Vonette Carter was 25 and newly engaged when she first heard about CASA from a friend. But the decades flew by and Vonette was busy with married life, work, church, volunteering and raising two children. It wasn’t until her daughter turned 25, and she and her husband began fostering a young child, that Vonette realized how much kids in foster care really need a consistent, trusted adult in their lives. 

“We were a bit surprised when they told us they wanted to become foster parents since they were such a young couple,” said Vonette. “We figured they’d want to have a baby first and then add to their family but we were 100% supportive.” The family welcomed a seven year old boy into their lives and Vonette said, “I thought, if my daughter can change this child’s life, I’m absolutely going to do my part and step out of my comfort zone to sign up for the CASA training.” 

Because Vonette had previously done volunteer work with women who had been victims of trafficking, she was interested in being matched with a young woman on the brink of aging out of the system. “My heart has always been for young women. I’ve worked with young people who aren’t prepared to go out in the world at 18. I think about my own kids, who grew up in a stable family, and the amount of support they still needed at that age.” 

Once Vonette completed her CASA training, she was paired with 17 year old *Abby. “It was a great match. I believe we were meant to be together,” said Vonette. She describes Abby’s situation, “I met Abby just a few weeks before her 18th birthday. She needed a lot of support and was at risk of not graduating. She was not prepared for her life ahead as an adult so I was glad she made the decision to stay in the system.” 

Vonette shares that it was challenging coming into Abby’s life during such a critical period of transition, but the two quickly bonded. “On our first meeting, I took her to lunch and we talked for hours. She told me about her life, much of it was hard to hear, but it was so wonderful she was able to talk to me like that.” After their lunch, Abby asked if Vonette would drive her around her old neighborhood and Abby pointed out the places that had special meaning to her throughout her life. Over the course of their drive, Abby opened up more and more about her hardships including losing her mom at an early age and the difficult foster placements she’d experienced since.

Over the next few weeks and months, Vonette put her advocacy skills to work by reaching out to Abby’s school to brainstorm ways to help her graduate. “We arranged a team meeting at the school and came up with so many solutions, it was like a breath of fresh air. Everyone contributed to offer tutoring, therapy and other support. Together we were able to troubleshoot some of the many challenges Abby was facing at home and at school.” Vonette emphasizes, “But her success was because Abby committed to doing the work, including taking the bus for hours back and forth from home to school each day.”

Abby’s life was soon to get more complicated as she confided to Vonette that she was pregnant but wasn’t ready to reveal that news to anyone yet. Vonette said, “I was glad she trusted me enough to share such important news, but it was a lot to carry. Together we found her a good doctor and got her the care she needed. Even though she was pregnant and tired, and couldn’t tell others in her life, she still didn’t want to miss school. Graduation was a big victory for her.” Vonette and Abby’s education team worked together to get her a cap and gown and a yearbook since Abby didn’t have the money. Vonette said, “We’ve celebrated many victories big and small along the way.”

Vonette says she tries to balance her time with Abby between doing fun things and working on more practical life skills. She shared, “We’ve bonded over common interests, such as love of animals at the OC Zoo, and music and dance as we celebrated Abby’s 18th birthday at Segerstrom Center seeing Lion King. We’ve enjoyed time at the beach while talking about college and Abby’s future family. I can always tell she is happy when she sings in the car. One of our most memorable days together ended as we drove home singing, ‘I've Had The Time Of My Life’ from Dirty Dancing, one of Abby and her mom's favorite movies. It brought me to tears.” 

Vonette’s advocacy has helped Abby navigate the process of securing a California State ID, opening a bank account, visiting colleges, applying for scholarships, and writing her first resume. Vonette beams with pride as she describes coaching Abby on walking into a local business to apply for a job. “She crushed it when she spoke to the manager and asked for a job!!” More recently, the two looked at apartments together and brought her newborn son home from the NICU, where Abby is thriving as a new mom and college student. “I can’t believe how positive Abby is and how far she has come. I love that I get to help her grow in the amazing potential I see in her.”

The two plan to remain friends once Vonette is no longer Abby’s CASA. “Our greatest success together has been building a trusting friendship. Youth in foster care have been hurt by so many people, they don't want to trust anyone but I believe we have become a wonderful team and we both truly care for one another. I hope at some point in the future, when I’m no longer her CASA and her case is closed, she and her boyfriend and their baby can join me and my husband on a double date - we would be friends and older mentors to them,” Vonette says with a laugh. 

Spencer Smith is Vonette’s CASA Supervisor and nominated her for special recognition due to her work with Abby. “Vonette helped this young lady finish high school and supported her through her pregnancy all the way to birth. She helped her move away from her foster home and has mentored her in so many other ways. This has been a very difficult case, but Vonette has been so amazingly consistent and important to Abby. She is always so positive and open to new ideas that will help her grow or can help Abby. She has an amazing heart for the people she works with!”

If  you would like to learn more about becoming a mentor and an advocate to a youth like Abby, please sign up to attend a CASA OC Information Session. 

*Name changed to prtect privacy