Therapeutic Riding Instructor Named a CASA Volunteer of the Month
CASA Volunteer of the Month Erin Hall
Erin Hall loves to improve children's lives. But her passion hasn't put her in a classroom; it has put her on a horse farm — and in a courtroom.
Hall is a therapeutic riding instructor by day, helping children with diagnoses of autism or Down Syndrome. She also moonlights as a CASA volunteer, advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the local family court system.
Hall actually began serving as a CASA volunteer years ago, stopped for a while, then came back to the work in June 2020. This month, her dedication to helping children has earned her the designation of CASA Volunteer of the Month.
"I love making a connection with the children and figuring out how to best help them and their family," she said. "Early on in my life, I would have thought, 'Well, those children just need to be taken from the home.' But that's not always the best way."
Jeanne Box, Hall's Volunteer Manager, said Hall has spent dozens of hours locating resources in the community for the children she serves. For one child, Box said, Hall "focused on addressing ways in which she could improve conditions for him, and left no stone un-turned until his circumstances were improved."
Hall has also helped a child completely turn around their educational performance, Box said, ultimately putting the child on a path toward potentially perfect attendance.
CASA volunteers complete a specialized 30-hour training course, then spend an average of 5-10 hours a month volunteering. Each volunteer is matched with a child, whom they visit every month. The volunteer also talks to adults involved in the child's life and reviews records. Then, the volunteer provides reports to the judge on the child's case, increasing the likelihood the child receives services they need and can be returned to a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible.
Hall said she knows sometimes, people are hesitant to get involved with CASA because they are reluctant to get attached or involved in the life of a child in need.
"I tell people, 'You need to get involved!'" she said. "That's a good thing — it means you care and you're becoming a part of the solution for the child."