LRS Stories:

Cassie

When Cassie was three, she was found in a car with her incoherent mother.
Cassie’s mother was taken to a psychiatric ward and found to be
homicidal/suicidal, and near death from substance abuse. Cassie’s parents
had been fighting over a piece of jewelry they had stolen; and her father had
smashed the car window to get it. For the seventh time, Cassie’s dad went
to prison, this time for armed robbery….

Cassie was placed in a foster home. Hints of the abuse she had endured
began to emerge. Cassie hoarded food, having been used to only one meal
a day, at best. There was evidence that Cassie’s father and his friends had
sexually abused her on a regular basis. She had medical conditions that
had never been treated. Parental rights were terminated.

Because of her aggression and inability to function in school, Cassie came
to CHS when she was five years old. She had a magnified view of herself
and her ability to control her environment. She required intensive help to
use words instead of aggressive behavior to express he anger. Eventually,
she learned that adults were in charge and would meet her needs. Over
time, she allowed staff to nurture, and care for her. She described her
favorite thing about CHS—“I’m never hungry”.

After two years of intensive therapy and care, Cassie was placed with an
adoptive family in eastern South Dakota. She has a new life, with a new
family, and hope for the future.