Advocate Spotlight: Amy Martin

“Once I attended the information session, I had no doubt this was the right fit for me,” said CASA volunteer Amy Martin.

Amy is approaching her third year as a volunteer advocate and, in that time, she has been a voice for three young children and an ambassador for CASA in the community, calling CASA her “passion.”

“The one thing I wish people knew about CASA is that, many times, as the CASA you will get more out of the experience than you expect,” Amy said. “You will get to know your child better than just about anyone in their life. You will enjoy and look forward to the time you get to spend with them.”

There will be some difficulties in dealing with children who are experiencing some of the hardest situations in their young lives, as well. But that’s why we’re here.

“The fact that you are there to help them through the tough times is really what it’s all about,” she said.

“The most important thing to be about being an advocate is for the child to truly understand that, as their CASA, I am there solely for them. I am not paid to do this, I do it because I want to, not because I have to. I want them to understand they can come to me for whatever reason, confide in me, and express to me their wishes as to where they’re safe and comfortable.”   

Amy also understands that advocating takes time, but it’s doable.

“You arrange visits according to what works for the child, yourself, and the child’s legal guardian,” Amy said. “If you are truly interested in advocating for a child in need, you will find a way to make it work.”

If you’d like to change the story of an abused or neglected child, visit luzernecasa.org/events to sign up for an info session prior to the start of our spring training class which starts on March 10.

Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Bloomsburg University. She and her husband Matthew have three children and reside in Mountain Top.

Advocate Spotlight: Carol Wills

“I wish more people knew that CASA existed.”

CASA volunteer Carol Wills echoes the words many of us say on a regular basis. Once you see the need in our community and see all the good a CASA can do, it’s hard not to think that way.

As a retired teacher, Carol has been able to take her 32 years of classroom experience and translate it into successful advocacy for not just one, but two children.

“My first case was a five-year-old boy who was very clearly developmentally delayed,” Carol said. “His mom told me he was enrolled in kindergarten, so I followed up on that information and found out he was not. I knew from experience that this little boy needed to get to school so he could be tested, have an IEP written, and services provided. It took some doing with the parents, but by the end of his first year in kindergarten, placement in a special needs classroom was the plan for the following year.”

This case was a good fit for Carol because of her professional background, but she recognizes there was still a lot to learn in the beginning.

“For new advocates, there’s so much to learn about ‘the system,’” she said. “It’s a lot to take in during training. But when you’re handed your first case and you sit down to lay out all your information, you really do have a good feeling as to where you should start. The CASA staff are more than willing to help.”

Now on her second case, Carol has a clear goal in mind for her advocacy.

“In the case I have now, I truly hope that I can present a positive attitude to the 14-year-old girl that I’m working with to help her see that there is a way to successfully get back with her mom, which is the ultimate goal.”

If you’d like to join Carol in helping the children in our community reach their goals and experience the loving support of a trusted adult, we hope you’ll consider joining our spring training class which begins on March 10.

The first step in that advocacy journey is to attend one of our online info sessions. You can register for the next one, which is scheduled for January 22, here.

Carol lives in Northeast PA with her husband Mike and their eight dogs.