Over the course of her 12-year service at Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire, Alison Lawrence has gained a bit of a reputation. She’s even earned herself a nickname: The Finisher. And while this all sounds quite ominous, it’s actually much the opposite.

One of the first things you’d notice when meeting Alison is that, judging by her accent, she’s not from “around here.” In 2001, Alison and her family moved from England to New England when her husband accepted a job in New Hampshire. Since she came to the states on his work visa, Alison wasn’t allowed to obtain paid employment herself. She had been an elementary school teacher in London, so she began volunteering at her children’s school. She continued to look for volunteer opportunities and when she discovered CASA, Alison felt like it was a perfect fit.

Alison has worked on a wide array of cases. She has seen children adopted and she’s seen families reunified. She’s had cases where she and DCYF were in agreement, and others where the facts led her to a different conclusion.

In one case, Alison believed that reunification was safe and possible when DCYF felt otherwise. Ultimately the judge agreed with Alison and the family was reunified. “That was hard,” Alison says. “It felt really difficult to be in opposition to DCYF, but it was hugely satisfying to think how hard we worked to get that little girl to go home, which was not going to happen otherwise. It was really wonderful for the judge to listen and to make you feel like your thoughts matter.”

The value judges place on the CASA’s insight is one constant Alison has experienced throughout her cases. “I’ve had the judge lean across the bench to me and say, ‘So come on Alison, what do you think?’ And that’s because very often you are the one who sees that family the most. You do have a closer point of contact.” By working on only one or two cases at a time, the CASA is able to get to know the child themselves, the parents, and the various issues, needs, and family dynamics at play more acutely than perhaps anyone else working on that case. They pick up on things others might miss and they see the continuum of whether parents are making the necessary progress.

Alison says adoptions are “absolutely adorable and the most beautiful thing you’ll ever get see.” As the advocate for infant twins who were taken into care immediately from the hospital, Alison was there to see their adoption.

Sadly, Alison reports she’s witnessed a rise in the number of cases involving infants due to the opioid crises. More babies are being born substance-exposed to parents who are unable to care for them due in large part to their substance misuse. “People often say to me, ‘Oh, I don’t know how you could do that work, it would break my heart, it’s so sad.’ But I think it’s the complete opposite! It’s not sad at all. We all know these terrible things go on, but let’s make the best of what is happening. Let’s try to improve it! I saw two children get adopted into a family where they mean the world. Can you give me a better example of something with a more phenomenal outcome?”

Teenagers, on the other hand, pose their own set of hurdles. “My very first case was probably the most challenging. It was an older youth who had so many opinions on what he thought was best. When you’re in a bad situation you lash out at everybody. But as crazy as it is, I feel like sometimes I have the worst relationship with a teenager, yet they contact me when they need someone. You realize that they don’t see me as the enemy, they actually see me as being quite supportive of them.”

It’s through some of these cases and others like them that Alison earned her CASA moniker, The Finisher. As Alison attests, “if you call me and you’re in a pinch, I’ll say yes.” Once CASA staff discovered this, along with her ability to always stay neutral and to see the big picture, Alison’s phone began ringing with requests for her to step in when other CASAs had to leave a case. Alison would see these cases through to the end, ensuring each child continued to receive the attention and support that a CASA provides.

To those wondering how a CASA even begins a case, Alison advises, “Just be you. Treat this as if you weren’t doing it in a legal way, and you’re actually just a friend of the family. If you had just met somebody, what would you say to them? Just remember you’re talking to another human, and all the other stuff will come in time. It absolutely is a whole new world, and you’re learning on your feet. You’ll get there, and you’ll always have the support of people around you within the organization.”

One could spend a lifetime doing this work and still encounter new things. Having worked with 17 children on 13 different cases, Alison hasn’t “seen it all,” but her experience is considerable. So, it’s significant that she emphatically (and frequently) encourages others to consider becoming a CASA. “When people say they’ve thought about doing this, but it would be too sad, it would break their heart, I ask them, ‘is it better for you to deal with that, or for it not to be dealt with at all?’ I tell them they will be fine, and that they will have cases that are so heartwarming it will balance it all out. Yes, these are difficult situations, but we’re always aiming to get the best outcome.”

