THE August ADVOCATE OF THE MONTH IS:
Tonie Sikes
It is our pleasure to recognize Tonie Sikes as our August Advocate of the Month! An advocate for eight years, Tonie brings a wealth of experience to her current case, which she recently took over after the prior advocate of two years was unable to continue. Tonie graciously stepped in to ensure that the two girls involved continued to have someone in their corner every step of the way.
A two-year-old case involves a significant amount of history, and Tonie has taken the time to learn as much as she can about the case and the children, carefully reading through information and seeking to understand the circumstances surrounding their lives. Her preparation reflects the care and commitment she brings to her role as an advocate.
Even when one of the children, a teen, has been hesitant to communicate with her, Tonie has remained patient and consistent. Rather than becoming discouraged, she continues to show up, build trust, and give her teen the time and space needed to feel comfortable with her. Knowing that her nudges must be gentle, Tonie emailed the teen weekly. In her first email, she said, “I hear you prefer not to return my calls. I understand that. You did not choose me to be your new CASA. That’s just one more thing you didn’t have a choice in. Here’s my side of our situation. I CHOSE YOU. I had a choice.” She also ended each message with a silly joke, such as: What do you call an angry carrot? A steamed veggie!
Tonie’s willingness to patiently nurture that relationship is a powerful example of what it means to advocate for a child. It is also a beautiful illustration of how patience combined with persistence pays off because this teen has slowly begun to trust Tonie and open up to her, including showing interest in self-advocacy. We are grateful for Tonie’s faithfulness, compassion, and dedication. Her steady presence and commitment reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful advocacy begins simply with being willing to keep showing up.