Valerie Arenella and Rick Kimler walked into the annual CASA conference arm-in-arm on a recent Saturday morning. The couple grabbed a bite to eat, found their seats, and spent the day with about 250 fellow CASA volunteers. The annual conference is designed to show appreciation for volunteers, to facilitate community amongst them, and to offer training. Special recognition is given to CASAs based on the length of their volunteer service, and Valerie was one of only three CASAs in attendance who have served for over nineteen years!
Valerie has always enjoyed volunteering, with her church, Junior Achievement and the American Diabetes Association. Twenty years ago, she was looking for a new opportunity and says, “The Orange County Register had a special supplement on volunteering and CASA OC was listed as the #1 place to volunteer in all of Orange County. I called and coincidentally they were having an information session in my area. Once I learned a bit about the program I thought, I have to do this! I signed up, did the training and have been a CASA ever since. It will be 20 years in February!”
When Valerie married Rick, she talked to him about becoming a CASA. She says, “Rick is a really good dad. He has five kids of his own and I knew he’d be really good at it.” At first Rick declined saying he thought the work would be too depressing, but eventually wanted to give it a try. He says, “I decided, ‘Yes, I want to do it!’ It’s been almost two years now. I’ve had one kiddo the whole time. He’s about to turn 18 and will stay in the system until he’s 21. CASA is a great organization.”
Throughout Valerie’s entire time as a CASA volunteer, she has been working with the same Advocate Supervisor, Andy Jacobson, who just recently celebrated her own twenty year anniversary with CASA. Valerie recollects that Andy was a new supervisor when the two began working together.
Andy shares how much she has enjoyed her lengthy time supervising Valerie’s efforts to support so many youth, “Valerie exemplifies tireless commitment and passion for our youth. Over the past nineteen years she has served eleven children and has never wavered in all her efforts to ensure their needs are being met. Val takes her advocacy role seriously and has collaborated with teachers on so many of her cases. Her fun and joyful spirit is so appreciated by her youth. It is an honor to work together with such a devoted CASA!”
As a long-time CASA, Valerie has a unique perspective on the organization and says, “CASA has changed over the years and has only gotten better. There are more opportunities for CASAs to get tickets to take kids places, there is more training, and there are more opportunities to connect with other CASAs.” Valerie says that she and Rick always attend the annual conference and participate in CASA trainings that are specific to issues they might be encountering with their youth.
Rick says, “I enjoyed my CASA training and felt the classes were well prepared. The background check and fingerprinting was all well done and smoothly expedited.” Both he and Valerie are participating in CASA affinity groups which are an additional way to build community. Rick says, “I joined Men of CASA which is a really good program. We can talk about issues we’re having with our youth and get ideas from other advocates for workarounds. I hope to get my son involved as well.” Both Rick and Valerie recently joined Comunidad, another affinity group offered to advocates. Rick says, “We both have Hispanic youth so Comunidad gives us the opportunity to better learn how to keep our youth connected to their culture.” Both share how much they enjoy volunteering together and Rick is able to learn from Valerie’s previous experiences.
During Valerie’s long tenure, she has been matched mostly with girls, although she still fondly remembers her first youth, a young boy who was diabetic and had a heart valve issue. Valerie says, “I went through a lot with him. My son had diabetes so that’s why CASA matched me with that child. We got very close and remained close for many years. I was heartbroken that he didn't finish high school, but my supervisor Andy really helped me through that. I’ll never forget him.” Valerie adds, “It’s hard not to get attached. My current child is a sweetie pie. We were matched when she was only five and now she’s almost nine. I had another girl from the time she was ten until she was seventeen. Now she’s married and has a baby and we still talk or text about once a month.”
Since Rick’s youth is almost an adult, he tries to mix up their visits between fun outings like Luche Libre (Spanish wrestling) events and life skills lessons. The two recently attended an independent living event which Rick says, was kind of like the Game of Life. “Tables were set up with different scenarios; How are you going to rent an apartment? How will you buy a car? You just received a ticket for $300, how are you going to pay it?” At a recent Luche Libre event, Rick’s youth asked if they could take a selfie together and Rick says, “It was the first time he wanted a picture of us together, that day seemed to really cement the bond between us.”
Both Valerie and Rick say they’re committed to remaining CASAs as long as they can and both actively try to recruit others to volunteer as well. Valerie says, “My current case is supposed to close soon and I will definitely take another case on. If you’re on the fence about becoming a CASA volunteer, just do it. It’s rewarding and you’ll make a difference in a child's life - I can’t think of any negatives about my experience. I won’t stop being a CASA unless I’m too old or feeble or something,” Rick immediately chimes in, “We’ll just get you a 3 wheel scooter or something so you can chase after your kids.”
If you’d like to learn more about how to support youth in the foster care system or, if you are a current CASA and wish to learn more about joining Men of CASA or Comunidad, please contact Norma Mendoza to learn more.