Volunteer Spotlight on Retiree Donald Stripling
Although Don is now retired from his CASA Volunteer work, his thoughts about his years as a child advocate are valuable today.
What do you enjoy about your CASA service?
Every child deserves a stable life. Helping make that possible is my greatest joy.
What is the hardest thing about being a CASA volunteer?
As a retired structural engineer, my career prepared me to see things as black or white, never gray. Getting acclimated to the dependency court system took getting used to—realizing there is gray.
What is the most surprising thing that has happened to you as a CASA volunteer?
I am impressed by the wide diversity of my fellow volunteers' abilities and their availability to advise me in areas where I need it.
There are so many people involved in a child’s case: their family, the foster family, school, doctors, caseworkers, and so on. How do you stay organized? What are some tips you would give a new CASA volunteer?
I keep a separate file folder of every correspondence I have with all the players involved. In addition, I keep a log of meetings and correspondence, highlighting important areas I need to attend to and read that log frequently.
Why should someone take the step to become a CASA volunteer? How has it changed your life?
There is such a need for this effort. Every child is one adult away from becoming a success story. Father Flanagan said, "When you help a child today, you write the history of tomorrow." May that be my legacy.
