A Champion For Children
Mary Ann Buscher has been advocating for children for decades as a teacher, counselor, pastor, and volunteer with Helping Children Worldwide (HCW). In February, she started a new chapter in her career of caring when she was sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in the Rappahannock District foster care system.
“The point of CASA is to bring someone alongside a child who is going through the foster care system,” Mary Ann explained.
When children enter foster care, representatives from Social Services and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court work together to determine the best permanent home for them. However, heavy caseloads can make it difficult to assess each child’s situation in a timely manner. CASA’s are trained volunteers who step into the gap as an additional set of eyes and ears for the judge. They form relationships, gather information, and speak up for the best interests of children.
Although Mary Ann had worked with CASA’s while teaching, she never considered becoming one until last fall.
“I had retired and was looking for something I felt called to. Then I went to Sierra Leone in October. We saw a lot there. We saw love and joy…and poverty. We saw children who were not joyful, because they were tired, hungry, or didn’t have enough adult support,” she explained.
When Mary Ann sat in on a meeting with case workers at HCW’s Child Reintegration Centre in Bo, she was astonished by the impact of their work.
“When they take families and provide services, the whole entire community gets serviced. It’s amazing to see how the community is changed,” she said.
The difference was especially evident when the mission team visited Manjama, a village that had not yet been reached by HCW.
“It shows what can happen. It’s like night and day,” Mary Ann said. “It’s not a hard fix. You just have to commit to doing it.”
The experience sparked a realization.
“I don’t have to go halfway around the world to advocate for children. I can advocate right in my own backyard. I’m going to call CASA. This is what God wants me to do.”
Mary Ann submitted her application in January and completed 36 hours of training over two and a half weeks before her swearing-in ceremony on February 15. As a CASA, she will spend anywhere from five to 25 hours each week working on behalf of one child or sibling group at a time.
“My job is to meet with the child, the family or guardians who had the child prior to removal, the foster parents, and anyone who might be considered as a permanent home for the child,” she explains. She also investigates completion of court ordered requirements, making calls and gathering information needed to provide a written report to the judge.
“CASA was created when a judge looked at a situation and said, ‘I wish I knew more,’” Mary Ann said. “It’s brilliant to have volunteers and so helpful for the child to ensure that they are placed in the best possible environment.”
There are typically 40-50 active volunteers in the Rappahannock CASA program. For more information, please visit rappahannockcasa.com.
Click here to see photos and learn more about Ebenezer’s mission trip to Bo, Sierra Leone in October 2023.