For four years, Heather Kahsay has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), bringing her experience, perspective, and steady presence to children navigating some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Heather has been married for 31 years and is the proud mother of eight children—two of whom are adopted—and three grandchildren. She enjoys exercise, reading, and art projects, and after retiring from her career as a paralegal, she chose to continue serving in a different, but deeply meaningful way.
“I wanted to become a CASA to gain experience in the court system because I was a paralegal. I have since retired from that position but continue working with CASA because it is a valuable service to the children affected by abuse and neglect.”
Hard Work That is Deeply Rewarding
Heather doesn’t shy away from the realities of advocacy.
“Being a CASA is hard because I see some really ugly stuff, and there is only so much I can do to effect change. Often, there is no ideal outcome for the children but a living situation that is better than the one they came from.”
That perspective requires emotional resilience. But for Heather, the purpose behind the work makes it worthwhile.
“I’ve heard CASA described as being eyes and ears for judges. That is satisfying and also helpful for compartmentalization. I am there to write a story for the judge to make the best informed decision possible. The outcome is not my responsibility.”
When “Better” Matters
Heather shared a powerful example of how advocacy can change a child’s path.
“In one case, a little boy was placed with his maternal grandmother who severely ostracized him. CASA identified the problem and GAL changed placement to the paternal grandparents. The little boy was in a much better placement for his personal development, but in doing so he was separated from his siblings.”
There may not always be a perfect solution but there can be a better one. Understanding that reality helps volunteers navigate the emotional weight of the work while staying focused on what truly matters: the child’s well-being.
Lightening the Load
Heather also recognizes how vital CASA volunteers are within an overburdened child welfare system.
“CASA volunteers help lighten the load of a burdened system. The Department does its best to keep up with cases, but it has a very high client to worker ratio. CASA can help by getting into the homes and schools, listening to frustrated caregivers, and giving judges an additional perspective to the Department and GAL.”
Volunteers serve as an additional set of eyes and ears—ensuring no detail is overlooked and no child’s story goes unheard.
Her Advice
For anyone considering becoming a CASA volunteer, Heather offers simple and heartfelt encouragement:
“I would encourage anyone thinking about becoming a CASA to do it! I would stress the necessity of keeping the work separate from the personal and the importance of not letting the children fall through the cracks.”
Heather’s commitment, perspective, and compassion exemplify what it means to be a CASA volunteer. Through steady advocacy and thoughtful reporting, she helps ensure children have someone consistently standing in their corner.
