Page 7 - NC Triangle Vol 7 No 3

JENNIFER SINCLAIR, HEATHER W. FORSHEY, BLAKE LARSEN AND KATELYN HEATH
gally representing the needs of abused and neglected children in the legal system, but e Friends of the Wake County Guardian Ad Litem program is a non-pro t agency lling the needs of foster children that are not met within the legal system,” Forshey said.
Forshey further identi ed that the organization’s focus is supporting the educational needs of foster children by funding tutoring services, back- pack drives, computer programs, and summer camp tuition, but they also assist with an Angel Tree Christmas program, and have recently partnered with an orthodontist to provide orth- odontic care to kids in foster care.
Forshey, who is currently serv- ing on the board of directors for this nonpro t, went on to say, “What we do really matters because these chil- dren don’t have a sense of belonging. ey’re going through really traumat- ic things in their lives. e mission of this organization is really to plant a seed of hope in their heart and give them a chance at a better life.”
UNDERSTANDING THE HUMAN SIDE
Part of Forshey’s comprehensive approach is ensuring that all aspects of a case are addressed and that loose ends are tied up when a case con- cludes, which may mean providing referrals to mental health, nancial or estate planning services.
“I’ve worked with a lot of profes- sionals in these areas and try to pro- vide referrals to people who are going to take care of our clients the same way we would,” said Forshey.
While many family law attorneys nd the profession emotionally drain- ing, Forshey has a di erent perspec- tive.
“We meet people when they’re in a crisis or at their worst and at the end of their time with me, many people are much happier or are moving on to a better life situation, and I nd that inspiring. Everything I do is very per- sonal to me, and I try to understand the human side of what the client is going through in managing my ap- proach with the client and their case.”
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that’s di erent in every case.”
Forshey is low key, so spoken, and
even keeled. She guides the conversa- tion with a steady hand and a pen- chant for listening.
“ ere are some cases where I do need to take a very neutral approach, or I need to try to take a so er ap- proach and try to go to mediation. en there are cases where I’m deal- ing with personality dynamics of a high-con ict family and really the only way to get results that are bene - cial for that client and for their family is to take a more aggressive approach and to litigate,” she said.
“I still do a lot of domestic litiga- tion, but I am starting to do more family law mediations and more par- ent coordinator work, and I really enjoy that part of it because it allows me to use my experience in a di erent way. I try to relate to people no mat- ter what their situation is, which helps me build a connection with them and better manage their expectations and emotions. I think that’s a strength that I bring to the table.”
VOICE OF EXPERIENCE
Many of the cases the rm handles involve child custody matters. For- shey brings rst-hand experience as a mom and a stepmom to the conversa- tion.
“I’ve learned a lot of things from my own experiences and through making
my own mistakes. When I met my husband, my stepson was 4 and my stepdaughter was 1. Now they are 14 and 11 and we have a daughter who is 6 and a son who is 3. So I’ve been through the situation of being a step- mom but also being a mom. I under- stand the challenges in high-con ict families and high con ict divorces and also the dynamics of a blended family. I know rsthand the issues that frequently come up.”
“It makes me more compassion- ate towards people, but it also lets me speak to them from a voice of expe- rience and encourage people to deal with those emotions and try to chan- nel that into something positive. I can relate to how you sometimes have to make compromises and do things that you don’t want to do but that you need to do. Clients appreciate that I’m able to give them guidance and feed- back instead of just talking at them and telling them what they need to do.”
WHAT WE DO REALLY MATTERS
On an evening last November, the rm was the host and one of the spon- sors of an inaugural gala to bene t the Friends of the Wake County Guard- ian Ad Litem program. Forshey looks forward to the rm hosting the sec- ond annual gala this fall.
“ e Guardian Ad Litem program is the government agency that is le-
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