Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Dwane Forrester
A father and published author with a long career at the Port Authority of Jamaica, Dwane migrated to the United States with his family in 2019. After settling into his new home and starting work with Home Depot, Dwane felt the urge to do more and have an impact on his community. Alcovy CASA volunteering, says Dwane, seemed like something he could do, and something serious he could get involved in.
“The preparation enabled us to do the job,” Dwane says of the CASA Volunteer training he went through. Dwane, along with other community members, completed a 40-hour training session to learn about CASA roles and responsibilities. Throughout the classes, trainees heard from guest speakers, including our local Juvenile Court Judges. “When the Judges explained how important the volunteer role was, and the need for volunteers, I thought, ‘Why not?’ If you can help fulfill needs for families and children, there is an opportunity to make a difference.” He learned that a lot of the children we serve come from families experiencing poverty and how CASA Volunteers make a difference for the children’s best interests.
When asked how his CASA experience has affected him, Dwane shared that his biggest realization has been that poverty looks similar, both in Jamaica and here in Newton County. “It’s something society has to face,” says Dwane. “There is no ideal situation when a family is poor. But poverty doesn’t prevent a loving environment. The family might not have all the resources they need, but the security a child feels when they remain in a loving home with family is important."
Our CASA Volunteers advocate for the best interest of children experiencing foster care. For Dwane’s first assigned case, best interest meant working closely with Alcovy CASA and DFCS Staff to find a safe family member for the children to live with. While foster and group homes often have additional resources available to them, Dwane acknowledges that as long as a family member is a safe and stable option for a child, we can honor that love and connection the child has to their family. The children on his case were able to be safely placed with a family member and found permanency. “The children were happy with their final placement,” shared Dwane, and he was pleased with the outcome of the case.
We are grateful to Dwane for all the ways he advocates for the best interests of children experiencing foster care. If you are interested in making a difference in the life of a child, please consider volunteering your time or donating to our program.
