76 replies to this topic

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

Hey, SacKen, was that your training class that graduated/were sworn in last night?

[SacKen]

Yes. I am now official!

I have to say that training was interesting. One recurring theme that I found throughout the training was that the system and process seem to be a significant majority of the problem. Every class had a theme of having to deal with the hassle of one group that's a part of the system or some part of the process.

It's just so idiotic. We have little control over the parents that have been determined to be unfit to take care of their kids. The system and the process is the one thing we can control. Yet we have one that causes more problems that it seems to cure. The statistics on these poor kids are deplorable! Yet the statistics for the ones that have a CASA are amazing! That alone tells me that small changes to the system can make a huge difference in the outcome.

I found out that Steve is my case manager. I've talked to him a couple of times and he seems to focus a lot on trying to fix the system. I can see myself getting pulled in that direction, too.

It will be an interesting ride!

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

Yes. I am now official!

I have to say that training was interesting. One recurring theme that I found throughout the training was that the system and process seem to be a significant majority of the problem. Every class had a theme of having to deal with the hassle of one group that's a part of the system or some part of the process.

It's just so idiotic. We have little control over the parents that have been determined to be unfit to take care of their kids. The system and the process is the one thing we can control. Yet we have one that causes more problems that it seems to cure. The statistics on these poor kids are deplorable! Yet the statistics for the ones that have a CASA are amazing! That alone tells me that small changes to the system can make a huge difference in the outcome.

I found out that Steve is my case manager. I've talked to him a couple of times and he seems to focus a lot on trying to fix the system. I can see myself getting pulled in that direction, too.

It will be an interesting ride!

Yep, yep, and yep. And Steve is my case manager as well. He's great! I hope we can meet and chat some time.

Oh, and CONGRATULATIONS!

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

There's an orientation tonight for people interested in exploring the volunteer work of a CASA, but it's probably too late to get in to that one. There will be another at Zocalo Restaurant, 1801 Capitol Ave. in Sacramento on Saturday, July 31 at 10:30 a.m. Volunteers from the Hispanic/Latino community are encouraged to attend. For further information and to sign up for the orientation, call Sacramento CASA at (916) 875-6460.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

I've been meaning to write some thoughts about my first experience as a CASA and hope to get to that soon.

In the mean time I'd like to recommend a book for anyone considering this volunteer experience and/or wanting to get better insight into some of the frustrating issues children in the foster care system face. The book is called I Speak for this Child. The author, Gay Courter, writes about her experiences, frustrations and accomplishments as a Guardian ad Litem (some states use the term Court Appointed Special Advocate and others use Guardian ad Litem).

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

I had been asked to post something about my experience as a CASA, so here goes. Obviously I cannot share any specifics that would jeopardize confidentiality.

First let me say that training will be held in March, June and October. For information on attending an orientation to see if you would like to explore being a CASA, contact Kathy@sacramentocasa.org .

I was appointed to my youth's case in April and she was graduating from high school in early June. I had to hit the ground running to get to know her, establish rapport with her foster parent, assess her career interests, connect with her service providers, and explore educational options. She is one of the very, very few lucky ones who would be invited to stay with her foster family following emancipation (thus, following cessation of foster care funding). Youth who emancipate from the system often end up on the street; that's a whole other issue, so I'll stick to my experience. I familiarized her with alternative housing options (and there are very few) so she knew she had options in case of an emergency.

We had been told during training that youth typically connect with their CASAs pretty easily, that they are eager to talk and share. I found that to be true with my youth. While youth typically get bounced from home to home, from social worker to social worker (my youth had 17 workers in four years -- talk about things falling through the cracks), and from school to school, the CASA follows the youth so there is some continuity of relationship, information and service. Social workers and attorneys have huge caseloads, but a CASA, especially a new CASA, will have a caseload of only one youth. When I told my youth on our first meeting that she was the only youth to whom I was responsible she said, "Cool!"

Because I was still recovering from foot surgery, most of our visits centered around sit-down activities such as going for lunch or coffee and taking in a movie. When my youth emancipated a few months ago I offered to continue being her friend and mentor and she accepted. I continue to keep touch a few times a week and we try to visit weekly as well. During our visits we talk about a wide variety of topics, including career, education, job hunting, self-esteem, dating, self-empowerment, birth family, friends, teenage pregnancy, racism, grooming,judging character, favorite movies, favorite music, health, independence, budgeting, professional workplace behavior and attire -- to name just a few. I look for opportunities to coach, mentor, reinforce, praise, and share a different perspective.

