This month we’re spotlighting Rachel Harriman, CASA of Medina County’s Advocate Supervisor!
Rachel joined The Children’s Center’s team in May with a strong background in law, advocacy, and a passion for supporting children and families. After earning a joint Master in Public Administration and Doctor of Law from Cleveland State University, Rachel worked in Family Law and volunteered with CASA of Cuyahoga County and LegalWorks.
Her experience and commitment to advocating for children make her a strong addition to our CASA team. We are so grateful to have Rachel with us and look forward to all she will bring to CASA of Medina County and the children we serve!
Roles and Responsibilities
How did you learn about The Children’s Center of Medina County? How did you first become involved with The Center?
I have been involved as a Volunteer with the Cuyahoga County CASA program for about five years, so I learned about The Children’s Center of Medina County when a new position in Medina County was created. Though my prior experience with the CASA program drew me to apply for the Advocate Supervisor role, I was ecstatic to learn that CASA of Medina County is also a program of The Children’s Center. To me, this means there is greater opportunity to meaningfully collaborate with like-minded professionals and to ensure that children receive the support they need from their community.
What is your current volunteer role? What do you do in that role?
I am currently Advocate Supervisor for CASA of Medina County, which is a program of The Children’s Center. My responsibilities include supervising some of our amazing CASA Volunteers with their cases, planning and coordinating InService and Continuing Education opportunities, and assisting with community engagement and outreach efforts for CASA of Medina County and The Children’s Center.
What are you most proud of in your work with The Children’s Center?
Though I am still very new to this role, I am most proud of the collaborative energy that The Children’s Center brings to every event we participate in, as we strive to make Medina County a safer place for families and children. I am also very excited about starting a CASA Volunteer Book Club and Lending Library in 2027. Stay tuned for more updates!
Personal Insights and Reflections
What is the best advice you were ever given?
A great piece of advice I received from one of my earliest mentors is “Like the ocean, we can be all things.” This has always inspired me to be creative and dream big!
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a child, I wanted to be a veterinarian with an at-home vet clinic
What would we most likely find you doing on the weekend?
On the weekend, you’ll most likely find me trying a new restaurant or coffee shop around Cleveland with family and friends.
What is your favorite season?
My favorite season is autumn because it combines a lot of my favorite things – playoff baseball, football season, squash soup and fall foliage!
Community Engagement and Support
What does the community need to know about The Children’s Center?
I hope the community understands the amount of thought and care that is put into every decision made by staff at The Children’s Center. Advocating for and protecting children is always at the heart of everything we do!
