Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem!

In this episode, Jacob Espinoza sits down with Susie Rice, Development Director at CASA Marion County, to discuss:

The upcoming Superhero Run and how it brings the community together to support kids in foster care.

What CASA does and the critical role court-appointed volunteer advocates play in a child's life.

Real stories of trust, comfort, and the long road to success in foster care cases.

And much more!

Timestamps:

00:23 - Introducing Susie Rice and CASA Marion County

00:25 - The Superhero Run: bringing capes to Riverfront Park

01:38 - More than fundraising: the "friend-raiser" and advocacy mission

02:33 - What is CASA? The history and mission behind the organization

04:18 - Walking through a child's journey with a CASA volunteer

05:40 - The power of a simple backpack and a treasured toy

07:26 - Defining success in the hardest situations

10:20 - CASA's role with the courts and the volunteers behind the scenes

13:28 - What Susie wishes every Salem resident understood about foster kids

14:44 - How to get involved and take the first step

16:00 - Closing thoughts on CASA's heart and community impact