August 2024 Advocate Spotlight: Heather Lease
We invite you to meet Heather Lease, nominated by Lead Educational Advocacy Specialist, Kristy O’Neal. Heather joined Child Advocates as a volunteer in 2021, and she’s served on six child welfare cases, one Justice-Involved Youth case, and one Gaining Opportunities for Achievement and Learning (GOAL) case! Heather is our only Advocate who is currently assigned to cases in all three advocacy programs!
“Heather took our very first educational advocacy case to support a child who was experiencing chronic absences in school,” Kristy said. “Heather’s superpower is forging strong connections with children and families. Her frequent contact with the family in her truancy case has made all the difference. She’s attended several events with the family at school and in the community. Through playing sports together, such as volleyball and basketball, Heather has developed a relationship where the child feels comfortable talking to her about school and its challenges.”
We asked Heather to share her experiences as an Advocate for vulnerable children in our community.
I have always been passionate about helping others and giving back. I have a lot of empathy for those hurting and in difficult situations, and being a positive light to someone else, especially young people, can help build up their self-esteem and self-worth. I want them to know that there are good people in this world that see and love them. My faith has also led me to advocacy work and helping youth in foster care. I have some trauma in my background and have been fortunate enough to have had people come along to help my family, specifically my twin sister and me.
My friend Kari Pesch was an Advocate and knew I was interested in giving back to the community and told me about it. I also have some other friends who work with youth in care, and they suggested it was a wonderful organization to join.
No. I didn’t have any reservations and still don’t. I’ve been fortunate to have lived and traveled and been around and near many different types of people, which I believe has helped with any fears that may have come up.
As a child welfare Advocate for those in foster care, I visit children at home, school, and occasionally out in the community as well. I also speak with their parents, teachers, counselors, medical care specialists, and anyone else that helps care for them. Speaking with these people helps me to get a good understanding of how the children are doing, if they are being properly cared for, if they are at risk for anything, any concerns, and how I can best advocate for them.
I also serve as an Advocate for children who struggle with truancy and youth who are on probation in the juvenile justice system. In those cases, I meet with the youth as well as with their parents, teachers, counselors, probation officers, and any other professionals who work with them. I help to make sure the kids are staying on track and participating in their programs and services. I work alongside the professionals to be an extra pair of eyes to let the court know how the kids are doing and if we need to change course. I also share about the family’s progress and how we can further support them. I want to make sure they are healthy, happy, and cared for. I also want to ensure they have some calm areas in their lives where they can just be kids.
I felt led to do more with my volunteer work. This is an example where I believed God wanted me to do more. I’ve been blessed to stay home while my children are in school, so I have time to volunteer. I also wanted to challenge myself to work in a different area of advocacy. Kids generally like me, and I hope to inspire a child struggling with their education or completing probation. Our community has a lot of resources that parents can utilize, and I wanted to connect them with those resources if any of those needs were contributing to truancy. Young people need more adults to pour positivity into their lives and talk about the importance of education, and I want to be that person for a child.
I’ve been surprised by the trauma that many of these children have suffered and how rampant substance abuse is in their families. The children I’ve advocated for have been kind, loving, and welcoming. They genuinely wanted to work with me, which has been the most surprising aspect, considering what many of them have experienced. Children are so resilient, and I believe this is a testament to that.
The most difficult has been getting to know the teenagers. They have been much harder to connect with, and I’ve struggled to help them as much as I would like. However, this has also been the most rewarding area as well! The teen girl on my educational advocacy case has really started to like being around me. Her mom recently told me that this is a breakthrough for her. It’s my hope that I can translate our connection into helping her see the value of her education. I also enjoy working with my Advocacy Specialists and the other Child Advocates staff, and I’ve made a good friend with someone who also volunteers.
Truancy goes further than simply a child missing school, and I don’t think that is talked about enough. Issues pertaining to food insecurity, transportation, and mental health also contribute to school absences, and there are community resources to help these families. If people were more informed about this problem, we could hopefully work together to make changes and put programs in place to help these children and their families.
There are a lot more resources than I realized. I’m also more aware of my own biases regarding truancy. Truancy is so much more than the myth of the “strong-willed child” who does not want to go to school. It’s strengthened my belief in the importance of education for every child. Every child deserves an education, regardless of socioeconomic status and family issues.
The headway I’ve made with the girl who struggled with truancy is the most memorable moment in my advocacy. She wants to be around me and interact with me! I’ve also become close with her siblings and family, and they have all expressed that they enjoy my company—that means a lot to me. It’s meaningful any time I have the chance to see the children I serve just being kids, away from any family crises or school issues. The outreach we do with the public in terms of fundraising and getting our message out is memorable as well. Spreading awareness is critical in helping more children in the future.
I hope to do even more in working with the children we serve to make a positive change in their lives. I want to be a part of changing the trajectory of a child’s life so that they truly feel seen, heard, loved, and valued. I want the kids we serve to believe they are much more than the situations they come from.
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