CASA Advocate, Elizabeth Foster, completed pre-service training on April 11, 2023, and like any new CASA, waited in anticipation for that call from an Advocate Supervisor stating, “Are you ready to accept your first CASA case?”. Elizabeth received that call and on May 1, 2023, Elizabeth was assigned to 2-year-old, Justice. You see, Justice entered foster care in December 2022 on the reporting of physical abuse, burns, subdural hematoma, and torture. Justice was in a life-threatening situation and was not breathing on his own. Despite his fragility and bleak outlook, 2-year-old Justice, with the heart of a lion refused to give up. In comes Elizabeth, newly appointed CASA and an invaluable resource to Justice and his caregiver. Elizabeth, within three days of being assigned had spoken with the case worker, reviewed the DCFS file, and was meeting Justice just 3 days after the assignment. Three weeks after being assigned, Elizabeth was participating in her first FTM for Justice and his biological family. Elizabeth also visited Justice in daycare, and the home, and when he was placed in a new home due to his extensive medical needs, Elizabeth followed in short order. Justice had found his ally, friend, and voice that all too often is silenced by the noise of bureaucracy, occasional egos, and stagnation. Elizabeth provided transportation to numerous medical appointments to keep his medical care on track and when his foster parent needed a wheelchair ramp for Justice and the other medically fragile children being cared for, Elizabeth set out to dispatch the men from her church to get this life-changing resource done. I inherited Elizabeth from former Advocate Supervisor Brook Stikes upon her departure from CASA and this has been the best inheritance I have ever received. Thank you, Elizabeth, for being a true advocate and Ally for Justice, foster siblings, and foster parents to make their lives a little easier.
Proud Advocate Supervisor,
Tony J. Pryer
