Hope in Action is a series to highlight the aspects of our volunteer work. Advocacy for a child, whether in child welfare, juvenile justice, or truancy systems, covers several activities from court hearings to visits with a child to conversations with parents. Each month, we share a story of small (or big!) moments from one of our cases that exemplify what advocacy can mean to children and their families.

How One Volunteer Helped Save a Family’s Home

The impact of our Advocates often goes beyond the child they serve. They develop relationships with parents, family members, foster placements, and several adults in the child’s orbit, often changing their lives as well as the children’s.

Building Trust with a Caregiver

After being removed from her mother’s home, an 11-year-old girl, Amara*, was placed with a distant relative, Cassie*. A single mom herself with three children, Cassie knew that she couldn’t care for Amara long-term due to her own financial challenges, but she wanted to support the child until her parents completed services to be reunified or a long-term placement was found.

When volunteer Advocate Teresa* took the case, she met with Amara at Cassie’s home and began to get to know everyone in the family. Teresa brought a meal at Thanksgiving and delivered gifts for all four children during the holiday season.

As Cassie put away the gifts for Christmas morning, she confided in Teresa that one of her monthly bills had recently increased. To cover that bill, she was behind on her mortgage payments for her home.

A Hidden Crisis

As a retired banker, Teresa was alarmed. She knew firsthand how difficult it would be for Cassie to pay her past-due monthly payments, late fees, and interest that had accrued. More concerning was Cassie’s attitude toward being behind on the payments.

“She was very nonchalant about the situation,” Teresa said. “I asked her what she was going to do to get caught up, and she said that someone had advised her to just file for bankruptcy.”

Cassie’s story is one common to many of relative placements who take in a family member after receiving an unexpected call from CPS. Already struggling to make ends meet, Cassie wanted to provide a safe home for Amara. Taking in a child unexpectedly brought several expenses for which Cassie hadn’t budgeted. Since she wasn’t a licensed foster home, she didn’t qualify for some of the payments foster parents receive either.

Professional Expertise + Advocacy

Cassie understood very little about her housing situation; she didn’t know if she was on the foreclosure list. She didn’t have a plan to make the overdue payments, and she didn’t understand the timeline. She assured Teresa that it would work out, confident that she wouldn’t lose her home if she filed for bankruptcy.

After Teresa explained her professional background and expertise, Cassie gave her authorization to talk to her lender and attorney to get more details about where she was in the foreclosure process. Teresa began to make calls, and the situation was dire.

The first month they started working together, Cassie was not on the foreclosure list. The second month she was.

“The lender agreed not to foreclose if Cassie paid up in full,” Teresa said. “But in addition to the payments, there were $2,500 in legal fees that Cassie didn’t have.”

A Community Rallies Around a Family

Teresa called Amara’s caseworker to let her know the placement was in danger if Cassie lost her home. The caseworker and Teresa connected Cassie with several community resources to cover the costs. Despite financial support from resources, Cassie still did not have enough money to cover all the costs needed to stop the foreclosure.

With the severity of the situation now apparent, Cassie reached out to her mom, and she helped her cover the remaining costs.

“The day before the payment was due, Cassie’s mom helped with the money needed to cover the gap,” Teresa said. “In the nick of time, Cassie paid her overdue payments and fees so that she didn’t lose her home.”

Advocacy that Lasts a Lifetime

Teresa’s advocacy for Amara not only kept her placement secure, but it also prevented a mother and her three children from losing their home. By helping stabilize the family during a financial crisis, Teresa ensured that Amara could remain in a safe and supportive environment while a plan was developed for her long-term care.

Amara remained with Cassie for several months until CPS placed her in a home better suited for her ongoing needs. And Teresa continues to provide steady support as her Advocate.

Senior Director of Programs & Services Camille Davis said that Teresa’s actions saved Cassie’s home while preventing the trauma of Amara suddenly losing her placement.

“This story is a powerful example of how advocating for one child can create a ripple effect that changes the lives of other family members,” Camille said. “Because Teresa took the time to build a relationship with the family, they made her aware of a crisis before it was too late to get them help.”

*Names changed for privacy.