BECOMING A CHILD ADVOCATE
These days there are so many kids just caught up in the system. Many come from abuse and neglect and they need someone to protect their rights. Someone who is looking out for them and who is on their side. A child protective services lawyer can do this and their job is extremely important. To help those who can't help themselves is an incredible responsibility and one that is by far one of the biggest and most important jobs on the planet. A friend of mine has had a law degree for several years, but when she decided to get into the system as a child protective services attorney, I don't think that she realized how difficult a job it would be. It is a job that requires a huge amount of determination and drive. One where you can only guess whether you are representing the child's best interest or not. In some cases, the truth is very clear and obvious and this makes the job a lot easier, but in some cases trying to determine the rights and wrongs of the situation can be quite taxing. My friend says that one of the best things that they are doing now in the system is using volunteers to check out the home life, school and teacher information, and to meet with the child. These volunteers have a great responsibility and they need to take their job very seriously. They work as the eyes and ears of the court and represent what they feel is in the best interest of the child. She told me that becoming a CASA volunteer, a person who gets to advocate for children, is really easy. She told me that they do give you a course about the courts and things to look for, and then when they have a case involving a child this person asks around and does the leg work and interviews the child to help bring an overall picture to the court of what this child's life is like.
I think this is a very noble way to volunteer your time, and so I have personally begun the process of becoming a CASA volunteer. I do have the time, and I feel that those of us who have, need to give back to those who don't. It is our responsibility to stick up for those who can't stick up for themselves.