18 new CASA volunteers could help as many as 50 abused and neglected children over the next year
Fayette County Family Court Judge Tiffany Yahr swears in new CASA volunteers Feb. 28.
Central Kentucky has 18 new volunteers ready to advocate for abused and neglected children.
CASA of Lexington’s winter training class was sworn in by Fayette County Family Court Judge TIffany Yahr on Tuesday, Feb. 28. The new CASA volunteers are now ready to be matched with children in the family court systems of seven central Kentucky counties.
Yahr told the new volunteers they would be providing consistency and a voice in court for the children they serve.
Yahr, who also has lengthy experience working for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said she has seen everything change for children in the system over and over again, from homes to doctors to schools. But “no matter how much changes with placements, that CASA volunteer always stays the same,” she said.
She said whenever she is looking to learn more about a child’s case, “I always start with the CASA volunteer, because that is who has been invested in this kids life. The information the CASA volunteer brings is just invaluable.”
CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison speaks to new CASA volunteers during the Feb. 28 swearing in ceremony.
After completing their initial training and being matched with a child, each CASA volunteer spends an average of 5-10 hours a month volunteering. They visit with the child, often getting to know them better than anyone else in the courtroom. They also speak to adults in the child’s life and review important records and documents about the child.
CASA volunteers provide reports and recommendations to judges like Yahr, enabling them to make more informed decisions. Children who receive a CASA volunteer do better in school, get more services like therapy and educational interventions, move less frequently in the foster system and are less likely to re-enter foster care after their cases close.
Those sworn in Feb. 28 are Beverly Chandler, Jeff Clark, Kellye Cole, Phillip Ely, Katie Grubb, Emily Hale, Sarah Jones, Emily Koyagi, Alison List, Lindsay Medley, John Mullins, Leah Omeara, Matthew Rudoff, Debbie Rurik-Goodwin, Susan Schimmel, Melissa Sears and Payton Thurmond. Isaac Sutherland will also be sworn in at a later date.
Over the next year, the 18 new volunteers may serve as many as 50 children. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of children who suffer abuse and neglect in CASA of Lexington’s service region every year, and not enough CASA volunteers to serve them all.
Yahr said there will be highs and lows for the new CASA volunteers as they begin working their cases and getting to know their assigned children. But through it all, they will be filling huge need.
“You are absolutely going to make a difference,” Yahr told the new volunteers.
Next CASA Volunteer Training
CASA of Lexington holds at least four volunteer trainings each year. The next training class begins April 6, with classes on evenings and weekends at the CASA of Lexington office, 3245 Loch Ness Dr. In Lexington. A full schedule of the classes is available at www.casaoflexington.org/training. Anyone interested in joining the class can apply to be a CASA volunteer at www.casaoflexington.org/apply.
