March Story of Hope: Dorothy & Sheila
Advocate Impact Story
In May of 2018 two young ladies, Dorothy (10) and Sheila (13), were brought into foster care due to neglect by their father. Their mother had sadly passed away and that affected the two girls and their father in ways no one could have imagined. Grief hit the family very hard and they soon found themselves homeless. The father was very overwhelmed and stressed but tried his best to make sure his girls were safe and fed. Unfortunately, he began drinking in excess to help cope with the loss of his wife. He eventually did reach out to CPS for help, as he felt his girls deserved a better life than the one he could provide at that moment.
During the initial interviews with the girls, they expressed to their new caseworker that they would cry themselves to sleep due to having anxiety about their current living situation. They were living in their truck and sometimes would go without food and showers. This led to Sheila being picked on in school because of her appearance and hygiene, which then led her to self-harming.
Dorothy and Sheila were soon placed with relatives and things seemed to be going well. The girls were in counseling, they had endless warm meals, a room to sleep in, and were surrounded by their loved ones; but the girls were still dealing with the loss of their mother and now being away from their father. Sheila started to exhibit some behavioral issues that the family was not equipped to deal with. She unfortunately had to be removed and was placed in a shelter, while CPS searched for more family members or a foster home. Not long after Sheila was moved, Dorothy was also removed from their family and placed in a foster home.
Meanwhile, their father did not successfully make the changes he needed to be reunified with his girls. He decided to sign over his rights in the best interest of his daughters.
They did have an advocate by their side during these changes, Linda Wilson. She was assigned to this case in September 2018. While placed with family, Linda would keep in contact monthly, sometimes weekly, to ensure the placement was a safe and stable one. She worked with the caseworker and Family Tapestry to make sure the best placements were being chosen for the girls. Although the girls have changed placements multiple times, had multiple caseworkers, and have been separated from each other, Linda has been consistently with them through it all. Linda does not miss a holiday or birthday. She would make sure they saw each other and had sibling visits as often as allowed. This experience for them would not have been the same without her.
It has been almost three years from the time they were brought into foster care. They have been separated from each other for years now, only seeing each other during visits and some overnight stays. Finally, CPS found one foster home that would love to adopt both girls. They have now been placed together with a foster family since early February 2021. Sheila and Dorothy are enjoying their new home and look forward to new beginnings.
Although, this chapter in their life has not yet come to an end, everyone involved is still working hard to make sure they have the best outcome possible. The girls can be sure that Linda, their CASA, will do everything in her power to make sure that they have a happy ending.
In December 2023, CPS received a Priority One referral regarding a 2-year-old child named Katherine, who had been hospitalized after ingesting narcotics. Her mother, Jessica, admitted to being under the influence of methamphetamines at the time. Katherine later tested positive for amphetamines, prompting the Department to seek removal of both Katherine and her 4-year-old sister, Valerie. Their maternal grandmother expressed willingness to care for them but only if CPS became involved. CASA advocate Alfredo Concha was appointed to the case and immediately took action. He contacted the grandparents and met with the children. During that visit, he learned that while the grandparents were willing to provide temporary care, they could not commit beyond December 2024. They had already adopted the girls' older sibling, which kept them busy, and as elderly caregivers, they felt unable to raise two young children long-term. They made it clear—either Jessica would have to get her life back on track by December, or the girls would need another placement. Understanding the urgency, Alfredo used Collaborative Family Engagement tools to seek additional family members who could offer support. He built a strong working relationship with Jessica, which proved invaluable. Through collaboration with Jessica, the grandparents, CPS, and the children's attorney, Alfredo identified and addressed barriers to reunification. A primary concern was Jessica’s history of substance abuse and the risk of relapse. After completing inpatient drug treatment, Jessica chose to move in with her ex-boyfriend, Robert, and his mother, Marie. Given Robert’s history of substance abuse and their previously volatile relationship, Alfredo recommended that Robert participate in services to strengthen their family dynamic. This included undergoing a substance abuse assessment, engaging in treatment, and completing a domestic violence prevention program. Alfredo also ensured Robert and Marie were included in planning meetings. During one of these meetings, Marie expressed her willingness to take in the children and committed to caring for them regardless of Jessica and Robert’s relationship. With this new support system in place, the girls were able to return to Jessica on December 3, 2024. CPS and Alfredo closely monitored the placement for several weeks to ensure stability. By January 2025, Alfredo recommended case closure, allowing the family to move forward with their lives. During the final hearing, Jessica addressed the court, expressing her gratitude. She stated that without the support of CPS and Alfredo, she would not have been able to succeed.
Larry Rushing
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