By Sara Blake
When Kimberly moved to Austin seven years ago with her husband, it was on the heels of a long career that spanned writing TV commercials, reviewing restaurants, traveling the world, and even working as a private chef. Once she retired, she was ready to “roll up my sleeves and do some work.”
Originally from Chicago, Kimberly has lived everywhere from Tokyo to France to California. She and her husband raised three kids who are now grown and scattered across the country. “We keep hoping they will end up here one day,” she laughs. Over the last several years, Kimberly has explored several volunteer opportunities, from refugee services to Habitat for Humanity, but was still searching for the right fit. Then a friend mentioned CASA.
What stood out immediately to her wasn’t just the mission, but the people. “I could see the heart and dedication of the staff right away through the interviews and the training,” Kimberly remembers. “There was such warmth and care. I knew I wanted to be part of this.” Three years later, she’s not only a CASA volunteer, but also an ambassador for the program.
Kimberly began with Early Family Engagement (EFE) cases, working to find family and fictive kin connections for new cases. The first several cases were with infants. But when she met an older child on one of her cases, Kimberly felt drawn to continue working on it long-term. 
“I will never forget the brokenness of this child when I first showed up,” she recalls. “They were confused, hurt, and sad. They didn’t ask for any of this. Yet right away, they trusted me. And I knew I couldn’t just be another person who disappeared.”
Over the next two years, Kimberly advocated fiercely to keep the child connected to their school, friends, and loved ones. When their housing situation began to fall apart, Kimberly stepped in, helping create a plan that gave the caregiver the support needed to continue. When another transition loomed, Kimberly worked again to find a solution that would keep the child in a stable home setting.
Some of Kimberly’s favorite moments on the case were seemingly the most ordinary ones. “I taught them how to ride a bike without training wheels,” she shares. “We made pottery together. And I always showed up with their favorite food.”
“I encouraged them to have dreams and follow them,” says Kimberly. “I always told them they could be anything they wanted to be. And I think by the end of the case they were starting to believe me.”
The case closed with the child being adopted into a loving home, and Kimberly transitioned back to EFE work, ready to support more children and families.
The work hasn’t always been easy. “There were a few times I got hit pretty hard emotionally,” she admits. “But in those moments, I remind myself that everyone on the case is doing the best they can, and that I have support from CASA staff at every level.”
“The longer I do this, the more eager I am to get up every day and help more kids,” Kimberly says. “What part of changing the life of a child doesn’t excite you?”
