What made you decide to become a CASA? Being an educator my entire career, kids are my heart. When you hear that there is a need in your community, and that need involves the well-being of kids, you do whatever you can to help.
What is your professional/ volunteer background? After 30 years in public education, I retired, completed my doctorate, and am currently an adjunct faculty member at Dallas Baptist University, along with doing some educational consulting and teaching remote English II for Keller ISD. I was a CASA previously in Parker County, where I eventually served 3 years on the Board of Directors before moving to Tarrant County.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming a CASA? Always have an open heart and an open notebook. The open heart will help you know what is best for the children in your cases, and the open notebook will keep you organized when you are talking with all the people in the children’s lives.
What has been the most challenging part of being a CASA? When I was sworn in, the pandemic was just beginning and everything had to be virtual. I thought that would be challenging because I knew what it was like to have those in person relationships. However, it has been the opposite. I feel like I am closer to my kids because, even though I can’t hug them, I see them more often and our virtual interactions can be deep, fun, silly, or spontaneous. One of my kids called to thank me for sending him and his brother Thanksgiving cards. I told him that we needed to FaceTime soon. As soon as I said it, he had already hit the FaceTime button and he was taking me around his house showing me the Christmas trees they had just put up! And yes, I said “trees”. There were seven in all!
What has been the most rewarding part of being a CASA? Knowing that what we are all doing for these kids is making a difference in their lives. Our goal is to advocate for them and help their lives to be richer and more fulfilled, but that is exactly what they do for us without even trying.
Please share a special moment with us about your advocacy work with your CASA kid or on your case? I have two cases right now with six kids total, so there are so many special moments. The most recent one just happened 5 minutes ago. My oldest kid called and said, “Did you hear?!” (She had just found out that a foster family had been found for her.) We practically cried and laughed together about it, because we were both so excited. When I realized that she was supposed to be in school, I asked her how she was calling me. “I couldn’t wait to tell you, so the school counselor let me call.” Yes, it’s those moments…
Is there anything else you would like to add about yourself or the CASA experience? I also appreciate the support we have at CASA of Tarrant County. If I need anything or have a question, I know that my supervisor, Jennifer Parker, will lead me in the right direction. It’s knowing there is always someone you can go to for support or advice that makes all the difference.
How have you been able to connect with your CASA kids during this time of quarantine? How are you advocating for them during this time? How has it impacted the children on your case? During this crazy pandemic, my kids and I use Zoom, FaceTime, or Google Duo. I always ask the foster families what works best for them. Each of the foster parents are great about finding time for me to visit virtually with the kids. Many times, they get on the Zoom before I visit with the kids. It really helps us to touch base on how the kids are doing and if there are any issues that I need to know about. It’s also a time for me to share with them the conversations I’ve had with teachers, counselors, speech therapists, etc. Everyone is working together in the best interests of the kids at all times. Now, we just have to do it virtually.