By Erwin Bligen, CASA Volunteer, Hall-Dawson CASA Program

When people ask me what it means to be a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), they often assume my role is simply to spend time with a child and speak on that child’s behalf in court. While that is certainly part of the responsibility, after ten years as a CASA volunteer I have learned that effective advocacy requires something much broader. To truly advocate for a child’s best interests, you must understand the entire family.

Every child enters foster care with a story, and that story rarely begins or ends with the child. Parents may be battling addiction, mental illness, poverty, or domestic violence. Grandparents may be trying to hold a family together while carrying burdens of their own. Foster parents open their homes and hearts while navigating unfamiliar challenges. Teachers, counselors, physicians, therapists, attorneys, caseworkers, and judges each see different pieces of the child’s life.

A CASA volunteer has the unique opportunity—and responsibility—to bring those pieces together.

Over the years, I have learned that meaningful conversations with biological parents often reveal something easily overlooked: despite their struggles, many still love their children deeply and want a better future for them. Grandparents frequently provide family history, stability, and a connection to a child’s identity. Foster parents offer valuable insight into daily routines, emotional growth, and behaviors that may never appear in a report. Teachers often recognize academic strengths, learning disabilities, or social challenges before anyone else. Every conversation, every visit, and every observation add another piece to the puzzle.

Listening does not mean agreeing with everyone. It means treating every person with dignity while remaining focused on one guiding question: What is truly in this child’s best interest?

The answer is not always simple.

Sometimes advocating for a child means recommending an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan to provide the academic support necessary for success. Other times it means encouraging healthy family visitation, requesting trauma-informed counseling, ensuring appropriate medical care, or supporting services that help parents overcome the issues that brought the family into the child welfare system. The recommendation may not satisfy every adult involved, but it should always be grounded in careful observation, verified information, and the child’s long-term well-being.

The most successful outcomes occur when everyone begins working toward the same goal: giving the child the opportunity to heal, grow, and thrive.

Children notice who consistently shows up. They remember the adults who listen without judgment, keep their promises, and remain present through difficult moments. As CASA volunteers, we often become one of the few constants in a child’s life during a season filled with uncertainty. That consistency builds trust, and trust allows us to advocate more effectively.

One of the greatest rewards of being a CASA volunteer comes long after the court hearings have ended, and the case has been closed. Occasionally, a text message, photograph, or email arrives unexpectedly. It may be a picture of a child smiling on the first day of school, celebrating a birthday, earning an award, or simply enjoying life with family. Those moments are powerful reminders that our work extends beyond court reports and recommendations. They remind us that the relationships we build and the advocacy we provide can have a lasting impact on a child’s life.

After ten years as a CASA volunteer, I remain convinced that our greatest strength is not simply speaking for children. It takes time to understand the people and circumstances that shape their lives. By seeing the whole family, we gain the perspective needed to make informed recommendations that truly serve the child’s best interests.

CASA volunteers may never receive public recognition for their work, but we do receive something even more meaningful: the opportunity to help change the trajectory of a child’s life. Every child deserves an advocate who looks beyond the case file, sees the complete picture, and never loses sight of hope. CASA volunteers make a difference, one child, one family, and one future at a time.