Why Becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate Matters
By Sequoia Nix
Imagine being a child whose life is discussed in courtrooms you’ve never seen, by adults you barely know, using words you don’t understand. Decisions are made about where you’ll live, who you’ll see, and what comes next, often without anyone whose only job is to know you.
That is why Court Appointed Special Advocates exist.
CASA of Lane County trains community volunteers to advocate for children involved in the foster care system, from birth until they age out of the system. These children have entered the court system due to abuse or neglect, and CASA volunteers work alongside judges, social workers, and attorneys to ensure each child’s needs, safety, and well-being remain at the center of every decision.
Right now, that work is urgent. “Currently we have nearly 700 children in foster care in Lane County, and less than half of them are receiving the one-on-one advocacy of a CASA,” said Jamie Brokopp, volunteer recruitment coordinator for CASA of Lane County.
I first became involved with CASA because my long-term advocacy work focuses on supporting survivors of human trafficking. Through that work, I noticed a pattern that others in this field have recognized for years. Polaris, a national nonprofit that operates the U.S. National Trafficking Hotline, reports that trafficking frequently overlaps with existing vulnerabilities like housing instability, abuse histories, and child welfare involvement.
It became clear to me that prevention and protection don’t start after harm has occurred, they start when children are still in the system and still forming their understanding of safety, trust and stability.
Wanting to get involved with CASA of Lane County, but recognizing the limits of my already full schedule, I approached the organization with a different idea. I proposed the creation of an ambassador program that would allow select community members to advocate for CASA itself by increasing awareness, recruitment, and community engagement.
Following that presentation, CASA developed an official Ambassador Program, and I am now working with the organization as its first official CASA ambassador. It is an incredible honor to help shape a new pathway for community involvement, and I deeply believe in CASA’s mission to ensure every child has a consistent, informed and compassionate advocate by their side.
CASA volunteers are trained community members who provide that stability. Unlike social workers or attorneys, CASAs are not balancing dozens of cases. They are assigned to one child, or sometimes siblings, and take the time to truly know them. They listen, observe, write reports and make recommendations that help judges understand what a child needs, not just on paper, but in real life.
Many people describe the role as similar to being a “big sibling,” and that comparison fits. CASAs are not there to fix everything or to parent a child. They are there to be consistent, to notice patterns, to ask questions, and to stay present when systems feel overwhelming.
To become a CASA, volunteers must be at least 21 years old and commit to a minimum of two years. Training is a 10-week program that prepares advocates for trauma-informed care, court involvement, and navigating complex systems. After training, the average time commitment is about 10 hours per month, with flexibility built in to accommodate work, school, and life responsibilities.
For college students and young adults, CASA is not only meaningful, it’s practical. Volunteers gain real-world experience in advocacy, communication, and systems navigation. They learn how the court system functions, how to write professional reports, and how to advocate effectively for someone who cannot always advocate for themselves. These are skills that translate directly into careers in education, childcare, law, healthcare, nonprofit work, and public service.
But beyond career paths, CASA often resonates on a more personal level.
If you’re the kind of person who naturally looks out for younger siblings, notices when someone is being overlooked, or feels compelled to speak up when something doesn’t feel fair, this role may already align with who you are. For students considering futures in teaching, childcare, counseling, or social impact work, CASA offers a way to turn that instinct into tangible action, right now.
In a time when many young people feel overwhelmed by the scale of injustice or burned out by performative activism, CASA offers something different. It’s not about doing everything. It’s about doing one thing well, for one child, over time.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make a real difference while balancing school, work, or the early stages of your career, this may be your moment. CASA of Lane County regularly hosts information sessions where prospective volunteers can learn more, ask questions, and decide whether the role fits their life right now.
Sometimes, changing a life doesn’t start with having all the answers. It starts with being the person who shows up, and chooses to remain.
