By Sara Blake
CASA Advocate Gretchen has a long history of working with vulnerable populations. Gretchen, a graduate of Marquette University with a Masters in Anthropology from the University of Nebraska, spent several years at US Vets in Hawaii working with homeless veterans. “We provided meals, housing assistance (both transitional and permanent), and career training,” Gretchen explains.
A move to California and two children later, Gretchen and her husband relocated to Austin to be closer to their families. “My father-in-law is an Attorney ad Litem and was the one who introduced me to CASA,” Gretchen remembers, though she felt then, as a mother of young children and COO of Emancipet, that it wasn’t the right timing.
It also seemed like the right time to revisit CASA.
Fast-forward to the pandemic and Gretchen was laid off and home with her kids. “It had its challenges, but honestly, it was a positive thing to be able to navigate the changes together,” she says.
It also seemed like the right time to revisit CASA. “I wanted to be doing something for the community while I was laid off, and this seemed like a good time to start,” says Gretchen. (She also became a voter registrar during COVID; “I may not have actually registered anybody, but I fulfilled my civic duty!” she jokes.)
Gretchen completed her volunteer training in 2020. “I would describe the training as heavy and thoughtful. In all my years of working with vulnerable populations, I had never approached it from a child’s angle.” Part of training that resonated with Gretchen was what constitutes a safe placement. “They showed us a video as if we were walking into a house. We had to analyze the differences between things I maybe wouldn’t do in my home and real safety risks. I learned just how quickly personal biases come into play.”
Gretchen has now had two cases – one helping navigate a custody situation and another with a child who is mostly nonverbal. “Making a connection with him was so special. You just look in his eyes and see his laughter and sense of humor. He’s incredibly smart, and it’s so much fun to spend time with him,” shares Gretchen.
One of the highlights of Gretchen’s work with CASA thus far has been being able to say to a judge “I think this case needs to be closed.” “And the judge agreed!” smiles Gretchen. “The child was thriving in her placement, and my supervisor and I felt like as a team of advocates, our job was done. It was a powerful moment.”
Gretchen feels that her previous work gives her more empathy for families in the child welfare system. “I believe most people have the best intentions. It’s hard to see someone struggle, whether it’s addiction or something else. It’s even harder to see it affect children. With the population I used to work with, homelessness was often the result of every bridge being burned and hitting a sort of rock bottom.” Gretchen’s hope as a CASA volunteer is to help children avoid that cycle.
One of the highlights of Gretchen’s work with CASA thus far has been being able to say to a judge “I think this case needs to be closed.” “And the judge agreed!” smiles Gretchen. “The child was thriving in her placement, and my supervisor and I felt like as a team of advocates, our job was done. It was a powerful moment.”
Gretchen hopes others will consider volunteering, but only if they understand the tough nature of this work. “Being a CASA volunteer is not easy. It takes up time. It takes up space in your heart. But it’s worth it when you see the child happy and safe and thriving,” she says. “And it’s worth it to show my children, who are already asking me questions about this work, how important it is for a community to care for each other. I hope one day they want to make a difference in a similar way.”
