CASA of NH sees many different kinds of cases. Here are a few examples of CASA of NH stepping in to help Broken babies. As 2006 became 2007, New Hampshire experienced an epidemic of egregious infant abuse.

» A 12-week old baby girl was found to have 32 broken, twisted, and crushed bones allegedly at the hand of her 25-year old father, while 17-year old mom failed to protect the baby.
» A 4-month old was discovered to have a dozen broken bones (both legs, an arm, ribs, etc.) of varying stages of healing, also probably inflicted by a parent.
» A 20-month old girl was confirmed to have been sexually molested.
» A 16-week old came to the attention of medical personnel with broken bones and serious bruising around his face and neck by, as yet, an unnamed perpetrator.
» A set of infants was determined to have suffered severe parental neglect when their parent left them with multiple caretakers, suitable or not, for long periods of time over the course of their young lives.

These are horrendous ways to begin life. CASA is often called by the court to represent tiny, victimized babies and CASA's magnificent volunteers jump into positive action.

In one case, the medical staff realized that, even with so many injuries, the infant never cried. A doctor explained that the little boy had already had to learn a self-preservation technique. Every time he cried and annoyed his parents, he was squeezed, twisted, yanked or hit; so he stopped doing what is perfectly natural for a baby to do, cry.

In the hospital, the silent baby recoiled when touched by anyone. Of course, touch meant harm to him. The medical staff taught the CASA/GAL to hold the baby lightly on a giant, soft pillow and gradually to touch him with one gentle finger and, then, two and so forth until the infant relearned what human contact could lovingly mean. Several weeks later in the safety of a great foster home, the CASA/GAL reported that she first heard the baby cry -- in this case, sweet music! He instinctively knew he was secure.

Co-worker call. A factory worker probably saved the life of an emotionally battered 17-year old boy when she called the authorities to report that she believed a co-worker was abusing his son by withholding food for days and even punching him in the face with force enough to break his cheek bone. If she had delayed until the boy turned 18, state child welfare authorities would have been powerless. Instead, a CASA/GAL had the opportunity to change the course of this young man's life and he will soon be heading to community college.

Hope in the Waiting. Children who are involved in the child protection and court systems can feel conflicted, confused, unspeakably humiliated, and uncertain of their future. Despite being bullied and sexually battered by incompetent parents and their friends, one teenager named Katie said about the day she was removed from her home, "Go figure. It was the longest, saddest day of my life, but at least I don't have to live it over again ... ever. At least now maybe I can go on with my life."

Katie hoped the struggle was over; but she didn't anticipate the months it would take to legally sort everything out. Without a clear strong voice to speak for her in court, she runs the risk of being reduced to a docket number. Without a well-trained advocate who really listens to her fears and dreams and brings her story back to the judge, Katie might not have any input regarding her own future. Ann, Katie's CASA/GAL, will be there on all the good days and all the difficult ones ... until Katie is in a safe, permanent home.

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