Advocate Spotlight: M. B. and Isabella

The CASA staff chose our advocate, M. B., as our August Advocate Spotlight for 2022. M. B. declined due to her innate humble nature but she is so important to us that we wanted to share the story of M. B. and Isabella.

M. B. was sworn in as an advocate in the Spring of 2022. Although she is relatively new to CASA we all feel like she has been a part of our world for much longer. She is such a natural fit with CASA.

She is a retired teacher and has a great understanding of the needs of our youth. Her calm demeanor coupled with her sense of humor puts everyone at ease. M. B. is not only an advocate for CASA of Luzerne County but she donates her time to Ruth’s Place, giving of her time to other women who could learn so much from her.

We really want to highlight M. B.’s extraordinary advocacy with her youth, Isabella. Isabella is a 13yr old, beautiful young woman who has some serious anxiety issues. She has had truancy issues and was not attending school in person for many years. But M. B. knew she was so much more that what brought her into the dependency court system and has worked so hard with her to bring out all of her strengths.

M. B. visits with Isabella regularly and slowly began taking her out into the community. Small successes turned into bigger successes as M. B. guided her and made her feel safe. They began to visit our CASA Clubhouse together to do art projects and assist us with organizing our CASA Closet. In doing so, Isabella was able to interact with CASA staff and is now comfortable coming in and talking with all of us. M. B.’s next step was brining Isabella to one of CASA’s Art and Writing opportunities. They came together to see a muralist and participate in an art activity in the park with the NEPA Street Art Society. It started out bumpy but ended up being a great experience. During that activity Isabella was able to talk through her fears of attending Children’s Grief Camp at Hillside Farms, which was quickly approaching. M. B. explained that she would be there to support her, but her goal was for her to make a friend her own age. M. B. always jokes that Isabella shouldn’t only be friends with a 70 year old woman, but anyone would want to be friends with M. B.

Grief Camp came and throughout the week M. B. supported Isabella through some difficult moments but gave her wings to fly. She made a friend her own age and Isabella supplied the camp director with her email to ensure she was on the list for next year. The day of the butterfly release was truly representative of Isabella that week, we could see her changing before our eyes. Following her successful week at camp Isabella is excited to participate in more events with other youth, including the upcoming CASA Halloween Party. Isabella is gaining the confidence she needs to go back to school in person and have experiences she would have never tried without M. B.

We aren’t sure if M. B. realizes her incredible impact on Isabella but it is undeniable to all of us at CASA of Luzerne County. To watch their interactions warms our hearts- M. B. proves that sometimes the smallest acts add up to the biggest outcomes. Kindness, seeing strengths where others see deficits and taking a little time to foster a relationship will affect this youth in a positive way for the rest of her life.

We want to thank M. B. for her dedication to CASA of Luzerne County and let her know how much we appreciate all she does for us and Isabella. She lights up our day every time we see her.

If you’d like to make a difference in the life of a child in the way M. B. has, we invite you to join us for an info session to learn more about advocacy and what it means to be a CASA.

Advocate Spotlight: Kathy Krivenko

Meet Kathy Krivenko, the July Advocate Spotlight for 2022. Kathy came to CASA with a wealth of experience and a commitment to family that has driven her advocacy.

Kathy began advocating at CASA of Luzerne County in 2017, following a long and dedicated nursing career.

She received her diploma in Nursing from Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, she continued her education by attaining a CCRN (critical care certification) and then followed up with a BSN from Excelsior college in NY.

Kathy had worked at Wilkes Barre General hospital in the Medical ICU after graduating, and then moved to Philadelphia area and worked at Shriners Crippled Children’s hospital. She moved back to the area and worked at both Nesbit and General Hospital. She left hospital nursing for a program through the hospital called the Family Enhancement Program where she visited new mothers to help them through their pregnancy and understand infant development. In 2000, Kathy joined the newly initiated Pennsylvania Nurse Family Partnership Program. The program was considered a Blueprints program for prevention of child abuse and neglect as well as preventing juvenile delinquency in the children of the mothers served. Kathy empowered the mothers in the program to make good choices rather than telling them what to do. Luzerne County was one of the first 3 sites in Pa which presently has programs in 47 counties and 45 states as well as several other countries. In addition, Kathy was a member of the Kingston Kiwanis and ran the K-Kids program at 3rd avenue school for several years. she was also the team “nurse” for her daughters softball team and a brownie and Girl Scout leader. If that isn’t enough, she also became a dog groomer and bred and showed Kerry Blue Terriers and had 12 champions over the years!

Kathy learned of the CASA program when she heard Gay Courtier, a guardian ad litem from Florida speak and then read her book and she was intrigued. She saw a sign for CASA at the Cross Valley Center where her husbands business was located and inquired and became a volunteer.

When Kathy reflects on the beginning of her advocacy she found it hard to come into a family that was somewhat “broken” as the children were already removed and in foster care, but helping the families find their way to a healthier situation is rewarding. There are far too many children who need a CASA on their side! CASA needs more volunteers!

Her most memorable moments were finally seeing a child who weighed 20 lbs at admission to 58 lbs 2 years later and finally in a stable situation. Both he and his sister appear happy as they talk about what they’re doing and what they like and go up to their father and receive affection.

Kathy believes that advocates need to have an open mind and look for the positives in the situation and help the family build on that.

She wishes more of the public was aware of what CASA provides to children and how in the end this helps society as a whole, one child, one family at a time.

In the end, healthier families mean a healthier society. Too many families had no positive family support. This is shown but the increase in shootings and mental health issues.

We are grateful to Kathy for her commitment to her advocacy and commitment to her community and family. If you’d like to make a difference in the life of a child in the way Kathy has, we invite you to join us for an info session to learn more about advocacy and what it means to be a CASA.

Kathy lives in Kingston with her husband Phil. She has 2 children and 5 grandchildren who she loves spending time with and attending their games and activities.