I've been to court twice, including attending the youth's emancipation hearing. Typically a CASA will keep monthly logs, write bi-annual reports for hearings, and attend those hearings in case the judge has questions. In between these hearings the CASA can communicate with the foster parent(s), social worker, attorney, teachers, therapist, and Independent Living Program Coordinator regarding any issues that need addressing. I quickly found out that if I didn't ask questions to push the process some of the needed processes just didn't happen. It's sad to say. I understand that county workers are overloaded with cases, but youths pay the price when the ball is dropped or never picked up. I learned as I went, I consulted with my CASA Case Manager, and I made a lot of phone calls.

I'm happy to say my youth has completed the coursework part of a vocational program already and is heading into an externship. She has made Dean's list several times. When she completes this volunteer experience, I'll help her with her job search if they do not offer her a position.

I should be receiving a new case sometime soon, but will continue my relationship with this very special young lady.

That's a quick snapshot. If you have questions about being a CASA, please post them or PM me. There aren't nearly enough CASAs to meet the needs.

[SacKen]

My experience has been a little different so far. Having received my first case in September, I am now awaiting assignment of my third case. The previous two went south before I was really able to establish anything, so I was pulled from both cases within a couple weeks of starting.

It has opened my eyes to how fragile to situation is with these youths. One day everything is going so well. Six months later, not so much. Having a stable connection that, sadly, only a CASA seems to be able/willing to provide, seems to be more important than I ever realized. In both cases, if I had been assigned to the case a few months earlier, the problems most likely would have been avoided.

CASA desperately needs men to volunteer. So many of these young men just need a role model to look up to. Most have never had a male in their life to show them how to become a man. They are typically good kids at heart that just don't know what is expected of them and how to behave during the confusing transition to manhood.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

My experience has been a little different so far. Having received my first case in September, I am now awaiting assignment of my third case. The previous two went south before I was really able to establish anything, so I was pulled from both cases within a couple weeks of starting.

It has opened my eyes to how fragile to situation is with these youths. One day everything is going so well. Six months later, not so much. Having a stable connection that, sadly, only a CASA seems to be able/willing to provide, seems to be more important than I ever realized. In both cases, if I had been assigned to the case a few months earlier, the problems most likely would have been avoided.

CASA desperately needs men to volunteer. So many of these young men just need a role model to look up to. Most have never had a male in their life to show them how to become a man. They are typically good kids at heart that just don't know what is expected of them and how to behave during the confusing transition to manhood.

I somehow missed this post! I agree; even limited experience in the system is a huge eye opener regarding the fragility of the system and the ways youth pay the price for that fragility. It is remarkable and sad that it takes a volunteer to make sure things happen.

Some foster youth are fortunate and get foster families that genuinely open their hearts and care for the children's best interests. Sometimes, though, these youth are lucky to have a roof over their heads and food on the table, but they don't connect or form loving relationships or get the kind of guidance and support your and my children receive. And as these youth approach emancipation it is CRITICAL that they are guided toward continuing education, employment, housing, and support services. They do not know how to navigate the system and too many end up in jail and on the streets. It's very scary and very sad.

You sound like you have a great heart, Ken, and whomever is assigned to you will be lucky to have you for an advocate.

[Bill Z]

I somehow missed this post!

Hi Deb,

In a short 24 hours, if you didn't see Ken's post, it dropped off the "New Posts" page.

I can imagine that as easy as it was for you to miss Ken's post, it's easier for kids to fall through the cracks of our Foster Care system.

I'm glad that you and Ken are doing what you are doing, and when I retire and have more "free time" in my life, I plan to volunteer.

Until then, I'll just have to be "Bad to the Bone"

Good Luck

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

Hi Deb,

In a short 24 hours, if you didn't see Ken's post, it dropped off the "New Posts" page.

I can imagine that as easy as it was for you to miss Ken's post, it's easier for kids to fall through the cracks of our Foster Care system.

