Story of Hope: Jeff & Janice Ivey
November Advocate Impact Story
Written By: Jeff & Janice's Advocate Supervisor
In May 2019, a month after Jeff and Janice Ivey became CASA Advocates, they met with their supervisor to discuss what their first case would be. After expressing interest in advocating for a large sibling group, they were placed on a case with six children, ages ranging from 1-13 years old.
Jeff and Janice hit the ground running and immediately began to gather information. At this time, the children were in two different placements. Five were placed at the Children’s Shelter, and one was with his biological father. The Ivey’s visited the children regularly and quickly built a bond with each of them. They maintained contact with the CPS Caseworker, the kids’ Case Manager, the parents, and others who could offer insight to what the children had experienced. Additionally, they obtained all medical, dental, and educational records to review and determine the best way to assist these children.
[Jeff and Janice] maintained contact with the CPS Caseworker, the kids’ Case Manager, the parents, and others who could offer insight to what the children had experienced.
Jeff and Janice recognized the importance of both individual outings with the children as well as smaller sibling visits to allow the children an opportunity to bond with them and with each other. Approximately one month into the case, the CPS Caseworker sent an email to their CASA Supervisor describing the positive impacts they had already made, and what a pleasure it had been to work with Jeff and Janice.
During one visit, Jeff noticed that the little boy living with his father was complaining of back pain. Jeff inquired and soon discovered that the boy did not have a mattress. He had been sleeping on a box spring with a few pillows. Jeff immediately called his CASA Supervisor and together went into action. Within the same week, they were able to find and deliver a gently used twin sized bed with brand new sheets for the boy to sleep on. Jeff was beaming with excitement when he told his Supervisor how thankful the little boy was when he received the bed and expressed how he had “never had a real bed before.” The father of the young boy was equally as thankful. He stated that he was doing the best he could for his son, but that the bed was something that he had not been able to afford.
Jeff inquired and soon discovered that the boy did not have a mattress. He had been sleeping on a box spring with a few pillows.
Meanwhile, the other five children, who had been at the shelter, were now placed in two different foster homes. Jeff and Janice observed that the older girls were drastically behind in their education, and so made sure to provide special care and attention when it was time for the children to attend school. They accompanied all the children when they were being registered at their individual schools, and made it a priority to advocate and secure tutoring for the children. Janice even takes the time to transport the oldest child back and forth each day to the school she was in before entering foster care so she can maintain some normality in her life. They continue to be present at every parent / teacher conference and parental visitation to ensure that the children are never alone.
Jeff and Janice have encouraged these children and have given them hope. The parents have even asked them if they would remain in contact with the family, once permanency has been determined. We are grateful for Jeff and Janice and all they have done and continue to do on behalf of their CASA kids!
Help us provide more Advocates like Jeff and Janice who are willing to go above and beyond to provide a voice for children in foster care.
Fund a Hope
In September 2024, the department first became involved with a family of five following allegations of substance abuse and medical neglect concerning the mother. Child Protective Investigations (CPI) initially sought to keep the family together by implementing a safety plan with fictive kin—a family the mother and children had met during their stay at Haven for Hope. The hope was that this new placement would provide stability for the children while keeping them safely with someone familiar. For a few weeks, it seemed to be working. But on October 29, 2024, the mother told the fictive kin she was going to retrieve her remaining belongings from Haven for Hope—and never returned. From November 2024 through February 2025, CPS continued its efforts to locate her while supporting the kinship placement and meeting the children’s needs. In January 2025, the kinship placement informed the department that she could no longer care for the youngest child, Ava, due to her severe behavioral needs. Faced with these challenges, the department made the difficult decision to file for removal to provide more comprehensive support for the children and the kinship caregivers. Ava was quickly placed in a foster home in February 2025, while her three brothers remained with fictive kin. Around this time, CASA Staff Advocate JoAnn Herring was assigned to the case. By April 2025, safety concerns prompted the immediate removal of the boys. They were placed in an emergency shelter while the department and JoAnn worked tirelessly to explore placing them with their sister in her foster home. Caring for four children is a big ask, especially for new foster parents, but with support from JoAnn and the department, the foster family rose to the challenge. By May 2025, all four siblings were finally reunited under one roof—a first major victory for this family. Even with the siblings together, challenges remained. The children had significant medical and educational needs. Michael, who had experienced medical neglect while in his mother’s care, was diagnosed with Stage 5 chronic kidney disease, requiring frequent doctor visits, hospital stays, and surgery. During these times, JoAnn visited the hospital regularly, offering support and encouragement to both Michael and his foster parents. JoAnn also worked closely with the department and foster family to ensure the other children—Ava, Mateo, and Leo—received the therapeutic and educational support they needed. Through Collaborative Family Engagement meetings, the team created a comprehensive plan addressing the children’s medical, educational, and therapeutic needs, with the goal of preventing placement disruption and ensuring the foster parents felt supported. Today, all four children are enrolled in school with 504 plans in place, and Michael has access to wrap-around medical services—another major triumph. The foster parents now feel confident in their ability to meet the children’s needs, and if the parents remain disengaged, the case may ultimately move toward termination. While that possibility is heartbreaking, the family has a permanent, loving home ready to care for them. Michael, though still facing significant medical challenges, has a strong team advocating for him every step of the way. This story is still unfolding, but it highlights the power of teamwork, advocacy, and dedication in helping children find stability, care, and hope. It’s a reminder of what can be achieved when community, department staff, and CASA advocates go above and beyond to support children and families in need.
Sol Arena Russo
