CASA Kristy Jobin on Why She Volunteers

I’m a Bow resident, a wife, and a mom, and community is truly at the heart of everything I do. Professionally, I serve as the Director of Community Development for the Town of Amherst, where my work centers on planning, housing, and fostering strong, sustainable communities. Outside of my career, volunteering is a meaningful part of my life. In addition to serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer, I’m involved with several nonprofits, including Costumes for Courage and Ronald McDonald House, and I serve as a board member for a local nonprofit booster club. I believe strong communities are built when we show up for one another, especially for those who need us most.

CASAs are trained community volunteers appointed by a judge to advocate for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. The work of a CASA is essential, not just for children, but for our entire community.

There’s a common belief that child abuse and neglect are primarily urban issues. Many people assume these problems happen “somewhere else.” That is simply not true. It’s right here, existing quietly in cities and towns all across New Hampshire. Abuse, neglect, substance misuse, domestic violence, and family instability are not restricted by income levels, ZIP codes, or school rankings. These challenges exist in every community, including ones that look stable and affluent on the surface. I have personally served on a case in my own community; the place I call home. That experience completely changed my perspective. It reminded me that children in crisis can be sitting in any classroom, on any sports team, in any neighborhood. CASA ensures that no child becomes invisible just because their struggles are behind closed doors.

When a child enters the child protection system, there are attorneys, social workers, foster families, therapists, many adults involved. But those professionals often have high caseloads and shifting assignments. A CASA is different. A CASA is one consistent adult, focused on only one case at a time, appointed specifically to represent the child’s best interests. We get to know the child, talk with teachers, therapists, foster parents, and biological relatives when appropriate. Then we make independent recommendations to the court about what that child needs to be safe, stable, and supported. We are often the only consistent person in a child’s life during an incredibly unstable time.

I’ve been with a sibling group for four years. Four years of court hearings. Four years of uncertainty. Four years of watching children walk through some of the hardest moments imaginable. But I’ve also had the incredible privilege of watching them heal, grow, and thrive. They are now in a loving, supportive, pre-adoptive home, the kind every child deserves.

One of the moments I will never forget was when their therapist asked them to draw a picture of their family. When I learned that they had drawn me in that picture, I was overwhelmed. To know a child who has been through so much sees you as part of their safe world, there are no words for that. Another such moment was at a soccer game. One of the kids and I were playing, and a teammate ran over and asked, “Who are you playing with?” He looked up at me with the biggest smile and said, “This is my special friend, Kristy.”

I’ve been there for their hardest days, and now I get to see their joy, their confidence, their sense of safety returning. I have a photo of one of them at kindergarten graduation, and I truly believe one day I’ll have a similar photo at high school or even college graduation. That continuity, that long-term presence, is what CASA is about.

I won’t pretend this work is easy. It’s one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. Sometimes outcomes take longer than you hope. Sometimes progress comes in small steps. But I know, without a doubt, that my involvement has made a meaningful difference in these children’s lives. And just as importantly, it has changed mine. It has given me a deeper understanding of resilience, of trauma, and of how powerful one consistent, caring adult can be.

CASA volunteers are community members, neighbors, parents, retirees, professionals, who step up to be a child’s voice. You do not need prior experience in social work, law, or child services. CASA provides comprehensive training, ongoing staff support, and mentorship from experienced volunteers. What you do need is a willingness to learn, reliability, and a heart for helping vulnerable children. These children don’t need superheroes. They need steady, caring adults who will show up.

Children in foster care are often navigating the most difficult chapter of their lives. A CASA helps ensure that chapter leads to safety, stability, and hope. If you’ve ever wondered how one person can truly make a difference, this is one of those ways. Be their voice. Be their consistent person. Be the one who shows up. I’m so glad I did.