The year was 2004. Arbor Buchanan had left her post as a foster care caseworker for the Department of Human Services. She loved the children she served and wanted to help, but she just couldn’t do that job anymore. She was exhausted and broken-hearted. During her time with the department, Arbor was introduced to CASA. But, she never could have imagined what that organization would eventually mean to her.
National CASA Conference 2018
It’s been fifteen years since she was hired as a part-time Advocate Supervisor. At the time, our chapter was only serving 250 children a year. Eventually, Arbor transitioned from supervising volunteers to her current position as our full-time Training Specialist. When she retires this June, Arbor will have prepared nearly 600 new advocates for service! Her performance and passion gained the attention of our colleagues at National CASA, and she was selected to serve on the National Curriculum Development Committee. Her efforts contributed to a redesign of training materials that are used by CASA programs nationwide today.
Arbor touched the lives of hundreds of advocates and children during her tenure here. She absolutely loved starting a new training class and helping her students evolve into powerful champions of children. She loved that “our organization was constantly evolving for the better.” She’s going to miss her CASA family, and we will miss her terribly. But, she is very excited about the next chapter in her life which will give her time to enjoy her wife and family, gardening, sewing, and of course, her three donkeys.
Arbor with her office mate Katie at Celebration of Success 2019
We are grateful for all Arbor has done to move the needle for our organization and children, and we cannot imagine our office without her. If you would like to share your words of gratitude or encouragement, you can email her here! And, if you would like to find Arbor later this year, take a wander through Winslow. Look for a loving woman whose tender heart and compassion you will see from miles away.