Skip to content
  • Our CASA Program
    • The CASA Model
    • Impact Report
    • Foster Care System
    • Child Abuse & Neglect
    • Impact Stories
  • Ways to Give
  • Events
    • Judges’ Luncheon
    • Judges’ Reception
    • Uplifting Voices
    • Fostering Hope Golf Classic
    • Starry Starry Night
    • Real Word Speakers Panel
  • How to Help
    • Amicus Circle
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Raise Funds
    • Recommend a CASA
    • The Starfish Giving Circle
    • Shop
    • Spread the Word
    • Stay Connected
  • News
    • News Room
    • Voices for Children Blog
  • Who We Are
    • About Voices for Children
    • Leadership
    • Financials & Publications
    • Employment
    • FAQs
    • Hotlines & Resources
  • Our CASA Program
    • The CASA Model
    • Impact Report
    • Foster Care System
    • Child Abuse & Neglect
    • Impact Stories
  • Ways to Give
  • Events
    • Judges’ Luncheon
    • Judges’ Reception
    • Uplifting Voices
    • Fostering Hope Golf Classic
    • Starry Starry Night
    • Real Word Speakers Panel
  • How to Help
    • Amicus Circle
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Raise Funds
    • Recommend a CASA
    • The Starfish Giving Circle
    • Shop
    • Spread the Word
    • Stay Connected
  • News
    • News Room
    • Voices for Children Blog
  • Who We Are
    • About Voices for Children
    • Leadership
    • Financials & Publications
    • Employment
    • FAQs
    • Hotlines & Resources
Volunteer
Donate

Inspiring CASAs: Volunteer Champions Mental Health Resources For Youth

  • April 10, 2020
  • Voices For Children

One of the most important roles of a CASA volunteer is providing consistency to children in foster care. This reliable presence during everyday circumstances makes it possible for them to provide critical support to their youth in time of crisis.

We are thankful for the extraordinary care taken by Court Appointed Special Advocate Susan, the next spotlight in our “Inspiring CASAs” series, who acted fast to ensure the safety and wellbeing of her case youth.

Three years ago, CASA Susan was paired with foster youth “Trent.”* Trent is a 19-year-old in foster care with developmental delays, who also struggles with mental health. While he has foster parents who care for him, Trent has developed a tight bond with his CASA over the years, even once asking her to be his foster mother. While humbled by the request, Susan couldn’t sacrifice her role as his CASA, and promised him she would be his “CASA mom” forever.

Recently, Trent’s doctor decided to make a change to the teen’s medication, which resulted in Trent hearing voices in his head. This led to the young man engaging in dangerous behavior to deal with his mental stress. When he ran away from home and got lost, it was CASA Susan he phoned for help. Trent told her that he was hearing voices and wanted to go to the hospital, but that his foster parents were hesitant about taking him to a medical center amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

CASA Susan encouraged Trent to stay calm. She quickly contacted a mental health professional who encouraged her to find a local crisis center for Trent to visit in person. Susan found a nearby location for Trent, and his foster parents were able to take him in for care. The staff were able to adjust his medication, and after only a night at the facility, Trent was able to return home.

It was this emergency situation that made Susan truly realize the value of being a CASA. She shared that she didn’t know what would have happened if Trent didn’t have anyone to call. By being there for her case youth and taking action to find him the help he needed, she was able to turn around an escalating situation and ensure Trent’s safe return.

Like CASA Susan, you can be the advocate a foster youth needs. Learn how you can change the life of a child by becoming a CASA volunteer.

For more information on Voices for Children’s current business operations and opportunities for virtual volunteer Information Sessions, please visit our COVID-19 Response page.

*Names and other identifying details have been changed to protect confidentiality.

Share the Post:

Related Posts

Riverside County CASA of the Month – May 2025

Sibling relationships are often the longest-lasting connections in a child’s life. For youth in foster care, maintaining that bond can be a critical source of stability, comfort, and identity. When

Read More

San Diego County CASA of the Month – May 2025

At the heart of every Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer’s work is a commitment to show up, to listen, and to be a steady presence in a child’s life.

Read More

Riverside County CASA of the Month – April 2025

At Voices for Children, we are constantly inspired by the dedication and heart our CASAs bring to their advocacy. CASA Cynthia has been an unwavering force of compassion and support

Read More
Page1 Page2 Page3 … Page67

Get Involved

  • Volunteer
  • Spread the Word
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop with Purpose
  • Volunteer
  • Spread the Word
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop with Purpose

Get to Know Us

  • The CASA Model
  • Our Mission
  • Financials
  • Blog
  • The CASA Model
  • Our Mission
  • Financials
  • Blog

Connect

  • Staff
  • Employment
  • News Room
  • Contact Us
  • Staff
  • Employment
  • News Room
  • Contact Us

Follow

Facebook Instagram X-twitter Linkedin Youtube

Copyright © 2025

Voices for Children · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Inclusion Policies · Accessibility Statement

Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}