Answering the Call: How One CASA Volunteer Became a Lifeline for a Teen in Need
Isabel Monterossas dedication helped a young girl overcome language barriers and find stability, inspiring her mission to recruit more bilingual advocates.
I saw Facebook posts about local CASAs and became interested in working with children in the system. I felt it would be a way for me to put my skills to good use. Said CASA Isabel Monterossa.
Once she was trained, Isabel was asked to take on the case of a 17-year-old girl from Puerto Rico whose mother sent her to live with her father. The father took her to a shelter and never returned
She was attending a local high school that had very limited resources for language and no transportation so she had to walk or take public transportation which posed a lot of roadblocks and some bullying came into play - mostly because of the language barrier.
I was able to help get her enrolled into Commonwealth Charter Academy which is a very good online learning platform thats been around since before the pandemic. It has an ESL component and was exactly what she needed, Monterrosa says. I saw her at the end of last year and her language was much better. Shes excelling in classes and her foster parents have gotten permanent custody. That was a good introduction case for me to learn all of the systems
We all hear about children in the foster care system and some of the horror stories that have occurred. We think of how we can help, and for me, this is like planting a seed. Although I dont have grandchildren yet, I can see it in somebody else. I hope that I can leave an impact on these children.
There will be more and more children, and we need more people with language abilities, she says. Making people aware of what CASA actually is in everyday places is important. My goal is to work with my supervisor and find more Latina and Spanish-speaking volunteers to help with that.
Volunteer Therapists Needed for CASA Berks Youth in Transition Program
Each year, young people in Berks County age out of foster care and step into adulthood without the consistent support many of us take for granted. They face the same challenges every young adult encountershousing, employment, relationships, financesbut often without a stable network of guidance and emotional support.
At CASA of Berks County, we see the resilience of these young adults every day. We also see the gaps.
To help close those gaps, we are launching our Youth in Transition program, designed to provide short-term counseling for young adults who have recently exited foster care. And we are inviting licensed therapists to be part of this critical new initiative.
Why Volunteer Therapists Matter
Young adults aging out of foster care have often spent years navigating systems, instability, and trauma. A safe, reliable therapeutic relationshipeven for a short periodcan help them:
Build confidence and emotional stability
Strengthen coping skills
Navigate significant life decisions
Develop healthier relationships
Feel supported during an uncertain time
Your clinical training and compassionate presence can be the anchor they need as they move forward.
What the Role Involves
Volunteer therapists provide short-term, trauma-informed counseling tailored to each young adults needs. Sessions can be scheduled based on your availability, and CASA Berks provides structure, support, and coordination throughout the process.
This is a flexible way to offer your professional skills to a population that often struggles to access mental health care.
Who Were Looking For
We are seeking licensed professionals such as:
Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFT)
Licensed Psychologists
If you believe every young person deserves someone in their corner, and youre passionate about creating equitable access to care, wed love to talk with you.
Learn More
We invite interested therapists to attend an upcoming information session or reach out directly to our program coordinator.
Contact Tiffany@casaberks.org for details.
Together, we can ensure that no young adult leaving foster care has to take their next steps alone.
November 22, 2025
Volunteer Therapists Needed for CASA Berks Youth in Transition Program
byNancy McCullar
Each year, young people in Berks County age out of foster care and step into adulthood without the consistent support many of us take for granted. They face the same challenges every young adult encountershousing, employment, relationships, financesbut often without a stable network of guidance and emotional support.
At CASA of Berks County, we see the resilience of these young adults every day. We also see the gaps.
To help close those gaps, we are launching our Youth in Transition program, designed to provide short-term counseling for young adults who have recently exited foster care. And we are inviting licensed therapists to be part of this critical new initiative.
Why Volunteer Therapists Matter
Young adults aging out of foster care have often spent years navigating systems, instability, and trauma. A safe, reliable therapeutic relationshipeven for a short periodcan help them:
- Build confidence and emotional stability
- Strengthen coping skills
- Navigate significant life decisions
- Develop healthier relationships
- Feel supported during an uncertain time
Your clinical training and compassionate presence can be the anchor they need as they move forward.
What the Role Involves
Volunteer therapists provide short-term, trauma-informed counseling tailored to each young adults needs. Sessions can be scheduled based on your availability, and CASA Berks provides structure, support, and coordination throughout the process.
This is a flexible way to offer your professional skills to a population that often struggles to access mental health care.
Who Were Looking For
We are seeking licensed professionals such as:
- Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
- Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFT)
- Licensed Psychologists
If you believe every young person deserves someone in their corner, and youre passionate about creating equitable access to care, wed love to talk with you.
Learn More
We invite interested therapists to attend an upcoming information session or reach out directly to our program coordinator.
Contact Tiffany@casaberks.org for details.
Together, we can ensure that no young adult leaving foster care has to take their next steps alone.
November 22, 2025
Volunteer Therapists Needed for CASA Berks Youth in Transition Program
byNancy McCullar
Each year, young people in Berks County age out of foster care and step into adulthood without the consistent support many of us take for granted. They face the same challenges every young adult encountershousing, employment, relationships, financesbut often without a stable network of guidance and emotional support.
