Daisy Ruiz is currently a student at UC Davis studying sociology and psychology with a minor in Chicano studies. She hopes to one day become a social worker. She discovered Yolo County CASA at a career fair at UC Davis, and decided that becoming a CASA volunteer would be a great way both to give back and get a preview of what it might be like to be a social worker.
“I was really eager to start when I heard about the organization. You need to be at least 21 years old to be a CASA volunteer so as soon as I was old enough, I emailed the organization for more information.”
Daisy completed the CASA volunteer training last summer and has been a CASA volunteer to her youth, a toddler, since September. “He was really shy at first. Every time I came over he would hide behind his foster mom’s legs. He was very attached and afraid to be separated. I’ll never forget the first time he reached out to hug me after a few visits. I knew we had a breakthrough.”
Since that moment, Daisy’s relationship with her CASA child has progressed. “I can tell that he knows who I am each time I come and that he is excited to play. The way I see it, I am helping him build trust again.”
As for her career, Daisy now can’t imagine not pursuing social work. “This has been so mutually beneficial for both of us. I look forward to our visits as much as he does and I hope to help many other children in his situation. I want it to be my life’s work.”
As for her role as a CASA volunteer, Daisy plans on helping as much as she can. “As long as I am able, I hope to continue volunteering. It’s so needed and so important to give these kids a consistent voice and relationship at a time in their lives when everything is changing.”
