Volunteer Spotlight: Molly Merillat

Molly Merillat had hit a boiling point watching current events unfold in the news. Molly saw troubling things happening around the world and decided she wanted to quit doomscrolling and instead find a way to get involved in her local community. After internet searching “Grand Rapids volunteer opportunities,” she found CASA of Kent County.

The role of a CASA volunteer aligned well with Molly’s passion for learning about post-traumatic stress disorder and supporting folks who have experienced trauma. Molly confided that she is the product of a stable and loving home with a big support system. However, after she was assaulted during college, Molly felt like the rug was ripped out from under her. Thanks to her loved ones and trauma-informed therapy, Molly has since regained her footing. Now, Molly has made it her mission to uplift folks who are struggling with similar situations. CASA was the perfect fit.

When Molly underwent CASA training, two things stuck out to her: the turnover rate of foster care caseworkers and the likelihood that teens in foster care will turn 18 without a forever family or age out of the system. Both unfortunate trends reflect gaps in the overwhelmed child welfare system – gaps that the CASA program strives to fill through advocacy.

On Molly’s current case, she advocates for two siblings, ages five and six. She has learned that much of advocacy involves just being present for the children. To establish rapport, Molly asks questions and affirms their feelings by repeating statements back to them. Molly helps ensure that her CASA children have all the resources they need to be successful, and she advocates for support when she notices gaps. Molly pushed for the children to return to their hometown after being placed in a different foster home far from everything they knew. She has also formed a close working relationship with the children’s relative caregiver.

Ultimately, Molly’s advocacy goal is to reflect the support she received as a child onto her CASA children. Whether that means eating lunch together, picking them up from school, or ensuring that they have a special birthday treat, Molly is looking out for her CASA children.

When asked what she might say to someone who is considering becoming a CASA volunteer, Molly stated, “Just do it! Jump in. I’d challenge anyone who doesn’t know if they have the time to take a look at their screen time and see if they have 15 hours a month to give up. That’s what worked for me.” Molly does not see volunteering as a sacrifice but as something simple she can do to give back. In Molly’s words, “Children in foster care are a vulnerable population. If you can help a kid, why not? Be a comfort. That’s enough.”

This story is featured in the Summer 2026 edition of CASA Connect, CASA of Kent County’s quarterly newsletter. Click here to view a pdf version of this newsletter.