BUFFALO, N.Y. — A South Buffalo native who suffered years of abuse at home as a child, and entered the foster care system in the 1980s, is sharing her story in a new book.
She is also advocating for people to become Court Appointed Special Advocates to help children who are going through the court system.
Advocating for children as they navigate the foster care system is something Joan Ulsher has taken on as a mission following a long career in the military. It's also a very personal part of her story.
Ulsher survived years of abuse at home when she was a child and teenager growing up in South Buffalo. She lives in San Antonio, Texas where she plays a big role in helping children as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, volunteer.
She got involved with CASA when her husband signed up for training in 2018. Having a CASA advocate is something Ulsher did not have in 1983 when she entered the foster care system.
2 On Your Side asked her what having a CASA volunteer around back then would have meant to her.
"My brother went to a boys' group home. I went initially to the Southtowns to a foster family, and then eventually I was moved to North Buffalo, and then I was returned home. Home, for me, was not a safe environment. I don't know why I got returned home, but an advocate probably could've looked a little closer at things," said Joan Ulsher. "We meet with the children. We get to know them a lot closer. A case worker working for the department in any state agency role would have dozens of children and families to serve. The advocate does not replace what they do, we do a lot of fact-finding, we get to know the children very well, develop a relationship, and cultivate a bond with all the parties interested, especially the families if they're going to be returned home. And then we collaborate and make recommendations. We don't always have to agree with what a department case worker might want to do."
Ulsher is on a book tour right now. Her memoir is called "Misplaced Childhood: A True Story of Resiliency and Child Advocacy." Net profits from her book sales are going directly to Child Advocates of San Antonio.
Ulsher says you have to be at least 21, pass a background check, and do thirty hours of training to volunteer. She adds that when you're matched with children, you'll spend a minimum of about 12 hours a month helping them.
If you'd like to volunteer in Western New York, you can contact the Mental Health Advocates of WNY.