Advocate Spotlight: Gayle Miles

This September, Gayle Miles will celebrate her sixth anniversary with CASA of Luzerne County. In that time, Gayle has been appointed to three cases and advocated for six children.

 One of the most important things she’s learned and something she’d suggest for other advocates, she said, is patience.

 “Don’t be in a rush to get permanency for the kids even though it’s the goal. In my most recent case, if you had told me 3.5 years ago that the natural mother would be getting her children back, and I would be advocating for that, I would have said ‘impossible,’” Gayle said. “But four different caseworkers, two supervisors, seven counselors, and two foster homes – plus three separate parenting classes for the mom – yielded permanency. Something the first caseworker said would never happen.”

 Gayle has learned to find balance between listening to everyone involved and trusting herself. She has been able to translate that into advocacy that has allowed the children in all three cases to have a happy outcome – placement with foster parents, placement with great grandparents and unlimited contact with mom, and reunification.

 She also noted a similarity in all her cases, that all the natural parents have been in the system themselves.

 “I like to think that I’m not just helping the kids, but hopefully breaking the cycle of abuse,” Gayle said.

 Gayle also appreciates that she can perform her advocacy on her own schedule.

 “I thought it seemed like something I might like to do, particularly because there were no set hours,” she said. “It’s a volunteer opportunity that can, except for court hearings, work around your commitments. And the CASA staff does a great job matching you with the ‘right’ child. How you approach the case is up to you.”

 One of the most memorable experiences, she said, was recently when she found herself in a stressful situation with both of the kids on her last case.

 The kids had both gotten sick and there was an issue with the car’s tire which caused a delay in plans.

 “Even a year ago,” Gayle said, “just one of these things would have caused wailing, tears, and/or minor hysteria.”

The progress that these children made in the time that Gayle has been with them is yet another example of the benefits of having a caring, consistent adult presence.

If, like Gayle, you’re ready to make a difference like that, we invite you to join us at one of our upcoming info sessions. Click here to find the session that’s right for you, and click the link to register. We’ll be here to answer all your questions and give you some insight on how this type of advocacy can work for you.

Gayle, who received both her BA in English and Elementary Education and her MBA from Wilkes University, lives in Hanover Township.

Advocate Spotlight: Anita Frank

As an advocate, Anita Frank truly is the one caring, consistent adult presence we so often talk about when referencing our volunteers.

Without Anita’s commitment and advocacy, it’s difficult to think about where the child on her case would be.

“I will never forget meeting the child I work with for the first time,” Anita said. “I was excited and apprehensive, but as soon as I met her the apprehension was gone. She became a real little girl, sweet and innocent, whereas before she was a thick stack of reports detailing a long history of abuse and neglect.”

It’s so easy for children to feel lost in the system. To feel like nothing more than a case file. But advocates like Anita give these children the hope and connection they need.

Anita’s dedicated advocacy for this young girl is inspired by a quote from Fred Rogers.

“As Mr. Rogers once said, ‘There isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you’ve heard their story,’” Anita said.

“An important part of this is helping the children to realize how special and valuable they are, and to assure them that they are worthy of being loved.”

Anita was sworn-in as a court appointed special advocate in the spring of 2018 and was appointed to this case just a few weeks later.

While none of these cases are easy, Anita has been by her child’s side as she’s gone through so much in these short months.

Anita has been a constant, stable, loving presence at her child’s educational meetings, at court hearings, and during emergency housing placements. She’s advocated for ways to help this child overcome her trauma and move to a place of stability and healing.  

“This year has been filled with ups and downs, but I am honored to be there with her through it all,” she said, adding that she is always guiding her child to become her best possible self.

A Wilkes Barre native, Anita spent more than 25 years working locally as an Occupational Therapist, a job she now does part-time. She and her husband, Alec, are parents to five children, two grandchildren, and another grandchild on the way.

There are 440 children in Luzerne County foster care who are waiting for someone like Anita to take their hand and help them through the system.

If you’d like to make the kind of change Anita is making, we invite you to attend one of our upcoming info sessions. Visit our website and register for the session that works best for you. And please feel free to reach out to us with any questions. We’d love to talk to you about how you can help.