During her intial CASA training, Lea Wiacek's class was discussing a current case that by all accounts was heart-wrenching and one of the more complicated cases in the program. Little did Lea know it at the time, but that case would soon become her introduction to the complex, but rewarding work of a CASA.

 

The mom was severely cognitively impaired and couldn't understand what was going on,” Lea explained. “I had to figure out a way to earn her trust and to explain to her in a way she would understand how she could keep her family together, that we were all just trying to help.”

 

Abuse and neglect are the dark side of life our CASAs deal with and 4 young children ages 4 to 14 were experiencing this first-hand.