Meet CASA Volunteer, Vanessa!

Vanessa is a mom to four adult children, Nana to 3 grandchildren, and wife to her husband, Bert, who was recently named the next chief of police for the Hollister. She currently works as a radiology technician for CoxHealth. In her free time, she loves playing card/board games and being present with her family. She is also a devout Kansas City Chief’s fan– in fact, she has an entire room in her home dedicated to her precious Chief’s gear and memorabilia!

Vanessa was first introduced to CASA by her cousin, who is on the board of directors. As a former foster kid, she has firsthand knowledge about the struggles and unique barriers that exist for this group. She reflected how she “saw this as a wonderful chance to give back and help uplift foster youth, making sure they have someone to advocate for their needs”. She continued to share that “Although I’m fairly new to volunteering for an organization such as this one, I am dedicated to providing my CASA kiddo with a positive role model as she grows into adulthood and spreading the word about the importance of supporting CASA’s mission and goals”.

Her advice for anyone considering becoming a CASA? “These children truly deserve someone who will advocate for them and be “their person.”  Some of them may feel like they don’t have anyone they can always rely on to be there for them. Just a few classes have taught me so much and have brought about a very meaningful education, and dedicating only a couple of hours every few weeks can significantly impact these kids’ lives, and ultimately transform the community for the better”. 

Thank you, Vanessa, for being such a powerful voice for children in foster care. We are grateful for your heart, your time, and your dedication to making sure every child is seen and heard.