Tony* has faced more challenges in his sixteen years than most people ever will. His family has struggled with long periods of homelessness and his mom has battled substance use disorder for much of his life. Because of their housing instability, Tony often missed school and fell behind. Additionally, he was also born with a medical condition that requires him to take medication every day. As their situation was often difficult, Tony missed critical doctor appointments and the medication he needed.
When Tony was in elementary school, truancy and medical concerns led the school to involve child welfare. Social services saw the love between Tony and his mom and kept them together in Family Maintenance and he was soon assigned a CASA volunteer. That CASA spent about a year and a half with Tony while he stayed in his mom’s care. During that time, his mom addressed Tony’s needs, found more stable housing, and advanced in her recovery. Tony remembers his first CASA as someone he had fun with and who supported him. He even recalled attending parties at the CASA House.
Unfortunately, a few years later, Tony and his mom found themselves back in the system. Tony’s medical needs were not being met and he was experiencing chronic truancy. They were once again unhoused, and his mom was struggling with substance use. Tony’s medical condition is serious, and without his daily medication he could deteriorate quickly. Even so, everyone involved understood how important it was to keep the family together, due to the bond between Tony and his mom. Tony was matched with a new CASA, Dave. Tony and his mom soon moved into a shelter, and his mom was given a safety plan to meet Tony’s needs.
Dave showed up every week. At first, Tony wouldn’t talk at all. Dave checked in with his mom, and sometimes they went out, but often they just met in the shelter lobby. He helped both Tony and his mom with errands and connections to resources. A few months into visits, Tony tried to hide a missed appointment from Dave. When Dave gently called it out, Tony shut down, refusing to meet. Still, Dave continued showing up every week, waiting in the lobby and letting Tony know he was there, without pressure. After months of consistent patience, Tony began seeing Dave again.
Not long after, Tony and his mom were able to secure permanent housing. However, his mom was still struggling with substance use disorder, and Tony was removed from her care and placed with extended family. For the first time in his life, Tony was separated from his mom. Tony then decided he wanted more contact with Dave and decided to give him a chance to see if he could trust him. Dave was right there when Tony was ready for his presence. His aunt took excellent care of him, even though they didn’t have a prior relationship, making sure he attended school and took his medication daily. During this time with his aunt, his mom worked hard on her sobriety. She succeeded, secured a job, and got a car. Tony was thrilled to be reunited with his mom. Their bond remained as strong as ever.
For almost three years, Dave has met with Tony once a week, providing a steady presence in the unpredictability of Tony’s life. He showed up week after week, even when Tony didn’t feel like talking, and continues to do so now that Tony is no longer in the system. The Dependency Court Judge has noted that Dave always follows through and follows up, a consistency that has meant so much to Tony.
Tony, who has been in and out of the system for most of his life through no fault of his own, trusts CASA because he sees them as people you can talk to and who will help when needed. He describes Dave as a great father-figure who provides solid advice and real life-lessons. He is grateful for all the support Dave has given him, including support he didn’t even know he needed. Tony shared that Dave helping him get braces changed his life. Today, he proudly shows off his bracketed smile and talks about how different he feels. Fixing his overbite has made it easier for him to smile and has given him confidence to feel better about smiling.
Tony is an incredibly resilient teen. Despite the instability, trauma, and the lifelong medical condition he has navigated, he is a sweet and friendly kid with strong friendships. A big reason he is so well-adjusted and grounded today is the deep love between him and his mom. Even through instability and setbacks, that bond has never wavered. Today he is confident, easy to talk to, and carries himself with a sense of possibility. Tony has great potential and an incredible future ahead of him.
*Fictitious name used to protect privacy.
