Luis' Story
Luis came to the attention of the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) due to the instability of his family. Although Luis was referred for outpatient treatment, his mother never followed through with treatment for him. As a result, Luis reacted to this instability by running away – often. Due to his special needs, it was difficult to find a foster family willing to open up their home to him.
A breakthrough occurred when his therapist identified that Luis had been sexually assaulted by a relative living in his mother’s home. Reunification with his mother was ruled out because the mother would neither find a new place to live nor force the perpetrator to move out. Consequently, Luis remained in placement and continued to run.
Twenty months after his placement, a CASA volunteer was appointed to help Luis ensure that his best interests were protected. During one of their initial conversations, the CASA volunteer discovered that Luis had a desire to see his father and even wanted to live with him.
While there was a reference to his father in the files, it indicated that he lived in Alabama but his whereabouts were unknown.
It turned out that Luis knew exactly where his father lived but had simply never been asked. Armed with this information, the CASA volunteer contacted his father who was actually living in Florida. He never knew his son was in the state’s care and he most assuredly wanted Luis to live with him in Florida. The CASA volunteer brought this information to the attention of the Court and the caseworker. So DYFS began its assessment of the father, which included initiating an Interstate Placement process.
This potentially lengthy process assesses the environment and people involved and ensures that needed services will be provided by the receiving state. The CASA volunteer advised the Court that, with legal custody of the father still intact, and because no services were being required for Luis, the Interstate process was not required!
At the age of 16, Luis moved to Florida with his father and enrolled in a GED program to complete his schooling.
Without the CASA volunteer’s involvement, this young man might have continued living an unstable life, running away from placement after placement, and never having a permanent home with his father.
LUIS WAS REUNITED WITH HIS FATHER
Things Turn out Differently When You Speak up for a Child.