Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers typically commit to at least two years of service in order to guarantee some degree of stability in the life of their youth. However many CASA volunteers extend their commitment far beyond what is asked. Frank La Soya is one such volunteer. He has been matched with five different boys in the 16 years he has been a CASA. His dedication earned him the title of Advocate of the Year a few years back.

Frank describes every one of his youth with unflinching affection as he shares the many hardships faced by each boy. He met his first youth *Devon, who was paralyzed due to a gunshot wound during a gang altercation, when Devon was recovering in a dark hospital room. When Frank tried to turn on the lights, Devon said, “No lights” and challenged Frank, “Why do you want to be a CASA?” 

According to Frank, “Devon hated the world, he had a bitterness in him.” But Frank could relate since he too grew up in the foster system. “I understand the lack of trust with adults. These kids are angry and have every right to be. People like me, who have been in the system, have been neglected, abused, abandoned. They are how they are and you have to accept them,” he said.

Frank and Devon’s bond grew over time and Frank went to bat for Devon to help him find a place to live. He was having challenges finding housing due to his time in a gang. Frank finally found an apartment for him after speaking with the landlord to see if he’d allow Devon to move in. Together, Frank, the landlord and other supportive friends worked together to customize the apartment with wider doors and a ramp to accommodate Devon’s wheelchair. He was able to move in with his grandmother until she passed away.

Sadly Devon’s health worsened and he was soon hospitalized again. As he got weaker, Frank was the only one to sit with him by his bedside in his hospital room. He shares that Devon woke up at one point, looked at him and said, “I like when I wake up and you’re here.” As Devon was reaching his last days, he said to Frank, “thanks for being like a dad to me.” Frank remained at Devon’s side until the day he died. 

Frank’s first experience with CASA was when his boss brought him to a CASA job fair. When he heard about CASA, Frank thought, “Perfect, this is it for me.” However, Frank was unable to become a CASA at the time because his three daughters were still young and he wanted to devote his time to raising them. A few years later, Frank began his training to become a CASA.

Growing up in foster care and, at times, homeless gave Frank a deeper understanding of the trauma his youth often face. He was separated from two of his siblings at age six, but was able to reunite with them thirty years later. “The way I look at it, you take the good and let the bad roll past you. You’ll never heal if you don’t forgive.”

In addition to Devon, Frank has been matched with four other youth during his time with CASA. A couple of the youth Frank worked with started off shy and withdrawn due to bad experiences with adults their whole lives. “Every youth you work with will have different personalities, it is important to adapt. I understand how kids in the foster system can act out to push people out of their lives,” said Frank. 

Frank believes it’s important to help his boys be able to feel like a kid again. He shares a story about taking one of his youth to a park and asking him to go up to the top of a grassy hill and roll down it. Frank laughs and says, “At first he said, ‘that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.’ But he did it and he started laughing and laughing and said, ‘that was so much fun’ and to this day he still talks about rolling down that hill.”  He adds, “After enduring so much hardship at such young ages, one of the best gifts you can give them is laughter and joy. Something as simple as rolling down a grassy hill.” 

*Grant is Frank’s current youth and has been in the system for ten years since he was only eight years old. During that time he’s lived in a number of group homes and foster homes. Grant has struggled with his mental health and felt like he had no one there for him. Frank has been his CASA for five years now, and they have developed a deep and meaningful bond. “I’m there for graduation and for other activities. No one else is there for him but I always try to be there,” says Frank.

When Frank initially thought about becoming a CASA, he wasn’t sure whether his own experiences of abuse and abandonment would prevent him from being a good candidate, but he has found the opposite to be true. His own experiences help him understand where CASA youth are coming from. His advice to others, “Always be honest with your youth. Let them guide you to show you what they want. Respect what they want but provide structure.” He adds, “And keep in contact with your Advocate Supervisor.” Frank has been working with Cindy Nydell as his Supervisor for about five years and finds her to be a great resource. 

Cindy appreciates Frank’s many years of dedicated service, “Frank is an amazing CASA to work with. He is dedicated to his youth and has had a very supportive role in helping his last youth move from a speciality school to a public high school and then graduate. He had good communication with the caregiver at all times. Thank you Frank for all you have done and I can't wait to match you with your next youth,” said Cindy

Frank says, “A little girl once asked me at a CASA event, ‘why are you so happy?’ and I said, ‘I learned to forgive - I choose not to be sad or let my past dictate or label me. I have a right to be sad but I’m blessed, I get to meet you guys because of my past.’ And I encouraged her to become a CASA when she is older, to take what’s happened in her life and turn it around to help someone else in the same situation.”

To learn more about becoming a CASA, sign-up to attend one of our upcoming Information Sessions or email CASA’s Volunteer Recruitment and DEIB Manager, Norma Mendoza. 

*Names changed to protect privacy