My Role as a Child Advocate

Last week, I shared a post about an award I received for my Child Advocate role, but I realized I didn’t really explain what that role means. A few people asked about it, and I truly appreciate the interest (and kind words related to my award).

In my county, a Child Advocate is a volunteer who helps ensure children in foster care have someone speaking up for their voice and best interests in court. You may also hear this role called a GAL (Guardian ad Litem) or CASA (Court Appointed Child Advocate), and those roles are often paid positions. My role continues even if the child has an assigned attorney and until they go into guardianship with their caregivers or are returned to a bioparent.

Each month, I visit my kiddos in their foster homes to see how they’re doing, what they need, and what activities are keeping them busy. I also check in with teachers, caregivers/foster parents, biological parents, siblings, and others in their lives so I can understand the full picture. I share what I learn with the court through written and verbal reports a handful times a year.

I’ve learned a lot about helping an incarcerated parent stay connected with their children, including navigating communication rules across facilities in another state. Because it matters for the kids, I also help support their communication with the broader team, including the social worker and their attorney.

The heart of this role is about helping children feel safe, heard, and supported when they need it most. With about 5,500 kids in foster care in Washington and roughly 330,000 across the USA, the need is real—and so is the opportunity to make a difference.