Cynthia Wright: Building trust by showing up
At bi3, we are fortunate to work with partners committed to health equity and innovation. We are honored to share their stories and the positive impact they are making.
Cynthia Wright is a ProKids CASA volunteer. The bi3 Fund fueled ProKids’ partnership with Hamilton County Jobs and Family Services to improve care for children in the child protection system through a one-year $35,000 grant.
What made you want to become a CASA Volunteer?
I had a Spanish teacher in high school, and we stayed in touch until my thirties. She battled cancer off and on for 16 years and then lost her battle when she was in her fifties.
Since losing my favorite Spanish teacher, having thought about volunteering with ProKids, and then seeing ProKids billboards every time I went somewhere—whether at the bus stop benches or on TV—I figured life was too short. I reached back out to ProKids to start CASA University, and the rest is history. I am now seven years in!
What was it like getting your first case? How did you overcome problems?
Oh my goodness, the first case I got was easy breezy! I remember I had a 9-year-old girl, and we bonded right away. I still think about her to this day, so many years later, and I would love to see how she is doing. In that case, the paternal grandmother who had my kiddo was warm and loving. The caseworker was accessible, and most importantly, my CASA Manager, Bonnie, was awesome! She was always there for me and set the tone for what I knew my role would be and what I expected from my CASA Manager.
I remember going into that first case being a tad nervous, thinking to myself: Am I really going to be able to remember everything I learned going through CASA University? Will I mess this up? What will my approach be on how I work with the families, etc.
Luckily, I remembered a lot from my Criminal Justice background, but everything else I didn’t know fell into place. It highlights the warm feeling you get when welcomed into ProKids! You are NEVER alone!
In my second case, I overcame a lot of problems. There was always something happening. I was at the school often enough that the staff knew me by name, and I had the principal’s number on speed dial and vice versa. However, I overcame those problems by making sure I was locked in with the entire team—the school, the parent, the caseworker and the therapists. I always communicated with everyone because when you’re dealing with something of this magnitude, you want to make sure everyone is on the same page. To this day, though, that second case is by far one of the busiest I’ve had.
How do you build trust with the children you serve?
I build trust with my kiddos by getting down on their level! I am a big kid myself, so whether it’s playing with a stuffed animal or a doll, playing a board game, or going to the park and getting on the swings, I just want my kiddo to be a kid.
While these kids are dealing with grown-up problems, and it’s often too much for a child to understand all of the emotions they feel when they are separated from their parents, I like to just take some time out of the day to allow them to run around. Play is everything to me!
It’s also fun to bring them a surprise from the ProKids birthday closet when it is their birthday, go shopping through the ProKids holiday shop when it is Christmas time, or I will order a cake through a partnership ProKids teams up with.
I also build trust with my kiddos by showing up to every single visit and taking them to different events within the community. A ProKids CASA is the one constant person in their lives throughout this journey. Caseworkers come and go, therapists come and go, and even teachers sometimes come and go, but one thing is constant, and that’s me! So my kiddo knows they will see me every month, whether it’s my monthly visit, a phone call, or at an event within the community, I am there!!!
If you’re dealing with something of this magnitude, you want to make sure everyone is on the same page. To this day, though, that second case is by far one of the busiest I’ve had.
You’ve served 16 kids so far! What keeps you in the CASA Volunteer role?
These children need and deserve love! They didn’t ask to be in this place, so I just love on them and show them I care about them. As ProKids motto puts it: Every child deserves a safe, nurturing and permanent home.
page. To this day, though, that second case is by far one of the busiest I’ve had.
What would you tell someone who is interested in becoming a CASA?
Attend a Snapshot and see if it is for you. If you go through the Snapshot and feel that it is right for you, then your next step is to go through CASA University (CASA U), where you will learn everything you need to know to help you become the best CASA to advocate for the children who need your help.
This line of work is so rewarding, but it can also be challenging and frustrating at times. So, make sure you take time after a case closes. I have done this since my very first case ended, and it helps to decompress from all of the emotions you may have felt while on the case to prevent burnout.
But know that ProKids is very welcoming, and you are never alone! There is always someone to help you if you don’t know something or even if you just need someone to lend an ear.
