CASA: One person can make a difference
One of the best decisions I’ve made in my life has been becoming a CASA volunteer, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. Upon my initial interest to volunteer, I met Wenonoa Spivak, Director of Programs and Education at CASA of Jackson County. I knew at that moment she was a special woman. Her passion for teaching, helping and advocating is contagious. Below, I discuss with Wenonoa her involvement with CASA and how it has changed her life.
Tell me about where your passion for helping came from.
My passion came from my grandmother, who was a teacher her whole life and was very influential to me. I lived with her over breaks and summer, and when I decided to go to college, I moved to the state of Washington to be closer to her. When I told her about the Peace Corps program, she encouraged me to go. So from 1996 to 1998 right after college I went to Central America. My grandmother’s encouragement and my experience in the Peace Corps inspired me to always work at a position where I would be serving and helping others.
What drew you to CASA?
CASA has a unique nature of education, social service and advocacy, which is my background. While living in Salem, Oregon, I took the training to become a CASA, and then my husband and I got the opportunity to move to Micronesia, another third world country, and we couldn’t pass up the chance to help. When we returned and moved to Medford, I was planning on focusing on my dissertation when my husband found a job opening at CASA and showed it to me. CASA is the best way to help the most vulnerable and to really put children on a healthy and safe path to being productive, happy adults.
What is your favorite part of being involved in CASA?
Seeing the volunteers impact children. Watching CASAs stand up in court and seeing the parents rely on CASAs. The volunteers are on the front line impacting these children’s lives. It is proven that a relationship with one healthy person helps overcome trauma and mental health, and that is what a CASA volunteer is doing for these children every day. CASAs access and hold all the information about the child and have a 360-degree view. Every case should have a CASA, and every child deserves a CASA.
What do you do to take care of yourself with such a demanding job?
My husband is my rock and my champion. He is always there cheering me on, coming to CASA events when he can. He keeps me sane, and I don’t know what my life would be without him. I also enjoy reading lighthearted books. I try to stay away from heavy reading at home since I am surrounded by trauma at work. I also have a good circle of friends, and I enjoy physical activity like biking. Just last night I went on a bike ride and couldn’t stop smiling, it truly makes me happy.
What lessons are you grateful for working at CASA?
There is always hope. Everyone deserves a chance. This may sound idealistic, but there is good in everybody. And finally, one person can make a difference.
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More people can be a CASA than think they can, and Wenonoa encourages everyone to stop by an orientation to learn more about the program, held every Thursday from 12 to 1 p.m. at CASA of Jackson County. Each person can make a difference in a child’s life, and CASA is a wonderful organization to help anyone be a part of the change they wish to see in the world.
For more information on CASA, go to the website below.
