We’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by spotlighting two incredible CASA volunteers and one staff member! These inspiring people share how their rich Hispanic heritage empowers them to serve the children on their cases with empathy, cultural understanding, and a deep sense of community. Their stories remind us of the strength that comes from diversity and the power of shared values in creating a brighter future for all children.
Child Advocacy Specialist Eleonor De Jesus
What caused you to get involved with CASA? After graduating college with a degree in behavioral healthcare, I served as a Guardian ad Litem in Florida for 4 years and found advocating for kids in foster care truly rewarding. I joined CASA after some time as a special education teacher and am proud to continue the work of advocating for abused and neglected children, now as an employee!
What has been the most rewarding part of being a CASA? Knowing that the work we do will impact a child's life for the better and shine a light on a dark problem in our society.
What’s your favorite way to connect with your CASA kids? Ask the kids directly what they like and what their interests are. Do some research if need be to become educated on the topic so that once you visit them, you can relate to them a bit more!
Please share a special moment with us about your advocacy work with your CASA kids. At a parent-child visit recently, I dared a kid to air-kick a soccer ball into the trashcan. After many attempts, she was finally successful and I was sure to celebrate the win! A month later, I visited the child in her placement. At first she did not remember me, but after reminding her about the soccer kick celebration, she instantly remembered, hugged me and eagerly pulled me by the arm to show me her room and play Pokémon!
What would you say to someone that is on the fence about becoming a CASA? Attend an information session and don't be afraid to "do a hard thing!"
Has your Hispanic heritage helped you serve the child(ren) on your case? If so, how? Being from the small island of Puerto Rico, my heritage reminds me of the importance of culture, community and family. This is something I can educate my advocates about so that they too remember that being competent and aware of these areas is a vital part of a positive foster care journey.
CASA Volunteer Micki Brizes
What caused you to get involved with CASA? I was looking for an opportunity to help children in a meaningful way.
What has been the most rewarding part of being a CASA? I value the relationship I've established with the baby, her foster parents as well as the biological mom.
What’s your favorite way to connect with your CASA kids? I love holding the baby and watching her smile when she sees me.
Please share a special moment with us about your advocacy work with your CASA kids. It has been an amazing experience to get to know the foster parents. Their dedication and love for the baby they have in their care has opened my eyes to how generous and loving a family can be to a baby in need. Without any reassurance of the future, this foster family has not only welcomed the baby to their home and their family but are continually thinking of ways to help the baby and the foster mother to ensure success in the future. They have gone above and beyond imagination. There trully are good people that are able and willing to help.
What would you say to someone that is on the fence about becoming a CASA? I would tell them that with a small time commitment you can make a huge contribution to the life of a child but moreover, the reward of helping to improve a persons childhood experience is worth every second.
Has your Hispanic heritage helped you serve the child(ren) on your case? If so, how? Yes; the biological family, mother and grandmother, do not speak any English. It has been very helpful to be able to speak with them directly as well as establish a relation and earn their trust. I've been able to communicate with the biological mom the importance of following the plan and have been able to translate for her when needed.
CASA Volunteer Teiruma Fernandez Garcia
What caused you to get involved with CASA? I first heard about CASA through my husband, James. He heard about it from the homeschooling organization “Coalition for Responsible Home Education” where a board member talked about CASA, and especially CASA training and how important it is to recognize signs of abuse and learn ways to help children experiencing trauma. I knew from that moment I needed to get involved.
What has been the most rewarding part of being a CASA? Seeing the change right away when you start to work. From “Who is this person showing up at my house?” to them wanting to talk to you specifically and trusting you. Witnessing the positive changes in a child's well-being, as they start to feel heard, valued, and understood, is incredibly fulfilling and the most rewarding part of being a CASA.
What’s your favorite way to connect with your CASA kids? Food! I grew up cooking from scratch with my grandma, and my CASA kids do the same with their grandma each morning. We like to have lunch together and show each other what we cooked today.
Please share a special moment with us about your advocacy work with your CASA kids. The day I went to visit my CASA kids for the first time, we were both nervous! I was a new adult in their life, and they were sitting together on the couch, very shy and not very talkative, while I was trying to get to know them. Finally, the younger sister pointed to my shirt and said, “Who’s that?” I had on a lapel pin of a little black cat, just like my own. Her eyes went wide, and she said “Chimuelo!” (“Toothless”). That’s when I saw two little green eyes appear under the couch and Chimuelo, their black cat, popped out. They couldn’t wait to show me everything about Chimuelo and we made an immediate connection over our cats.
What would you say to someone that is on the fence about becoming a CASA? Don’t be afraid to get started! When I first heard about CASA, I was so intimidated by the thought of being responsible for kids in the foster care system. It was only after I started the training that I realized how little it takes to make an impact in their lives, just by being involved. Every child has a chance, it's YOU.
Has your Hispanic heritage helped you serve the child(ren) on your case? If so, how? Por supuesto! When I started working my case, I was the only one who spoke Spanish, this was crucial to ensure that nothing was getting lost in translation, but this also built a sense of trust, allowing the kiddos and family to express their feeling and experiences authentically in their own language. As an immigrant I also understood the immigration challenges and connected with my CASA kids' culture and traditions. I believe representation matters when advocating for Hispanic children, just having someone who can speak your language can make things easier. I am SO grateful for being able to serve our Hispanic community with CASA!