After learning about HOPE framework (read more in HOPEful Life), I was eager to see it in action. I joined Bob (Dr. Robert Sege) at CA CASA statewide conference. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates — trained volunteers who work one-on-one with children and youth in foster care and juvenile court system. They provide independent recommendations to judges and other support team and ensure each child has a voice.
What I’ve learned and really appreciated are:
• HOPE training
Bob not only taught Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences (HOPE) but also modeled them through his keynote. He started by ‘engaging’ audience with interactions, e.g. identifying risk and protective factors in a picture, reflecting “who/ what has created a positive or negative experience in your life”. Through data, stories, and humor, Bob cultivated ‘relationships’ and built a psychologically safe, enjoyable, and relatable ‘environment’ for ’emotional (& intellectual) growth’. During Q&A, he intentionally repeated and verified question before answering — ensuring everybody heard it clearly and communicating ‘I hear you and you matter’. That moved the ‘relationship, engagement, and supportive environment’ further.
In the workshop, Bob layered this learning further by breaking case down into the four HOPE building blocks (engagement, relationship, environment, and emotional growth). Then breaking the audience into groups to practice HOPE framework in the exercises. He closed with a ‘write-down-action’: everybody voluntarily to write on a self-addressed postcard what they will do in 60 days. The card will be sent in 30 days as a reminder. What a brilliant way to combine self-motivation, commitment, and support, and bridge theory to action!
• HOPE in practice
I also attended a workshop on ‘Strengthening Outcomes for Crossover Youth’ (youth navigating the juvenile justice and foster care systems) presented by a Voices for Children staff (Kelly Grant Jones) and a CASA volunteer (Bruce Meyer).
They didn’t just explain procedures and give advice but illustrated how consistent presence builds trust:
- Weekly visits for over a year and a half led to a big hug from a neglected teen, and he said “Even my own Dad doesn’t know my birthday”.
- A young man with few school credits worked hard to pass his exams and graduated from high school with his classmates — his CASA advocated for his education and secured the court’s permission to make it happen.
- A young woman struggling with addiction and in and out of juvenile facilities found her calling after being introduced to baking. Years later, she got married and built a successful bakery. Her social worker and CASA came to her wedding — as her family.
I (suspect many as well) had tears in my eyes as the stories went on…
Despite the best intentions and efforts, life isn’t filled with roses and sunshine. A young CASA expressed her concern that her teen might be dropped due to unresponsiveness. The speaker shared a story of a ‘lost’ kid; years later when they reconnected, the young man had turned his life around. When asked what prompted the change, he replied, “I couldn’t take it anymore…You did everything you could back then, but I wasn’t ready yet.”
‘Do what you can and do not let the outcomes to become a judgement of your worth or effort’ servies as an essential reminder for all the advocates and caregivers. Like planting a seed, growth takes time and space; sometimes you may never see the result. Yet when we consistently model ‘you matter, you can do it, and I’m here to support you,’ youth know who to reach out to when they are ready. That gives people hope and enable possibilities.
• Servant leadership
I had the pleasure to meet some CASA leaders for dinner and lunch. They care deeply about the children and families’ welfare and bring multidisciplinary skills across government, legal, philanthropy, non-profit, social work, and early childhood education. They recognize structural hurdles without being paralyzed by them. They zig zag to get resources and share effective practices across regions (why for CASA conferences) to strengthen staffs’ and volunteers’ capabilities to serve the children. In 2025 alone, 7,582 CASA volunteers supported 10,844 children in California’s foster care system — and they build the path forward together.
While challenge is real and success is not guaranteed, change is always possible when people are motivated and ready. Knowledge, skills, and compassion build trust and facilitate transformation.
Borrowing what a CASA speaker said ‘Every kid wants love, community, and agency.‘ We all want them and can cultivate them to transform lives!
Where — or with whom — will you cultivate Love, Community, and Agency to make a difference?
Part of the Growing Up Well series — Building Heads, Hearts, and Futures