Ozarks Profile: Ed Griesbaum

How long have you been a CASA volunteer?

I'm completing my 11th year. Right now I have three children in the CASA program. I'm really looking forward to getting them adopted. I'm well on the road for two of them already to be adopted, and the third one, I don't have a sure prospect yet from DFS, but things are starting to look a little brighter.

What do you do as a volunteer?

I look after children who've been neglected or abused, or whose parents have problems with, say, alcohol or drugs and (the children) are put into foster care. I report to Judge (Tom) Mountjoy directly on all reports. As a volunteer, we have a little more leeway but work directly with the DFS, a caseworker and the juvenile worker. We get to see the children basically every two weeks so we give reports all the time to (the agencies) as to what we observe. We counsel the children we don't discuss the cases with anybody, and our responsibility is to look for the welfare of the child to return to the parents. This doesn't always happen so we work with DFS then on adoption.

What's the hardest thing about being a CASA volunteer?

The hardest thing, I think, is you make progress on your case, and the next week you find out you're at ground zero because something happens to the child, something else is said, done or for whatever reason you revert right back to zone one. So you really ride the roller coaster. It has its ups and downs by far, but it's rewarding when you see children get reunited or get adopted. It takes several months before you even get the confidence of the child. You have that obstacle to get their confidence that you're going to see them all the time, and that finally takes hold and they depend on you (to) work with their problems and you try to solve them for them.

So do you keep in touch with the kids you help?

Theoretically, I'm not supposed to. Actually, many of them, yes there's no law that says that I can't, and many of them, I kind of watch them a little bit, and some of them call me back and things of that nature.

How do you help families deal with various problems and situations?

Very often, we work with the parents and make sure they stay on their schedule that was outlined by the court so that we can get reunification with the children. Most of the children return to their parents, and the home is no longer the same; it's completely changed.

What would you say to someone considering volunteering with CASA?

I have recommended several people that have joined CASA through the years... If you work at it, and for the family unity, and for the faith that the child will put in you, and even the parents you get that reward of guiding people back into society.

Tell us about your family and other interests.

I'm married to Sophia been married for 54 years. We have three children who are all successful in business. My wife is a retired teacher... One of my hobbies is volunteering. I'm in several volunteer organizations. I play a lot of bridge, and when I'm not doing that, I look after my farm.