Joe Francis
As part of his volunteer work for CASA, Joe Francis often spends time at a child’s school. His research process includes watching a child in the classroom.
On one case, he observed a child for several class periods. The child asked him, “Why are you always following me around?”
“I’m just trying to make sure you’re safe,” Francis answered.
The child wrapped his arms around Francis’ neck in a hug. “Thank you for watching out for me.”
That’s the best reward for his efforts, Francis said.
“Kids know you’re somebody they can feel safe with and someone who’s watching out for them,” he said. “CASA says this is the hardest job you’ll ever love. That’s true. It’s hard. And I do love it.”
Francis became a volunteer three years ago. He taught special education at the high school level and knew the importance of foster homes. He’s retired now, and also retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Navy Reserves, but he still has “a heart for kids” that motivated him to join CASA.
Some of his kids call him “The Ice Cream Man.” He brings them ice cream — strawberry and cookie dough — whenever he sees them.
And when he stops at the McDonald’s for coffee on his way to court in Chanute, people who see his CASA nametag talk to him about it.
“My CASA was one of the most important people in my life,” a young man told him.
“I wish I’d had a CASA,” another said.
Another time when he observed a girl at school, he noticed how much she enjoyed the attention from her classmates because of his presence. They asked if he was her grandfather.
“I said, ‘I’m her special friend.’ She just beamed.”
Francis said he’s learned a lot from his time as a CASA volunteer. He offered several tips for people who may be considering volunteering with the organization:
– You should like kids. You don’t need any other special qualifications, though you’ll need to pass a background check and complete training.
Understand it’s going to take time. If you work, especially full-time, you’ll probably need to limit yourself to just one case at a time. Some cases are easier than others. His first case lasted just six months, while another took three years.
Be prepared to write reports — and don’t procrastinate. His longest report came in at 19 pages, but he often receives help on his reports from Director Aimee Daniels.
Be prepared to investigate. Most of the time, it just requires common sense. If you want to know how a child is performing in school, call the school. Follow leads.
You’ll have plenty of resources. Daniels offers plenty of training and assistance, and experienced volunteers are great sources of help, Francis said. Volunteers must protect confidentiality and refrain from sharing names and locations even when they talk amongst themselves, he said, but they also provide good advice and a different perspective.
CASA volunteers utilize many agencies like KVC, DCF, Hope Unlimited and more. They also are allowed access to law enforcement and attorney records. Their opinion is valued by the judge, Francis said.
“The biggest thing to know is, you’re not alone,” Francis said.
Cathy Lynch
Cathy Lynch watched members of her extended family suffer through difficult childhoods. She saw how unprepared those children were when they later became parents themselves.
By becoming a CASA volunteer, Lynch discovered she could break that cycle for other children.
“I learned there are even more children not getting the opportunities that every child deserves,” she said. “Unfortunately, there are second and third generations of children within the system whose parents never learned to be parents.”
Lynch became a CASA volunteer about 10 years ago. She started while still employed full time in human resources for Haldex. She retired four years ago and now has more time to devote to CASA.
More and more, Lynch sees the challenges that face today’s parents. Many are young and unprepared for the realities of parenting. A growing number give birth while addicted to drugs, which only compounds the difficulties for the child. Lynch also is concerned about how many homeless parents raise children, “couch surfing” as they bounce from one relative or friend to another.
As difficult as those situations can be, CASA volunteers like Lynch know their first priority is the child’s safety. They work with a variety of agencies in law enforcement, the court system and child care system to find the best place to meet the child’s needs.
Lynch said she’s always impressed by the resiliency of children. They just want to be loved. They just want to be safe.
“You think, how can they be happy when the environment they’re in is so bad or needy or lacking in love? But they don’t notice it’s missing,” she said. “It’s a learning experience. I’m a better person for it.”
She encouraged anyone who has considered volunteering for CASA to start the process. You can always back out if it’s not for you, she said. She also praised foster parents, who give so much of their time to help children in need.
She recalled her first case, which ended with a “win-win” even though the parents’ rights were severed. The child was placed in a wonderful foster family; the family later adopted the child.
“I am fortunate to have been able to raise my children and give them what they needed. So many out there can’t, but the kids shouldn’t have to suffer because of that.”
Don Sewell
Don Sewell says being a CASA advocate is likely the most rewarding and enjoyable thing he’s done.
“I might be a volunteer but I considered myself one of the highest paid individuals in the state of Kansas,” Sewell said. “If I could get a smile out of a frightened child, that’s my pay right there. If I got a hug, that’s my bonus.”
Sewell, 84, recently retired after 10 years as a CASA advocate and moved to Texas to be closer to family. His efforts, though, earned him the CASA Advocate of the Year Award for 2017, presented at the Governor’s Conference for the Prevention of Child Abuse in November.
Sewell decided to volunteer after his wife died from cancer.
“I was sitting around thinking and I decided I’ve got to do something except sitting around,” Sewell said from his home in Texas City. “Then I saw an ad in the paper wanting CASA advocate to work in the court system and they would train. I thought, ‘I’m still trainable.’”
Sewell previously worked in the oil industry. He also served as a foster parent, was a board member for the juvenile detention center and eventually became an instructor for workshops at the National CASA Convention.
Sewell said he enjoyed working with children, but sometimes became frustrated by the lack of interest from some parents. When a child is removed from a home, a case plan outlines the changes parents need to make before the child can return. Some parents were unwilling or unable to make even simple changes, Sewell said.
“That’s one of the things I couldn’t understand,” he said.
Sewell worked with 56 children during his 10 years as an advocate. His longest case lasted five years. He kept in touch with many of the children long after the cases ended and, at least until recently, maintained contact with many. For years, he gave them Christmas presents, until it became impractical.
Among his most memorable cases are the children who managed to graduate from high school despite numerous challenges in their upbringing. Sewell recalled one boy who was 10 at the start of the case. No one in the boy’s family had ever graduated from high school but Sewell encouraged the boy to stick with his studies. He’s now a sophomore in college.
Another boy found school very challenging and told Sewell, “It’s so hard. It’s so hard.”
“I kept saying, ‘I know it’s hard, but you can do it,” Sewell said. “We went through many years of school like that. The case was closed. I told him when you get ready to graduate from high school, I want to be there to see you. I want to be notified when you graduate.”
Three years later, the boy called and asked Sewell for his address so he could send an invitation. Sewell attended the ceremony.
“That one is probably the highlight” of his experience as an advocate, Sewell said.
