A deep dive with Family Engagement Specialist, Sarah, into what we mean by “Family Finding.”
Who's in your circle?
That’s the question our Family Finding team sets out to answer for the children we serve. And oftentimes, that answer isn’t always clear and requires digging deeper to discover those connections.
Identifying the Clues
Establishing the family tree starts in more places than you may think—databases, reviewing past and current case files, talking with parents—and once we gather clues about potential leads, then that’s where…
The Search Begins
So, how do we find them? It’s not just one simple Google search.
Our Family Finding team combs through online databases, reviews obituaries, searches and messages on Facebook, and makes countless phone calls — using any available resource to turn over every stone and help piece together a child’s family tree. One of our volunteers even turned to genealogy and ancestry to uncover more connections of relatives that had completely disappeared!
Why the Need?
As a former CPS investigator, Sarah’s answer comes back to the very thing that led us to create this program: there is a gap in an overburdened system that needs to be filled.
“Because of how little resources there are… and how quickly the legal process moves, a lot of times, there’s no time to go around and ask relatives if they can take the kids or even inform them that the case is going on — [or] sit on Facebook for 3 hours and identify who all these people are.”
And that’s where we come in.
Results Found
Engaging these relatives or fictive kin doesn’t necessarily mean they have to become a placement option right away. Instead, it’s about meeting them where they are. “It doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing thing.”
This could look like writing letters, sending birthday cards, attending milestone celebrations, making phone calls, or setting up visits — anything that reinforces that familial connection.
From there, we continue working with the family members and other legal parties involved in the case to ensure those connections remain intact.
“But Surely They Would Have Been Involved if They Had Wanted To“
Busting the Misconception
Not necessarily. “In a lot of cases, the relatives don’t even know the case is going on.” And once they find out, most want to get involved in some way.
In one case, one side of the family wanted more information from the other. “Everybody had thought..[that] side of the family doesn’t want anything to do with these kids. They’re not interested.... but as soon as we were able to get in touch with them… they were like oh my gosh we have been waiting for this call.”
Every connection matters. That’s why our Family Finding program exists. Because one connection can often lead to another, strengthening not only a child’s family tree, but also the community they’ll be able to lean on long after CASA exits this chapter of their life.
Interested in becoming a CASA volunteer? Submit your volunteer interest form here.
