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While standing around waiting for
all parties to show up for a shelter care hearing, the CASA
staff member who was attending the shelter care hearing talked with the
Summit County Children Services caseworker and a family relative of the
involved child. The family relative was a cousin and had placement of the
involved child after the intervention of Children Services. The caseworker
commented that the cousin had previously been involved with Juvenile Court
and Children Services; The caseworker turned to the cousin and urged her to
tell her story. The cousin relayed that
she had been a “minor Mom” She was pregnant at 14 years of age, not doing
well in school and had little family support. Children Services and Juvenile
Court became involved with her and her family. The cousin stated that when
her son was born, she was determined not to have him live like she was
living. The cousin finished high school after the birth of her son, then
enrolled in college in a registered nurse bachelor’s program. The cousin’s
family (parents included) belittled her for trying to reach her goals. The
cousin took ten years from the time of pregnancy to reach her graduation from
college, but she did it! The cousin stated that, if not for the encouragement
of Juvenile Court and Children Services, she would have not been able to
reach her goal.
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