Kristy Smith, Texas CASA senior grants management specialist, is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her optimistic attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and pursue their dreams. Smith has 15+ years of experience working with nonprofits that promote and prioritize children and family well-being/stability. She is enthusiastic about Strengthening Core Advocacy (SCA) initiatives and the importance of increasing awareness through education, training and policy work. Smith is currently responsible for the administration of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and HHSC Priority awards while providing training and technical assistance to local CASA programs.
Tell us about yourself and what drew you to grants management and nonprofit work.
I am an Austin native, raised by a single mom and the youngest of four siblings. I was the first person in my family to graduate from college. I started my career in public service while finishing my degree in Virginia as an eligibility worker for Hampton Social Services, processing food stamps, TANF and Medicaid applications for low-income families. After graduation, I taught middle school math and science in Richmond, VA where I worked in one of the most impoverished inner-city schools. When I moved back to Austin 14 years ago, I worked as a school liaison and home visitor for Travis County Head Start in an expansion program to help children with challenging behavior.
After the birth of my twins, I started working for Travis County Childcare subsidy (Childcare assistance for low-income families) and that is where I began working directly with grant management as the operations manager/director. While working for a $26 million federally-funded program that provided scholarships for children to attend quality childcare centers in Travis County, I was able to see firsthand the impact the program was making in molding our future for the better. Families face so many challenges and I felt as if I was able to reach more children by managing the daily operations.
How long have you worked for Texas CASA, and how did you get involved with the CASA cause?
I was introduced to the CASA mission when I worked with at-risk youth before moving back to Texas and became even more familiar with CASA when I worked with Child Protective Services (CPS) supervising family visits in 2018. With my background in child welfare/public service, I always knew I wanted to become a CASA volunteer. In November 2022 I officially became a CASA advocate, only a few short months after I began working for Texas CASA in the Grants department. I have now worked for Texas CASA for a little over two years.
Tell us about your work as a CASA volunteer.
My work as a volunteer has been beautifully rewarding, as well as challenging and emotionally difficult at times. In the first case I was assigned to, the children were adopted by a kin member and are thriving. The second case was a bit more difficult to experience. The level of physical and mental abuse the children went through still haunts me to this day. Thankfully, both of the children’s absent fathers decided to step up and came from out of state to take care of their responsibilities and take their children back home. I am currently not assigned to a case, but I am taking some time to reset and focus on my family and mental health. I look forward to returning as a CASA volunteer at a later time.
How does your CASA volunteer advocacy affect your work at Texas CASA in the grants department?
It brings the complete picture into focus. I know that my job is to ensure the programs get reimbursed so that their staff and volunteers can assist the children and families across the state. My focus is always on the children first and their best interests.
What’s your favorite thing about your job?
I feel good every day knowing that my job is helping children across the state!