Debbie Ausburn

Debbie Ausburn is a Social Worker & Lawyer who defends youth-serving organizations in cases ranging from accidents to claims of sexual abuse, and advises them about best practices for protecting the children in their care. She blogs about legal topics at YouthServicesLaw.com and about parenting issues at DebbieAusburn.com.

For more than 40 years, she has been working with traumatized children, starting when she was a preteen helping her parents with their summer camp and church ministries. In the years since, she has served as a juvenile court probation officer/social worker, group home parent, criminal prosecutor, non-profit volunteer and Board member, and attorney defending youth-serving organizations.

While still single and early in her legal career, Debbie served as a volunteer foster parent for emergency placements. In North Carolina, she worked as a federal prosecutor of child abuse and violent crimes, and served as a foster-parent for respite care and long-term placements of abused children and teenagers. She returned home to Georgia, switched to civil law, and married a man with five children, two of them still at home. Most recently, Debbie and her husband have found themselves raising a grandchild. Parenting other people’s children has been the greatest challenge and the greatest joy of Debbie’s life.

I’m so excited for you guys to connect with Debbie, check out her work, and follow along as she continues to take care of other people’s children.

I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself, what you do, and what you're working on.

I am a social-worker-turned-lawyer. I pay my bills by advising and defending youth organizations, but the most important things that I have ever done was serving as a foster parent and stepparent. I am working on a book about those experiences, with the working title of “Raising Other People’s Children.”

How did you get started?

My first job after college was a probation officer/social worker with juvenile court in metro Atlanta. I loved the kids, but not the bureaucracy. After three years, I burned out and went to law school. I continued to volunteer with youth shelters, and when I finally settled down long enough in one job, I signed up to be a foster parent.

What inspired the work that you're doing?

My first job after college was a probation officer/social worker with juvenile court in metro Atlanta. I loved the kids, but not the bureaucracy. After three years, I burned out and went to law school. I continued to volunteer with youth shelters, and when I finally settled down long enough in one job, I signed up to be a foster parent.

What is your biggest passion? Do you feel like you're living your passion and purpose?

My biggest passion is helping other people take care of children. I’m in a stage of life where most of my children are grown, and it’s time for me to teach other people what I have learned from the many mistakes that I’ve made and the many joys that my children have brought into mylife.

What is your joy blueprint? What lights you up, brings you joy, and makes you feel the most alive?

I love visiting with my children and grandchildren. I enjoy their company and thoroughly enjoy watching the wonderful adults that they have grown into. A close second is travel. I absolutely adore seeing new places and new cultures, and I am happiest when I can combine my two passions by taking my children and grandchildren with me to new places.

How do you live intentionally? Are there tools/resources/practices that you rely on to help you stay mindful and grounded?

Living intentionally is my biggest challenge. I have so many responsibilities these days that I live more reactively than proactively. But I do enjoy both my work and my family. Keeping my marriage at the forefront of my life is what helps keep me grounded. My husband is my best friend and biggest supporter, and I count on him to give me honest opinions about what I need to change and how to do the next right thing.

What would your younger self think about what you're doing now?

My younger self probably would be too intimidated to even start down this path. I don’t regret it but it is a good thing that I was not able see beyond the next turn in my journey. God has given me strength for every challenge, but if I had seen all the challenges when I was younger, I might have chickened out.

Do you have a go-to mantra or affirmation?

God knows what He’s doing with my life.

What is your biggest dream?

For all of my children to reach their dreams and thrive.

To learn more about Debbie and her work visit her website www.debbieausburn.com www.YouthServicesLaw.com and on Instagram @debbieausburn Twitter @debbieausburn and on Facebook here

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Debbie Ausburn - Social Worker & Lawyer