New CASA Volunteers Added for Fayette, Jessamine and Scott Counties
Fayette County Family Court Judge Lucinda Masterton, bottom left, swears in new CASA volunteers at the CASA of Lexington office on Aug. 3.
Hugs have often been in short supply since the pandemic began, but they made a warm return at a swearing in ceremony for new CASA volunteers held at CASA of Lexington Tuesday evening.
New CASA volunteers take an oath of confidentiality Aug. 3 after completing their 30-hour training course.
Fourteen new Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers were sworn in at the ceremony, which was held in-person for the first time since February of 2020. Friends, family and CASA of Lexington staff cheered and congratulated the new volunteers after they were sworn in by Fayette County Family Court Judge Lucinda Masterton.
Over the summer, CASA of Lexington has trained and sworn in a total of 20 new volunteers, who will now begin advocating for abused and neglected children in family court. The volunteers will serve children with cases in Fayette, Jessamine and Scott counties.
First Jessamine County CASA Volunteers
Four of the new volunteers are the first ever sworn in to serve children in Jessamine County.
New CASA volunteers are sworn in Aug. 3.
“I want to put these new volunteers to work helping children as quickly as possible,” said Jeff Moss, Jessamine County’s family court judge. “They will provide invaluable information and insights into these children’s lives. Ultimately, they will help us achieve better outcomes for our children’s futures.”
Last year, 263 children in Jessamine County were abused or neglected, according to data from the Administrative Office of the Courts. Kentucky as a whole has the worst rate of child abuse and neglect in the nation, according to the most recent federal Child Maltreatment Report. About one out of every 50 children in Kentucky is abused or neglected each year. The rate of abuse and neglect in Jessamine County is slightly higher than the state average.
Six New Scott County CASA Volunteers
Four CASA volunteers for Scott County were sworn in by Scott County Family Court Judge Lisa Hart Morgan in July. Two more Scott County volunteers were sworn in by Judge Masterton Aug. 3.
Four new CASA volunteers for Scott County are sworn in virtually by Scott County Family Court Judge Lisa Hart Morgan in July.
“In every case where we have our CASA volunteers, I know we’re getting better information about our children,” Judge Morgan said. “I know fewer things are falling through the cracks. I know these kids are getting tremendous resources in terms of care. It’s making a huge difference in these kids’ lives.”
Judge Morgan said there are so many cases in Scott County Family Court that it often takes longer before cases can be brought back before her for review.
“Having CASA volunteers in place has really helped ensure that things don’t fall between the cracks in between court appearances,” she said. “We need as many CASA volunteers as we can get.”
Scott County’s CASA program launched in 2020. In its first year, six CASA volunteers served 15 children. That represents about 10% of the 145 children who entered the system due to abuse or neglect that year, and a smaller fraction of the total number of Scott County children with open cases.
‘It Was Just A Miracle’
Judge Masterton told the new volunteers on Aug. 3 that she has seen many cases where the CASA volunteer’s attention to a child’s needs made a huge difference.
Fayette County Family Court Judge Lucinda Masterton talks to the newest CASA of Lexington volunteers during a swearing in ceremony on Aug. 3.
In one case, the CASA volunteer recognized that a child’s behavioral problems were tied to hearing loss. The child was enrolled at a school where they could learn American Sign Language and given cochlear implants. The child is now doing better behaviorally and will likely be adopted, Masterton said.
“It was just a miracle having that person who looked at the whole situation,” she said. “Nobody comes in other than the CASA to say what is really going on with this child.”
New CASA volunteers complete a 30-hour training course, held on nights and weekends. Then, they are sworn in and matched with children in the family court system who need an advocate. A CASA volunteer visits with their assigned child regularly, talks to adults involved in the child’s life and reports back to the judge, providing a level of detail about the child’s life and what they need that isn’t otherwise available.
“There are hundreds of children in our local family courts right now who could benefit from having a CASA volunteer to advocate for them and only them,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington. “These new volunteers will probably make a difference for at least 40 of those children in their first year.”
CASA of Lexington’s next volunteer training course begins Sept. 7. More information about the training and an application to be a CASA volunteer are available at www.casaoflexington.org. Anyone interested in learning more or becoming a CASA volunteer can also email info@casaoflexington.org.