Jane is 9 years old and lives in Conway. Her only Christmas wish this year is simple….she wants a home with a family who will love her and keep her safe.

By making a year end donation to the Children’s Advocacy Alliance you can help ensure that Jane, and the 178 other Faulkner County children in foster care, can wake up next Christmas morning in a safe and permanent home.

Cordell was taken into foster care at the age of 10. Still a little boy in many ways, but one who had already seen and suffered so much. The courts quickly determined that termination of parental rights was in the best interest of Cordell and his 7 younger siblings. Although Cordell was now safe, he was missing what every little boy needs most; a stable family that could support him and inspire him to believe he could be anything he wanted to be.

Sadly the years ticked by and Cordell was moved from one foster home to another. Most times each new foster home meant a new school and new friends. Cordell’s younger siblings began to be adopted and little by little Cordell began to lose any hope that he would ever have the forever family he so desperately wanted and needed.

Then in 2011Cordell, now 16 years old, was placed with the Everett family. David Everett, a high school football coach and Michelle Everett, a school teacher, were new foster parents and ready to be there for a child in need. They decided from the beginning to treat Cordell as one of the family. He did not have to prove himself, he did not have to earn their trust. He had it from the beginning and it was up to him to keep it. Although he tested the boundaries a few times Cordell soon realized that could be a place to call home.

As Cordell’s sense of security began to strengthen, a bright, charming and athletic boy began to emerge. Cordell, who had always been a C average student, really began to shine. He started getting mostly A’s on his report cards, became the star player on the school football and basketball teams, was elected to the student council, and is now picking Colleges. It is because of the stability, support, and guidance David and Michelle were able to share that Cordell is now visioning a future full of possibilities. That future includes adoption by the Everett’s but both they and Cordell feel that is simply a piece of paper. He is already a part of the Everett family and that will never change.

When 6-year-old Kayla came in for an interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center, multiple calls to the abuse hotline had already been placed on her behalf. The allegations involved neglect by her father. When the investigation began it was unclear if the neglect allegation was valid, or if it was raised because of a custody battle.

The Children’s Advocacy Alliance approaches all cases with the single agenda of what is best for the child. With this in mind an interview was set up.

When Kayla arrived at our Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) she was scared and frightened. She knew something was going on, but was not sure who she could trust. Without our Center, Kayla would have gone to the police station. Instead, she came to our Center where she was greeted by our Family Advocate who held her hand and led her to a cozy waiting room with couches, books, and a fish tank.

Once Kayla was comfortable, she was interviewed by our Forensic Interviewer while DHS workers watched on closed circuit television. The interview, specially designed to not feel like an interrogation, made Kayla feel comfortable by drawing with her and calmly talking with her about her family life at home. In this neutral, fact-finding interview, Kayla disclosed that when she’s at her father’s house there is no food, she is left alone for hours, and when he is home he is often drunk. DHS workers, observing the interview, decided it was not safe for Kayla to be returned to her father and a dependency/neglect case was opened.

Kayla was assigned a CASA advocate who became responsible for ensuring her best interests and that a safe, permanent home is found as quickly as possible. During the next year, as Kayla remained in foster care while her father worked to regain custody, her CASA advocate was a constant and consistent presence in her life. Her advocate called or visited Kayla once a week, attended all case review and court hearings, and kept in contact with Kayla’s father to ensure he was following through with his court-ordered AA meetings and parenting classes.

At the same time, our Family Advocate who was the first person to greet Kayla at our Center, had arranged counseling for Kayla, and kept up with Kayla’s case by keeping track of her father’s criminal case.

After a year, the judge decided that because Kayla’s father had followed through with his parenting classes and AA meetings she could return to his care. With the diligent cooperation from both the CAC and CASA, Kayla left foster care and was reunited with her father.

The Children’s Advocacy Center provided a neutral and safe environment that allowed DHS and our staff to work together to provide what was best for Kayla. CASA was able to swiftly get an advocate on the case to ensure Kayla’s happiness and well-being.

