Meet December’s Volunteer Spotlight: Nikita Sheth

This month, we’re proud to spotlight a special advocate and volunteer who is deeply passionate about serving children: Nikita Sheth! 

Nikita lived in Mumbai, India for over a decade. While there, she volunteered to help children learn English and equipped them with basic life-skills. Upon returning to the U.S., she researched places where she could continue serving children–and that’s when she found Fairfax CASA. Since 2021, Nikita has advocated for two children across two families. Her passion, persistence, and ability to collaborate with other team members make her the stellar advocate she is today!

Read our interview with Nikita below.

Her former Supervisor Emily shares, “Nikita has been a long-time dedicated volunteer, and her second case in particular has been emotionally difficult as she works with an older teen. Nikita has handled it with grace and has continued to visit her CASA children even when they are moved all over the state or even out of state. Nikita is so dedicated to the older teen she currently works with, staying steady through all of the ups and downs. She develops great relationships with the team members on her cases. She also helps with panels and info sessions on top of CASA work and is so generous with her time.”

Are you from the area?

No, I moved here in 2020 and joined CASA early ’21. I grew up in Chicago, moved around, and lived in Mumbai for over a decade, then ended up in Virginia. My husband’s family lives here. CASA was an organization I had my eye on for awhile. In India, I researched volunteer opportunities for when we’d come back for the summers. However, because of the time commitment I waited till we moved back to join CASA.

What did you do prior to becoming a CASA?

My background is in financial services and I’ve held a variety of different roles. Back in India, I spent most of my time volunteering with children–primarily education-based. Coming here, I wanted to continue working with children but in a different capacity than before.

When you’re not volunteering, what can we find you doing?

I read quite a bit, love to cook, and take my dogs for walks. I have three children that keep me busy when I’m not tending to my CASA responsibilities.

What did you do as a volunteer in India?

I taught English and basic life-skills through games and sports. I served on the school board, so education has always been extremely important to me. Volunteering in India allowed me to see how vital it was for children to have stability and a solid home life to be able to focus on their education. It was something that not all kids were privileged enough to have. That is why joining an organization that seeks to provide stability for kids was important to me. I’ve seen the impacts of not having a stable home life. It always bleeds into everything else.

What brought you to CASA?

It’s not just the well-being of the children, but the support that exists–whether it’s through state, federal, or community services. I had insights on what it looked like in Mumbai and was curious to know what support services were offered here. I’m amazed by the multitude of services available to children, parents, and foster care providers. It goes beyond providing child care support for parents who need it. There are services that equip them with communications skills that help them better advocate for themselves. It’s been an incredible learning experience for me.

What has been your most memorable experience as a CASA?

Seeing the child I served being adopted was such a heartwarming and unforgettable experience. I had been with them since 2021. They were my first case, and I witnessed first-hand the challenges they faced when transitioning homes. They went from living with a foster care provider who was an experienced parent to living with their grandparent, who had a vastly different parenting style. I found ways to connect and support her while she found her footing.

Along the way, there were the small victories like the time I advocated for the child to be able to meet their great grandmother and get in touch with their cultural roots.

What is the best part of being a child advocate?

The best part is building these relationships with not only the child, but with the village that’s raising them. I love it. Creating a foundation for children that haven’t had a sense of security or consistency before is truly meaningful. Seeing how hard everyone is working to support these children is incredibly gratifying.

What do you find most challenging about your role as a CASA?

There are two challenges that come to mind. First, it’s maintaining the minimal level of care as an advocate. Sometimes you find yourself wanting to go above meeting the child’s need, but that’s not our responsibility.

The second challenge is what I’m currently experiencing in my second case. The child I serve struggles with mental health issues, so seeing them take two steps forward, then sometimes three steps back is hard to watch. It’s difficult to not feel frustrated and sad that they’re not able to make the progress you’d hoped for them.

I’ve not dealt with that level of mental health issues in my own personal life, so I’ve been learning communication strategies to make sure I’m using the right words and asking the right questions.

Lastly, what advice would you give to someone considering becoming a CASA?

In some ways, you get more out of this role than you put into it. Not only are you learning about these children and how to navigate certain situations, but you’ll also find yourself learning how to creatively and collaboratively work with others. Lean on the system and utilize your resources–and supervisors! They’ve seen it all and can help walk you through it. It may seem daunting, but it is well-structured to provide you as much support as possible.

There’s so much you can do by just being present. Even a little bit of a constant presence can impact a child positively.

Thank you, Nikita, for your persistent advocacy and passion for helping children. Your dedication and constant presence makes a difference in the lives of the children we serve.

Feeling called to do more and help our community’s most vulnerable children?

Take the first step into advocacy and attend an upcoming virtual information session. Register here.