Naomi's Reunification Story

Why We Encourage Reunification

Research indicates that reuniting a child with their natural family is the most favorable outcome when it is safe and possible. It is important for children to be raised in familiar surroundings with natural support systems. This stability enhances emotional security, nurtures resilience, and leads to improved long-term outcomes in education, health, and social relationships. As we observe National Reunification Month, CASA celebrates all of the successful reunions we have witnessed.

A Family Reunited

Every morning when I would wake up, my day would begin with fear and every night when I went to bed, it would end the same as it began. Wondering would today be a good day or would something make him mad today. Would he hurt me or even worse, hurt one of my children? Recalling those days is hard. I pray my children nor I ever have to live through them again.

My name is Naomi and this is the story of my family. Rosie is 10, Mary is 6, and Malachi is 4. We love each other very much and every minute we are together is even more special because there was a time we were apart.

I met Damien at the restaurant where I was working. He would come in for coffee each day before going to his job at the construction site nearby. We quickly became a couple and he moved in with me and Rosie. I got pregnant with Mary soon after we met, followed by Malachi. The abuse began during my pregnancy with Mary and just got worse. Each day, I would pray that he wouldn’t hurt me, but I never even knew that he was hurting Rosie until one day she confided in my sister and she told me. You are probably saying, “Why didn’t you leave him then?”. I wish it was that easy. I was about to give birth to Malachi when I found out the news. I had no money, no where to go, no car, and I was scared. Scared for myself, scared for my kids.

My sister reported the abuse of Rosie to CPS. After they investigated and talked to Rosie, they removed all three of my children and put them in foster care. They were split into two homes. Rosie in one, Mary and baby Malachi in another. That is when Julie showed up. She was a CASA volunteer and looking back now, she was who changed our lives. She gave me hope when I did not have any.

The judge told me what I had to do. He said I had to leave Damien, get a job, a place to live, and take parenting classes. He also said I had to go to counseling for the abuse I went through. I knew it would be hard, but I was determined to get my children back.

Julie would visit all three children in the two foster homes at least twice every month. I was able to talk to her during scheduled visitations with my kids and she was always very nice and helpful. She would even tell the judge how hard I was working to do all things that I had to do to get my kids back! Every time I had a visit with my kids, she brought strawberries for us to share because she knew how much we liked them. She was nice like that. It made me feel better that she cared about me and my kids and she was making sure they were being looked out for.

Two long years passed of me being away from my kids. I finally stayed away from Damien, got a job at a daycare where I could bring Mary and Malachi, and kept up with my counseling and classes. Julie advocated for me to get my kids back. I can never thank her enough for that. When the judge said they could come home with me, it was the happiest day of my life. My family was reunited. We still have a long way to go. All of us go to counseling and it is helping us.

I want to say thank you to Julie. You were there when no one else was. I want to say thank you to CASA for the service you provide to children like mine and I want to say thank you to everyone who gives to CASA. You made it possible for my family to sleep under the same roof, for me to be able to tuck my kids in at night, to make them breakfast, keep them safe, tell them I love them. You gave me a gift I will never take for granted.