Hello! My name is Elisabeth O’Brien, and I started with CASA in October 2024.
I was actually sworn in on October 30th, which I thought was really fun.

I’m still working on my first case. It’s a Dependency & Neglect case, and those tend to take some time. We’re getting close to the hearing to close the case, which feels both exciting and a little sad. I’ve been on this case since November 2024, and I will definitely miss seeing the kids. At the same time, I’m incredibly excited for them and the progress they’ve made.

The reason I became a CASA Volunteer is pretty personal. I had always wanted to be involved with foster care, but my life ended up going in a direction where that wasn’t going to be possible. That broke my heart a little. When I discovered CASA, it gave me another way to support children in the system. One that allowed me to advocate for them while still caring for my own family and meeting the needs of my personal life. It gave me a chance to give back in a way I had always hoped to.

One of the biggest takeaways for me has been realizing just how important it is to focus on the children themselves. There is often so much going on with the adults around them, but the kids need someone who is there simply to notice them and listen. Getting to know them—understanding their behaviors, their cues, and the ways they try to communicate—is so important. Sometimes they can’t say exactly what they need, and that’s when we get to be their voice. In the middle of all the noise of adult struggles, kids need someone speaking up for them; and being that person as a CASA Volunteer means a lot to me.

Some of the hardest moments come when I have to walk away from the kids I’m supporting, knowing they are still lacking things and that I can’t fix everything myself. I can’t take them home, demand that adults change their decisions, or speed up the systems that are trying to help them. I have to trust that the supports in place will run their course, and that takes time. Learning to sit with that can be difficult.

At the same time, there are so many heartwarming moments. I don’t have one big, perfect story, but honestly, every visit brings something special. Seeing the light in their eyes and getting hugs from them always warms my heart. When the kids found out that I wouldn’t be their CASA anymore after the case closes their mom told them to ask if I could still be their CASA. I explained that once the case closed I wouldn’t be their CASA Volunteer anymore, but both of their parents had already agreed that I could still see them. The relief on their faces was so visible, and it was absolutely adorable. Every visit with them has been amazing.

For anyone thinking about becoming a CASA Volunteer, I would say: try it. Go through the training and check it out. It becomes pretty clear during the process whether it’s something that feels right for you. I don’t think it’s for everyone, but I do think more people should know about it. It’s something many people would find incredibly meaningful, especially with the different ways to get involved.

I’m so glad to be part of CASA and the work they do. It brings me so much joy, and I feel honored to be involved in this work.