The old adage, if you want something done, ask a busy person, applies quite fittingly to CASA volunteer Aubrey Wilson. In early 2020, at only 24 years old, she started CASA training while employed as a full-time ICU nurse. However, halfway through her training, all classes were halted when the Covid pandemic hit and Aubrey began working a tremendous amount of overtime caring for very ill Covid patients in the Intensive Care Unit. 

However, despite her demanding job and the unprecedented challenges of that year, Aubrey was able to resume her training via the newly launched online CASA training platform and was sworn-in as a new advocate before the end of the year.

Aubrey says she has always been drawn to working with youth in foster care and hopes to be able to foster someday herself. As a youth, she and her siblings benefited from the caring adults in their lives like neighbors and grandparents. She said, “Growing up I was always so grateful for the people who poured into my life when things were challenging. I am so happy to be able to now do that for kids who may not have adults in their lives to help them in that capacity.” 

After completing her training, Aubrey worked for a short time on a case where her youth was able to remain in the custody of her mom. After that case closed, Aubrey was matched with *Devon who uses the pronouns they/them. Aubrey has served as Devon’s CASA for about 2.5 years. In addition to being an advocate for Devon, Aubrey has also taken on the role of Educational Rights Holder which comes with additional responsibilities. 

As an Educational Rights Holder, Aubrey attends teacher conferences and Individual Educational Plan (IEP) meetings as Devon’s legal representative. In that capacity, she is ultimately responsible for all decisions related to Devon’s education and is called in for any type of academic or disciplinary action. Aubrey shared that she recently made the decision to ask for specialized education to help Devon succeed in school. “I was nervous about making that decision, but I talked with Devon about what they wanted to do. They were so awesome and we made the decision together after talking it through,” said Aubrey. “I always try to make sure we’re on the same path,” she adds.

Aubrey admits that navigating both the maze of the court system and the educational system can be daunting as a new CASA, but she gives loads of credit to her Advocate Supervisor, Andy Jacobson. “Andy is my hero. Since I don’t have a background in education, it’s all new to me and Andy has helped me understand both the terminology and the rights of my youth. She has been an awesome sounding board.” Aubrey laughs as she adds, “I think she knows everything!” 

Andy is one of CASA’s most tenured supervisors having been with the organization for eighteen years. According to Aubrey, “I can’t sing Andy’s praises enough. She’s been an awesome support. She never seems jaded or burnt out.” Andy says she nominated Aubrey as the January Advocate of the Month because, “Aubrey has spent endless hours supporting Devon to help them graduate. She has worked tirelessly with the school team to provide appropriate accommodations and services for Devon and has been integral to assisting the team in understanding her youth's academic challenges and learning style. Devon lives outside of Orange County and Aubrey travels great distances for their visits. Aubrey is just a lovely, sweet and kind person and I consider it an honor to work with her.”

When Aubrey and Devon aren’t working on school related projects, the two enjoy a range of activities together often revolving around Devon’s artistic abilities. The two have attended artist-led paint classes as well as taken art supplies to a park and followed along with YouTube classes. According to Aubrey, living in foster care with lots of other people around and little opportunity for privacy, means sometimes the two just hang out quietly together. She tries to tailor their time together to what Devon needs on any given day. 

Aubrey said, “It helps that we’re so close in age, I’m 28 and Devon is now 17 so I remember the struggles of being a teenager, yet am old enough that Devon views me as an adult. I remember being in high school and not wanting to be there and wanting my freedom but knowing that adulthood can be scary.”

Together the two are working towards a plan as Devon approaches adulthood. They’re exploring options for independent living and Devon wants to attend cosmetology school after finishing high school. Aubrey said, “Devon is so creative with hair styles and their foster mom lets Devon style her hair which is an awesome vote of confidence in their abilities.” 

Aubrey thinks Devon will likely remain in the system until 21 so she hopes to continue working as their CASA over the next few years. She said, “I really enjoy being a CASA and feel really lucky I got paired with such an awesome youth. I’m so proud of them and hope I can see them go on to accomplish amazing things in their adult life.”

For her part, Aubrey is trying to recruit her friends and her husband (who she married on New Year’s Eve a little over a week ago) to become CASAs. She wants to tell others, “Just jump in! It’s OK to not feel like you know everything. All the supervisors are so amazing and it’s OK to ask lots of questions as you go.”

If you’d like to learn more about becoming a CASA, please email Norma Mendoza or sign up to attend an upcoming Information Session. 

*Name changed to protect privacy.