Being a CASA is a uniquely rewarding volunteer role, but it can also feel isolating. Because of the confidentiality surrounding children in foster care, many advocates find that they can’t openly share their challenges, questions, or experiences with friends or family. To help address this, CASA OC created affinity groups—safe, supportive communities where advocates can connect with peers who understand the realities of the CASA journey. These groups provide a forum for building camaraderie, sharing insights, and finding encouragement from like-minded individuals who share not only the CASA role, but often similar life experiences.
In addition to providing the opportunity for connection, these groups also try to find ways to diversify CASA’s volunteer base to reflect a broad spectrum of ages, ethnicities, genders and lived experience that mirror the demographics of the youth that we serve.
CASA OC’s affinity groups currently include:
Men of CASA
Men of CASA is a group composed of current advocates, staff, board, and community members with the interest of creating a community to rely on within CASA. The goals are to build camaraderie, share experiences and develop ideas for recruiting more advocates that are men.
Men of CASA
Comunidad CASA
Comunidad CASA is a group that provides Hispanic/Latinx volunteers and volunteers who are matched with Hispanic/Latinx youth, an opportunity to meet, connect and share their experiences as a CASA. Goals include developing community and sharing ideas for recruiting more Hispanic/Latinx volunteers.
Comunidad CASA
Young Professional CASAs
Young Professional CASAs (YPC) is CASA OC’s newest affinity group and is built around advocates who are 21-40 years of age. The group provides an opportunity for connection and networking with others in a similar age bracket facing the unique challenges of volunteering during this busy period of life.
Young Professional CASAs
To learn more about becoming a CASA or participating in any of these CASA OC affinity groups, please contact Norma Mendoza.