I'm glad that you and Ken are doing what you are doing, and when I retire and have more "free time" in my life, I plan to volunteer.

Until then, I'll just have to be "Bad to the Bone"

Good Luck

Yeah, I'm still not used to posts dropping off "new posts" so quickly, although I'm usually on the site at least once a day. C'est la vie.

Thank you for your kind words. There will always be a need, so when you're ready to volunteer I'm sure there will be a spot for you.

And thank you for your support!

[SacKen]

... when I retire and have more "free time" in my life, I plan to volunteer. ...

Meh... free time, shmee time... you'll never have free time. Even as little as a phone call or two a week can make a big difference for these kids. I told Sac CASA that I have constraints on how much time I can spend. The CASA case managers are pretty good. They can usually spot a case that might be more time consuming than another (like school or health issues or emancipating in a few months versus a mostly "mentor/role model" case). I'm able to do it not because I have free time, but because I have a flexible schedule where I can shuffle time around.

So time can definitely be an issue if you have a strict 9-5 where you can't leave early or step-out for a couple of hours. If that's not the case, don't hesitate to give it a try. The time really doesn't have to be as significant as it sometimes sounds.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

Meh... free time, shmee time... you'll never have free time. Even as little as a phone call or two a week can make a big difference for these kids. I told Sac CASA that I have constraints on how much time I can spend. The CASA case managers are pretty good. They can usually spot a case that might be more time consuming than another (like school or health issues or emancipating in a few months versus a mostly "mentor/role model" case). I'm able to do it not because I have free time, but because I have a flexible schedule where I can shuffle time around.

So time can definitely be an issue if you have a strict 9-5 where you can't leave early or step-out for a couple of hours. If that's not the case, don't hesitate to give it a try. The time really doesn't have to be as significant as it sometimes sounds.

That's a good point. For my first case, I had to hit the ground scrambling because I was entering her life so close to graduation and she had no emancipation plan in place. This time around I don't have that kind of time (between my business and my daughter's upcoming wedding I am pretty busy). When I talk with my case manager I will ask for a slightly younger youth (perhaps 16) so we have time to build a rapport and work more slowly on career exploration and emancipation planning. As you said, the case managers are good at trying to identify the interests and time constraints of each CASA.

Speaking of busy -- and I may have made this point in a previous post -- we had a woman in our training class who has eight children and worked full-time. She was committed to making a difference and somehow worked this in to her already busy schedule. There is no set time to meet with or talk with your CASA youth; you compare your schedule with your youth's and set up mutually convenient visits. A chat by phone in between is nice, and your youth has your phone number (whichever you choose to provide) in case she/he needs to reach you with with an urgent issue.

[Bill Z]

Meh... free time, shmee time... you'll never have free time. Even as little as a phone call or two a week can make a big difference for these kids. I told Sac CASA that I have constraints on how much time I can spend. The CASA case managers are pretty good. They can usually spot a case that might be more time consuming than another (like school or health issues or emancipating in a few months versus a mostly "mentor/role model" case). I'm able to do it not because I have free time, but because I have a flexible schedule where I can shuffle time around.

So time can definitely be an issue if you have a strict 9-5 where you can't leave early or step-out for a couple of hours. If that's not the case, don't hesitate to give it a try. The time really doesn't have to be as significant as it sometimes sounds.

I do have some flexibility, but I prefer to use that for my own prodigy at the moment. Call me selfish if you want, but until my son is grown, I don't want to sign up and make the kind of commitment I feel CASA needs. I also have to travel for business kinda regularly, so there would be times I wouldn't be able to "show".

[SacKen]

I do have some flexibility, but I prefer to use that for my own prodigy at the moment. Call me selfish if you want, but until my son is grown, I don't want to sign up and make the kind of commitment I feel CASA needs. I also have to travel for business kinda regularly, so there would be times I wouldn't be able to "show".

You'll ruin him and he'll hate you when he's a teen anyway. At least as a CASA, you'll have a kid that appreciates you and doesn't think you are a stupid old man that doesn't know anything.

[Bill Z]

You'll ruin him and he'll hate you when he's a teen anyway. At least as a CASA, you'll have a kid that appreciates you and doesn't think you are a stupid old man that doesn't know anything.

Maybe later, right now, I'm still better than sliced bread as far as he is concerned.