Michelle, Caitlin & Chris

Twin sisters, Michelle and Caitlin, were just four months old when they were removed from their home and placed into foster care. Their young mother Jennifer, only 19-years-old, was abusing drugs and alcohol and was neglecting to take care of the twins. While she had a lot of love for her daughters, her need to get high came before anything else.

During the first few months of their lives, Michelle and Caitlin were exposed to extremely filthy conditions to the point of causing health concerns. That home, the only home the twins had known, had become an extremely unsafe place for the girls. After an investigation and a court hearing, the judge ruled that the twins must be placed in foster care for their safety and protection.

To complicate matters, Jennifer was pregnant again. This development greatly increased the concerns of those involved with this case. Her situation as a very young mother, her inability to ensure the safety of her small children, the pending birth of another child and her history of substance abuse were all strong indicators that a CASA was needed to step in to advocate for Michelle, Caitlin, and their soon to be born sibling.

What would happen over the next few months would be critically important to the twins and their new sibling. Would their mother be able to overcome her substance abuse problems? Could she create a safe place for the girls to live so they could move back home? What would the advent of a new baby mean to the situation? How would the “system” eventually ensure all three children would be safe and secure? The answer to these questions and many more were about to unfold.

Once the Juvenile Court judge assigned CASA volunteer Marilyn to case, Michelle and Caitlin had an advocate to speak for them. Among the many people involved with the case – an Oregon Department of Human Services caseworker, three lawyers and the juvenile judge – only Marilyn had just one case to oversee. This allowed her to look more deeply into the children’s situation, and Marilyn spent many hours trying to determine what was best for the children.

After working very hard to thoroughly understand the case and the needs of the twins, Marilyn, supported by CASA staff, embarked on the complicated process of helping ensure the safety of the twins. Marilyn also had concerns that the unborn baby would be born drug-affected. A plan was developed to keep Jennifer under close watch until she gave birth to prevent jeopardizing her unborn child’s health.

Fortunately, at the birth of her son Chris, Jennifer tested negative for drugs. Everyone involved with this case, including Marilyn, now hoped Jennifer would maintain the positive changes she had made in her life and eventually be able to care for Michelle, Caitlin and baby Chris once again. The girls continued to live in foster care, but baby Chris was sent home to live with his mother.

But the optimism did not last long. Marilyn discovered that Jennifer was bringing Chris into the home of his father, who by court order was not allowed to have contact with his son because of substance abuse issues and an unsafe criminal history. Sadly, when Jennifer was next tested for drugs the results came back positive. Out of concern for his safety, Chris was immediately removed from his mother and placed into foster care with Michelle and Caitlin.

For some time, the children seemed to be living well together in foster care, gaining strength and learning new skills. Jennifer desperately wanted her children back. Marilyn favored the children being returned to live with their mother, but only under certain conditions. Marilyn knew Jennifer had to demonstrate she could stay off of drugs and that she could provide a safe and nurturing environment for her children.

Jennifer seemed to want to change her life around. Yet despite numerous opportunities and support services, she was unable to stay away from people who were still caught up in drug addiction. Her house remained unsafe and unhealthy. She even failed to make many of her scheduled visitations with her children. The signs were beginning to show that returning Michelle, Caitlin and Chris to their mother was no longer an option. Unfortunately, the fathers of these children were also unable to step up and care for their children.

Marilyn recognized that Jennifer would never be able to be a stable parent. She advocated to the judge that a permanent adoptive home be found for them. The life of these children had been a rollercoaster ride and Marilyn was intent upon making sure they were placed with nurturing, loving parents where they could thrive.

Adoption is never easy – it is always a complicated process. Finding an appropriate adoptive home is one of the most difficult tasks involved in any case where abuse or neglect requires that children can no longer live with their birth parents. Certainly this case involving Michelle, Caitlin and Chris would be no exception. Everyone involved in the case agreed adoption was warranted. Now the question was, who would the best candidate to adopt these three siblings? Where was the best permanent home for them?

Marilyn, with the help of the Department of Human Services, searched for a stable home for the siblings. Marilyn discovered the children had a great aunt living in Virginia who could provide a safe home and was interested in caring for her great-nieces and nephew. After much investigation to ensure that this was indeed the best adoptive home, the children were thrilled to be united with their great-aunt in her home. She lovingly made many adjustments in her life to welcome the young children into their “forever home”.

Today, Michelle, Caitlin and Chris are thriving with the love of their great-aunt.  Thankfully, she was able to take all three children, allowing the siblings to remain together to love and support one another.

For these three children this was a good outcome, perhaps the best outcome that anyone could expect given the circumstances. But what if Michelle, Caitlin and Chris had not had a CASA like Marilyn? What if CASA had not been there for the children, and had not located their great-aunt? Adopting three children is uncommon. Would the children have been separated, would they have grown up isolated from one another?  How would their lives be different?

Fortunately, we will never know because Michelle, Caitlin and Chris had a CASA. The prospects for these siblings are bright; a loving family, a chance to grow up together and a future full of promise.

Thanks to CASA and to families like yours supporting our work through Family-to-Family, three young children have new lease on life.