Reservists volunteer to foster children in need

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jessica Martin
  • 926th Group public affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --  A member of the 926th Group is leaning on her fellow reservists to assist children and families in the Las Vegas Valley.

Lt. Col. Lisa Howell, the Senior Intelligence Officer with the 926th GP here, is also an Assistant Manager for Clark County's Department of Family Services in her civilian capacity. The department is responsible for overseeing adoptions and foster care services, among others.

"There is a desperate need for foster parents," said Howell. "I recognized military members as good candidates because of the Air Force's core value of service before self."

Howell has been with Clark County since 2001 and in the Air Force for 17 years. Through her outreach, several group members have answered the call to help.

"I know volunteering is a big part of the military culture, so I just started asking coworkers if they'd be interested," she said.

To date, one Airman has adopted a child and several have applied to be foster parents, while others have received training to become Court Appointed Special Advocates. CASAs act as liaisons for children placed in custody, reporting to the court on the child's progress. The goal of the CASA program is to provide an outside person to speak on the child's best interest.

Master Sgt. Simone Browne, 926th Force Support Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of the communications flight, decided to become a CASA after participating in an annual Back to School Drive event for the Department of Family Services' Child Haven program.

"It's an incredibly humbling experience," she said. "The kids are so appreciative for such small things and your time. I feel it's important to focus on others and not get so wrapped up in your own issues."

Browne became a certified CASA in November 2010. She is now partnered with a DFS family of several children, who she visits with a few hours a week at their foster home. Her responsibility is to listen to what the children want as far as their living and family situation and inform the judge presiding over their case.

"The experience has made me very thankful for the upbringing I had," Browne said. "I have fond memories of my childhood, and my heart goes out to these kids as I see what they're going through."

CASA applicants submit to a background and driving record check and a panel interview, and need to be able to make a commitment of two years to the program. Once accepted, they undergo a month-long training to learn how to write observation reports on the children and advocate for them in a court setting.

Foster care and adoption candidates must meet licensing standards to determine whether they can provide suitable care for a child. An annual on-site visit is made to the foster family home, and background checks are conducted on all adults living in the home. Additionally, foster families attend orientation sessions and complete four hours of advanced training per year to keep their license current.

For more information on the CASA program or foster parenting, visit Clark County's Department of Family Services at http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/Depts/family_services/Pages/default.aspx.