Mother and Daughter Share a Passion for CASA

As Mother’s Day approaches, we stop and say thank you to the mothers in our lives who poured so much love, care and hard work into raising us. But at CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), we know too many children do not have positive maternal figures in their lives.

A CASA volunteer’s role is to speak up in court for those children who don’t have a voice. When unfortunate circumstances such as abuse or neglect befall a child, their CASA supports them.

After moving back to Texas from living abroad about five years ago, Windy Calvert wanted to find a way to help children in need. She came across Child Advocates of Fort Bend, which combined her background in politics and passion for child welfare. She dove right in and is now working on her fifth case.

Calvert’s first case was a baby named Andrew, who was born drug-addicted due to his mother’s substance abuse during her pregnancy. After diligently working on the case for many months, she eventually succeeded in securing Andrew a permanent, loving, adoptive home.

This intense case sparked her passion to make a difference for other children through CASA. Her work earned her Child Advocates of Fort Bend’s Rookie of the Year award that year.

“CASA is a phenomenal program and we need more awareness for it,” said Calvert. “There needs to be better laws put in place to help these children.” CASA works not only for improved outcomes for individual children, but systemic change in the child welfare system.

Calvert’s passion for child welfare advocacy influenced her own mother, Sharon Campbell, to become a CASA volunteer. Campbell recently concluded her first CASA case.

The two women’s strong mother-daughter bond has enabled them to serve their CASA children the way members of their own family have helped them throughout their lives.

“The most rewarding aspect of becoming a CASA is the personal satisfaction that you’re helping a child who can’t help themselves,” said Campbell.

As mothers, the women attribute their love for their own children as a building block for wanting to help children in need.

This Mother’s Day, consider honoring your mother by becoming a CASA volunteer or supporting your local CASA program. Help reach our vision of a CASA for every child who needs one. Visit www.BecomeACASA.org for more information.