Shelley Thompson was busy waiting. She stayed patient and focused as years went by, sitting tight for over a decade, until she could finally become a CASA Volunteer.
“I read about CASA in the paper and held onto it for years,” said Shelley. “I thought, ‘When I have the bandwidth, I’m going to do that.’”
When her two kids went off to college and her workload lightened a bit, she eagerly signed up. Little did Shelley know, her newly assigned CASA youth had been waiting for years as well.
Shelley entered a young girl’s life two years after a CASA Volunteer had been requested. She had already been in the foster care system for four years. Due to long waitlists and a high need for resources, this child was unable to receive the support she would ultimately benefit from until Shelley entered her life.
It seems like Shelley and this child waited for each other, and they have now walked alongside one another for over two years.
The child has experienced many changes throughout her life, but as soon as Shelley entered the picture, she finally had some consistency.
“In my two-plus years as a CASA Volunteer, this child has been in six placements and four schools,” said Shelley. “I have been the only consistent thread. I’ve walked into different placements, and she has fixed in on me as the only one she knows.”
They spend regular time together at the park and gym, getting a lot of exercise and being inquisitive. Shelley has supported this youth in some of her most challenging of times, as well as in the brighter moments. She has ensured that this child never needs to wait for support again.
In fact, Shelley recently moved 200 miles away from her assigned youth due to a career shift. It was something she did not see coming, but she knew that no matter what, she was not going to let this change prevent her from showing up for her CASA child.
“I drive back and forth – 200 miles each way – to see her two to three times a month,” said Shelley. “Being a CASA feels powerful, real, and is certainly transformative. I am going to see this through.”
When Shelley isn’t driving 400 miles, she does hot yoga and takes tap dancing classes. She has learned that self-care is imperative as a CASA Volunteer, and it is obvious that she will not let anything stand in the way of her fulfilling this commitment, especially after such a long wait.
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