CASA
I’m sitting in Judge Peagler’s Courtroom at the Dekalb Co. Juvenile Courthouse, waiting for a hearing to finish and I’m always so broken-hearted sitting on these pews, listening to the stories of physical and sexual abuse and neglect of children. I’m reminded of my many studies in child development and psychology and the effects of abuse and neglect on a child’s self-efficacy and independence, their autonomy, their ability to form meaningful relationships and trust others, their ability to learn and adjust to new surroundings, among so many other issues.
Right now, I’m working on a case that involves a child who is displaying enuresis (bedwetting) and public masturbation and was originally removed from her home when she was 3 years old for sexual abuse and neglect. This child has been in the system for over 9 years, bouncing from foster home to institutional foster home, never finding a permanent resting place due to behavior issues, her mother showing up here and there with promises to get her life together and follow her case plan, and defects in the Georgia child welfare system.
I’m meeting with the child today to discuss her desires and her progress and see where she is with everything. More soon…
