CASA of Lexington wins two statewide awards at annual CASA conference

CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison accepts the award for Core Model Program of the Year from Kentucky CASA Network Executive Director Andrea Bruns during the 2023 Kentucky CASA Conference.

CASA of Lexington won two statewide awards at the annual Kentucky CASA Conference this month. The nonprofit serving abused and neglected children in seven central Kentucky counties won Core Model Program of the Year and was one of two programs spotlighted for their work on diversity, equity and inclusion.

“It is truly a team effort to fulfill our mission and serve as many children as we can with CASA volunteers,” said Executive Director Melynda Jamison as she accepted the Core Model Program of the Year Award. “Not because it is about numbers, but because it is about children’s futures. We believe every abused and neglected child across the state deserves someone committed to advocating for their best interests and ensuring they have a safe and permanent home. We know that someone is a CASA volunteer.”

CASA of Lexington received the Core Model Program of the Year by achieving success in a variety of ways: The program excelled at training volunteers, providing continuing education and elevating awareness of CASA services among the general public.

The CASA Core Model is a national standard that spells out the purpose of CASA programs. When following the Core Model, CASA volunteers seek to reunify or keep children with their natural parents whenever it is safely possible. When that best outcome is not possible, they advocate for safe placement with relatives. When that outcome is also not possible, they will advocate for adoption or an appropriate placement that provides children stability and the services they need to thrive.

CASA of Lexington was also one of two Kentucky CASA programs that earned the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Spotlight Award. In 2022, CASA of Lexington and CASA of the River Region (serving multiple counties in and around Louisville) became the first CASA programs in Kentucky to be certified through the All Children All Families initiative from the Human Rights Campaign.

The certification means CASA of Lexington has put in the work to create an affirming, welcoming and safe culture for LGBTQ+ individuals. CASA of Lexington was certified as an innovative organization, the highest tier of certification that ACAF offers.

CASA of Lexington has also worked to recruit new CASA volunteers from populations that have traditionally been underrepresented among CASA volunteers, including men and black people. This year, CASA of Lexington has seen a roughly 60% increase in new male CASA volunteers and a roughly 70% increase in new black CASA volunteers.

“Diversity brings more ideas to the table. And children gain even more from having a CASA volunteer when they have a shared culture or background,” Jamison said while accepting the DEI Spotlight Award. “Beyond that, having a wide variety of experiences and points of view included in the CASA of Lexington family makes us stronger and more effective as a nonprofit organization.”