I just completed a form to volunteer to be a CASA, or a Court Appointed Special Advocate.
A CASA is a volunteer who is appointed by a family court judge, and then connects with a foster child’s parents and foster parents and teachers and doctors, but most importantly, with the child. The purpose of a CASA is to be a voice for the child. Often CASAs become close with the kids they work with, and become the most consistent face when a kid is moved around a lot within the system.
In my 8 1/2 years as a foster parent I’ve never worked with a CASA. Hell, in my 1 1/2 years as an Attorney for the Child I never worked with a CASA. I should have. Some of the teens I worked with as an attorney especially needed a CASA.
Seth and I are done fostering for myriad reasons. Among the reasons are that Seth needs a safe, consistent, calm home given his sometimes traumatic and always demanding job. And our daughter needs to not be saying goodbye to other kids – it’s so hard on her. She’s also vulnerable, and I don’t want her exposed to behaviors she hasn’t had to encounter. Plus, I’m getting older and have little stamina with my medical issues and can’t chase after littles anymore.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t stay involved with vulnerable kids touched by the system.
I’m not sure what this journey is going to be like. I need to limit my volunteerism to just a couple of kids – I can’t take on a ton. But I’m comfortable in advocating for kids in court, and absolutely love meeting the amazing kids who get caught up in the system. This seems like it will involve both things.
I’m excited to start on this new stage!
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