1. What made you decide to become a CASA?
I decided to join CASA after seeing and reading several news stories. It took me a while to take the plunge because I wanted to make sure I could truly dedicate myself to the task. I’ve endeavored to be the best daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend I can be but I was lacking in the best humanitarian department so I decided to try and rectify that fact.
2. What is your professional/volunteer background?
I was a stay at home mom. I had volunteered at the local mission, pet shelter, hospital etc while my own children were in school but when they went off to college I had more time to devote to other things.
3. What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming a CASA?
To anyone who is thinking about becoming a CASA my advice would be, don’t hesitate. It will easily be the most gratifying volunteer job you’ll ever do. Simply put, I strive to make everyone else look good and feel good.
4. What has been the most challenging part of being a CASA?
There are days when I find it challenging to respect the boundaries of the job. I’d love to swoop up my CASA children, take them out to eat, shopping, appointments etc; but the rules are in place for a reason.
5. What has been the most rewarding part of being a CASA?
I find it astonishing sometimes how much other people-far more qualified than myself who are involved in the case-will listen to CASAs; we are just volunteers after all. Therefore, it is so rewarding when you see significant changes occur in your CASA childrens’ lives and you know you’re part of the reason it happened.
6. Please share a special moment with us about your advocacy work with your CASA kid or on your case.
I love getting to know the children in my cases and it would warm my heart when I visited them and they would drop what they were doing and come and sit and talk to me. You start as strangers and it takes a while to earn their trust so when you eventually do, it’s a beautiful thing.
“Samantha has completed two different cases with two very different endings during her time here at CASA and did a wonderful job on both building rapport with the children and their relative caregivers. Samantha is very invested in her cases and goes above and beyond to make sure the children on her cases are getting the care they deserve. Samantha is a wonderful example of how a CASA should work alongside the department and lawyers to reach a decision that is in the best interest of the children!” – Casework Supervisor, Chelsey Statham