Rookie of the Year: Megan Skeuse

Megan Skeuse became an advocate in February 2024 after completing her 30 hours of training. She quickly accepted her first case and was assigned to three siblings, ages 5, 7 and 9. Over the last year, Megan has taken on the role of advocate with such confidence and composure that it is hard to believe this is only her first case.

The children Megan was assigned to came into foster care in 2020 after their mother and her boyfriend were in a verbal argument that escalated to a physical fight, ending with the mother stabbing the boyfriend.

Megan has gone above and beyond since day one of being on the case. Her extensive background in education has been especially helpful in navigating the oldest child’s struggles with behavior at school. She has attended meetings with the school district, followed up to make sure the school was doing what they needed and even provided recommendations to the teacher to help the child’s behavior in class. After only being on the case for three months, Child Advocates was appointed educational surrogate for the oldest child and has since been appointed educational surrogate for both other children. Megan has been very hands-on with their education and finding creative ways to course-correct behavior and accommodate disabilities.

Megan has also been proactive in supporting the caregivers in the home. Her first month on the case, she showed up to the caregiver’s home late one evening because the caregiver was struggling with one of the children and couldn’t reach the caseworker. Without hesitation, Megan dropped what she was doing and went over there to sit with the kids, talk with the kids and help them get settled. Beyond her monthly visits to see the children, Megan has shown up for them in a number of ways, like attending grandparents’ day at their school and accompanying them on school fieldtrips.

Megan has been a fierce advocate for all three of the children, doing whatever it takes to promote peace, happiness and stability in their lives. She has been levelheaded and methodical, even in the face of countless obstacles that have come up in the children’s schooling, psychiatric care and home placements. Megan’s Advocacy Coordinator Jessica Dunlap said, “I can honestly say that I do not know where this case would be without Megan.”

Child Advocates is thrilled to name Megan Skeuse the 2024 Rookie of the Year!