Volunteer Spotlight - 
Merv Cherrin

Coast to coast, five times actually, Merv Cherrin has crossed the country with his wife and their dog by their side. Both of their children were on the East Coast, so Merv and his wife relocated here in retirement - halfway between their children in New York and Washington, D.C. Having spent five decades working as an attorney and family counselor in California, Merv had always been familiar with CASA, but it wasn’t until they bought their home in Ocean City and he was driving past the office on Shore Road one day that it called to him.

​

That day was now nearly a decade ago and since then, Merv has served in capacities as both Peer Coach and Advocate. His time as a Peer Coach was short lived as he preferred the more direct interaction with the children being an advocate. Explaining the role of a CASA volunteer is easy for him, “We make sure no one falls through the cracks.” He emphasized that we work for the court to make sure the court knows exactly what’s going on in the life of the children in care, making sure the children are receiving the correct services.

 

“Making a difference and knowing I’m doing something good for the community makes me feel good,” says Merv. He also enjoys the people a lot as well. “I love the CASA staff and the other volunteers. I’ve enjoyed my time with the kids of course, but also meeting the parents and resource parents too, as well as some of the service providers. I just really enjoy the relationships I’ve made.”

​

 

In retirement, Merv splits his time between CASA and working out. He stopped practicing law in order to teach law and then went back to school to become a marriage and family therapist. Early on in his career, after graduating from law school in Michigan, he worked on Civil Rights cases in the South in both Georgia and Florida with migrant farm workers. Merv has served children on about ten cases, some long ones and some short ones, including his current case which has been ongoing for about five years.

​

He recounts, “Consistency is key with the long term cases. Everything changes for them except us – the caseworkers, the therapists, even the judges. I think providing that consistency is the most significant element of what we do.” Regarding rewarding moments, Merv shares that getting a child back into their home is probably the best feeling, but there can also be disappointments too. “You need to be non-judgmental and persistent and hang in there. You’re not going to be the hero every time. You hear about some cases where it all works out and the kid goes off to college and becomes a doctor and that’s just not always going to happen. There’s going to be times when all you can do is hang in there. Do the best you can. Be there for the child.”

 

Shannon Casula, Director of Program Services, says “Merv exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated CASA volunteer. His ability to build authentic relationships with everyone involved in the case—youth, parents, and professionals alike— helps him gather the information needed to ensure the Judge is fully informed of the child's best interests. Merv continues to truly make a difference in the lives of the children and families he serves."