Mary-Pat Gonzalez and Helen Vollero both completed their training with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and were sworn-in late in 2019. They were each matched with their youths who were very young siblings in early 2020 and a couple of months later, the whole world shut down due to Covid. Neither woman was able to meet with their child face-to-face for several months as a result of the pandemic.
Although the two volunteers were separated from one another and their youth due to lock-down restrictions, the four soon found themselves on a truly remarkable path together due to creativity, determination, some detective work, and a great deal of love.
*Samuel (4) and Joseph (7) were taken into protective custody just before Christmas in 2019 when they were found running around unsupervised at a fast food restaurant. Both had suffered tremendous trauma in their young lives. The boys were placed together in a foster home and Mary-Pat and Helen found themselves looking for ways to connect with the boys despite the challenges presented by the pandemic and their young ages.
Ordinarily, the advocate/youth relationship is strictly one-on-one to allow a child the space and privacy they need to develop an emotional connection with their CASA. But this situation was unique due to the boys’ young ages, the difficult trauma they’d experienced, and the restrictions of the pandemic. Mary-Pat and Helen were limited to phone calls and video chats to try to build a relationship with the children. Eventually they were able to schedule backyard visits with the boys where they could visit while wearing masks. Mary-Pat, a retired children’s librarian, showed up with books and Helen would bring games to play with the brothers.
From there, as lockdown restrictions eased, the foster mom would bring the boys for outings at Denny’s where they would share meals and play on the outside patio. However, Joseph began experiencing increasingly complex emotional and behavioral issues that resulted in multiple placements including one that took him two hours away from his little brother. His CASA, Helen continued to visit him each week despite drives that at times were more than two hours each way.
Mary-Pat approached Kari Becker, their shared Advocate Supervisor, to ask about involving the Family Connections team in finding family members who could play a role in the boys’ lives. Family Connections jumped into action alongside the Family Finders team with Orange County Social Services. They eventually located extended family out of state who had spent time with the boys when they were much younger. Family members began sending letters, cards and photos to the boys and eventually flew to California to see them.
Kari, who supervised both CASAs during this time said, “Helen and Mary Pat both came to CASA at the beginning of the pandemic which presented unique challenges, then had one of the most heart-wrenching and difficult cases I had ever seen. They both weathered through such trying times, but the one thing they never lost focus of was their CASA kiddos. Throughout any placement disruption, out-of-county-placement, hospitalization, last minute-school or social services meeting, they always brought their commitment and dedication to the table.”
Helen recalled spending time with Joseph on his 9th birthday and asking him what he wished for, he responded by saying he just wanted to have a home and a family. Over the next several months and much bureaucratic wrangling between California and the state where the boys’ extended family lived, the impossible happened. The family invited the boys to come live with them.
Coordinating services from one state to the other has been a long process. There are many adults in the mix trying to help transition support services and both Helen and Mary-Pat remain as CASAs to the two boys even though they’re now out of state. Both boys are now regularly attending school and Joseph was able to complete his first solid year in one school where he is just now learning to read at age 10. His family got him an emotional support dog who is helping him process some of his past trauma. According to Helen, “the dog joins us for every Zoom call.”
Mary-Pat said, “It’s such an amazing story; we’re so happy now. We couldn’t have done it without all the support from our advocate supervisors. But it's not a done deal and there will be challenges ahead.” She added, “As a CASA I had the courage to ask questions, to push a little bit harder and find the right person to talk to about my child. It makes me worried for the kids who don’t have an advocate looking out for them. One little phone call can change the course of their lives.”
Adrianna Gonzalez, who now supervises Mary-Pat said, " I am very grateful Mary-Pat was matched to this case. She has provided so much insight, support, and availability for her youth. She is a true advocate at heart, and continues to shine care towards her youth despite the miles between."
Kari added, “Without these two wonderful advocates, I am not so sure that these siblings would have had the stability that they now have.”
Helen was recently able to visit the boys in their new home to celebrate Joseph’s 10th birthday. She said, “I was able to visit him on his birthday and remind him of his wish the year before. I told him, ‘your wish from last year came true; you now have a home, a family and a dog’.”
Helen’s current supervisor, Jennifer Kordek said, “Helen has shown exactly how important and vital it is for a youth in foster care to have a CASA. Through multiple placements and meeting new people, including family members, Helen has remained the one constant in her youth's life. Helen has helped her youth process all of these changes and has been there to constantly remind him of his birthday wish; to have a family and home by his 10th birthday which we can happily celebrate as it has come true.”
Visit www.casaoc.org/become-a-casa to learn how you can become a CASA.
*names changed to protect privacy