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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. 		Success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It is what you do for others.

Danny Thomas
"I know this program doesn't work with every child, but knowing that there are those where you can make a difference, keeps me going." Billie claims. And Billie has had many cases where she made a difference. In one case, Billie worked hard with a dad to gain custody of his children. Five years after the case was closed, Dad still calls Billie each time report cards come out to let her know how well the kids are doing. In another case, one of Billie’s former CASA kids called to let her know she was now in college and doing well. She was reminded of Billie when she struck up a conversation with a fellow student who was also a CASA volunteer. This reminded her of Billie and how much she appreciated Billie's hard work on her behalf. The thank you call followed.

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 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.