Police were called to the Espinoza house when neighbors reported that the parents were running around in the street screaming about being chased. Neighbors were concerned about the five children living in the home. Police arrived and the Espinozas were taken by ambulance to the hospital where they tested positive for methamphetamines.
Their five children, Angelina, 15, Anthony, 10, twins Adella and Adriana, 7, and Alana, 1, needed someone to take care of them. Child Protective Services moved them to their grandmother’s home a few blocks away.
As their parents confronted their drug use and worked on their parenting skills, the Espinoza children were assigned a CASA volunteer, Robin, to look out for what they needed and help the court decide if the children could return home. Robin began visiting them regularly, getting to know them and their grandmother.
As the case went on, Robin observed the living conditions in the children’s grandmother’s home deteriorate. The home had always been cluttered, but soon trash and clothing were piled in so many places that there were only a few clear paths around the home.
At Robin’s next visit, a window in the house was broken and some sheetrock was missing from the walls.
At the next visit, the children complained they had been unable to bathe because the hot water had been turned off. Also, a truancy report was called in on Angelina, who told CASA she’d been unable to attend school because she had to stay home with her baby sister. After each visit, Robin notified CPS about her concerns.
The next month, the CASA volunteer received a call from Angelina, who was crying and said their grandmother had not fed the children all day. She was scared and hungry. Robin and her supervisor notified police and the children were moved to an aunt’s house for the evening. They showered, ate, washed their clothes and slept.
Throughout the case, Robin observed the children’s parents working very hard. They had six months’ worth of negative drug tests. They had started helping grandma with the children, bringing diapers for Alana and helping around the house. As the children’s grandmother began to struggle with medical and mental health issues, the parents grew concerned about the conditions in the home and the grandmother’s ability to care for them. The parents were anxious to bring the children home.
At the next court hearing, Robin advocated that the children be reunited with their parents. After reviewing reports from Robin’s visits, hearing from CPS and attorneys on the case, the judge agreed and the children were reunited with their parents.
Since the children went home, Angelina has only missed one day of school. The kids don’t go without hot water or food. Their parents are working hard to maintain sobriety. And they sought necessary mental health treatment for the children’s grandmother. With CASA by their side, the Espinoza children are safe and protected.
