at a time. So I ended up in emergency foster care. Then I was placed with another family member, but that wasn’t a good fit for me.
My sister applied to become my guardian, and I moved in with her and her three kids. Around that time, I met my CASA worker, Mrs. Wolfe, for the first time. She spent a lot of time with me. We always went out for dinner and talked about what was best for me. Any time my home situation got difficult, Mrs. Wolfe would help me figure out the best direction for me to go.
After she did rehab, my mother started doing a lot better and I decided to move back in with her. Mrs. Wolfe and her husband got their pickup truck to help move me from one place to the other. They didn’t have to do that, but that was just how they were—always doing a little bit extra to help me out.
Two years ago, I graduated from high school and was accepted into the University of New Haven. I’m studying juvenile and family justice in college. Once my case was closed, Mrs. Wolfe told me that now I could be her friend. We kept in touch, and I would always go visit her when I was back in town. My CASA volunteer is the one who sends me care packages at school. I keep a picture of her on the wall at college. She’s one of the most important people in my life. My goal is to become the kind of role model for another child that Mrs. Wolfe was for me.
~ Rosetta Washington
