BAKER CITY — Hope Collard entered foster care just before she turned 2.

A couple years later, a decision was needed for her “forever” home — move far away to a biological family she’d never met, or stay with foster parents Mary and Bryan Collard and their family, where she’d lived for more than half her life.

A volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates who had been assigned to Hope’s case when she came into care spoke on her behalf in court, and gave the recommendation that she stay with her foster family, who adopted her.

“My CASA is the one who spoke up, who gave the court the strong recommendation,” she said.

Now Hope, 26, is helping foster children as a program manager for Baker County with CASA of Eastern Oregon.

A CASA volunteer first completes training, then is appointed by a judge to advocate for a child who is in the foster care system. The CASA spends time learning about the child’s situation, and makes a recommendation to the court that he or she believes is in the best interest of the child.

Hope’s experience with CASA continued through her childhood because her mom, Mary Collard, is the executive director and Hope helped with projects over the years.

“We were her helping hands,” Hope said.

After high school, Hope earned a degree in human services and worked as a personal support worker for the state.

“I wanted to help people in their daily lives,” she said.

After seven years with that job, Hope took a break to take care of her grandma in South Carolina.

She returned west in 2023, and that summer CASA of Eastern Oregon expanded into Lake County. After much thought, she applied to be the program manager in Lakeview.

“It felt right,” she said.

While there, she built partnerships between CASA and other community groups, and advocated for children in foster care. Although she can be nervous addressing a judge, Hope said she knows it could be even more nerve-racking for a child.

“If one of us has to be brave, I’m doing it,” she said.

After a year in Lake County, the program manager position opened in Baker County and Hope returned to her hometown.

“It feels right,” she said. “I’m exactly where I need to be. We’re helping children who are in a place where I was.”

CASA volunteers

CASA of Eastern Oregon covers seven counties: Baker, Union, Wallowa, Grant, Harney, Malheur and Lake. Mary Collard is the executive director, and Wendy Simer is the operations and training coordinator. Each county has a program manager.

Across the counties, there are 287 children in care and 69 CASAs. Of the total, 170 are paired with a volunteer.

“That leaves 117 without a voice. There’s a high need,” Simer said.

The next online training session starts Feb. 4 and meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30-8 p.m., for four weeks.

Interested volunteers must first fill out an application, which is available at casaeo.org, or send an email to info@casaeo.org.

CASAs must be 21, have a valid driver’s license and vehicle, and pass background checks.

After a volunteer completes training, he or she takes an oath with the local circuit court judge, and is then assigned a case.

“It’s so critical that children have that volunteer advocate,” Simer said. “We’re there to do an independent, neutral assessment.”

CASAs can also work on cases as a team — a husband and wife, or two friends, for example.

Helping year-round

In addition to advocating for a child’s best interests, CASA provides a new duffel bag full of pajamas, a blanket and stuffed animal to each child who enters foster care.

“Just a goodie bag to say ‘it’s going to be okay,'” Hope said.

CASA’s Baker City office was damaged by a water leak earlier this year, and many stored items were ruined, including children’s books and Barbie dolls.

Suggested donations are Barbies, Legos, books, color crayons, games and pajamas for children from infants to size 3T. Also, there is always a need for teen items.

CASA helps fulfill other needs for foster children throughout the year, such as winter clothing. Suggested donations are long-sleeved shirts, coats, leggings, snow pants and socks.

CASA also has funds to help children in care take an art class or play a sport. Simer established the Reed Alexander Teach a Youth to Fish fund in honor of her late father. Donations can be made to that fund, or to CASA in general, at casaeo.org.

Donation bins are set up at Bi-Mart stores in Baker City and La Grande, and a pickup can be arranged for donations by calling 541-519-1078.

“We love receiving after-Christmas sale items to use year round,” Mary Collard said.