Success Story

In the early winter of 2023, a Fairfax County police officer was flagged down around midnight one evening, by a concerned citizen who told the officer that a baby was left alone in a car outside of a bar.  The temperature that night was well below freezing. The baby, four-month-old Noah, dressed in just a onesie and a sock was found crying, locked inside a parked car.  The officer broke the window of the car and paramedics transported the baby to the hospital.  His mother, Taylor, was found inside the bar intoxicated.  She was arrested and charged with felony child abuse. 

Taylor did not have any family in Virginia, but did provide the investigators with the names of several close friends.  When contacted, the friends were shocked to hear that Taylor had been intoxicated and that she had left Noah in the car.  When Noah’s father was located and contacted, he too expressed shock when told about Taylor’s behavior.

Taylor & Noah’s CASA Journey

Noah was placed in foster care, and a CASA was assigned immediately. Noah had been exclusively breast fed and struggled with the sudden shift to a bottle. Noah’s first foster placement was short lived, and his second foster home also lasted just a short time, both expressing his bottle feeding as a source of stress and frustration.  Noah’s CASA was concerned about Noah’s size and worried that he was not receiving enough formula.  Taylor also expressed this concern.  The CASA talked with the third foster mother, who agreed and opted to feed Noah more often, and with more formula.   Soon, Noah was gaining weight and appeared much happier.

Soon, Taylor was granted supervised visitation and allowed to attend church on Sundays with Noah and his foster parents. Taylor showed up for every visit on time and supervisors reported that she was not only appropriate but engaging and that there was a clear bond between mother and son. Taylor worked full-time and was enrolled in an online degree program. She was court ordered to take part in an alcohol assessment, random drug screens, a psychological evaluation (and follow all recommendations), and a parent-child assessment (and follow all recommendations).  She was also ordered to take part in parenting classes. 

Feelgood Ending

Taylor immediately completed her evaluations, assessments and parenting classes.  She fulfilled every request for a random drug screening (all negative).  She actively engaged in all recommendations made by her evaluators, including an intensive outpatient (IOP) drug/alcohol program which included intensive therapy.  Her instructors and counselors described her as engaged and an eager learner.  She graduated from her IOP program successfully, as well as her parenting classes.  

As Taylor completed her court-ordered services, the CASA advocated for the supervised visitation to transition to unsupervised visits, as well as overnight visits in Taylor’s home.  Both were granted and Taylor and Noah enjoyed their time together.  A year after the case came into court, Noah was placed in his mother’s home on a trial home visit.  Noah is meeting all of his developmental milestones, and walking and talking, laughing and blowing kisses.  Taylor has maintained her sobriety for over a year.  Last month, their case closed before the court.  The CASA’s last note on the case said, “Noah is in good hands.” 

We wish Noah and Taylor the best!