A Person on Point
Ed Seibert Honored as a Darlene Kamine Advocate of The Year
12 years | 8 kids | 7 families
Coming to ProKids after retirement, Ed Seibert was looking for a role that’d depart from the technical work he’d done for a job. He didn’t waste much time, jumping right from his life as an engineer into the challenge of serving an adolescent male as a CASA Volunteer.
It didn’t take long for Ed to realize that the demographic suited him, and today, he’s become a sort of “Launch specialist” for ProKids’ teen boys — a role he’s enjoyed, “maybe because I was one a long time ago.”
Laughing, Ed explained that the role requires a lot of convincing. Convincing his kids not to give up, not to leave the system — to pursue graduation or to earn their GEDs.
Ed remembers one young man who was more than hesitant to finish his schooling, but Ed’s pushing and prodding ultimately paid dividends, with the teen first earning his GED and later receiving a vocational certificate as a heating, plumbing, and air conditioning technician. Ed’s kids have been the first in their families to pursue postsecondary education, and he said the first step was often to prompt their self-belief.
Ed’s current case differs somewhat from this previous pattern, as he’s now working with a high school sophomore who suffered a traumatic brain injury earlier in life. “Luke” is currently testing at third and fourth grade levels, and his behavior at school has made education a primary focus. As Luke is currently transitioning to a brand-new high school, Ed has been in a number of meetings to advocate for accommodations, including the help of in-class aides.
Ed has also supported his application for social security benefits, which would connect Luke to income that’d make all the difference in his grandmother’s household.
While the job at times can be frustrating, coordinating with countless professionals to make the system work for each child, Ed has realized that’s exactly where a CASA Volunteers adds value.
Likening the child protection system to a temporary “parental unit,” Ed explained that he and the professionals around his teens have been akin to a family. Some days, this “family” must navigate differing opinions. Other days, some members are distracted — tending to other cases and clients.
“It’s tough enough to keep two parents on the same page, more or less five or six,” Ed said.
But with his focus trained on Luke, Ed can work not just to know this child but to know the team that surrounds him — improving communication and ensuring his needs are met fully. It’s helpful to have that person on point, he said, organizing and summarizing team meetings, noting next steps and who is responsible.
His CASA Manager, Myrna Gomez, said Ed has gone above and beyond to create a bond of trust with Luke and all those around him. She said Ed is communicative, proactive, and professional — an exceptional example of a CASA.
Blessed with a great family and career, it was only right to pay it forward, Ed said. “It’s been both challenging and rewarding to help these young men deal with the past, navigate the system, and launch from it successfully.”