Katalina Hibjan.jpg

1. What made you decide to become a CASA?

I chose to become a CASA volunteer because in my heart, I feel children are the most exposed and vulnerable in our society. Therefore, we as a community, must step up and become those extra compassionate pair of hands to offer support for those children, in times when their parents have failed to give them the love, care and safety every child deserves as a birthright.

2. What is your professional/ volunteer background?

I worked as an architect for twenty years. Then, seeking my personal healing path and a more meaningful fulfilment, I became a Life Coach and more recently Yoga Instructor.

As a child of immigrants, I participated in the girl-scout movement for more the 20 years in the Hungarian community in Venezuela. That was an environment designed to learn about the home country of our parents, but also to care about the less fortunate of our community.

When I moved to the States 4 years ago, I volunteered at Grace for a while. Then I learned about CASA of Tarrant County, and from the very first moment, I was impacted by the meaningful role the volunteers assume and the story behind how this entity was created more than 36 years ago. I could not consider anything else but become one them.

3. What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming a CASA?

If you want to make a difference, here you have a clear path. One thing I value about CASA volunteering is its effectiveness. Statistics favor those cases where family reunification was achieved when CASA has been involved. Human beings long to be noticed. So, from those parents’ perspective, to have the support of an outsider like a CASA volunteer for their children, gives them a frame to feel noticed.  It could be said that sometimes this acts as a trigger for the parent to start doing better and complete their programs for getting their children back. These could make the entire difference. So, what we do matters in a big way!

4. What has been the most challenging part of being a CASA?

For me, it has been to keep the discipline to stick to the plan of what a volunteer must complete monthly as a priority. There is so much more that I wish I could do for the children, but time is limited. Also, to learn in dealing with my feelings and emotions by being conscious that every little step taken is a step forward towards betterment for the children.

5. What has been the most rewarding part of being a CASA?

Every hug, every smile I receive from the kiddos without asking for it. That is so meaningful to me.

6. Please share a special moment with us about your advocacy work with your CASA kid or on your case?

I have four teenage sisters assigned to me. It is a little bit more challenging to offer them a shared activity because they already have different preferences. So, when I brought the painting material for the CASA Kids on Canvas event, one of them said, “No, that’s not for me, the artistly gifted one is my sister”. Then, I encouraged her to express and reflect her own personality in some way through the colors, the outcome ended up gorgeous! She liked it so much that she regretted having to hand over the painting. It was really empowering for her. For me, those moments when I can be part of a small personal growth of a teenager, are worth gold.

7. Is there anything else you would like to add about yourself or the CASA experience?

Another thing I like about CASA is the vast amount of resources that make available to continue our educational process, not to mention the support of our supervisors and the rest of the team.

Learning the details of the case in which one will be in charge can be a difficult time but realizing the resilience of these children is a lesson of the hope life constantly offers us in return.

8. How have you been able to connect with your CASA kids during this time of quarantine? How are you advocating for them during this time? How has it impacted the children on your case?

During these times of forced quarantine, my intention has been to keep the connection with them through different approaches. Besides calls, texts and pictures we are exchanging, I colored for them a mandala with some words on staying safe and sent them a set for them to color, in the sake of keeping up the good vibes! I also offered them some online yoga sessions and one of the girls, and also foster mom, grabbed the opportunity to participate, which is great because a more relaxed foster mom can do a better job, right? I always like to consider the bigger picture.