Volunteer Spotlight: Michael

Meet Michael! He decided to become a CASA volunteer during the spring of 2020 after seeing the impact of the pandemic on the child welfare system. He had heard how there was an increase in child abuse and domestic violence because people were home more. He also realized that these incidents were not being reported as frequently as they should have been, largely because children were not in school and social workers were not making home visits. Michael recognized that the need for advocacy was greater than ever.

Since becoming a CASA, Michael has taken a case where he advocates for a young boy who is in foster care. Michael enjoys spending time with him and having fun. Yet being a CASA volunteer is more than that. Michael is also an objective observer for the court and testifies to the boy’s best interests at each hearing. When asked whether he had any advice for someone interested in volunteering, Michael said, “It’s an important commitment, so you should be thoughtful about it and not take it lightly, but the team will be there to support you along the way!