Success Story: Blake

Blake’s first confirmed case of abuse was the day he was born when his little body tested positive for drugs. At age 4, he was abused again before being adopted by a relative. Tragically, he continued to be abused and neglected and was eventually placed in foster care at age 15. For 11 years, this child endured the darkest pain, and as a teen, he was isolated and alone. With no clear sources of family support other than his teenage sister Erin, he was expected to age out of foster care unless someone intervened and spoke for him. That’s when he met his CASA volunteer, Steve.

Steve began working tirelessly to find a way out of foster care for Blake. When Blake’s behavior worsened he was sent to live in a Residential Treatment Center, four hours away from Erin. That’s when Blake gave up all hope- “I knew I was probably looking at a bad future.” But behind the scenes, his CASA Steve was Blake’s champion, making sure he wasn’t lost to his family. Steve refused to let another teenager get lost in the system. Blake said he knew Erin, now 21, was his last hope for getting out of foster care. “She was my angel.”

For Erin, her “worst fear was that he would get stuck in foster care.” Once she turned 21, she wanted to become Blake’s permanent home, but she didn’t know how to become an approved placement. This is where Steve stepped in. Steve helped Erin navigate the CPS system to bring Blake home, and his advocacy finally gave Blake hope for a brighter future. Thanks to the commitment of his CASA volunteer, Blake was able to move in with Erin the day after school was out this summer. Your donation gives children like Blake the critical voice they need in foster care!

P.S. Blake is now a happy teenager living with his sister. “Some people think living in the mountains or by the beach is paradise. To me, this is paradise.” – Blake