Homeland Security defines it as involving “the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.” It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. It is important to understand what human trafficking is and how we all play a role in identifying potential victims. The Wear Blue Day Campaign is highlighted on January 11 th as one mechanism to build awareness and education around human trafficking. Trainer's Corner: Human Trafficking Awarenessīeginning in 2010, each January has been designated as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It comes naturally for Jay to provide a positive relationship to a child in the Juvenile Court system.” Thank you, Jay, for making a difference in the life of a child and for your service to Iowa’s vulnerable children. Jay has a kind and caring heart and it shows in his CASA work. His CASA reports are thorough and professional. He and his coach Harvey Weinberg work well together. He is on his first case and has done great work in advocating for the child and family on his case. Kevin Schnoebelen, who is Jay’s CASA Coordinator in Des Moines, stated, “Jay is a great asset to our program. Also, and perhaps more importantly, the direct feedback we provide is the only input our judges receive in regard to these children from anyone void of a potential direct conflict of interest.” When asked how he thinks the CASA Program can improve the lives of the children we work with, Jay commented, “I think we provide a positive, personal adult relationship to a child who, at that specific point in their lives, could very well have a great need for such a bond. He feels the CASA experience has made him a more empathetic individual and increased his awareness of the demand for more caring volunteers to set aside some time to support those in society who are suffering. Jay shared that as an outsider to the system the biggest challenge from his perspective is that career professionals may bring preconceived conclusions into a given situation, based on their past experiences, that may not be apropos to a new situation or case. Jay said, “Overall I feel non-professional-level coaches tend to spend too much attention on those players at the top of the lineup and not enough on those on the bottom, and I always derived more satisfaction out of developing those with less natural and societal advantages.”īesides the personal relationship with the child and the opportunity to advocate on his or her behalf, what Jay finds rewarding in his CASA experience is serving as a team member fostering communication in an attempt to bring the disparate professionals together. One of the things his father modeled for him in this area was a desire to elevate those children with relatively less natural talent and become a positive, encouraging influence in the lives of those at risk in regard to peer group, social, and economic circumstances.
Jay believes that his involvement in coaching youth sports for 37 years has helped him be ready for his job as a child advocate.
At the time I was newly retired from a fulfilling volunteer experience and was looking for another way to give back.” Jay began looking into the opportunity in late 2018, started training in early 2019, and was sworn-in as a CASA in May 2019. Her email signature included the designation “CASA” and I asked her about it. When asked how he became interest in serving as a CASA Advocate, he stated, “A couple of years ago I received an email from a longtime friend and colleague living in Seattle. He’s spent the past 34 years a Family Wealth Advisor in the Des Moines area, the past 20 years of which with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Upon graduating Ankeny High School, Jay earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Financial Management from the University of Iowa. Volunteer Spotlight – Jay Fifield, CASA Advocate
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