By Sara Blake
“Being a CASA volunteer has taught me not to be afraid of wading into sad or hard things,” reflects Mia. “While there is a lot of heaviness in this work, there’s also so much hope… and that’s what kids need the most.”
Mia describes herself as “active from childhood,” both socially and physically. Growing up in Maryland, she was heavily involved with Girl Scouts and sports, particularly field hockey in high school. After finishing college, she began a marketing and communications career that led her to San Francisco, where she first heard about CASA. But right as she was considering applying, COVID shut everything down.
A few years later, Mia found herself making a new start at Salesforce in Austin. As she explored the area through pottery classes, restaurant tastings, and dog meetups with her wiener dog Noodle, she began to form new friendships; including with a woman who worked at CASA of Travis County. Mia applied to volunteer in spring 2024. 
“So many of my assumptions of the child welfare system and even about the people involved were debunked during training,” says Mia. “The intricacies of each family’s situation just don’t allow for easy solutions.”
As she has worked her first case, she has had to process both the child’s emotional responses as well as her own; especially during a sudden placement change. “Even though I’m an adult that’s never had these experiences, I’m starting to see every change and loss through their eyes. This is not a transactional situation – these kids often have no idea when or where they are going next.”
But as Mia says, this is exactly why CASA is so vital. “I think all kids need more people in their life who are solidly on their team,” she observes. “I am dedicated to being here for this child. We have fun and make memories together and they know I will always answer when they call.”
Mia appreciates that CASA “really is a community. Between my supervisor and even other volunteers, I know I’m never advocating alone. When the emotional weight is feeling heavy, we lean on each other.”
Mia encourages anyone considering becoming a volunteer to attend an Info Session (our next one is October 27 on Zoom). As a CASA Ambassador, Mia may even be there answering your questions! “One of the most beautiful things I’ve witnessed as a CASA volunteer is just how respected children are in the courtroom,” admires Mia. “The judges ensure each child has the opportunity to...be heard – exactly what we hope to do as CASA volunteers.”
