3 minute read
Vital Volunteers
Helping hold together the lives of Coastal Bend youth
By: SAMANTHA KOEPP-STEMPLINGER
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Following is a passage by D. Scott Elliff, Ed.D., a CASA volunteer who outlines his experiences as an advocate for children in the Coastal Bend
Throughout my career as a public educator, I was always aware of the challenges faced by children in the foster care system and had long admired the role that CASA volunteers played in the lives of those students. From time to time over the years, I considered becoming a CASA myself, but was unable to do so due to existing work and volunteer commitments.
Once I retired, the time seemed right to make my move! The application process was thorough, which I appreciated. The training was comprehensive, too! Beyond receiving valuable information that would help me in my new role, friendships and a sense of community developed with other volunteers and the very capable and professional CASA staff, for which I’ve been very grateful.
Once I was assigned to my first case, I knew that I had made the right decision! After many years of volunteerism through nonprofit boards, the opportunity to “go deep” and provide direct assistance to children in need was a blessing. More than any volunteer role I’ve had in the past, I can see that I’m making a difference as a CASA volunteer.
When I am asked what it’s like to be a CASA volunteer, I try to shift the conversation to what it’s like for the children to be in foster care – that’s the real question. For the children, it’s like an earthquake – a terrible, shaking upheaval, perhaps even a giant crack in the ground that they fear falling into. Everything in their world is shaken. Their relationships, their physical home, all their school friends, doctors, dentists and counselors change overnight.
To make matters worse, there are aftershocks with placement changes,
CASA OF THE COASTAL BEND has been selected to participate in the Coastal Bend Day of Giving, a 24-hour online opportunity on Nov. 10 for the community to give to 50 selected charities. Up to $20,000 of donations for each charity will be matched by private funders. Please visit www.coastalbenddayofgiving.org for more information.
new caseworkers and an unknown cast of adult characters assigned to the case who seem to change every week and have many other cases to manage.
My first case involved a sibling group: two sisters and their two younger brothers. They had experienced considerable instability in their short lives, but had not lost their joy! By maintaining regular contact with them, their foster “families,” teachers and counselors, I could see firsthand the important role that CASAs play as the “linchpins” that hold together the many moving parts of the foster care experience.
I quickly realized that I was the only consistent adult relationship the children had during the entire time they were in foster care, up until they were successfully placed with relatives and the case was closed.
I am now on my fourth case. Some days are hard, but the deep satisfaction I receive when I see a smile or just hear a sigh of relief when I see the children makes it all worthwhile. I’ve never regretted making the decision to be a CASA!
–D. Scott Elliff, Ed.D.
Since 1992, hundreds of local advocates have helped thousands of children from our community. Unfortunately, with the overwhelming number of children entering foster care, last year, over 700 foster children from the Coastal –D. SCOTT ELLIFF, ED.D.
Bend did not have a CASA to be their voice. Currently, there are close to 200 children waiting for a CASA. We need more volunteers.
To learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer, attend a 45-minute, non-committal virtual CASA information session held via Zoom every Wednesday at 12 p.m. For more information, visit our website, www.coastalbendcasa.org, or our Facebook page (@coastalbendcasa).
