Advocate Spotlight: Sarah Block and Claudia Ravert

Claudia Ravert, left, and Dan and Sarah Block. 

In January, we welcomed seven new advocates to CASA of Luzerne County. Sarah Block and Claudia Ravert are two of those people who have dedicated themselves to acting as a voice for abused and neglected children in Luzerne County.

Sarah is a NEPA native who, as a bio and adoptive mom and former foster mom, knows firsthand the difficulties children face while in the system.

“Foster kids are some of the most vulnerable and least-valued members of our society, so I am happy to be helping in a small way via CASA,” she said. “I ache for kids in foster care. They have so little support and so much transition and trauma in their lives. The statistics are truly heartbreaking and tragic. I hope that through CASA, I will be able to provide support to these children and impact their lives for the better.”

Claudia moved to Luzerne County from her native England and brings to CASA her interest in the importance of support systems for children.

“I was very fortunate to have had a stable and loving background,” she said. “It’s become obvious in my adult life that this isn’t the norm with so many children experiencing abuse and neglect. I was drawn to the CASA program due to the beneficial impact it can have on the life of a child. I hope that I can offer something that may have previously been lacking and make that child feel like the valid human they are.”

Sarah and Claudia both live in Luzerne County with their families. Sarah and her husband are parents to four children, and Claudia and her husband are parents to one daughter with another child on the way.

We are so thankful for their commitment to CASA and to making the world a better place for the children here who so desperately need an adult who cares.

Advocate Spotlight: Melanie Lansberry

Melanie Lansberry

Melanie Lansberry began her journey with CASA in November 2015 while looking for a way to combine her love of kids with a desire to become involved in her community.

While Melanie knows firsthand that the work isn't easy, it is so important.

"I really feel that the CASA program offers some sort of stability for children that otherwise have none," she said. "I am the only thing in this child's life that isn't changing rapidly. New teachers, social workers, foster parents, judges, lawyers, and doctors can be overwhelming for a child. My goal is to be the rock for these children in addition to making sure they are taken care of in all ways."

A big key to making that happen? Listen.

"Most of all, just listen. The people involved just really want to have someone listen to them," she said.

Melanie also stresses that the problems so many children face aren't as far removed from us as we'd like to think.

"I have much experience working with children -- back to when I was a teenager working on missions trips to orphanages," she said. "More recently, student teaching in the local public schools really opened my eyes to see that some problems in third world countries are also happening here in my own town."

Melanie is currently advocating for two children in Luzerne County and has previously advocated for another.

When she is not so generously devoting her time to protecting the lives of children right here in our own backyard, she enjoys cooking, camping, biking and kayaking with her family.

She is a PA certified elementary teacher and is currently using her skills as a private tutor for at-risk and special education cyber-school students.

Melanie's hard work and tireless dedication is essential to the success of the CASA program. We can't reach the kids who need us the most without people like Melanie and the rest of our amazing advocates.

Thank you, Melanie, for all that you do to change the lives of the children who so desperately need it the most. We are so grateful for you!