At CASA of Berks County, we see the resilience of these young adults every day. We also see the gaps.
To help close those gaps, we are launching our Youth in Transition program, designed to provide short-term counseling for young adults who have recently exited foster care. And we are inviting licensed therapists to be part of this critical new initiative.
Why Volunteer Therapists Matter
Young adults aging out of foster care have often spent years navigating systems, instability, and trauma. A safe, reliable therapeutic relationshipeven for a short periodcan help them:
- Build confidence and emotional stability
- Strengthen coping skills
- Navigate significant life decisions
- Develop healthier relationships
- Feel supported during an uncertain time
Your clinical training and compassionate presence can be the anchor they need as they move forward.
What the Role Involves
Volunteer therapists provide short-term, trauma-informed counseling tailored to each young adults needs. Sessions can be scheduled based on your availability, and CASA Berks provides structure, support, and coordination throughout the process.
This is a flexible way to offer your professional skills to a population that often struggles to access mental health care.
Who Were Looking For
We are seeking licensed professionals such as:
- Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
- Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFT)
- Licensed Psychologists
If you believe every young person deserves someone in their corner, and youre passionate about creating equitable access to care, wed love to talk with you.
Learn More
We invite interested therapists to attend an upcoming information session or reach out directly to our program coordinator.
Contact Tiffany@casaberks.org for details.
Together, we can ensure that no young adult leaving foster care has to take their next steps alone.
November 22, 2025
Volunteer Therapists Needed for CASA Berks Youth in Transition Program
byNancy McCullar
Each year, young people in Berks County age out of foster care and step into adulthood without the consistent support many of us take for granted. They face the same challenges every young adult encountershousing, employment, relationships, financesbut often without a stable network of guidance and emotional support.
At CASA of Berks County, we see the resilience of these young adults every day. We also see the gaps.
To help close those gaps, we are launching our Youth in Transition program, designed to provide short-term counseling for young adults who have recently exited foster care. And we are inviting licensed therapists to be part of this critical new initiative.
Why Volunteer Therapists Matter
Young adults aging out of foster care have often spent years navigating systems, instability, and trauma. A safe, reliable therapeutic relationshipeven for a short periodcan help them:
- Build confidence and emotional stability
- Strengthen coping skills
- Navigate significant life decisions
- Develop healthier relationships
- Feel supported during an uncertain time
Your clinical training and compassionate presence can be the anchor they need as they move forward.
What the Role Involves
Volunteer therapists provide short-term, trauma-informed counseling tailored to each young adults needs. Sessions can be scheduled based on your availability, and CASA Berks provides structure, support, and coordination throughout the process.
This is a flexible way to offer your professional skills to a population that often struggles to access mental health care.
Who Were Looking For
We are seeking licensed professionals such as:
- Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
- Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFT)
- Licensed Psychologists
If you believe every young person deserves someone in their corner, and youre passionate about creating equitable access to care, wed love to talk with you.
Learn More
We invite interested therapists to attend an upcoming information session or reach out directly to our program coordinator.
Contact Tiffany@casaberks.org for details.
Together, we can ensure that no young adult leaving foster care has to take their next steps alone.
November 22, 2025
Volunteer Therapists Needed for CASA Berks Youth in Transition Program
byNancy McCullar
Each year, young people in Berks County age out of foster care and step into adulthood without the consistent support many of us take for granted. They face the same challenges every young adult encountershousing, employment, relationships, financesbut often without a stable network of guidance and emotional support.
At CASA of Berks County, we see the resilience of these young adults every day. We also see the gaps.
To help close those gaps, we are launching our Youth in Transition program, designed to provide short-term counseling for young adults who have recently exited foster care. And we are inviting licensed therapists to be part of this critical new initiative.
Why Volunteer Therapists Matter
Young adults aging out of foster care have often spent years navigating systems, instability, and trauma. A safe, reliable therapeutic relationshipeven for a short periodcan help them:
- Build confidence and emotional stability
- Strengthen coping skills
- Navigate significant life decisions
- Develop healthier relationships
- Feel supported during an uncertain time
Your clinical training and compassionate presence can be the anchor they need as they move forward.
What the Role Involves
Volunteer therapists provide short-term, trauma-informed counseling tailored to each young adults needs. Sessions can be scheduled based on your availability, and CASA Berks provides structure, support, and coordination throughout the process.
This is a flexible way to offer your professional skills to a population that often struggles to access mental health care.
Who Were Looking For
We are seeking licensed professionals such as:
- Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
- Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFT)
- Licensed Psychologists
If you believe every young person deserves someone in their corner, and youre passionate about creating equitable access to care, wed love to talk with you.
Learn More
We invite interested therapists to attend an upcoming information session or reach out directly to our program coordinator.
Contact Tiffany@casaberks.org for details.
Together, we can ensure that no young adult leaving foster care has to take their next steps alone.