CASA Spotlight: Clare Brady
At 17, this bright, independent young woman has lost her father, been neglected by her now-homeless mother, attended three high schools and endured four placements in the span of a year.
But she’s lucky in one way: 15-year veteran CASA volunteer Clare Brady has been a constant presence in her life, since the teen came into care just over a year ago. In that time, Clare has offered critical support and advocacy for this foster child, championing the teen in court, advocating for a home placement, getting her enrolled into her new school district and working with her current foster mother to create some stability.
“Her foster mom is being very good with this teen, but I do worry for this girl, having to adjust to yet another new place and being in virtual high school,” Clare says. “She has had so many changes in her short life, but she is smart and resilient.”
Clare, like all CASA volunteers and staff, has been working remotely to attend court hearings and maintain contact with the teen and her foster parent. She has encouraged her interest in college, bringing her a study guide to prepare for the ACT standardized test. Recently, masked and six feet away, Clare was finally able to a visit the girl on the patio of her foster home.
“I keep telling her that we can help her get to university, and I am working with her case worker to ensure she gets therapy and other help,” Clare said. “The goal is to gain her trust and make her realize she can fulfill her dreams. This child has so much potential but is struggling with all she has experienced.”
A former marketing executive, Clare grew up in a very different environment from this young woman. She was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Within commuting distance from London on the edge of the Cotswolds. Clare’s hometown is the birthplace of William Shakespeare.
After finishing secondary school and spending a “gap” year in Australia, Clare earned her degree in business studies and began what was “a big career” in England. She reluctantly relocated to the United States in 1997 to follow her husband, who had landed a job in San Diego. After five years, the couple moved to Bergen County, New Jersey, overlooking the Hudson River and Manhattan. They were living there during 9/11 terrorist attacks, and two months later her son was born. Another job opportunity brought the family to University City in 2003.
In 2005, a friend at a local gym suggested Clare might want to consider volunteer opportunities at CASA. “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.” Volunteers like Clare truly illustrate how one person can Change a Child’s Story.
CASA Case Advocacy Supervisor Mariah Smith agrees, adding that Clare’s “gift for connecting” has made all the difference. “Clare Brady is a fantastic, dedicated volunteer who works hard to get the resources children need,” Mariah added. “She is the very definition of a great CASA volunteer—she makes sure the child’s voice is heard.”
Mariah began her career as a Case Manager in 2014 with the Children’s Division, Missouri Department of Social Services in St. Louis County. She worked in the state’s Children’s Division in Boone County and at Heart of Missouri CASA, in Columbia, MO, before joining CASA of St. Louis in April. Now she helps as many as 30 volunteers navigate a system that involves fully researching the child’s current situation and discussing each case with court officials and Children’s Division case managers.
“We are so lucky to have Clare – she has many other community activities but remains dedicated to CASA,” said Mariah.
St. Louis has become home. Her son ended up growing up here. “Now a freshman at Purdue University, my son is ironically an all-American boy despite having two English parents,” Clare said. “He was captain of his football team and a good baseball player.”
Clare serves as president of her golf league and plays USTA tennis, but even more often, she can be found cooking at First Congregational Church to supply 130 meals on a weekly basis to the homeless and others in need through Mama Cat and the PotBangerz. Her church began supporting this racial justice organization that activist Cathy Daniels, known as Mama Cat, founded. The group works with other organizations to provide meals, snacks, COVID-19 protection and comfort items once a week through 50-150 encounters with people in need in downtown St. Louis and elsewhere.
Having served in her role for more than 15 years, CASA remains Clare’s longest commitment. “Being a CASA volunteer is challenging because each case is so different, and there’s always something new,” said Clare. “And when things work out—when a child finds a stable place to live and grow, it can be so rewarding to know you were a part of that.”