Story of Hope: Christina Brockway

Story of Hope: Christina Brockway 


Christina has been amplifying the voices of her CASA children since 2015. Throughout her seven years at CASA, Christina has made huge impacts on her cases, seeing several of them through to adoption and even maintaining contact with some of her CASA children throughout the years.


Christina’s most recent case, however, has been a challenging and emotional one.

She was assigned to a case of a teen girl upon having been requested by the teen’s guardian ad-litem over a year ago. The teen girl came into the care of the Department after being recovered from a month on runaway status. The teen’s father refused to take her back; stating she had a history of running away and he was afraid she would continue to run, disrupting his other children’s lives. The teen’s mother's rights had previously been terminated in 2019 and there were no other viable relatives to care for her.


Upon meeting the teen, she and Christina immediately connected and formed a positive rapport with one another.


The case has not been easy. The teen has run from multiple placements, been involved in life-threatening situations requiring trips to the Emergency Room and hospitalizations. She has undergone traumatic experiences no child should have to go through.


Nevertheless, Christina has been by her side through it all. Every placement her teen has been admitted into, Christina visits shortly after, ensuring she has hygiene items, clothing and checking on her well-being. Christina was the first person at the hospital when her teen was admitted after a life-threatening accident. While on runaway, Christina constantly reaches out to her teen on social media, patiently waiting for a response letting her know she is safe. Although the teen does not disclose her whereabouts, she checks in with Christina to let her know she is safe. Other times, she has contacted Christina to pick her up at a nearby park as she’s ready to be in a placement. Several times Christina has been the only person her teen will reach out to when she’s on runaway.


Christina has also established a network of support with CPS, CASA, and attorneys on the case. She reaches out to the teen’s family looking for information, clues and answers on her teen’s whereabouts. She asks about other family members and friends that might be willing to take her.


And when in court, Christina will speak up for her teen, amplifying her voice and informing the Judge of not only what she wants, but what she needs and feels is in her best interest. Christina’s teen has been involved in three different courts: Children’s Court, CWOP- Children without Placement Court and Juvenile Court. At times these hearings have overlapped or were held multiples times a week. Christina has been to all hearings but one, as she was out ill. She writes reports, keeps up with staffing, meetings, and maintains parties on the case informed of any and all information pertaining to her teen.


Without a doubt, Christina has been a constant person in her CASA teen’s life. Her strong character and warm heart embody the qualities of a great CASA advocate. Although Christina’s teen is currently on runaway and the case may be far from over, her teen knows Christina is there for her, looking out for her, and has her best interest at heart.


Christina’s hope is to one day be able to see her teen in a safe, permanent, loving home and be able to spend quality time together going to a movie, out to a fancy dinner, or just bonding while getting their nails done.

By bfines March 21, 2025
 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.
By bfines March 21, 2025
Larry Rushing
Show More
Share by: