This summer, we’re rolling out something new at Henrico CASA: a film review series that dives into stories reflecting the heart of our mission. Our team will be sharing their takes on movies that spotlight the realities, challenges, and resilience we witness in our work with children and families. Each film – unique like every case we serve – serves as a reminder of why children need CASA Advocates… and why CASA needs YOU. So grab some popcorn and join us!
This week, Stacy from our team shares her reflections on Losing Isaiah.
Losing Isaiah is about Isaiah, an African American baby, abandoned by his drug addicted mother while the mother is deep into her addiction. Isaiah is found and taken to a hospital. One of the hospital staff members who works with Isaiah is a white social worker. Her husband and she eventually adopt Isaiah. Several years later, the baby’s mother who has gone through substance treatment and has been clean for some time, finds out Isaiah is not dead, as the biological mother had assumed for all the past years. The biological mother goes to court to regain custody of Isaiah.
Reflections
I watched this movie a long time ago when I was in college getting my undergraduate degree in psychology. When I originally viewed this movie, the deep societal issues and struggles were lost on me. Rewatching it for this blog looking through the lens of my work at CASA was impactful.
The film explores the complexities regarding the definition of family, the impact of addiction on families particularly children, and the challenges of the foster care system. As both mothers fight for Isaiah, the story delves into themes of love, loss, and the difficult choices that define family.
As I was watching the movie, I spent a lot of time thinking about what Isaiah’s case would look like if CASA was involved. What would CASA have said was in the best interest of the child? The movie never clearly states the best interest of the child, but rather shows the flaws and strengths of both the biological mother and foster parents. This leaves much ambiguity when determining where Isaiah should eventually reside, but in my opinion, that is one of the best parts of the movie. It shines a light on the fact that lost and struggling parents can be redeemed and deserving of their children, and non-traditional families can sometimes be the best place for a child. As CASA’s we often make difficult recommendations that in the end we hope are truly in the best interest of the child, but that is not always an easy recommendation.
In my opinion, one of the most profound themes of Losing Isaiah is the power of love. A stranger stepping in to care for a child in need, a biological mother clawing her way out of addiction to be better for her child, mothers fighting for their child, and ultimately parents willing to put all their pain aside and put the child first.
