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Three heroes of child welfare 
In the juvenile justice courts of Albuquerque, the streets of New Orleans, and the chambers of the Capitol, these dedicated individuals have made outstanding contributions to the well-being of the nation’s most vulnerable children.
In May, Casey Family Programs and 13 partners brought national attention to the social workers, foster parents, foster care alumni, and advocates who make a difference in the lives of youth in care. As National Foster Care Month concludes, we would like to highlight and applaud three individuals whose dedication and hard work on behalf of children, youth, and families in the foster care system deserve recognition.
Angela Crider,
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), National CASA Association
Cases tried in the juvenile court system are a critical turning point for children whose families face allegations of abuse or neglect—these cases determine whether a child will be removed from the home, and what supports will be available through the foster care system.
The children in these cases are usually not represented by legal counsel. Court appointed special advocates like Angela Crider are authorized to investigate cases and help judges make good decisions about a child’s future. “CASAs are a voice for children who aren’t heard,” says Angela Crider, vice president of the Board of Directors for the Albuquerque CASA program, a member of the Diversity and Outreach Committee, and a volunteer CASA since 1999. “We are also the eyes and ears of the court,” Crider adds. “We help provide children and families with everything they need to be successful.”
Crider’s talents as a CASA lie in her ability to see a child’s best interests from many different angles. All children need nurture and support, but the form that support takes may not always be the same. Crider recognizes one variable in particular that poses significant challenges to the juvenile court system: the cultural differences that exist across families of different ethnic communities.
Crider’s cases in Bernalillo County, New Mexico bring her in contact with African American, American Indian, Latino, and white families—as well as families whose heritage intersects multiple ethnic communities. Crider wanted to expand the ability of National CASA to advocate for the cultural needs of many different kinds of families, and she wanted to find a better way to advocate for the needs of children raised in families of color.
In 2005, Crider led the development of the African American Advisory Committee in Albuquerque. She is also involved in bringing the Tribal Advisory Committee and the Hispanic Advisory Committee to her region. These committees recruit CASAs of color, advise National CASA on policy issues that impact specific communities, collect information and resources, and provide training for CASA volunteers.
At the national level, Crider has proposed a collaboration paradigm that will make it easier for local CASAs to respond to the unique needs of their local communities, while still sharing information and practices with CASAs in other regions.
“My objective is to be a state wide resource providing for the cultural needs of African American children,” explains Crider. “If, for example, an African American youth goes to live with a Latino family but still wishes to attend a black church, I can help that family find a church the child wants to attend. Through the cultural advisory committees, CASAs will have more resources for strengthening families’ abilities to provide for the development of the children they foster.”
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