For some lucky and deserving children, The Finisher was on the job to help them reach their best outcome. For others, it could be you.

If you would like to become a CASA volunteer, consider attending an upcoming virtual information session to learn more, or submit an application today. 

Jeanmarie Foisie with her granddaughter.

When Jeanmarie Foisie discovered CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of New Hampshire in 2013, she was in the grips of a pain no parent should ever have to bear. Jeanmarie and her husband had recently lost their 19-year-old son, and she felt as though she was walking through life in a fog of grief.

The Foisies were also new residents of the Granite State, which added further layers to navigate as they tried to find their bearings in their new reality.

One day, while she sat off to the side in a Starbucks as her daughter chatted with a friend, Jeanmarie looked up and she says it literally felt as if the fog lifted. Her eyes locked on a CASA of NH poster, and to Jeanmarie that poster shone a beam of hope into the darkness: a hope that would bring a healing sense of purpose through helping others.

Jeanmarie had been a teacher for 25 years in Connecticut, and technically she was retired since her move. Given that she had always worked to support the wellbeing of children, the role of a CASA immediately interested her. After much research and contemplation around whether working with abused and neglected children would help her, or if it would pain her more, she decided that this was a concrete and needed way to work through her grief. After completing the training, Jeanmarie was hooked. “It was absolutely the right path for me,” she says.

The CASA organization serves children of all ages, from days-old babies to teenagers right up until they turn 18 (in certain cases 21) and age out of state care. During her eight years as a CASA, Jeanmarie has chosen to work with a lot of teenagers. “I’m a believer in the importance of having that one trusted adult,” she says. “The most rewarding thing to me is feeling that you’ve made a connection with the child. Those relationships and that trust take a little time to build. With the little ones it doesn’t take long before they’re up in your lap, and they’re hugging you, and they embrace you pretty much right away. The teenagers are different, you absolutely have to build that trust.”

Jeanmarie distinctly remembers the first time, with her first CASA teenager, where she really won her trust. “We were in court, and the child’s mother, who was usually at the hearings despite her struggles, didn’t come. The child was anxious and worried about her mother. She was seated at one table and I was at another. She turned and looked at me and asked if I could sit with her. This was when I really felt that the girl now viewed me as a caring adult in her life.”

This is just one example of how Jeanmarie has been a positive force in her case children’s lives. Another is the girl she is working with now, who somedays calls Jeanmarie two or three times, just because she needs to know someone is listening to her. “Looking back at the teenagers I’ve worked with, sometimes they’re so untrusting. They don’t want to be in care and they’re fighting it. It’s meaningful when you can become that person who they call when they need someone to talk to.”

In the case of another girl who was soon to turn 18, Jeanmarie was able to guide the child to stay within the child protective system so she wouldn’t lose access to beneficial services. “She wanted to be out of care so, so badly,” recounts Jeanmarie. “I think the teenagers reach a point where they don’t want to be told what to do. When you can sit and reason with a child and say, ‘let’s look at what your life would look like without staying in care and without any support systems in place, and then let’s look at what it would look like if you stayed in care where you’re afforded these specific supports.’ When you can break through and have them come to the decision that is in their best interest, then I feel like I did my job.”

Jeanmarie encourages others to consider joining her as a CASA. “It’s one of the most altruistic organizations I’ve ever been connected to. It is filled with good people. When you take that risk and become a CASA, your thinking will expand.” She points out that, “If you have any trepidation, it’s okay. CASA doesn’t need you to be sure all the time. They want you to ask questions. Every uncertainty I had was answered, and that put me at ease. The court system can be hard to navigate, but you have so much support with CASA.”

