We invite you to meet Ellen Zampello, nominated by Advocacy Specialists Katie Wamhoff and Victoria Warmuth. Ellen joined Child Advocates as a volunteer in 2019, and she has served on seven child welfare cases and four Educational Advocacy cases.

“Ellen’s commitment shines through in every case she takes,” Katie said. “She is a true champion for education. Currently, she is serving on three Educational Advocacy cases and one child welfare case. She is working to help the children she serves overcome barriers and achieve success in school.”

We asked Ellen to share her experiences as an Advocate for children in foster care and a Student Success Advocate.

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

Before I was a stay-at-home mom, I worked in a corporate job. I have a degree in biology and environmental resources. After I had children, I started a two-year program to become a teacher and learned pedagogy [theory and practice of teaching] but never finished the program due to my husband’s job transfer. When we moved here, I became a substitute teacher and learned a lot about kids and how they learn. In my program, I enjoyed studying the psychological aspects of pedagogy, and I apply that knowledge to my cases.

How did you become interested in volunteering as an Advocate?

I was on a tennis team with Elizabeth Chapman, who is an Advocate. She was always telling the ladies about her volunteer work. Elizabeth encouraged me to apply, and I decided to do it.

Did you have any reservations about volunteering? If so, how did you overcome them?

I worried about becoming emotionally over-involved with the cases, that it would be too much for me. But I just take it one child, one case at a time. Volunteering helps me from being overwhelmed by the world’s problems because I can make a difference to this one child.

Explain in your own words the work you do as an Advocate.

In child welfare cases, I’m a liaison between the parents, Child Protective Services, attorneys, and the child, helping everyone to work together in the best interests of the child. As a Student Success Advocate, I work closely with schools and families to ensure children have the support and resources they need to succeed academically. I like talking with teachers because they can provide so much insight from daily observation. I have always been a firm believer that success in education and connection through learning open doors in a child’s life.

Why did you decide to volunteer as a Student Success Advocate?

I always enjoyed the educational advocacy aspect of CPS cases—talking to teachers, getting report cards. Doing more of that appealed to me.

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

The relationships I’ve built with the children on my cases. On one child welfare case, I was assigned to the child when she was born. Now, she’s three, and I love seeing her grow and thrive. Her caregivers are in the process of adopting her, and they asked me to write a referral letter for them. I was honored to write that letter!

Do you have a favorite memory or moment of advocacy?

I love all the updates I get from my cases, the occasional photo or phone call to let me know how the children are doing. One caregiver just sent me a photo of the boy I advocated for in his pee-wee football uniform!