Nonprofit Profile: CASA of NH

For our latest profile, we’re meeting with Erica Thoits of The Court Appointed Special Advocates of NH (CASA). Read on to learn about how CASA of NH is helping provide a voice for children and youth who have experienced abuse and neglect.

New Hampshire Magazine: Tell us about yourself! What is your role at your non-profit?

Erica Thoits: I am the director of community relations, where it is my privilege to share Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire’s mission.

NHM: What is CASA of NH’s mission?

ET: CASA of NH provides a voice for children and youth who have experienced abuse and neglect by empowering a statewide network of trained volunteers to advocate on their behalf so they can thrive in safe, permanent homes.CASA volunteer advocates get to know a child and the important people in that child’s life to provide vital information to help a judge make decisions based on the best interests of the child.

NHM: When was CASA of NH founded and why?

ET: CASA of NH was founded 35 years ago in 1989 by Marcia (Marty) Sink, who is still our president and CEO today. As a foster parent, Marty saw the need for dedicated advocates for children like her son. After learning about CASA, which is a nationwide organization originally founded by a Seattle judge in 1977, Marty called to inquire about New Hampshire’s local program only to find it didn’t exist. Marty founded CASA of NH so that our state’s most vulnerable children could not only have a voice in the courts, but so they’d have a caring, consistent adult by their side who only has their best interests at heart with no other agenda.

NHM: How did you get involved?

ET: I joined an event planning committee (On Tap for CASA) back in 2016 and not only learned about CASA’s deeply moving mission, but I also met many wonderful, passionate and dedicated people who inspired me to give back in deeper ways. I volunteered in that capacity until the pandemic upended everything. To make a long story short, after some self-reflection inspired by that life-altering time, when my current position became available in the summer of 2022, I took the leap and changed the course of my career.

NHM: What services do you provide?

ET: CASA of NH’s volunteers are court-appointed guardians ad litem (GALs or “guardians of the case”). They are caring, everyday people from a variety of backgrounds who provide trauma-informed best-interests advocacy for children in abuse and neglect cases. New Hampshire state law mandates that judges appoint a CASA of NH GAL before a private GAL, and it’s only when a CASA of NH volunteer is unavailable that a private GAL is appointed. That might not sound like a big difference, but it is – private GALs often carry large caseloads, whereas a CASA GAL typically only has one case at a time. We require our volunteers to meet with the child or children at least once a month, whereas private GALs are only required to meet them once during the life of the case. Our volunteers have the ability to truly get to know not just the child, but the parents, foster parents, educators and other important people who shape the child’s world. As volunteers, they have no agenda other than to understand what the child wants and needs – they are in a unique, un-biased position to gather facts and information that enables them to make detailed recommendations to the judge on what’s in the child’s best interests. And it’s important to understand that our advocates are much more than information gatherers. Of course, their recommendations and written court reports are crucial, but they can also be a valuable source of support. Children who have experienced abuse and neglect are often removed from their homes and all they’ve known. Once placed in foster care, they must adapt to a new home, adjust to new adults in their lives, and often transition into new schools – it is overwhelming, confusing, and frightening. These children deserve a caring, consistent adult in their lives – that’s where our volunteers come in. These dedicated people stand by a child’s side, ensuring that they will not face this uncertainty and turmoil alone. Children with a volunteer in their corner have someone who will be there for them both in and outside of the courtroom.

NHM: How has CASA of NH grown since its beginning?

ET: Thirty-five years ago, CASA of NH had a handful of volunteers in just a few courts. Today, we have more than 600 volunteers who are advocating for children in every region of the state. In the last fiscal year, 612 volunteers served 1,549 children in 952 cases, donating a combined 87,585 hours, driving 609,391 miles to make 13,661 visits with children. Since it’s founding, CASA of NH has served nearly 12,000 children.

NHM: What’s next? What are you looking to do over the course of the next year?

ET: We are incredibly proud of our advocates and the life-changing work they do every day, but we need more people to join us in order to serve more children. Cases of child and abuse and neglect are continuing to increase, both in number and severity, and we must build the capacity to meet that growing need.

NHM: What is the impact that CASA of NH is looking to make in New Hampshire and beyond?

ET: Our goal is unchanging – we want to serve 100% of the children who are referred to us by the courts, and we will continue to grow the organization and recruit volunteers in an effort to someday reach that milestone. We envision a world where all children are given the opportunity to thrive in a safe, permanent and nurturing home.

NHM: What has been your favorite part about working for CASA of NH?

ET: Hearing the success stories – parents who overcame huge challenges to reunite with their children, young adults who return to tell us about the impact their CASA had on their lives, the joyous adoption celebrations with cakes and balloons, and listening to advocates as they share big and small victories. One of my favorite stories is captured in a short video, and I highly recommend giving it a watch here.

NHM: How can our readers get involved in your organization?

ET: Our number one need is more volunteers to advocate for children who have experienced abuse and neglect. You do not need any prior experience in social work or law, and just over half of our volunteers are working full or part time. You don’t need to be retired, you just need some flexibility.

April is a great time to get involved – it’s Child Abuse Prevention Month, and National Volunteer Appreciation Week takes place from April 21-27. We get many questions about volunteering – from the amount of training and the time commitment to what it’s like to meet with children and how to handle the emotions that can arise during this challenging but deeply rewarding work. Anyone interested can sign up for a virtual information session here. We hold them twice a month, and they are a great place to hear from staff and a current advocate. Questions are encouraged, but just listening is always welcome!

We are also hosting CASA Day on April 17 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on the State House plaza. Our speakers include parents and former CASA youth, advocates, CASA of NH CEO and president Marty Sink and more. CASA Cares, our largest fundraiser of the year, takes place on May 3 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Manchester. It’s a fun and inspiring evening that includes dinner, live auction and jewelry raffle courtesy of Day’s Jewelers.

To learn more about CASA NH, visit their website here!