David Bridgwater
1. What made you become a CASA?
We decided to become CASA because we have 5 daughters and 21 grandchildren. Three of our daughters have and are serving as foster parents. We also have friends at our church who serve as CASA and have discussed their experience with them. We simply determined that this is a way in which we could become involved and possibly make a difference.
2. What is your professional/ volunteer background?
I am a retired dentist. We participated in medical missions to Zambia for 15 years from 2002 through 2016. We have hosted 10 foreign exchange students in our home. When our daughters were in the Arlington Public schools I served on several citizen committees for the ISD.
3. What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming a CASA?
Do it NOW. Too many children need help to not get involved
4. What has been the most challenging part of being a CASA?
We have a family of 4 children. Initially they were in 2 different placements 60 mile apart. This quickly became 3 different placements. Then there were the multiple hospitalizations for the boys. Just keeping up with visits as we were just introducing ourselves to the children and letting them know we would always be there for them. Now the boys are all in a RTC together but that is more than a two hour drive away. We still try to make as many meetings as we can.
5. What has been the most rewarding part of being a CASA?
Watching the children finally connect with us. Seeing the look on their faces when we arrive for a visit.
6. Please share a special moment with us about your advocacy work with your CASA kid or on your case? When we made our first trip to the RTC we were able to spend most of the day with the boys. They introduced us to everyone they saw as "this is my CASA". Their behavior was great and we were able to really talk to them to help them understand what they needed to do to get home. Our CPS specialist told us that once, when we were unable to attend a meeting, our little girl asked her "where are the other two?". We believe they are all finally understanding that we are on their side and want the best for them.
7. Why did you decide to work a case together and how has it helped you to be successful?
After my retirement we wanted to get involved in service together. Our medical mission work was always together and it just seems natural to continue our service together. Having seen this case I can not imagine doing this alone. We are able to discuss things and make better recommendations than if we were not together.
Karan Bridgwater
1. What made you decide to become a CASA?
We have three daughters who did foster care and 2 of our 21 grandchildren are adopted. We know the urgent need for support for families in crisis.
2. What is your professional/ volunteer background?
I, Karan, have been a special education teacher, tutor and camp director with many opportunities to interact with children and their families.
3. What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming a CASA?
I would advise anyone thinking of advocacy to step up now, have a partner to work with, and prepared to be changed.
4. What has been the most challenging part of being a CASA?
The most challenging part of advocacy is working with multiple children in multiple placements and multiple agencies all at one time. Being limited in our ability to affect wholesale change and accepting that baby steps are reasonable contributions to the future of these children is a big challenge.
5. What has been the most rewarding part of being a CASA?
Seeing how the children have come to appreciate our consistent and reliable presence had been rewarding. To see the relief and comfort in their faces when we appear is a joy.
6. Please share a special moment with us about your advocacy work with your CASA kid or on your case?
A very special moment for me was when I saw the the results of constant, consistent, structured care open up a child who only cursed, acted out, was constantly moved or removed from place to place. When he started looking me in the eye, taking my hand, trusting me and chattering non- stop, my heart was so full.
7. Is there anything else you would like to add about yourself or the CASA experience?
I have been given much in the way of family, stability and love, and I really want to pass that on.
8. Why did you decide to work a case together and how has it helped you to be successful?
We work together to support each other and because "a pleasure shared is a pleasure multiplied and a difficulty shared is a difficulty divided". We want vey much to model a stable relationship to kids who may never have seen or experienced. We also realize that some children will relate better to either a make or a female figure in their lives.
CAS Shelly Louis says, “They are currently on their first case with 4 children. They both have been amazing in ensuring that the all the children on their case are receiving the appropriate services. They were essential in helping get much needed counseling for one of the children, after stepping up and expressing their concerns in court. They have traveled outside of Tarrant County for visits and ensure that they are available for service plan meetings. They have developed fantastic working relationships with case managers, foster parents, the ad litem, and CPS on this case.”