March 2025

We invite you to meet Corey Mark, nominated by Advocacy Specialists Allison Conner and Rosa Hoadley. Corey joined Child Advocates as a volunteer in 2019, and he has served on four child welfare cases, one of which he has served on since 2019 and another just closed after more than three years.

“Corey has advocacy down to an art,” Rosa said. “He not only ensures that all requirements are met every month but also builds meaningful connections with everyone involved in the case. Most importantly, Corey has become a trusted adult for every child he serves.”

We asked Corey to share his experiences as an Advocate for children in our community.

Is there anything unique about your background that contributes to your approach to advocacy?

I grew up in a very diverse part of the country, so I have a sensitivity for others who express different cultures and lifestyles. Being in a racial minority allows me to be sympathetic to many of the children in the child welfare system.

How did you become interested in volunteering as an Advocate?

I retired in 2018 and wanted to give back to my community using my life experiences. I also had a son who had several traumatic experiences during his teenage years, so I felt a need to help those with similar experiences. I found Child Advocates of Montgomery County while looking online for volunteer opportunities that interested me.

Did you have any reservations about volunteering?

I had no reservations about volunteering. A true desire to help others by volunteering brings rewards without expectation of any returns.

Explain in your own words the work you do as a volunteer Advocate. Why is it essential for a child?

Understanding that the majority of Child Advocates volunteers are female has steered me toward being an Advocate for several preteen boys. While advocating for them, being a consistent adult male presence and mentor in their lives has probably been most important.

What has surprised you the most about advocacy?

Despite the stories we see in the media, everyone that I have interacted with in the child welfare system has been exceptionally caring and compassionate. From caseworkers and judges to educators and caregivers, all have shown me that the children who are in their care are well served.

What has been the most difficult aspect of volunteering as an Advocate? Most rewarding aspect?

The most difficult aspect is working with children who can’t find a support system or family through no fault of their own. It is heartbreaking knowing that I may be the person that they have known the longest in their entire lives. The most rewarding aspects have been the hugs and smiles I receive every time I interact with the children for whom I advocate. And despite the odds, there can be successful and extremely rewarding outcomes, as well. A boy who I worked with for almost four years and who endured more than twenty placements in his short life recently got adopted into a terrific family.

What would you like the community to know about children in foster care? What have you learned through your advocacy?

All children in foster care need to have someone who cares about them and who can provide constancy in their lives. The only difference between them and other children is that they weren’t given the chance to have these basic human needs met through no fault of their own.

What have you learned about children in foster care through your advocacy?

Despite past traumas, children can heal and grow to have meaningful and productive lives like anyone else.

Is there a particular moment or memory that stands out for you?

I served on a case with a child who aged out of the child welfare system without many connections, and I lost contact with him. I still worry about that child, but at the same time, that child’s experience motivates me in other cases. Despite all that we do, we can and must be able to do better for all of them.