Jeanmarie and her husband live on a farm raising 22 cows on a picturesque 70 acres with their daughter, Lily, and nearby to their son, daughter-in-law, and first grandchild.  In addition to Jeanmarie’s work as a CASA, the family has established other ways to help youth in their community. A couple of years ago they created a workshop program wherein they sponsor a graduating high school senior who is interested in pursuing a trade, and whose life includes some type of hardship. They match the teen with a contractor, and for two years they mentor the student and pay their salary so it’s not a burden on the contractor. In return the contractor spends time teaching the student in a culture that is positive and supportive. This program is an enduring tribute to their son, who was a carpenter.

If you would like to become a CASA volunteer, consider attending an upcoming virtual information session to learn more, or submit an application today. 

Deb Zimmermann’s determination, passion and commitment exemplify what makes CASA volunteer advocates such a gift to so many children. Her generosity of spirit and time (13 years, 40 children and 22 cases) continue to transform young lives of all ages. Her ongoing financial support has also helped further CASA’s critical mission.

Deb came to CASA after working as a residential counselor in a home for girls. She was struck by the relationship that one of the girls had with her CASA volunteer advocate and the significant impact it made on the young girl’s life. After serving on a variety of boards, Deb decided to become an advocate — as she says, “in order to serve in a more direct role.”

Time and time again, Deb’s advocacy work has illustrated just how crucial it is for children who have experienced abuse or neglect to have a CASA in their lives. There was the instance of an adolescent whose out-of-home placement wasn’t a good fit. The child didn’t want to speak up because the placement was still better than the environment he’d been removed from. However, Deb sensed that something was bothering him, and she was able to earn the youth’s trust to the point where he opened up about his concerns.

Another example of where Deb’s work made a true impact involved a child whose adoption fell though. It was just after the child’s birthday, and they were stuck in a bleak limbo while DCYF struggled to find another appropriate placement. During this dismal time, while the child struggled with feelings of rejection and abandonment, Deb was the only person who visited. A couple of times a week she’d go to play cards, keep the child company, and let them know someone cared. Though heartbreaking for Deb to witness at the time, the case had a happy conclusion, and the child is now living with a relative. As Deb can attest to, “Letting a child know you are in their corner can make a world of difference.”

The “secret” to Deb’s longstanding service with CASA is actually quite evident: she’s here for the children. As she says, “The kids are the best. They’re what keep me doing this. I’ve met some amazing, awesome kids, and established meaningful relationships. It’s incredible to see their resiliency, and their capacity to forgive. Seeing how traumatized they are, and their ability to come out the other side, has taught me lessons for my own life.”

Deb explains that the CASA volunteer role is for someone who is willing to put the work in to get the emotional rewards. “You’ll be making a difference and doing something meaningful that changes people’s lives. It’s not for the faint of heart, you have to be willing—willing to go to the court, to schools, to meetings. You have to be willing to devote the time, to be there for the kids, and to come in with an open mind. But if you want to help people, this is the way to do it.”

Deb and her husband Christian, President of the New England Group for CRH Americas Materials Inc., have also been donors to CASA for a number of years, and Pike Industries (part of CRH) has sponsored CASA events.

If you would like to become a CASA volunteer, consider attending an upcoming virtual information session to learn more, or submit an application today. 

Professor. Downhill skier. Globetrotter. Father and grandfather. Sailor. In 2020, Howard Hughes added to this impressive list when he made the decision to venture out of his comfort zone (something he’s fond of doing) and become a CASA volunteer advocate. Howard enjoys children so as he neared retirement he took his sister’s suggestion (a former CASA herself) and began looking into Court Appointed Special Advocates of New Hampshire.

Howard is now on his third case with CASA and the longtime educator is continually learning, a favorite hobby of his. At the start of his first case with a seven-year-old, Howard says he felt slightly “amnesic” about what a second-grader would be interested in. But his focus on interacting with children at their level is the important part; he can discover their interests and favorite activities along the way.

Howard has found that the role of a CASA can sometimes be challenging, but he has learned to use lots of persistence and some creativity to get around obstacles. He once texted a photo of himself to a parent with a message that Howard’s only job was to look out for the child. Howard reports this finally helped the parent feel comfortable to connect with him, as he could see that Howard was a kind person who was there to help.

