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Debby Fields, CASA Volunteer “Everyone really has the capacity to do something great or small that will make a difference in the life of a child,” shared Debby Fields, a CASA volunteer assigned to three active cases. Debby’s passion for CASA and children in the foster care system shows immediately. She explains how advocacy has changed her life. “It has opened my eyes, my ears and, most importantly, my heart.” Debby became a CASA volunteer in 2004 to three children who were removed from a home because of sexual abuse, educational neglect and unfit living conditions. The situation became more difficult when the two younger children were adopted. The third child remained in care because of behavioral issues, including general defiance to adult caregivers. She lived in two additional placements before she ran away. Debby reported her missing, and the police eventually found her. After eight months on the run, the teen entered her second round in the system. At the court hearing, Debby assured the judge she would continue as a lifeline and stabilizing presence for the teen. Debby worked diligently for the next several months to achieve a lasting placement with the teen’s grandparents, who lived in Illinois. She spent countless hours addressing additional issues raised by placing a Missouri foster teen in rural Illinois. Debby also arranged transportation for the teen’s extended weekend visits with her grandparents, and eventually the placement became permanent. “This child knew that I would always fight for what was in her best interest, and I became like a family member to her and the rest of her family,” explained Debby. Today, Debby is proud to say that her teen attends high school every day, works part-time and helps her grandparents. She just called Debby to celebrate making honor roll for the first time and thanked Debby for always supporting her. Just as Debby has touched lives working as an advocate, she has also been touched by her volunteer work. After taking on her first case, Debby became aware that working parents could also be foster parents. Debby passed the review process for the program and began taking the Stars Foster Program courses. She eventually added adoption courses to her schedule. Her first intention was to foster children, preferably pre-teen or teenagers. However, Debby learned through her training about the overwhelming need for adoptive parents for older children and sibling groups. Debby knew she was well prepared to handle the issues these children face within the system. “I could be a steady and dedicated source for these children. After I became aware of the number of children in foster care in my community, it gave me a sense of urgency to share my experience with others,” described Debbie. Debby said she tells everyone that the adoption journey was an incredible “God thing” for her. In the beginning, she questioned whether she could love another child as much as she loved her biological son, who was 12 at the time. Some of Debby’s co-workers and her best friend happened to watch Alan’s story on “A Place to Call Home” on KSDK. They told Debby that this child seemed like the perfect fit for her life and encouraged her to watch his story. After watching the video clip on her computer, Debby understood why people thought this child could be her son. During Debby’s weekend adoption course, the managing director for the St. Louis County Adoption Division handed out binders full of biographies on children available for adoption. When Debby received one of the binders and flipped it open, it was on Alan’s page. She felt that was yet another sign from God. She requested more in-depth information about Alan, and was saddened to find that Alan had been in care for 10 years. During that time, he had lived in numerous placements and had hoped for permanency many times. When each of these plans failed, a very disappointed young boy was sent back to a residential facility to start the process over again. Debby wanted to know more about Alan, and called his case worker the following Monday. She eventually got to meet Alan, and the afternoon outing went so well that Debby knew this child was destined to become her son. Debby continued her adoption coursework and visited with Alan more frequently. Alan told Debby if he was adopted, his dream would be to have his parents welcome him home with balloons and a pet fish. “When we found out we were selected as a placement for Alan, we surprised him, balloons in hand, as he came home from school. That evening, we went out to celebrate and stopped to buy fish on the way home,” said Debby. Alan has been with them ever since, although he has gone through a couple of fish! Debby described the first five months with Alan as sort of a “honeymoon period.” After that, it became evident that it would take a lot of patience and strength to learn how to parent a child who had been in the foster care system for so many years. It has been almost two years since Alan’s adoption became final, and Debby says their family has been through some amazing changes. Debby expressed, “I have learned through it all that stability, love, dedication, persistence and grace can make a difference in all of us.” On top of her busy family life and advocating for the teen mentioned earlier, Debby advocates for five children in two additional cases. She approaches all her cases by balancing out each child’s needs and desires with what is in his or her best interest. “I believe the approach and purpose of a CASA is unique from other members on the team because we can spend the necessary time on a very personal level with everyone involved with the children and give input into the care for the children we serve.” “I was looking for an organization where I could volunteer my time, energy, passion and resources to make a direct impact in my community. CASA has given me to the chance to be a part of that one child at a time,” affirmed Debby. |
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