I love that question. So let me give some back story a little bit. I started off in the child welfare space in 2018, so I learned about the local CASA program here in Santa Clara County, which is Child Advocates of Silicon Valley. So I decided to become a CASA in 2018, and then a year following that I joined as staff, and I’m still there. So I've been there almost 4 and a half, almost five years. I’m just really enjoying the volunteer work, 1) as an advocate, and then also supporting advocates myself. And so this really allowed me to broaden my skill set in terms of providing clinical support to our youth. I’m also fulfilling that need for myself since it's a clinical internship, so I really have a chance to diversify my skills which I really appreciate. And yeah, it's the same population that is close to my heart and that I'm passionate about – supporting our foster youth. And so what better way to also give back a little bit more? And so that's kind of why I chose it, yeah.

I was reading these questions last night, and I was like, “what would I say?” I would say, if you're looking for an opportunity to give back, it can be just a few hours a week. I think this is a perfect opportunity that is accessible. We can provide it, you know, through teletherapy, which is great. If you have been a CASA already, maybe some CASAs are looking to get into providing therapy for our clients. It’s also a great opportunity to continue to give back. And, I mean, these are our kids most in need, so if we can provide a service to them that's easily accessible, then we should be able to, you know, show up to the plate and provide that for them.

Most, of course, first and foremost, is seeing clients’ progress. They can come in really struggling with a variety of different things, but to see them heal, to see them just be able to walk through like a little bit better than when they came in is really great. Just to help them have their own closure with whatever that they're dealing with and I also like – and this is my own personal need – that I can do it from home, which is great. We say that we're all busy busy, and yes, a lot of people are busy, but I can do it here, which really helps me out because I'm a student. I was working full time, but I'm not working anymore. So really just being able to plug and play has been an enjoyment for me.

Special? Maybe that's more of the special part, it’s really the client's progress. And just continuing to build really solid connections with the clients that we're assigned to. Since I've had multiple hats, I always have to remind myself that I’m not their CASA, but I can still be one of those few people who are providing a lot of support to them, especially in this therapeutic sense. But that's the most special part, is having really solid, authentic relationships with the clients that we're working with.

Well, professionally, of course, it's helping me acquire some hours, which is great. It's continuing to help me build a skill set that I haven't tapped into yet. And yeah, I think long term this is something that I would continue to do even after my practicum is done. I'm also taking a break as a CASA, so I think this is something that I can do to still fulfill the desire to volunteer some hours. Yeah, I think it's really great. A lot of these great opportunities come when I didn't really know they existed. Like, when I became a CASA I didn't know what the program was. I was at Jazz Fest, and they had a little social service booth, and I was thinking about getting involved with some kind of volunteering. And then I talked to Ann, who's the CEO of Contra Costa CASA, and she said, “Oh, we have this program.” And I said, “Oh, great!” So, it all just kind of aligns, and you know it all worked out, which is great.

I think I'm all done!

Okay, thank you, Chrissy!

Bye!