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Ardis Lo
CASA
Ardis Lo took on the case of a teenage runaway - and ended up with a
chicken.
October's CASA of the Month, Ardis Lo, remembers with both pain and
sadness the case of a teen that was a habitual runaway and left her
16th placement in a year, only to hang out at a local library. "She
has a habit of running when she gets upset," the CASA recounted.
"A woman who worked at the library felt sorry for her, and took her
home," Artis says, but it was deemed not to be a suitable placement
for the child, and one day, the woman was just not there. The teen
called Ardis, who immediately went to pick her up, and discovered the
teen had purchased a live young chicken from a street vendor and was
carrying it around in her purse.
"I think she was looking for something to love and attach to," said
Ardis, who took the chicken home. "Of course she couldn't take it to
her next placement, so I kept the chicken inside in a big box for two
weeks."
Ardis said her husband was not pleased with the new bird resident, and
she began to look for another home for the chicken, connecting with a
vet who helped her place the chicken at a farm.
The teenager is now in a residential treatment center and will be on
her own when she turns 18 shortly. She and Ardis remain in touch.
"I love kids," the CASA says. "So many kids don't have emotional
support at home and see things that are not for children's eyes. I
want to be there to give them that support."
A CASA since 2006, Ardis has three active cases and has had a total of
five. She found CASA through the Internet search engine Google when
she was looking for a way to help "defenseless things." She admits to
a soft spot for children, the elderly and animals.
Ardis has two children of her own, 2 and 4, and uses running as stress
relief. She runs at least 4 times a week, and has participated in half
marathons.
Angela Coleman, casework supervisor, says "Ardis knows more about her
cases then anybody else. She testifies well and is always prepared.
She has impressed many attorneys by knowing all answers to a case when
asked." Angela said of her CASA "Ardis is great, kind; she listens
well and takes redirection."
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