“I just love being a CASA. It’s one of my favorite things. There are so many kids out there who just need some consistency in life, and we’re able to be that advocate for more folks to join the organization.” – CASA Kevin
Passionate and dedicated to volunteer work, Kevin was seeking an opportunity where he could get more involved and make a bigger time commitment when he was introduced to Child Advocates’ Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program through his partner, who had recently become a CASA themself.
Since that introduction almost eight years ago, Kevin has been a CASA to six different children, ranging in age from three to sixteen. Getting to interact with children of all ages and becoming a support system for them through meetings with social workers, connecting with their families, and advocating for them are all reasons Kevin decided to become a CASA volunteer—to make a true impact on the lives of foster youth.
“It’s been an amazing experience,” shared Kevin. “I love how we learn different personalities of youth and just being able to be there for them, whether they just need a person to sit there quietly with or just to listen. Their lives are always so abrupt and changing. So when we could be something constant in life, I feel like it’s just something that I love being able to do with them.”
Creating Memories. Building Trust.
Kevin is currently a CASA to Benji, an active seventh-grade boy who’s a big foodie and WWE fan. They have been paired together for two years now, and in that time, Kevin’s learned the best ways to support Benji and create a memorable bond by making an effort to find activities that appeal to Benji’s interests. Going to different restaurants to try new foods like ramen, pho, or pupusas has become one of their favorite things to do together.
In December of 2024, WWE wrestler Bayley collaborated with Child Advocates of Silicon Valley to help support the annual Holiday Toy Drive. As a huge fan of WWE, Benji was excited to attend the drive. Meeting a celebrity like Bayley, who also grew up in San José, was a dream come true for Benji. After that event, he was gifted tickets to attend one of her shows with his CASA, another special experience they got to have together.
“We were pretty close to the ring side, and he’s never been to an event like that, so when we were able to just go and take it all in at the SAP Center, he was just very in awe of everything. I think he really enjoyed just being able to experience something like that in person.“
Fostering Growth and Resilience
While Kevin loves getting to experience those exciting opportunities with Benji, the most heartwarming aspects of volunteering for him have been seeing Benji’s character and maturity grow during their journey together. Witnessing how he is now able to reflect on his actions and has learned to regulate his emotions and evaluate how to react in difficult situations gives him an immense sense of pride.
Being in foster care is a very complex situation that leaves many foster youth feeling confused, angry, and alone. But having a CASA in their corner who has been trained to help them navigate complicated feelings, understands the struggles of the system, and advocates for their rights provides the support they need to grow. Seeing firsthand the resilience of foster youth, who have had so many obstacles thrown at them, and yet become some of the most amazing people, is a lesson that Kevin will always carry with him from his time as a CASA.
“They’ve taught me a lot of different things. Some of my things that I get upset about—it’s not as big as I made it myself, when I think about some of the stuff that they’ve gone through. Just to be able to put things in perspective a little bit, and appreciate how to battle through it, and still be as resilient, caring, and curious as they are today. They find a lot of joy in life outside of things that may seem small to us.”
The Need for Male Role Models
SHOWING UP as a positive male role model for his foster youth helps drive Kevin’s volunteer work. He wants Benji to know that he can look to him for guidance on any topic, whether it’s as small as working on friendships or as big as entering middle school.
“I was very fortunate to have a lot of great male role models in my life,” says Kevin “It’s really important to have someone. Just having a good role model to look up to, or somebody to understand. Just having someone who guides or says, ‘Hey, you’re not the only one who experiences this. A lot of us have too and just know that, it’s okay when things like that happen.’”
Currently, only 17 percent of our CASAs are male at Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, and more than 60 percent of our youth are male. With such a huge gap, we are less likely to be able to match a male CASA with a male foster youth.
Having a positive male role model in your life makes all the difference as a boy growing up in foster care. Having that safe space to share their struggles and know that their CASA can relate makes all the difference. Kevin encourages all men to learn more about the CASA program and STAND UP and become the male role model that foster youth need.
“I think they (men) should definitely take the leap,” Kevin remarks. “You’re not there to change them. You’re not there to be a coach for them, or anything, unless they want that. But it’s such a great opportunity for you to grow. It’s taught me a lot more empathy. Just being able to be more empathetic towards others, and to be an active listener, because I think that’s the most important thing to be able to listen to their stories, or listen to how they’re feeling, and just take it in without any judgment, and just have them be able to be there and just be safe around you.”
Disclaimer: The story is based on Kevin Nguyen’s experience as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer. Some details about the foster youth he serves have been altered in an effort to keep the youth’s identity anonymous.