We are so excited to announce that one of our CASA Volunteers, Wendy Faulhaber, won CASA Volunteer Advocate of the Year award at the Colorado CASA Conference October 14th 2023. Congratulations!
Watch Brianna’s nomination video and Wendy’s acceptance video.
Wendy is an excellent CASA Volunteer. She is incredibly dedicated and passionate about advocating for children and youth. Wendy conducts herself professionally while also employing her ability to connect and build rapport with the children and their families she serves as well as other parties and professionals on her cases. Wendy’s Supervisor has received positive feedback and praise from families, school professionals, attorneys, and caseworkers expressing appreciation about Wendy’s overall work as a CASA, her commitment to the children and youth she serves, and her advocacy.
Wendy is an excellent CASA Volunteer. She is incredibly dedicated and passionate about advocating for children and youth. She makes herself available to her CASA children and youth and their families not only during visits, but also when urgent situations arise. She currently serves two CASA cases, and at one point served three CASA cases. She regularly facilitates communication with other parties and additional collaterals who work with her CASA children and youth, and regularly employs creative problem solving and thinking outside of the box to ensure that the needs of the children and youth she serves have their needs met. Wendy is persistent and she doesn’t give up even when faced with resistance from youth or parents who have a distrust in the system. She meets them where they are emotionally, and she gives them the time they need to build rapport and trust. Wendy conducts herself professionally while also employing her ability to connect and build rapport with the children and their families she serves as well as other parties and professionals on her cases. Wendy’s Supervisor has also received positive feedback and praise from families, school professionals, attorneys, and caseworkers expressing appreciation about Wendy’s overall work as a CASA, her commitment to the children and youth she serves, and her advocacy.
Wendy is patient, and on one particular case she was serving a youth who adamantly refused to work with CASA for several months, however Wendy did not give up and continued to reach out and offer consistent support to the youth. Eventually this youth expressed a willingness to meet with Wendy and she has become one of the individuals this youth will confide in and will reach out to for support. She meets with and communicates regularly with the family and caregivers in her cases as well. She frequently asks them for their perspective on how the child(ren) are doing and asks about any unaddressed needs for the children and the families. She is supportive and empathetic when difficulties arise. A parent on one of her cases expressed this about Wendy: “Wendy is awesome I love her determination to go above and beyond at any time I really wish I knew the proper words to describe Wendy she is just a blessing. She is very understanding and very professional, as well.” Wendy has traveled lengthy distances (over 100 miles one way) to see her CASA kids in their homes, in the hospital, in their schools, and in community settings.
Wendy’s CASA Supervisor has consistently observed situations on her CASA cases where she has gone above and beyond to serve and advocate for the children and youth on her case. Not only that, but Wendy has also passed on employment opportunities at the Department of Human Services in order to remain a CASA Volunteer and continue to provide advocacy for the children/youth on her cases. CASA of Weld County is incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to work with Wendy and enthusiastically submits Wendy’s name for consideration to be the CASA Volunteer Advocate of the Year.
Interested in becoming a CASA Volunteer – Learn more!
