This month, in honor of National Foster Care Month, we are highlighting our Family Finder Team of CASA volunteers!
GAIL SCOTT
What made you decide to join the CASA Family Finders team? As a retired paralegal, I have a background in research and felt I could bring some special skills to the table. I also wanted to be a part of finding connections for children in need.
What has been the most rewarding part of being a family finder? For me, the most rewarding part of being a family finder is locating relatives and/or others that have a real interest and are willing to be a part of a child's life.
Please share a special moment with us about your family finding work. Through my family finding work, I was able to reconnect with a former foster mom and respite caregiver who was excited to learn that a special little girl is in need of permanency, to which she responded, "Oh I hope it's me!"
Why do you think finding family is important for foster children? Family finding is important for foster children because it is critical for children to have a sense of family and culture.
CRYSTAL BURNS
What made you decide to join the CASA Family Finders team? I am extremely interested in being a social worker and furthering my education within. I love learning all sides of the operation and how I can contribute. Everyone deserves to be set up for success and hardships are way more common than not. We could all use support.
What has been the most rewarding part of being a family finder? Well, I just started but I presume that it will be the ability to connect dots and family connections so the kiddos can stay within their family and have familiarity.
Please share a special moment with us about your family finding work. I haven't had one just yet, but I feel hope while doing the work. Hope that these kiddos will be okay in the end.
Why do you think finding family is important for foster children? Social Workers are stacked with cases. They need as much support as they can get. If someone can help them do some ground work and truly have the children's best interest at heart and spot things that the social worker could have overseen due to their workload - I am more than willing to do that. It takes a village. We as humans and social workers do not want to treat any case as a case number. They are children in need of support. Due to the demand it is hard to reflect that at times. I find it incredibly important for everyone involved and invested.
LORA WEAVER
What made you decide to join the CASA Family Finders team? When Chuck Gilliatt spoke in my CASA training and told us about Family Finder I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. I can't imagine not having any relatives or friends willing to take me, so if there was anything I could do to help find relatives or family friends willing to take children and give them a loving home I was happy to jump on board.
What has been the most rewarding part of being a family finder? Because I've just been given my first case it's still too early to tell, but I'm sure the reward will be being able to find someone to take the children on my case.
Why do you think finding family is important for foster children? I think Family Finding is important because it's another resource for being able to help children who otherwise would remain in the foster care system. Family Finding allows us the opportunity to find relatives or known associates who are willing and able to provide a loving home. Finding permanent caretakers also lets the child know they are loved and there is someone who cares for them and wants the best for them.
JAMES GIBSON
What made you decide to join the CASA Family Finders team? I decided to join the CASA Family Finders team because there is such a need to find relatives who would take the kids instead of long term foster care.
What has been the most rewarding part of being a family finder? The most rewarding part of being a member of this team is finding family that would take the child and give them family support and love.
Please share a special moment with us about your family finding work. A special moment was when I was able to find a whole family of relatives that could be possible permanent future placements even though the parents said they had no other relatives.
Why do you think finding family is important for foster children? I feel very strongly that every child needs a family that they can be identified with. We never want any child to feel that no one wants them or loves them.