Meet Our Advocates: Stacey | Child Advocates of Silicon Valley

In honor of Black History Month, Child Advocates is spotlighting CASA Stacey for her commitment to going above and beyond for our Black foster youth.

CASA Volunteer: Stacey (STAY-see), she/her

Years of Service with Child Advocates of Silicon Valley: 10

Number of Children Served: 3

Creating a Safe & Loving Space

Passionate about working with youth, Stacey’s love for children has been apparent for years. From raising three children of her own to volunteering at her church’s youth ministry, she enjoys sharing her time and talents with the youth around her.

Finding herself an empty nester, she was compelled to find new opportunities to work with children and decided to join Child Advocates. Now, 10 years later, Stacey continues to dedicate her time to being a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), creating safe, loving spaces for all the youth she encounters.

“I remember the person who helped me when I was a kid at the library,” says Stacey. “She would say the most positive things, and it made a huge difference to me. Being the only black child at school was really tough, and when somebody would call me a name, she’d always be there to talk to me, and I feel that’s what I give the children here, is just a safe space for somebody to just talk to.”

Although Stacey experienced racism as a child, she learned to not let those experiences define her—but instead how to better empathize and care for those around her. Showing that love and support can make a great difference in a child’s life.

Structure and Fun

For the past year, Stacey has collaborated with another CASA to care for a pair of siblings in foster care, Lucas and Maya, who are four and three years old. Both children are very loving and high-energy, but sometimes struggle with discipline and structure due to the nature of their situation. So Stacey and her CASA partner like to find fun ways to keep them engaged and following a routine.

“We have a routine with them. First, we’d hang out for a little bit, and then we do dinner, and then we would take a long walk around the whole neighborhood, or maybe go to a park that was maybe a mile away, and we’d hang out there.”

As the siblings continue their journey through the foster care system and experience different placements and challenges, Stacey leans on her supervisor and CASA partner to keep her engaged and positive so she can SHOW UP as the best CASA for Maya.

“My supervisor is amazing, she is always there for me. Everybody in this whole program has been beyond helpful and available whenever I needed them. I love their passion and their ability to help us remain focused and engaged. She is very positive, and I love that,” says Stacey. “Since I’m working with a brother and sister case, my CASA partner is also very dedicated and helpful, and helps me keep a positive attitude about it all.”

Potential for Something Amazing

“Every child that I’ve worked with has had the potential to become something amazing. It gives me hope for the future. I love this program, and I think it’s amazing for kids to have somebody that they can talk to.”

There is a great potential for all children in foster care to become something amazing, and with support from a stable adult like Stacey, the sky is the limit. Join the Child Advocates team today to learn more about how you can help fuel foster youth’s potential.