April 5, 2022
“My CASA boy has waited 4 years to hear he is wanted.
When children become eligible for adoption (after parental rights terminated/relinquished), if the child is not already in a home who wishes to adopt him/her, then the children go into the TARE system. Families who are interested in adopting search the TARE database, and if they find a child in whom they are interested, they request the case info. If they still wish to proceed, a selection staffing is set up, where they ask questions, we give info about the child, history, behaviors, etc. We get to ask them about themselves, why they see themselves as a good fit, etc. And then they meet separately to decide if they want to move forward with meeting the child, and if so they let CPS know.
In this particular staffing, I was a big ol’ emotional mess. I cried THREE times in one hour. I have had this young man on my caseload since 2018. He has been through hell and back, and to hear this family talk about wanting him… it just made me tear up over and over again at the prospect of my CASA boy potentially finding love in his forever home.”
Heather Tijerina, CASA of the Coastal Bend Advocate Advisor
To learn how you can make a difference as a CASA volunteer for Coastal Bend youth in foster care, attend an upcoming 45 minute Virtual CASA Info Session held every Wednesday at 12pm via Zoom: https://bit.ly/2JAld0E
