As a toddler, Kayden was abandoned and left with strangers who abused him. The state placed Kayden with a foster family who became his legal guardians, but after a decade with this family, his foster father fell into addiction and Kayden was removed by the state again and placed in a group home. When his former foster parents filed for divorce, it was finally decided that he wouldn’t be able to go back to their care.
With no clear path forward, a judge appointed a CASA to Kayden’s case. Having experienced so much abandonment and uncertainty in his young life, Kayden was in desperate need of a stable relationship. Fortunately, because CASA Advocates commit to stay with a child in foster care until they find a safe and permanent home, the Advocate was able to be that stable person for Kayden.
The CASA was able to meet with him several times in those early weeks, but he was soon moved to an out-of-state treatment facility for behavioral issues. School was a serious struggle for Kayden who was behind in classes. Continued behavioral issues in and out of the classroom only caused more disruption in Kayden’s education. The CASA started to visit with Kayden over the phone and facetime during his months away in the ground home. Through phone calls, mailed letters and care packages, and they were able to slowly build a trusting relationship.
One day Kayden shared with his CASA that his grandparents were alive and living on the Hi-Line in Montana. The CASA began gathering more information, and was able to reach them, learning that they were caring people who had lost contact with Kayden while he was in foster care. The CASA walked them through what it would mean to bring Kayden into their home, and they agreed.
After eight months at the out-of-state facility, Kayden was discharged into the care of his grandparents. Since then, the CASA has traveled up to visit him several times as everyone awaits the adoption being finalized. The CASA also helped the grandparents get Kayden set up with a math tutor, and he is thriving in school. After a lifetime of inconsistency and dysfunction, Kayden is finally in a home that can provide stability and love. He continues to stay in close contact with his CASA, and updates her regularly on his school, sports and extracurricular activities.
