Those Who Serve
Short profiles of the Jefferson County neighbors who answer the call in public safety, social work, and community care.
Those Who Serve: Mary Thomasson Believes Every Child Deserves Someone in Their Corner
This retired educator brings a lifetime of experience with children to CASA of Jefferson County, where she works behind the scenes to strengthen the support surrounding advocates and the children they serve.
By The Jefferson Review Staff
For Mary Thomasson, retirement from education did not mean stepping away from advocating for children.
Her years working with children gave her a firsthand understanding of how circumstances outside the classroom can shape a child's life. She had experience with the foster care system and with children who had been placed in care, and when the opportunity came to serve CASA of Jefferson County, Thomasson believed that experience could still be put to work.
“I felt that my background and experience could be valuable to CASA of Jefferson County and that I could contribute in a meaningful way to its mission of advocating for children,” Thomasson said.
At the heart of that mission, she said, is something simple but powerful: making sure a child is heard.
For children who enter foster care, much of life can suddenly be determined by adults, court proceedings, changing circumstances, and decisions they did not make. Thomasson believes a CASA volunteer can provide something different, a person whose attention remains focused on the child.
“Having one consistent adult who will listen, support them, represent them in court, and be their cheerleader can be incredibly meaningful to a child who has experienced instability, loss of control, or abandonment,” she said.
That opportunity to give children a voice is the part of CASA's mission that connects most deeply with her.
“Every child deserves to have someone in their corner who will listen to them, speak up for them, and make sure their needs and best interests are represented,” Thomasson said.
Her own role takes place largely behind the scenes.
While CASA volunteers build relationships with children and advocate for them directly, board members are responsible for helping create the structure that allows that work to continue.
Thomasson said the board works to ensure appropriate policies and procedures are in place, while also working with CASA's executive director to make sure the organization's budget and resources reflect its commitment to both children and volunteers.
It is work the public may rarely see, but Thomasson believes strong advocacy requires a strong organization supporting the people doing it.
The same is true of community involvement.
For Thomasson, supporting CASA does not have to begin with a major donation or a large commitment. It can begin with attending an event, telling someone about the organization, making a contribution, or helping another Jefferson County resident understand what CASA does.
“No nonprofit organization can exist without the support of its community,” Thomasson said. “That support comes in many forms, financially, emotionally, and through the willingness of people to spread the word about CASA.”
She emphasized that the size of the contribution is not what determines its value.
“We appreciate every dollar that someone donates. We appreciate every person who supports us by attending our events. And we appreciate every person who talks about CASA with a friend, family member, or colleague,” she said. “Every act of support helps us continue advocating for children.”
Ultimately, she said, all of those individual acts help accomplish the same thing.
They help give a child a voice.
“They are helping ensure that a child feels heard, supported, and represented during what may be one of the most difficult times in their life,” Thomasson said.
For people who are interested in doing more, particularly those who have wondered whether they could become a CASA volunteer, Thomasson has a straightforward suggestion: learn what the role actually involves before deciding that you cannot do it.
CASA offers informational sessions throughout the year where prospective volunteers can hear more about the program, ask questions, and understand what serving as an advocate looks like.
Thomasson believes many people who initially question whether they are qualified may discover they already possess one of the most important qualities needed, a genuine desire to be there for a child.
“If you are thinking about becoming a CASA volunteer, I encourage you to listen to that voice in your heart,” Thomasson said. “Make the call to the CASA office and simply talk with someone about what it means to be a CASA volunteer.”
That first conversation, she said, could lead to something much larger.
“You may discover that you have exactly what it takes to make a difference in a child's life. You won't regret it.”
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Curious About Becoming a CASA Volunteer?
You do not have to decide today. Learn more about what CASA volunteers do and find information about upcoming informational sessions with CASA of Jefferson County.
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