Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Anne Bristow
Anne Bristow, CASA volunteer
When Anne first met June, her CASA youth, June was 14 years old. June readily admits she was, “a bratty teenager who was afraid. I backed away, didn’t want to give Miss Anne a chance. I was sure she was just another person going to disappoint me, hurt me, and fail me.”
Spoiler Alert: Next month, June turns 21, her case will close, her time in foster care will end and the court order that’s empowered Anne as her advocate for nearly 7 years, will be null and void. But their relationship? That endures.
“She changed me,” shares June. “Miss Anne is the best thing to happen to me and I love her. She’s always been on my side, and always honest with me. I really was a negative person but she changed that. I’m so positive now. I tell her often, ‘If I didn’t have you, I don’t know where I’d be.’ ”
Advocacy Great and Small
The years leading up to now were hard-fought. For Anne, the toughest part was navigating the complexities of the child welfare system, and the state’s anti-discrimination laws for LGBTQIA+ youth, all to ensure June had safe and appropriate housing.
Today, the pair talk every couple days, text in between and see one another often. Says June, “Anne’s just part of my life now. There were many birthdays I was alone, until I wasn’t – because Miss Anne would be there. She remembers things others don’t and reaches out to celebrate them with me.
Even smaller-scale acts of advocacy are big wins to June. “I had been afraid to do things or say things, and I couldn’t tell anyone. But not with Miss Anne. I can tell her anything and we figure it out. I have learning disabilities and she’s even helped me send emails and make phone calls. There were times I would just shut down, but now I can express what I’m feeling.”
Becoming a Volunteer Advocate
Anne began looking for volunteering opportunities after seeing her two sons off to college. After learning the role of a CASA volunteer and its value for vulnerable children living in foster care, she knew becoming an advocate was for her. And, she jokes, she’d already been honing her skills and didn’t know it.
“Being a parent is on the job training and that’s where I learned the importance of advocacy,” says Anne. “For my own kids, it was educational and medical advocacy. I realized that effective advocacy for a CASA youth is what I’d been doing for my own children for many years!”
As an advocate, she says, “I’ve learned the value of being patient and looking at things from my youth’s perspective. I’ve become more aware and understanding of significant hurdles parents face: lack of resources, mental health issues, substance use disorder, and lack of housing.” She adds, “Most parents want the best for their children and need help and access to resources that CASA volunteers can help provide.”
For those on the fence about becoming a CASA volunteer, unsure they can do it, Anne’s answer is simple: “I tell people I don’t have any legal or medical training but I do have a naturally curious mind, and I am a strong communicator. I am a good listener and I ask questions; those are two essential skills.”
Says Jill Rebeor, Anne's supervisor, “Anne has gone above and beyond in advocating for her CASA youth. In addition to remaining connected, her case notes are always up to date, she submits court reports in a timely manner, and even stays in contact with her supervisor when away. In the last six months alone, Anne's spent 115 hours on her case and I'm sure she’s not accounting for all her time! Her dedication is very much appreciated.”
The Road Ahead
June reflects, “I was a kid when I met Miss Anne. It’s cool to have someone watch me grow as a person. Do I wish my parents had? Sure, but sometimes you don’t get everything in life. I’m proud of Miss Anne for putting up with me and sticking it out. I feel like she’s been the only person. She’s my emergency contact. She’s the person who will be there to answer my call.”
There’s a saying about all endings also being new beginnings. We can’t wait to see what this next chapter brings for June as she ventures out and forges onward. Admitting she doesn’t know just what her future holds, of this she is certain: “I know Miss Anne will be there to see me keep growing.”