Advocate Spotlight: Ed Steltz

Ed Steltz believes that all children should have the opportunity to become the best that they can be. That guiding principle brought Ed to advocate training in the fall of 2019.

Since his retirement that same year, Ed has been generously giving of himself and his time to children in our community who “need a little extra,” as he puts it.

“I was very fortunate to have a young man of 14 as my first CASA child,” Ed said. “He wanted nothing more than to return to his father and have a more permanent future. He had been in four schools and six foster homes in five years. We were able to work with Children and Youth to return him to the family he wanted more than anything else in the world.”

Ed played a vital role in the reunification of this family. By donating his time, his love, his knowledge, his dedication, and his desire to see a change, this young man is doing well and has the opportunity to thrive.

“If you would like to make life better for a child, there is no better way than becoming an advocate,” Ed said. “There are more foster children in need of an advocate than there are CASA volunteers, so do not hesitate to step up and help a child, our community, and yourself.”

If, like Ed, you’d like to make a true and lasting difference, we’d love to talk to you about joining our fall training class which is scheduled to start in September.

Ed is a native of the Back Mountain area and resides there with his wife. Together they have two children and four grandchildren. He retired as Vice President of Martz in 2019.

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.