Ethan’s Success Story
Born with various drugs in his system, Ethan* was removed from his mother’s care and placed in the foster care system. He was assigned a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to advocate for his best interests. The Department of Family Services (DFS) was concerned about his parents’ ability to care for Ethan. His mother struggled with substance abuse and had two other children who were no longer under her care. Meanwhile, his father’s home was unsuitable for an infant. He did not yet have the capacity to care for Ethan.
A Parent’s Commitment
Without hesitation, his mother participated in all court-ordered services including a parent-child assessment, alcohol and drugs services (ADS) assessment, a parenting class, and regular supervised visits. There was a clear strong connection between Ethan and his mother. However, his mother continued to struggle with addiction and was unable to complete her treatment recommendations.
At the same time, his father engaged in court-ordered services such as a psychological evaluation, parenting class, parent-child and ADS assessment, and a parent capacity evaluation. His father faced a learning curve that initially affected his ability to care for Ethan. Determined to become the parent Ethan needed, he leaned into his support system for help and made meaningful changes. He moved to Ethan and embraced learning how to be a full-time parent. Soon, the court granted Ethan’s father trial home visits, and no concerns were found during those visits.
Support from a CASA
Throughout this time, Ethan’s CASA visited him and drove more than 1,200 miles to ensure his needs were met. The CASA made thoughtful recommendations in Ethan’s best interests to the court.
In January 2026, his father was awarded physical and legal custody of Ethan. Together, they began the new year by turning the page and starting new chapter filled with hope for their future,
You can be the hope a child needs during a critical and challenging time in their life. Join an upcoming information session to learn how you can make a positive impact in the life of an abused or neglected child.
*Identifying information has been changed for confidentiality purposes.