CASA Volunteer Billie Waymer

High school cafeteria manager, Billie Waymer, has been a CASA/GAL volunteer for 10 years and is nearing the 100 mark for the number of cases she has been assigned.  Billlie says she can't imagine not being a CASA volunteer and plans to continue as a CASA/GAL as long as she is physically and mentally able.

Billie’s tenacity on behalf of her kids is evident with a recent case involving four year old Tyler.  Tyler was taken from his mom due to neglect.  He was placed with dad upon the recommendation of the case worker.  Billie lobbied for maternal grandmother to get custody, but lost the battle.  A few months later, Tyler was taken to the hospital emergency room with severe burns on his feet.  Dad reported the boy was "marching" in the bathtub.  Tyler's first and second degree burns were evidence the injury was inflicted upon Tyler and not as a result of a little boy playing.  Additionally, it was discovered that these burns had been inflicted two days earlier.  Although Children's Services assured Billie the police were investigating the case, Tyler remained with dad and no one could ever give her the name of the investigating officer.  After six months of runaround, Billie decided to kick into high gear.  Bobbie called the police herself daily until she got a sergeant on the force who agreed to investigate the situation.  Unbelievably, the police had never been contacted regarding Tyler’s case.  Within days, the father was arrested and charged with second degree child endangering.

During the course of the investigation and trial, it was determined that Tyler had undiagnosed broken ribs.  It was also discovered that dad had originally treated Tyler's burned feet with baloney and dirty bandages.  Dad was sentenced to three years in jail and custody of Tyler was awarded to his grandmother.  Bobbie was rewarded to see Tyler go from a little boy who wouldn't talk earlier, to a happy little boy with lots of words to share as he blossomed under his grandmother's care.

CASA/GAL Volunteer Jerry Cohn

Ten year CASA/GAL veteran volunteer, Jerry Cohn, has seen many cases.  Once a licensed social worker and retired nursing home executive director, Jerry got involved with CASA just prior to his retirement.  After working with the elderly for years, Jerry wanted to shift gears and make a difference to the hope of our future - children.  As a CASA/GAL volunteer, Jerry does everything he can to get to know the children he advocates for.  His efforts have included regular meetings with parents and relatives as well as the child, talking to foster parents, developing strong relationships with social and case workers, visiting teachers, consulting with medical professionals, going to dance recitals and ball games - whatever it takes to help really get to know the child and help make recommendations so the judge can render the best decision possible for the child.

After coming off a particularly difficult case with a teenage boy, Jerry was assigned the case of 4 year old "Freddie".  One day, "Freddie's" mom knocked on the neighbor’s door and asked if she would watch her son while she went on a job interview.  The surprised neighbor barely knew the mom or boy, but agreed to help out.  Mom never came back for "Freddie".

The neighbor called the police, but asked to keep "Freddie" to save him the additional trauma of being placed in a foster home.  The magistrate ordered the neighbor and her husband take foster parenting classes in order to keep the boy and requested a CASA/GAL volunteer be assigned to the case.  Jerry stepped in and worked with "Freddie" and his new family.  He meet with them regularly and made sure "Freddie" received therapy needed due to the trauma of his mom's abandonment and the teasing he got from the neighborhood kids who told him his mother had left because he was "bad". 

The neighbor and her husband later decided they wanted to adopt this precious little boy who had stolen their hearts and Jerry worked to make their dream come true.

Jerry was proud to be there when the magistrate made the final adoption ruling.  Jerry, "Freddie's" new adoptive parents and their extended family looked on as the magistrate lifted "Freddie" on his knee and encouraged the boy to follow his dreams and to dream big.  A family member took a picture that day and the new family all signed it and sent it to Jerry with their thanks.  This memory and photo are Jerry's reward and his reminder that he can, and has, made a difference as a CASA/GAL volunteer.

CASA/GAL Volunteer Ruth Scheuer

A Guardian Angel is a special grace that guides and protects a child through the sometimes perilous journey of life.  A Guardian ad litem is a skilled advocate who serves as a child’s voice in court.  Ruth Scheuer is both. 

Ruth has been a member of the Montgomery County CASA Program for over 16 years.  During that time she has filled the roles of CASA volunteer and unpaid CASA volunteer supervisor.  She has worked directly with many children and their families “in the system” as well as training and mentoring other court advocates to speak up for children whose needs and wishes might otherwise go unheard.

In the past year, Ruth’s personal caseload included four children in four separate placements.  She carries these children’s histories in her files, in her memory, and in her heart.  It is Ruth who was the driving force in bringing other professionals to the table to review prescriptions when she felt a child was being over medicated; it is Ruth who was the guiding force in bringing separated siblings together for visitation; and it is Ruth who has been the calming force in working with a child who was abandoned by his birth mother, abused by his adoptive mother and just wanted someone to be his “family”.

In her “previous life”, Ruth was a therapist allowing her to bring a wealth of knowledge and insight to the table when she meets with treatment teams and care providers.  Affectionately know to fellow CASA’s as “Dr. Ruth”, her soft spoken German accent resounds with the authority of experience and conviction.

Ruth visits her CASA children in their homes of origin, in their foster homes, and in their residential placements, even when those locations have sometimes been three hours away.  Care providers come to know her on a first name basis because of her numerous visits.  Staff were surprised one New Year’s Day that a child was having a visit from his GAL on a holiday.  What did not surprise them was that the GAL was Ruth.  And it was only Ruth who remembered that it was the child’s birthday and with her help the staff quickly scrambled together a party for him, an otherwise forgotten child.

Families have come to trust Ruth even when they do not like what she recommends for their children, few have challenged the appropriateness of her recommendations.  She is known throughout the Montgomery County Juvenile Court by magistrates, attorneys, caseworkers and fellow CASA’s.  She has a reputation for thoroughness and others on the case hope they come to court with even half the information Ruth brings.  She knows all the cases she supervises as well, and can completely stand in for her CASA volunteers when needed.  Ruth always provides top-notch advocacy, support and encouragement.