Volunteer Spotlight: Robin Rice

Robin has been a valued CASA since November 2004.  She has brought a vast amount of experience to our program and her story is so unique that it is worthy of note.

“We have been a foster family for about 7 years and have worked with CASA for the last 2 years.  At first I thought, Oh no…  One more person in our lives.  We already lived in a fish bowl with case workers, Child Development Center workers, WIC, several doctors and therapists and now – oh joy we get a CASA worker!!!  I was not a happy camper.  At least, not until I actually met our CASA, Terry.

I soon discovered that my CASA was very friendly and professional.  She sat down with me and explained her part with the court, with my children and with my family.  She answered any questions I had and was a great listener.  She always ended our time by asking me if there was anything I needed.  I could tell she was very committed to my children because she always wanted to know how the birth parents visits went, how my kids were doing after the visits and how we were doing as a family.  She took the time to get to know the kids individually, and soon we all were actually looking forward to seeing her.

She is great!  Terry visited with us every other Saturday.  My kids knew when she was coming and looked forward to her visits with much anticipation.  She would spend quality time with each of the kids: taking them for walks, reading to them or coloring with them, doing whatever they wanted to do.  They are very young and do not realize that she is from the court; they see her as a family friend who comes to play and visit.  I look at our CASA as a Godsend!  The kids have a good time, and I get a little time for myself.  It is great!

My CASA worker makes court a good place, not a scary one.  I should know.  Over the last few years I have needed to be in court many times with my kid’s various adoption proceedings.  Our first adoption took almost four years.  A CASA worker sure would have been an asset back then.  I can really see the difference when I compare what went on then to what went on with our most recent adoptions.  Terry was with us this time.  She was with us through the adoption of two of our children in June 2004 and our last little one this September.  Her presence through the whole process helped everything run smoother and more rapidly, making the circumstances much less stressful for my family.

I was so impressed with the work that CASA does on behalf of abused and neglected children that I decided to become a CASA volunteer myself and graduated in 2004.”