by Ashika Sethi
Here at CASA, we ask a lot of our volunteers. From maintaining their role as a stable adult in a child’s life to inputting calls and emails into our database, the day-to-day requirements of CASA volunteers are extensive. We at CASA of Travis County are incredibly grateful that so many wonderful adults in our community have embraced this volunteer opportunity with poise and passion.
Today, some members of our staff would like to say thank you for the work that our CASA volunteers do every day to make children’s lives better.
“I am thankful for and admire all the following things I have seen in our CASA volunteers and so much more:
I have seen volunteers bring legal parties and families together, facilitating communication and nudging everyone forward on the case. I have seen volunteers overcome their individual experiences and perceptions and model strong empathy for our families and parents. I have seen volunteers advocate for children to be with their families. I have seen volunteers track down and bring back contact of extended family members bringing in support to their cases and helping them close with a safer, more connected, loving, and supportive permanent home. I have had legal parties share how great a volunteer has been on their case, and compliment their court reports. I have seen volunteers respond quickly with pertinent information as emergencies arise on their cases. I have seen volunteers handle conflict and contentious conversations with grace and empathy. I have seen volunteers preserve placements, and find better placements for their CASA kiddos.
On rough days I think about my team of remarkable volunteers and am re-inspired.”
Our CASA volunteers impact the children we serve in so many ways. They help them get all of their basic needs and beyond met on a regular, ongoing basis - with school needs, therapy, sibling visits, extracurricular activities, creating connections with family, finding placements, making sure they are in homes where they feel safe and comfortable, helping to make sure parents are doing what they need to in order for the kids to come home, finding adoptive families, making certain holidays and events special for them, and the list goes on.
I admire the volunteers for the fact that they are selflessly doing this volunteer job because they truly care about children in the foster care system. I admire that they spend so many hours every month doing something that they don’t get paid to do, simply because they know the need is there and they step up to the plate to help. I admire their heart and dedication to children.”
CASA volunteers truly think about what is best for the children involved. They connect with these kids in a positive and healthy way that allows them to see things from a different perspective. They are willing and able to donate their time to serve these children and are the only people on the legal team that are not paid to be there. That means a lot to kids.”
Advocacy April 2018
