KIM GENO
STANDING IN THE GAP FOR CHILDREN
“I hadn’t seen a smile like that in a long time,” said CASA Kim Geno, referring to one of her CASA children at home with the foster family. “You could tell the child had finally relaxed—shoulders down, no darting of the eyes or looking over my shoulder. It had taken months. There was a lot of trauma. But I can see that a stable home life has made a difference.”
A Heart for Hope
Mama Kim (as her CASA kids call her) knows what child trauma looks like, and recognizes the importance of children feeling safe in their surroundings. In this case, a sibling group had been removed from yet another home under unfortunate circumstances. The response: fear and disengagement.
“Even though they were moved for their own safety and well-being, they were literally petrified of anyone official who might disrupt them,” she shared. “Night terrors, acting out…I couldn’t just show up business as usual for my CASA visit and risk causing more stress. It didn’t matter that I have no power or authority over them; they were traumatized and afraid. We had to take it slow,” she said.
The foster family suggested first reconnecting with a phone call. So, Kim greeted them on speaker, asked if they remembered her, described some of the things they’d done together, and then appealed for a visit. They agreed. “I really appreciated giving the children some control over the decision,” she said. “This is a great example of how adults in a case can work together in the child’s best interest.”
A Journey of Trust
In another case, Kim advocated for a sibling group that was separated, with just one of the kids placed outside the home. “It was a logistics challenge, but we made it work to solve the immediate problem [stop the abuse]. But much damage was already done,” she said. Kim spent several years with the family, and even with the case closed, remains in contact and continues to champion the kids—and their parents—through success and ongoing hardship.
“I see things simmer in children. Sometimes hurts and wounds from months or even years prior suddenly reappear,” she explained. Episodic memories can present later in destructive behavior, indicating post-traumatic stress. “It’s hard on everyone. But what would you expect—that [the child] just forgets?” she recalled asking the parent.
It’s that type of compassion and straight-forwardness, coupled with her CASA training, that has helped Kim forge meaningful relationships with her CASA children and families. She tells it like it is, bringing comfort, care, consistency—and a wonderful lightness of heart—to every case.
Behind Kim’s easy laugh is a smart, committed volunteer who takes extra steps to see the whole picture. This ensures the fullest understanding of the child’s circumstance and includes engaging the family (foster and/or biological), in addition to caseworkers and teachers, to help her advocate successfully.
First, The Child
Most of all, though, her priority is the children. Interacting with them on their level, talking with them about video games or new hair styles—whatever they want—to help them relax and have fun. “I look for spontaneous utterances. Those are the most useful in my reporting to the judge,” she explained. “But often kids are taught that it’s safer to be quiet—that if they speak up they’ll be knocked down with a spanking or reprimand. So, I just let them do their thing.”
CASA training prepared Kim that she won’t always get those direct answers. “Every visit doesn’t have to produce some milestone or gem of knowledge,” she said. “I’m there to make sure the child is safe, well and healthy, and if there’s anything they need or want, I get that message across to the judge.”
Through it all—child visits, court hearings, teacher meetings, parent texts, report-writing and more—the hurt continually intersects with hope. This was honestly revealed during a recent interaction with a child who had, sadly, been placed in a different home than the siblings. This time, all smiles, and pretty darned proud, the child showed off the new digs while Kim took in the moment with optimism and awe.