Mother-Daughter Team Advocates for Abused and Neglected Children in Central Kentucky

Gracie Johnson, left, and her mother, Jill Johnson, are a CASA volunteer team and the CASA Volunteers of the Month for June 2021.

Gracie Johnson grew up watching her mom serve as a CASA volunteer, advocating for the needs of children in the family court system.

“Seeing her passion for helping children who have been abused and neglected was so inspiring,” Gracie said.

Gracie’s mom, Jill, spent more than a decade advocating for the best interests of kids before she stepped down from the volunteer role.

“I really loved connecting with the kids, and knowing that I was doing something in their life that would make an impact and make their lives better and safer,” Jill said.

After Gracie graduated from college, she decided she would become a CASA volunteer like her mom had been. But she wasn’t going to do it alone – Jill was going to do it with her.

“I had a year before starting my graduate program and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get more involved with CASA,” Gracie said.

The two signed up for volunteer training with CASA of Lexington and were sworn and re-sworn in on Oct. 22, 2019. During their 19 months as a CASA volunteer team, the mother and daughter have advocated for eight children.

 “Working side-by-side with my mom as advocates has been one of the best experiences!” Gracie said.

This month, they’ve been selected as the CASA of Lexington Volunteers of the Month.

“Jill and Gracie have worked two cases very professionally,” said Dennis Stutsman, the pair’s Volunteer Manager. “They have been terrific at finding ways to work with relatives, and with parents with drug and behavioral challenges.”

Jill and Gracie both said serving as CASA volunteers together has been a very rewarding experience.

“CASA of Lexington is fantastic working with their volunteers and it is extremely fulfilling work,” Jill said.

Gracie said while she was initially worried about balancing her graduate-school work – she is studying social work -- with her CASA responsibilities, she has been pleasantly surprised to discover how “possible and fulfilling” the work is.

“Not only am I able to help the families I work with, I am also learning so much about resilience, strength in vulnerability and the power of advocacy from my time volunteering,” she said.