Advocate Spotlight: Terrie MacLaren
December Advocate Interview
1. How long have you been an Advocate and when did you realize you wanted to become one?
I had heard about CASA when I lived in other states and always felt called to do it, but never really explored what it might entail. This year I started volunteering at the Vault, an organization that gives clothing and supplies to new foster parents. Seeing the children who had just been placed into care pulled at my heartstrings, and again, I thought of being a CASA. One day, I worked with a volunteer who had been a CPS caseworker and she convinced me to make the leap. I went through training in June of 2019 and got my first case in August.
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an Advocate?
I should probably say the most rewarding aspect of being an advocate is feeling that I am making a positive impact on children's lives no matter how small it is. And that's true. That's the big picture. But honestly, it's the human connection with these little people who have had adults in their lives who have let them down. Now they can count on their team, of which you are one, to gradually begin to repair the physical and emotional holes in their lives. You help them feel safe, cared for, and important. Their little hugs around your neck and high fives when they see you are priceless. Taking them on an outing to the library that might bore some other child, but they act like you've taken them to Disney World. Getting a picture of a Christmas tree instead of some of the other terrifying scenes they have drawn for you with their name next to yours on the bottom when they didn't even know the alphabet six months ago. Watching them gradually heal and becoming a tribe with them and the others dedicated to saving them. I try to imagine my CASA kids twenty years from now and I envision them flourishing because of what we have done for them today.
3. If you could offer words of encouragement to your fellow and incoming Advocates, what would they be?
I think most of us go into this knowing there will be good days and bad days, but I would encourage new CASAs that the good far outweighs the bad. I wasn't sure that would be the case at first. When I got my case, I listed all the issues for each child along with the steps I thought might solve the problem and how I was going to proceed. That was my former military and healthcare training kicking in. I was in for a rude awakening when I realized that there were so many moving parts (I have four children in my case) and a variety of other professionals who also had opinions and were not interested in me waving my magic wand to solve issues! I'm learning the art of gentle diplomacy, rejoicing in tiny victories when they occur, and accepting it when what I would like to happen doesn't. I would encourage new CASAs to celebrate any baby steps you are able to influence. Keep good notes because those court reports sneak up on you. Find a way to stay organized (I am still working on this!). And log your information in Optima as soon as possible. My husband knows nothing about my case, but he does know the term Optima!
In September 2024, the department first became involved with a family of five following allegations of substance abuse and medical neglect concerning the mother. Child Protective Investigations (CPI) initially sought to keep the family together by implementing a safety plan with fictive kin—a family the mother and children had met during their stay at Haven for Hope. The hope was that this new placement would provide stability for the children while keeping them safely with someone familiar. For a few weeks, it seemed to be working. But on October 29, 2024, the mother told the fictive kin she was going to retrieve her remaining belongings from Haven for Hope—and never returned. From November 2024 through February 2025, CPS continued its efforts to locate her while supporting the kinship placement and meeting the children’s needs. In January 2025, the kinship placement informed the department that she could no longer care for the youngest child, Ava, due to her severe behavioral needs. Faced with these challenges, the department made the difficult decision to file for removal to provide more comprehensive support for the children and the kinship caregivers. Ava was quickly placed in a foster home in February 2025, while her three brothers remained with fictive kin. Around this time, CASA Staff Advocate JoAnn Herring was assigned to the case. By April 2025, safety concerns prompted the immediate removal of the boys. They were placed in an emergency shelter while the department and JoAnn worked tirelessly to explore placing them with their sister in her foster home. Caring for four children is a big ask, especially for new foster parents, but with support from JoAnn and the department, the foster family rose to the challenge. By May 2025, all four siblings were finally reunited under one roof—a first major victory for this family. Even with the siblings together, challenges remained. The children had significant medical and educational needs. Michael, who had experienced medical neglect while in his mother’s care, was diagnosed with Stage 5 chronic kidney disease, requiring frequent doctor visits, hospital stays, and surgery. During these times, JoAnn visited the hospital regularly, offering support and encouragement to both Michael and his foster parents. JoAnn also worked closely with the department and foster family to ensure the other children—Ava, Mateo, and Leo—received the therapeutic and educational support they needed. Through Collaborative Family Engagement meetings, the team created a comprehensive plan addressing the children’s medical, educational, and therapeutic needs, with the goal of preventing placement disruption and ensuring the foster parents felt supported. Today, all four children are enrolled in school with 504 plans in place, and Michael has access to wrap-around medical services—another major triumph. The foster parents now feel confident in their ability to meet the children’s needs, and if the parents remain disengaged, the case may ultimately move toward termination. While that possibility is heartbreaking, the family has a permanent, loving home ready to care for them. Michael, though still facing significant medical challenges, has a strong team advocating for him every step of the way. This story is still unfolding, but it highlights the power of teamwork, advocacy, and dedication in helping children find stability, care, and hope. It’s a reminder of what can be achieved when community, department staff, and CASA advocates go above and beyond to support children and families in need.
Sol Arena Russo
