Court-appointed advocates volunteer to make sure Idaho children have at least one person they can trust
He's the epitome of the friend in need. And he is a friend to those who need it most: physically abused, sexually abused, neglected, ignored – always damaged in some way – kids. "Children and animals always get the short end of the stick."
Bill Francis is a court-appointed special advocate, a volunteer position that carries significant weight in court after children are taken from their parents for neglect or endangerment. His job: to determine whatever is best for the kids. "Kids, if given a chance, will bounce back, but they need a chance."
When children are taken into the court system, they're placed in temporary foster care. The state has one year to determine a permanent solution – long-term foster care, adoption or back home. Parents are given directives – like attending parenting or anger-management classes – that they must fulfill. "Kids are the victims. I work for the kid."
Each case has a Health and Welfare social worker, but in addition, there's someone like Bill whose sole focus is determining what would be best for the children. Bill's favorite kids to work with are teenage boys – but he's advocated for kids from 3 months to 18 years old. "We're not big brothers, nor grandparents. We're just a friend, somebody they can rely on, somebody who understands, somebody trying to help. I tell them the truth so they know they can trust me. That's half the battle – that they confide in you. Most kids are old enough. They know what happened and who did it. We get to know them (and ask them) what do you want to see happen?"
When kids are 8 years old, they can speak for themselves in court. But because that might be an intimidating experience, Bill is there to speak for them. "I tell the judge what the kid told me. I step in and say, here's what (he or she) meant to say. We carry a bit of weight."
Although the position doesn't take a great deal of experience, it takes compassion, and a realistic understanding that not all stories have happy endings. "You always hope for a little crack you can wiggle into and turn things around. If you have done everything you could think of to do, that's all you can ask of anybody."
One of his kids is a teenage boy, sexually abused, totally disregarded and left alone by his parents. Nothing in his life is going well. "I say if he had a million dollars in his pocket, he couldn't buy a break." This boy – like so many kids – has never known good parenting and wasn't taught the difference between right and wrong. He's his own worst enemy when it comes to making bad decisions. "You always worry. All the kids are damaged to some extent, to a greater or lesser degree. You do what you can and you hope for the best."
Another boy was badly abused by his parents. His parents are going to trial for their refusal to take court-ordered classes. But the boy – he's going to be okay. "I've awakened in the morning with one of the kids on my mind. You can't help but do that. Sometimes it's hard. You want to grab somebody by the scruff of the neck and shake them. These kids do not deserve to be treated that way. Nobody deserves to be treated that way."
Bill is gruff when he needs to be ("I'm about to call the school and chew some butt."), but above all, he focuses on helping kids succeed. "You walk a fine line," he says. "Sometimes being nice doesn't work and being harsh does."
Bill is not easily shaken or intimidated. He has, as he says, "been around the block." With jobs ranging from service in Vietnam, to teaching, social work and being an airplane pilot, the biggest lesson he brings to his volunteer work is that life is precious. "You'd be amazed at the kids who haven't had a friendly face in their life. That's the heartbreaking part. If you never get a smile from somebody, it's hard to live a successful life.
"It doesn't take big intelligence. (This job) takes big empathy, as in so much of life. It takes common sense and logic. All the volunteers have the same purpose: We're all in this to help kids. That's the bottom line. (This job) is not hard – but it is heartbreaking. I wouldn't typify it as fun – but it is very satisfying."
Katherine Jones
11 October 2009
