A young boy with shaving cream on his face while watching his father shave in the bathroom mirror.

Harnish Foundation Creates a Lasting Impact with Family Law CASA

Discover the lasting impact that Harnish Foundation created including a story about a special little boy.

Want To Know More? Continue Reading

Heartfelt Thanks to Harnish Foundation for Their Essential Support

Family Law CASA extends our heartfelt thanks to the Harnish Foundation whose multi-year grant commitment has been essential to the work of our program team. Their support helped to provide free legal child advocacy services to over 150 low-income children in custody cases with serious safety concerns.

Harnish Foundation’s Impact: Key Achievements in the Past Year

With the Harnish Foundation, Family Law CASA accomplished the following in the last 12 months:

  • Supported 168 children in 168 cases, closing 57 of them.
  • Submitted 90 Safe Plan reports.
  • Participated in 27 trials, 22 mediations, and 70 hearings.
  • Helped 38.5% of families settle out of court.
  • Onboarded and retained 133 volunteer CASAs.

Jeffrey Vasquez smiling while standing in front of a quilt in the Family Law CASA office. The quilt was a gift representing the work Family Law CASA does.

Meet Jeffrey Vasquez: Advocate Supervisor Supported by Harnish Foundation

Jeffrey Vasquez is one of our dedicated Advocate Supervisors. Jeffrey handles about 30 cases at a time, guiding volunteer CASAs (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) through:

  1. Investigation: Reviewing documents and conducting interviews.
  2. Safe Plan Reports: Recommending custody schedules and services.
  3. Court Proceedings: Preparing to potentially testify in court to support children’s best interests.

Jeffrey values his work in the advocacy process, as it allows him to assist children and families during crucial times in their lives. Seeing parents reflect on their actions and collaborate for their children’s well-being is one of the most gratifying aspects of his work. Jeffrey also values the diversity and dedication of all the volunteer CASAs—who contribute 75-150 hours each to support these children and families.

Josh’s Journey: A Success Story Thanks to Harnish Foundation Support

With the support of the Harnish Foundation, Family Law CASA can help children like Josh. Josh was a five-year-old boy who reported physical and sexual abuse by his older stepbrother. The parties in this case also reported substance abuse by his father and neglect by his mother.

After a thorough investigation from an advocate under Jeffrey’s supervision, Family Law CASA’s recommendations were changing Josh’s mental health provider to one specialized in childhood trauma, suggesting separate rooms for the boy with increased supervision, and finding a qualified professional for the stepbrother’s evaluation—which confirmed a low risk of recurring abuse.

Josh is a truly resilient child. He adapted well to living with his father while the investigation took place. By the end of the 18-month case, he had been with his father for over 1.5 years and was doing well in both homes. In the meantime, his mother showed commitment by ensuring Josh’s safety and following court orders, including the separate rooms and installing cameras. Ultimately, both parents were suitable, and Family Law CASA provided the court with substantial information to decide whether Josh should live primarily with his mother or father.

The court acknowledged the complex nature of the case and the vital role of CASA in protecting Josh’s well-being. Josh is now back with his mother, with weekend visits and shared summer custody with his father, ensuring a stable and supportive environment.

Harnish Foundation: Mission to Empower and Impact Lives

Established in Seattle in 2005 by the Harnish family, the Harnish Foundation aims to support non-profits that empower individuals to take charge of their well-being. They strongly believe in enriching the lives of these individuals by giving back to their communities. With the continued support of the Harnish Foundation, we are exploring new ways to help our community, such as:

  • Adding a social work function for resource navigation.
  • Offering parenting skills classes.
  • Advocating for family law system reforms.
  • Providing direct legal aid.

Learn more about Harnish Foundation at harnishfoundation.org.

Be a part of our mission to transform lives. Watch our video featuring inspiring stories from our dedicated Volunteer CASAs and see firsthand the difference you can make.

Disclaimer: The names and precise ages in this story have been changed to protect the privacy and safety of the individuals involved.