Once, when trying to get two adversarial parents to work together for their child’s sake, Howard illustrated his point with a sports reference.  “I told them that I was getting them all the same color t-shirt, so that we remember we’re on the same team.  When sharing custody, the one thing you have together is your little girl. So let’s try to be teammates when it comes to her.”

And he’s learned about some of the factors that force children into the child protective system, including substance misuse. Before becoming a CASA, Howard had little knowledge of addiction. Yet all three of his cases largely hinge on the fallout caused by it. Here, he isn’t alone. Since the rise of the opioid epidemic, the majority of cases CASA takes on involve substance misuse—something most volunteers are inexperienced with when they first come to the program. This is why CASA works diligently to train volunteers and provide them with resources to increase their knowledge and awareness.

“Every parent I’ve worked with as a CASA has had obvious problems with opiates and other substances. And almost all of them claim that their parents had the same problem. This stuff gets transmitted from one generation to the next, but that doesn’t mean it’s genetic. There’s a cultural element.” But Howard knows that addictions don’t have to get passed on to the next generation. His hope is that through his work as a CASA, he can help the children he serves to have a better life than their parents and their grandparents have had.

Much of the knowledge and skills a CASA needs are learned in the pre-service training that they all receive. But some of it, Howard reports, you learn by doing. “It’s learning to pay attention to what’s going on to see if you can determine what might be beneath the surface.”

Since becoming a CASA advocate, one moment towards the end of his first case stands out as particularly meaningful to Howard. He met the father outside in a parking lot, and as they were walking around, the man told Howard that he’d decided that he wanted to be as good a dad as he could be—that he was going to let go of other things, and focus on that. “I told him ‘I just love it when you talk that way, that’s what we’re going for.’”

“There have been times like these where I have been driving home from meeting with a parent and their children, and it has put me in a fabulous, euphoric mood. Not to say that other times it hasn’t put me in a bad mood. It’s real life. I’m not discouraged because somebody has to try and help. To throw up your hands and do nothing isn’t going to solve anything,” Howard concludes.

If you would like to become a CASA volunteer, consider attending an upcoming virtual information session to learn more, or submit an application today. 

Kathy Johnson has built a life on caring for others. During her career in nursing, she taught nursing students how to care for children with special needs. At home, she raised her four children, and is now a grandmother of 10 (not one to sit idle, Kathy crocheted a blanket for each grandchild last winter during the pandemic lockdown). So, it’s no surprise that after retiring in 2016, Kathy took on the role of CASA volunteer advocate. She had a coworker who was involved with CASA, and Kathy thought it sounded like the type of thing she would enjoy, and a good opportunity to give back to her community.

Having now spent over five years as a CASA, advocating for close to 20 children, all of the cases stand out to her in some way. “I developed a pretty close relationship with a little girl on one of my cases. I looked forward to my visits with her probably as much as she did. She always sticks out in my mind, as well as her caregivers. It meant a lot to me. That case had a relatively good outcome for the child, and I felt good about it.”

Part of what has surprised Kathy the most during her time volunteering is the enormous demand. “There are just so many children at risk in this world today, even in rural New Hampshire.” As with many CASA advocates, the learning experience hasn’t ended there. “My long-ago idea of what a perfect family life is has changed a lot. But as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized that everybody has struggles, and there’s no shame in it. I’ve learned that it’s ok to ask, and people should ask, for help. Raising a family in the best of circumstances is challenging, and when you’re not in the best of circumstances it’s even more so.”

For Kathy, the most satisfying part of her work as a CASA is when she’s able to get kids to tell her what’s really important to them. “Kids are a lot like adults in that sometimes they hide their feelings. Maybe they really don’t want to go back with their parents, but they feel like they should say they do. So, to me it’s meaningful if I can really understand what that child is trying to tell me.”

For those considering volunteering, Kathy explains “It’s work, but not a lot of work—although there are certainly cases that require more time and attention than others. But it’s important to know that you can ask for help as a CASA and that CASA has a good support system. Anyone can do this work with some help and advice from others. And you really do feel like you make a difference.”

If you would like to become a CASA volunteer, consider attending an upcoming virtual information session to learn more, or submit an application today.