Sarah and Brandon’s Story

Five years ago, Sarah and Brandon were brought into the foster care system because of severe abuse and neglect. For the first four years they were in separate foster homes. Brandon had some behavioral problems that needed to be addressed. Over the years these children have had a failed adoption and one interested adoptive family that decided against adoption before getting to know the children. Brandon was very adamant about not wanting to be adopted. Sarah, on the other hand, desperately wanted to be adopted and blamed Brandon for their previous failed adoption. She did not want to be adopted with her brother. The CASA advocate assigned to the case understood the children’s feelings, but was also sure in her conviction, that if the children could be placed together and have the chance to live normally as brother and sister, their relationship would heal. The CASA advocate was not comfortable with the easy solution of separate adoptions as it would mean as the children grew into adulthood and wanted to have a relationship a separate adoption would make that impossible.

The therapists and caseworkers involved were all feeling disheartened, but with consistent pressure from the CASA advocate the children were finally placed into a therapeutic foster home together. With the children now living together, a new CASA Advocate was appointed to the case and turned her attention to finding a family willing to adopt the children.

Tom and Cindy Johnson had just moved into the area two years ago and were looking to adopt. At an adoption informational meeting, they saw a picture of Sarah and Brandon, heard their story and were immediately interested in knowing more about both children. They were a perfect match for Sarah and Brandon, having already dealt with children with behavioral issues. Over the past year the Johnson’s have been very proactive in working with the CASA advocate and the children to ensure the transition and adoption would be successful. The first step was gaining the trust of both children, not an easy task given. The Johnson’s began meeting the children on a weekly basis and took the time to make a scrapbook for Sarah and Brandon, detailing what their new home would be like. Cindy wrote a letter to both of them outlining what their family was like. She promised to both children that while they are not perfect, they will provide a loving home, “Love on days that are easy and love on days that are hard.” Their family promises to provide structure and guidance, something that Sarah and Brandon desperately need. Through therapy and time together, Sarah has opened up to the idea of being adopted with her brother. They are now both looking forward to being adopted.

Sarah and Brandon’s story shows that despite failures, advocates can be a source of hope for children that feel lost. When a family match just wasn’t there, this advocate stuck it out and kept looking for a forever family for Sarah and Brandon. With persistence and a heart for children, she found them a forever family that has made lasting promises and has acted with quickness.

Join us tomorrow for a day of Volleyball Fun!

Don Owens Sport Center – 7:30am.

http://hopeandjustice.org/events/volleyball-fun-fest/

Imagine being a single father to a 12-year-old son. Now imagine being a single father to a 12-year-old son with an intellectual disability. Fathers are challenged everyday to be the best role models possible, but as Richard* has encountered with Seth*, some days are harder than others.

After leaving Seth with a caretaker, Seth’s father reported that he saw bruises and changes in his behavior. Concerned that Seth was being physically abused, Richard alerted the Child Abuse Hotline which triggered an investigation bringing Seth to the Children’s Advocacy Alliance to be interviewed. When they arrived, Seth was unable to really comprehend what was happening at the time, however the welcoming environment of the Children’s Advocacy Alliance helped ease Seth’s anxiety.

While Seth and his father were in the waiting room with the CAA Family Advocate, it was very apparent the calming impact Richard had on Seth. While the paperwork was completed Richard kept reassuring Seth that everything would be fine. When it came time for Seth to go with the forensic interviewer he was frightened and did not want to leave. Seth turned to his father and simply said, “I’m scared. Hold me.” Richard, despite Seth’s large frame, reached out and did the best he could to embrace his son. With the comfort and empowerment from his father’s loving arms, Seth was able to leave with the interviewer. Richard and Seth worked together with the Children’s Advocacy Alliance team to ensure Seth’s health and safety.

Seth’s father has been a constant in his life and was not going to step down and be intimidated by the investigation. Richard has been proactive and has not afraid to come to the Children’s Advocacy Alliance to ask questions. He simply wants to provide the best care possible for his son. No disability is going to stop Richard from looking out for his son. It will be a rough road for the pair, but Richard knows they will get through it together.