Lives Changed: Youth Stories

CASA and guardian ad litem volunteers stand up for the rights of abused and
neglected children. Appointed by judges, they ensure that the needs of abused
and neglected children are heardin the community and in the courtroom.
Meet some of the young people whose lives were changed by the
intervention of a CASA volunteer.
Josh Kelchner: Focused on Family
Before Josh and his younger siblings were taken into foster
care, Josh Kelchner played parent to his sisters and brother while his mother
succumbed to drug and alcohol addictions. After the children were taken into
foster care, Josh did everything he could to try to keep his family together. But it
almost wasn't enough.
Read how a volunteer advocate helped Josh and his siblings stay in touch and
kept Josh focused on a successful future.

Dashun: From Victim to Victorious
As a boy, my three sisters and I suffered just about every
form of abuse you can imagine. When I was 13 years old, we were all removed
from our home. After that, I bounced around, from a childrens emergency shelter
to an aunts house, then back to the shelter. Without knowledge or
Laura: A Journey of Survival

Long before my feet touched Iraqi soilbefore I even joined the United States
Marine CorpsI was a veteran of a long war for survival....
Read Laura's story.
Read an article about Laura and
Sally in the American Legion's
magazine.

John: From an Overly Medicated Boy to a
Loved Young Man

Cheryl Reed, volunteer with CASA of the Coastal Bend (TX), shares the story of
John, a child who suffered years of neglect by a drug-addicted mother and
physical abuse by her boyfriends before finding a safe, permanent home.
Read John's story.



Melissa: Our CASA Volunteer Was Our Voice
Our suffering began well before we were born. My younger
siblings and I were all exposed to prenatal drug and alcohol use at birth, and
each of us suffered the long-term effects...For the first 12 years of my life, I was
never allowed to be a child.
Read Melissa's story.

Shumeka: Transitioning from Foster Care to
College
If I didnt have the support system that I have, I don't know exactly
where I would be. Family, that was not an option, so I would probably be in a shelter
somewhere....
In two recent radio interviews, Shumeka Moore describes how the steadfast support of
her CASA volunteer helped her make the transition from foster care to college. Listen to
a short interview on WAMU 88.5 or a 20-minute interview on The Michael Eric Dyson
Show that also features her CASA volunteer, Kristal Wortham.