Shannon McIlroy arrives a few minutes late to a meeting, a little out of breath after mistakenly heading to the wrong Starbucks a few blocks away. Her mom, Lori McIlroy, greets her with a smile before stepping inside to grab coffee for them both. When she returns, the two settle in to talk about their shared experience working with CASA youth in the foster care system.
There’s an easy camaraderie between them—they laugh at the same things and often finish each other’s sentences. Lori spent about six years as a CASA volunteer before stepping into a staff role as an Advocate Supervisor, a position she now balances alongside her work as an advocate. Shannon, meanwhile, has been matched with her first youth for about a year and a half.
For years, Shannon watched her mom in this role before deciding to follow a similar path. “I was about a year away from graduating with a degree in social work from Cal State Long Beach,” she says. “I wanted to expand my classroom studies with more community involvement, and I’d seen my mom volunteering with CASA for a long time. I thought, ‘I can do that.’ But at 26, I wasn’t sure I felt old enough.”
She admits she initially felt intimidated by her mom’s natural ease in the role. “My mom approached her CASA youth in such a nurturing, mothering way. She knew how to talk to teachers and school counselors, and I wasn’t sure how to do any of that,” Shannon says. Lori, however, never doubted her daughter was up to the task. “She really encouraged and supported me. Now that I’ve been matched with my own youth, she helps by answering questions and cheering me on,” says Shannon.
Both women report to the same Advocate Supervisor, Dolores Wiseman, who provides a valued layer of support. “It’s really nice to have someone else to run things by,” Lori says. Shannon, who currently lives at home, appreciates the support. “I can call Dolores anytime,” she says, before adding with a laugh, “but I can also just yell down the hall when I’m writing a court report, ‘Mom, what’s the point of this section?’”
Dolores says working with both mother and daughter has been a unique and rewarding experience. “When I first learned they were related, I thought it was so special that they get to share this,” she says. “They each bring something unique, but there’s a shared strength between them that really shows in how they serve their youth.” She’s also watched Lori grow into her new leadership role. “It’s been inspiring to see how much she’s developed and how much she now gives back to others.”
For Lori, stepping into a supervisory position has broadened her perspective. “It’s very different from being a CASA,” she explains. “You become more attuned to the full trajectory of a case. Now that I understand the bigger picture, I love being able to support and guide other advocates.”
She reflects on a recent day in court with satisfaction. “It’s a lot to juggle, but it was a good day. The youth were there, my advocates presented their reports and got to address the judge, and we all had a chance to connect with the kids. They were excited to see their advocates—that’s always the best part. I really enjoy being in court and doing this work.”
Throughout her six and a half years as a CASA, Lori has served seven youth, making her a valuable resource for Shannon, who is still relatively early in her journey. Both understand the emotional highs and lows that can come with the role.
While they are careful to maintain confidentiality, their work has occasionally overlapped. One of Lori’s advocates works with a youth in the same family as Shannon’s youth, allowing them to share in a rare moment together. “We were able to celebrate a big milestone for that family,” Lori says. “Normally, we wouldn’t be able to talk about something like that, but in this case we could share that joy. It was really special.”
Shannon leans on her mom during more challenging moments too. “I’ve called her when I’m frustrated or when my youth cancels on me,” she says. “For a long time, my youth had a lot of walls up, and I’d ask my mom, ‘How can I do better?’” She laughs, recalling another early hurdle: “Even calling the school felt intimidating. I’d ask her, ‘What do I say?’”
This month, Shannon graduates with her social work degree and is completing an internship focused on drug prevention and intervention for at-risk youth and families. She credits her CASA training with strengthening her academic work as well as preparing her to be an Advocate.
Outside of their shared roles with CASA, Lori and Shannon remain grounded in simple family traditions. They plan to celebrate Mother’s Day with a casual day at the beach with their dogs. “We’re kind of a last-minute family,” Shannon says. “For Easter, we grabbed pizza and went to the beach—that’s our family’s favorite way to celebrate the holidays.”
She smiles at her mom. “I’m really glad she found CASA and encouraged me to do it too. She’s been such a strong source of support.”
If you’d like to learn more about volunteering with CASA, please email Norma Mendoza or sign up to attend an upcoming Information Session.