“But then I recalled that these children needed me and my presence made a difference. If your presence makes a difference in the lives of children, then you can persevere and do your best to help them.”
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After 30 years as a trial lawyer handling only civil cases and seven months as a Circuit Court judge for the 21st Judicial Circuit, Judge Warner was transferred to the Family/Juvenile Court of St. Louis County. For two years, 2013 and 2014, as a family court judge, he heard the painful stories of neglected and abused children in foster care and gained a deep respect for the professionals involved in each case.
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On behalf of all of us at CASA, thank you and congratulations to Pat on 20 years of exceptional service!
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We are so excited to be celebrating two of our CASA volunteers who recently celebrated 15 years of service! Congratulations to Stephanie Sachs & Carol MacDonald! We are so grateful for your dedicated service to children and youth in care in the St. Louis community.
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“I had been in touch with his counselor and had talked to him monthly by phone or via Zoom, but I wanted to meet in-person when I could,” said Penny, who took on the case of the boy in December. “We talked about the steps he was taking and about his options once he finishes his program, he was easy to engage with, even virtually, and he has been receptive to getting the help he needs. We talked about his desire to be someplace safe, which all children should have and which is why we advocate for them.”
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CASA of St. Louis is pleased to introduce two Supervisors of Case Advocacy and an Operations Manager to the team!
“These talented professionals will provide critical support and advocacy to children in foster care in the St. Louis City and County Circuit Courts,” said Jennifer Howard, Chief Executive Officer of CASA of St. Louis. “The addition of an Operations Manager helps CASA operate even more efficiently with a small staff and a growing caseload.”
The new staff members include Rhonda L. Lingard, Operations Manager, and Taylor Pierce and Brian P. Seltzer, both Case Advocacy Supervisors.
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During National Foster Care Month we recognize that as a community we have an obligation to ensure children in care are seen, valued, and have their voices heard. CASA of St. Louis stands in support of not only of the 400+ children served by our program, but for ALL children in foster care. We envision and advocate for a community where all children have the stability, support, and resilience needed to survive and thrive in and beyond foster care.
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“My mother paved the way for me on how to treat other people,” Allen says. “She has always been committed to helping others and has moved past all obstacles to succeed in life—she’s definitely a soldier!”
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“Irma just lights up a room when she enters it. She is so dedicated to getting the resources children need. Irma talks to everyone involved to get a full picture of the situation, files detailed reports and is so kind and generous to the families she serves. Irma exudes warmth and has boundless energy.”
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“Despite a crazy work schedule, she has established a bond with the children. She works hard to build a connection with each of them and with the case workers, relatives or other contacts and staffs in the residential homes where they live. Cori takes initiative and seeks guidance. She is tenacious in pushing for problem resolution and is totally dedicated to giving these children opportunities to thrive. Words cannot describe how great she is!”
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“Over the years, I have really enjoyed meeting the children and think I have been a positive force in their lives. I was the one constant presence for many of these children—the one who cared and stuck around.”
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“This year, we celebrate Jim Merlo as the anchor of CASA—he has for so long helped CASA pursue its mission of ensuring that through all the uncertainties, an abused or neglected child’s voice is heard. The need for volunteers, donors, and supporters is critical in making this a reality. But we could not do what we do without the knowledge, talent and commitment of Jim Merlo.”
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“I find work as an advocate very rewarding in that you can make a difference in a child’s life,” Clare said. “There is always something new, and even though the going can be tough with some cases, the CASA volunteer who sticks with it is often the only constant in a child’s life.”
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When asked what she’d say to others interested in being involved with CASA, Leonora stated, “When you have an opportunity to make an impact from behind the scenes and bring awareness to others [about CASA], you can’t help but to be part of that.”
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“Paul is amazing—a positive male role model for this child—he has shown this child that someone cares by listening and being attentive. More remarkable, Paul did this as a new volunteer using only virtual connections due to the pandemic.”
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“In that first call, a connection was made, and it did not matter that Janet and the child had never met face-to-face. Janet’s warmth, kindness and professionalism came through strong and clear. She proved we can do our jobs virtually if we continue to show how much we care about these children who need us so desperately.”
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