CASA Volunteer Spotlight: From Babies To College Students

During her initial CASA training, Lea W.’s class was discussing a current case that by all accounts was heart-wrenching and one of the more complicated cases in the program. Little did Lea know it at the time, but that case would soon become her introduction to the complex, but rewarding work of a CASA.

“The mom was severely cognitively impaired and couldn’t understand what was going on,” Lea explained. “I had to figure out a way to earn her trust and to explain to her in a way she would understand how she could keep her family together, that we were all just trying to help."

Abuse and neglect are the dark side of life CASAS deal with and four children ages 4 to 14 were experiencing this first-hand. After working with the family for weeks, the case was about to close. Lea was with some of the children on what was expected to be their last interaction when one of the children offered some new information that sent off warning bells in Lea. Coupled with the behavioral changes she noticed in one of the children, Lea was concerned something new was going on. Her knowledge of the children and her ability to get them to open up to her changed the course of their lives. It also changed what happened in court. Lea presented the new information in court, a positive solution was brokered and, eventually, the case was closed.

"It was then that I said, 'This is why I'm doing this.' Without a CASA, the abuse would have continued to happen and nobody would have understood how or why," Lea continued.

During this case, Lea learned she was pregnant and, due to complications, was put on bed-rest as the case was ending. Now the mom of a happy, healthy baby boy, she is still committed to giving what spare time she can make available to the CASA program. Recently, she was asked to take on the case of a youth who was a freshman in college and in need of a mentor. Lea’s personality, schedule and proficiency in researching doctors, groups and other resources made her a perfect choice for the assignment.

"It was such a change to go from

a situation where

you're scared to death of what will happen to a child

to a situation where you can say,

'It's ok. They just need a little

follow-through.'"

“Sometimes I’m like a sister, sometimes I’m like a mom,” she explained. “This is awesome."

Though she’s in college and has other adults in her life, Lea says her youth welcomes her guidance. “She just says to me, ‘You’re one more mentor to help me get to where I need to be. That can never hurt.”’