I was drawn to CASA by another advocate in 2013. She was in training and told me about this wonderful opportunity to be a voice for children in foster care. I was hooked and so it began. However, within a few months of being trained, we learned that Texas CASA had formed a steering committee to develop a stand alone 501(c)3 organization, no longer under the umbrella of the Resource and Crisis Center. I was on that committee. After only 6 months on my first CASA case, Texas CASA asked me to give up my case to become a member of the board of directors for the new organization. That was incredibly difficult as the case was within a few months of being closed by private adoption. We really do get attached to our CASA children. On August 31, 2021, I rolled off the board and began to re-train as an advocate even before my board term was up as I couldn’t wait to get back to what I originally signed up to do. All total, I’ve only been an advocate for a little over a year but involved with CASA of Galveston County for nine years. I’m a group leader in Bible Study Fellowship and my husband and I are involved with our church. We both volunteer in the childrens department every week , so we both stay busy. My best advice to a new advocate coming in is to plan your work and work your plan. The supervisors are all wonderful, highly trained, and make themselves available to support you, so don’t hesitate to contact them for help. You’re not a Lone Ranger.
