May 4, 2020
I have been a CASA Volunteer for a couple of years now. Why did I become a CASA? Well, I knew that I liked working with children. I taught Children’s Liturgy at my church. Children have this wonderful energy and get so excited about telling you things about themselves and their families. Since the children are our future, I want to help them be the best they can be. I had seen the commercials on TV about volunteering with CASA, and since I have volunteered for lots of different organizations over the years, I thought I would give it a try. The training was very good and Diana and the team made the learning fun. My first appointment was a case with three children who had been removed from their mother due to neglect as a result of her drug use. They were such great kids. Two boys and a girl. The Foster Mother lived outside of Corpus Christi but still in Nueces County; she had two grown children who no longer lived at home, and she was a widow. My first Caseworker was very patient and always took time to answer my questions. The second Caseworker was also great. She stayed in touch with me, and let me know what was going on with the case from her point of view. We did home visits to the Mom’s house together, because she did not live in the best of neighborhoods. The children’s Attorney was amazing. She was the best!!. She taught me a lot about how the system works. My CASA Supervisor is also the best in my opinion. She is very knowledgeable and patient. She provided very detailed books with all the information I needed to be a successful advocate. I could call on her anytime, and she would make time to visit with me. I was truly blessed with my first case. I had a good working relationship with CPS, the Attorney Ad Litem, the Foster Mother, and of course my CASA Supervisor. The case went on for about 18 months and was set for trial. As we were preparing for the trial, the mother decided to relinquish her parental rights to the children. It really was the best thing for the children. The girl had been placed in a fictive kin home near Houston and they were wonderful to her. She graduated from high school, took a senior trip to Washington, and has now joined the army. I keep in touch with her. The Foster Mother adopted the boys and they are doing great. I keep in touch with them as well.
When that first case ended, I was having some issues with my job and had talked with my CASA Supervisor about stepping back from CASA. She suggested being a Co-CASA instead, so I did. This new case is totally different. It is actually two cases. Four children living with their Great Grandmother in another county, and a one-year-old infant who is in a Foster home in Corpus Christi. The children were removed from the Mother and the infant’s father due to neglect and drug use. My Co-CASA and I met with our CASA Supervisor and talked about dividing up the responsibilities. I suggested that I be the primary Advocate for the infant placed in the Foster home, and help my Co-CASA with the other four children. Communicating with the professionals and family members connected to the case has been somewhat challenging. The infant’s Foster Mother has been very helpful and keeps me informed with the information she is given by the parents and the Caseworker. It is obvious that she takes good care of the baby and has only his best interest in mind. She is truly concerned about the possibility of him being returned to his parents.
Then COVID-19 hit. For me, it has been a challenge to juggle my day job and try to attend meetings and do face time with the baby and his Caregiver. It is a trying time for everyone.
The biggest lesson I have learned in my CASA experience is that everyone doesn’t see the world through my lens. And I have to try my best to have an appreciation for the way the world looks through theirs. At the end of the day, I give it my best and hope that it is enough!!
– Katy Cooper, CASA of the Coastal Bend Volunteer
To learn how you can make a difference as a CASA volunteer for Coastal Bend youth in foster care, attend an upcoming 45 minute Virtual CASA Info Session held every Wednesday at 12pm via Zoom: https://bit.ly/2JAld0E
