Story of Hope: Matthew
October Advocate Impact Story
Matthew first came to the attention of CPS at the age of nine, due to his mother’s unaddressed mental health issues and drug use. Matthew was diagnosed with autism, and though verbal, was very introverted and seldom spoke unless he was comfortable. CPS attempted to work with his mother through Family Based Safety Services however, his mother continued to test positive for drugs and was disruptive at Matthew’s school. She showed up at the relative caregiver’s home, disrupted their routine and posed a threat to the caregiver. This led to the legal removal of Matthew into CPS’s care.
Enter CASA advocate Joanna Skidmore. Joanna immediately sought ways to make a connection with this child that already has difficulties connecting with the world. She learned that he enjoyed trains, puzzles, stuffed teddy bears and watching movies. During the Christmas holiday, Joanna obtained a wooden train which she and Matthew were able to paint together, which he loved. On some visits, they would just sit and watch movies together, and Matthew slowly became so comfortable with her presence, that he would sit next to her closely.
Prior to the COVID-19 protocols, Joanna would visit with Matthew at least once in the home but also observed the bi-monthly parent/child visits that were supervised at the CPS offices. She was able to observe the changes in Matthew mother’s interactions with him. Once his mother participated in parenting classes for autism, she began the fully understand her child’s needs.
Once the COVID-19 protocols began, Joanna found ways to continue to connect to this special child. She would drop off popsicles at his home, and then arrange Face-Time chats so that they could eat their popsicles together. Joanna understood that Face-time chats were difficult for Matthew. He had begun to struggle with virtual school during the day, without the benefit of hands-on assistance he normally had in school. Joanna created a routine with Matthew that she maintained during each visit, whether in-person or virtual. She asked him three questions. The questions would vary depending on his behaviors that day, or if a parent/child visit would take place but one question always remained the same, “What do you need?” Matthew came to rely on Joanna for her patience and her willingness to allow him to be comfortable in his own space. Her questions were always open-ended and he responded openly and honestly. He’d tell her about his day, the reasons he may have acted out, what he was feeling. He told Joanna about his visits with his parents and his likes and dislikes. This extremely introverted child, who is diagnosed with autism, found someone who was able to connect with him and continue the connection, despite no longer being able to see each other in person.
Eventually Matthew’s mother became stable enough that he was placed back into her home. The court granted Permanent Managing Conservatorship to Matthew’s grandmother, with whom his mother lived. Thank you, Joanna, for the lasting impacts you have made by patiently connecting with Matthew, listening to his needs, and advocating for his best interests!
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
