Meet Tish! She completed CASA training in January 2022 and has already worked on three cases. Tish shared, “I intentionally retired from my role as a school counselor to do something unpaid because I knew that there’s really important work being done in our community by volunteers.” Initially wanting to work with refugees, Tish was moved by CASA’s mission after seeing a billboard and exploring the program.
Although she had experience working with families and Child Protective Services as a school counselor and mandated reporter, CASA training helped Tish realize that she still had a lot more to learn about foster care and the child welfare system. Training taught Tish how the court system works and prepared her for her first case.
Tish now understands how many community members coordinate to help children and families in need. She knew the system is overburdened, and that some children fall through the cracks, “but seeing it is a whole different experience.” In fact, one of Tish’s favorite parts of being a volunteer is knowing that in her own way she is a part of the community solution to child abuse and neglect.
When asked what she would say to prospective CASA volunteers, Tish answered, “You think you can anticipate what it’s going to be like, but you can never know the rich lessons you’ll learn until you do it… it’s such a growing experience.” Her personal motto: “bite off more than you can chew and then chew it!”
This article is part of the Fall 2023 edition of CASA Connect, CASA of Kent County’s quarterly newsletter. Click here to view a pdf version of this newsletter.
After many years of service, two of our beloved advocate supervisors, Deb Kammer and Rosemary Allen, will retire from their positions later this year. Please join us in thanking them for their dedication to CASA of Kent County and wishing them well in their next steps!
Leslie wanted to help kids in the foster care system, but fostering wasn’t right for her and her husband. When she discovered she could work with children as an advocate, she “knew this was the next best thing.” She completed CASA training in 2011 and took on three consecutive family court cases.
Kay Bylenga became a CASA volunteer in 2004. In the 19 years since then, she has filled many essential supportive roles within the program: CASA volunteer, training coordinator, board member, sponsor, and donor.
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2023 Heart of CASA Dinner Event | October 19, 2023
