Angela Langstrom (holding award) with her family, Children's Voice: CASA staff and Judge Peggy Walker

Angela Langstrom, the 2013 CASA Volunteer of the Year in Georgia from Children's Voice: CASA in Douglas County, recently shared her thoughts on being a CASA volunteer.

Georgia CASA: When did you become a CASA volunteer?

Angela: I became a CASA volunteer on October 18, 2010.

Georgia CASA: How did you learn about CASA? What made you want to become involved?

Angela: My husband, Peter saw an advertisement recruiting CASA volunteers in a local magazine and thought I would enjoy doing this type of work based on our family history. We are adoptive parents of three children. Our daughter, Imani (13 years old), was adopted at birth, privately. Siblings Erik (12 years old) and Naya (11 years old and special needs), were adopted through the foster care system in California. They were two and three years old when they first came to our home and had been in four foster homes before coming to ours. They were in the foster care system due to neglect. We spent three years battling the courts in California to have their voices heard and become a forever family. To us, it felt like no matter how loudly we complained to the courts and their social workers (they had at least five different workers during this time), no one seemed to care what they were going through. They were re-traumatized every time they were forced to have visitation with their biological parents. Erik and Naya were often picked up by DFCS (Department of Family and Children Services) transporters while at school and without our knowledge for visitation with their birthparents. Peter and I had no way of preparing them for these visits and were often left to pick up the pieces afterwards. Naya was expelled from several schools due to her adverse behaviors following visitation. Our frustrations left me with a desire to change the way things were done for children in the foster care system, and hopes of sparing any other family from going through what we did. So when I heard about the CASA program, I thought this would be the portal for change I was looking for.

Georgia CASA: What qualities do you think are important to have as a CASA volunteer?

Angela: The most important qualities for a CASA volunteer to have are (1) a compassionate heart, (2) diplomacy, (3) objectivity, (4) the ability to listen (especially to the things not being said), and (5) a good poker face (because many of the things you see and hear as a CASA volunteer may shock you).

Georgia CASA: What has been your greatest challenge as a CASA volunteer?

Angela: My greatest challenge as a CASA volunteer is continually ensuring that I remain objective in my court reporting. Often, I become emotionally connected to the children and families I serve. While this is not ideal, it is true for me. I am always conscious of my duty to advocate for the child's best interests and ensure that my recommendations to the court are fact based and not emotionally driven.

Continued...Click here to finish reading the article.