Weatherford resident Stuart Burchett, a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, has been working through the organization to help families reunite since 2008.
“It has been a rewarding way to volunteer because you help children and families get back together,” he said.
Before getting involved with CASA, Burchett helped get the Multi-County Youth & Family Services children’s home in Clinton started. This home housed children who had to be removed from their homes and needed an immediate place to stay.
Burchett was introduced to CASA while working on that project. After attending a meeting and seeing some of the young faces in foster care, he knew he had to get involved. Burchett decided it was a good way to use his time as a retiree.
Once children are removed from their home, the family goes to court to make official arrangements for custody and assign the parents to programs. Once this has been decided, a CASA volunteer is assigned to independently monitor the child’s situation.
“Our mission is to check on the children, make sure they are taken care of properly and report our findings to the court,” Burchett said. “It’s just another pair of eyes looking at these children and making sure they get what they need.”
Burchett also said he enjoys watching parents become the parents their children deserve. He does his best to develop a positive relationship with the parents so they know everyone is working together.
Burchett also enjoyed watching children come out of a bad situation and be adopted into a loving family.
Two of Burchett’s favorite memories involve this very situation.
The first child in his care to be adopted was a young, neglected boy with a deformed hand.
“The first time I went in, he was so glad to just see somebody he put his arms out to be picked up, I set him in my lap and I started to get real close to him,” Burchett said.
While this young boy was not reunited with his parents, he was taken in by a loving family. Altogether, three children in Burchett’s care have been adopted.
Burchett said he is always curious to what happened to the adoptees, but feels it is better to let the families move on with their new life.
Burchett said CASA is always in need of volunteers. Those interested can visit www.casawok.org and click on “Volunteering.”