BELL COUNTY, Texas — Becoming an advocate for CASA takes time, passion and effort, but it's not a hard thing to do.
Just take it from the most recent group of people who became advocates on April, 18. They've trained and worked hours on end to achieve the status of being an advocate.
Each advocate brings their personal background to their experience as an advocate, many of them are already caretakers.
Take Sydni Manning, Anna-Maria Mercedes and Shirley Sykes for instance. Sykes is a mental health professional, Manning was a teacher, while Mercedes works in the world of medicine.
"I'll learn new techniques and strategies on how to help people in new environments," Sykes said.
Sykes takes her mental health approach from the point of view that she is entering the environment of whoever she is helping and that shouldn't be taken lightly.
As for Manning, she spent 30 years in education and saw many children in need of someone like an advocate from CASA.
"I love kids and I miss helping kids, I feel like I've missed that part of teaching," Manning said. "I've been ready to get a case and get moving," she continued.
Mercedes said she can't wait to work with the children, get her first case and make a difference but it's the advocates she looks forward to working with as well.
She said it's been a great experience working with who she has worked with so far.
"It's just so inspiring and it just makes you want to get more involved," she added.
And get involved they will. Soon enough, these three advocates and the ones they were sworn in with will take on their first cases and take a step forward to change lives.
CASA Cares is a weekly segment that highlights what CASA of Coryell and Bell Counties is all about.