20 New CASA Volunteers Sworn In Virtually

Last Monday night, abused and neglected children in central Kentucky gained 20 new advocates who will speak for their best interests.

Pandemic restrictions didn't stop CASA of Lexington from training its first group of new volunteers through an online format. Those volunteers completed 30 hours of work and were sworn in virtually by Family Court Judge Libby Messer shortly after 5:30 p.m. June 29.

Judge Messer told the new advocates that judges find the work CASA volunteers do incredibly valuable.

"We are so appreciative for what you do," she said. "You make huge differences in the lives of children. I know this is a weird time ... but we appreciate what you're doing."

Judge Messer said CASA volunteers have been able to maintain contact and provide her with information even during the pandemic.

"The reports and information we're getting from our CASA advocates are so, so important," she said.

Kay Yates, Chair of the CASA of Lexington Board of Directors, attended the virtual swearing in and thanked the new volunteers for their dedication to CASA of Lexington’s mission.

“You are the backbone of this organization,” she said.

CASA advocates play a different role in the courtroom from attorneys and guardian ad litems. They are assigned to one case at a time, and they develop personal relationships with children who may have been abused or neglected. They become a stable, reassuring presence in the children's lives at a time when they may be removed from the homes they knew and feeling scared and alone.

The volunteers will serve as the eyes and ears for judges like Judge Messer, who serves in Fayette County in the 22nd Circuit Court. They provide written reports that often identify unmet needs of their assigned children and make recommendations focused on what would be in the children's best interest.

Cases with a CASA advocate assigned to them last on average five and a half months shorter, and children are 88% less likely to wind up back in court later on.

All 20 new volunteers repeated the oath recited by Judge Messer, and were greeted with cheers and smiling faces when they officially become court-appointed special advocates.

"Congratulations everyone," CASA Program Manager Jenifer Bahr said. "We're so excited and we can't wait to get you quickly assigned to your very first case."