THE JULY ADVOCATE OF THE MONTH IS:
BETHANY MARIER
We are honored to have Bethany Marier as our July Advocate of The Month. It’s uncommon that an advocate must step away from their case and child before it ends but sometimes life doesn’t give them a choice. Bethany accepted a case earlier this year that had this circumstance. Bethany had to play catch up and learn about a child that has been in foster care for 4 years and all his history. She spent countless hours learning about his past placements, trauma, and the many individuals that have been in and out of his life. She was determined to learn everything she could about her CASA child to truly understand his needs, next steps, and best ways to bond with him going forward.
Bethany is known to give her whole heart into the children she serves. When she realized her CASA child didn’t have a family consistently in his corner, she set out to help create one. She arranged zoom calls with his placement once a week, so he has someone to talk to about his week, how school is going, and all the fun activities he has planned for the summer and reconnected him with his grandparents and sister to have zoom visits. Her visits with her CASA child aren’t just about checking off a box. She sincerely cares for his future and desire for a family. When he has a hard day or questions, he knows he can call Bethany and she’ll answer. On the last visit she made to him, he asked if she could bring cinnamon rolls and if they could bake cookies together. She told him absolutely and brought homemade cinnamon rolls and cookie kits for all the boys in the home to bake together.
Bethany shows the true meaning behind being a CASA, caring deeply for our kids and making sure they know someone is always in their corner to call on a bad day or to bake cookies on a sunny summer afternoon. Bethany’s consistency and passion for CASA and her CASA child is truly inspiring.