Kristy Hahn is a dedicated leader at Family Advocates, a nonprofit in La Porte committed to supporting vulnerable families and youth. As the community outreach & volunteer services coordinator, Hahn oversees critical programs like Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), the Community Youth Advocate (CYA) program, and Harmony House, each providing vital support to children and teens.
Hahn's journey as a community volunteer began about eight years ago, driven by her passion for helping those in need. When the opportunity arose to work with Family Advocates, it felt like the perfect blend of her passions for serving her community and engaging in meaningful volunteer work. Now, Hahn has the unique privilege of making a difference in others' lives through her career.
Harmony House offers a safe, home-like environment for supervised visitations and custody exchanges, equipped with a full kitchen and rooms for different age groups. It also provides parenting classes to help parents improve their skills.
“We have different rooms set up for different age groups in the house where the kids can play with their parents. They can watch a movie, make dinner in our full kitchen, and sit down at a dining room table,” Hahn said. “They feel very at home. Harmony House also offers parenting classes and other classes to help parents become the best versions of themselves.”
The CASA program assigns trained volunteers to advocate for children in the court system, ensuring their voices are heard and their best interests are represented. CASA volunteers spend time with the children, gathering information from their families, teachers, and caregivers to make informed recommendations to the court.
“The CASA volunteer gets to spend some time with them, and if the kid is older, they can talk and really get their opinion on what they want to happen or how they feel about the situation,” Hahn said. “If they are younger, they are like a mentor and a buddy to just be a safe space for the kid.”
The CYA program focuses on mentoring teens, particularly those facing challenges at home or in school. CYA volunteers serve as positive role models, helping these teens make better decisions and find a positive path forward. Whether court-ordered or referred by someone who sees a need for a positive influence, CYA mentors become trusted figures in these teens' lives.
“We may have teens who could really benefit from a positive adult in their life. They aren't always kids who have gotten in trouble; they could just be somebody who has a rough home life, struggles in school, or doesn't have a lot of friends, etc.,” Hahn said. “They could just really benefit from having a mentor who can advocate for them. They get to spend some one-on-one time with them and just really be a safe space for them.“
When volunteers express interest in joining Family Advocates, Hahn and her team conduct brief interviews to understand their interests, hobbies, and passions. This helps them match volunteers with youth who share similar interests, creating strong, supportive relationships.
Family Advocates' programs, such as the CASA program, are backed by research and personal stories that highlight its success. Participants in the CYA program have also reported that having a mentor transformed their outlook and improved their behavior at home. Many children who come to Harmony House for supervised visits are genuinely happy to be there, enjoying their interactions with staff and feeling safe in the home-like environment.
Family Advocates maintains a strong support system for volunteers, with an open-door policy that allows them to seek advice or assistance whenever needed. Hahn acknowledges that the work can be emotionally challenging, but the presence of a supportive team helps volunteers navigate these difficulties, ultimately leading to positive outcomes for the children they serve.
Hahn finds her role deeply rewarding, taking pride in representing Family Advocates and knowing that the organization's mission positively impacts the lives of children in need. She envisions expanding and strengthening the volunteer programs, recruiting more volunteers to address the current waitlist of children needing mentors, and enhancing volunteer retention by ensuring they feel valued and appreciated.
“I have just really enjoyed getting myself out in the community and I’m proud to say that I work for family advocates," Hahn said. "Knowing our mission here, knowing all the good things that we provide to the community and to kids in need, it's just heartwarming and it feels good to work at a place that makes children's lives better.”
Family Advocates has exciting upcoming events, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new location on Indiana Avenue on Sept. 26 and its fundraiser, "Costumes and Cocktails on Ridge," on Oct. 26 at The Civic. This Halloween-themed event promises a night of fun and fundraising, with costumes encouraged but not required. Hahn and her team look forward to engaging with sponsors, partners, board members, and community members who want to support their mission.
To learn more about the programs mentioned, visit lpfamilyadvocates.com.