CASA volunteer awarded for work that changed the course of one Kentucky teen’s life

CASA of Lexington volunteer Sandy Nichols holds her Volunteer Achievement Award, which she earned by providing years of invaluable advocacy in a particularly difficult family court case.

When Sandy Nichols was first assigned to Peter’s case, she had no idea the twists and turns it would take before he would finally find a permanent, loving home.

Nichols spent more than six years as Peter’s Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, proving to be his only constant as he moved through more than a dozen placements in the Kentucky foster care system. (Peter is a pseudonym used to protect his privacy)

Peter watched as his siblings all found permanent placements and got adopted. But he remained in the system, moving to placements all around the state as his problematic behaviors caused disruption after disruption.

By spending regular time with Peter, Nichols was able to identify the root cause of his behavioral issues — remarkably, something no one else working on the case had figured out: Peter was deaf.

“He would lash out because he couldn’t tell what people were saying to him,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington, the program Nichols volunteers with. “Imagine if you struggled to hear what people were saying to you but were constantly expected to know what was going on anyway. I know I would find that incredibly frustrating.”

Because Nichols identified that Peter is deaf, he was able to get appropriate educational interventions. He learned to speak American Sign Language (ASL) and received implants to help him hear.

“His behavior did a complete 180,” Jamison said. “By the time his case closed, he was earning fantastic grades in school and had found a permanent, loving home. That’s sadly a rare outcome for older children in the foster care system with behavioral problems.

“I don’t know that any of that would have ever happened if Sandy had not said yes to being a CASA volunteer.”

CASA volunteer Sandy Nichols speaks to the audience after receiving her Volunteer Achievement Award.

Nichols has served as a CASA volunteer for around eight years and advocated for nine children during that time. Because of her dedication to the CASA mission and to Peter, Nichols was awarded CASA of Lexington’s Volunteer Achievement Award on Feb. 28. It is only the second time the organization has given out the award.

Nichols said, “the highs and lows of serving as a CASA volunteer are unbelievable,” but the children in the foster care system deserve to have someone on their side.

During one particularly unhappy turn in Peter’s case, when it turned out a promising placement would not become his permanent home, Nichols said she called her Volunteer Manager, a full-time staff member tasked with supporting CASA volunteers, and just began crying.

“I thought, ‘I don’t know if I can keep doing this,’” she said. “But I did. I kept thinking, ‘I can’t give up on this child. He meant and he means so much to me.”

CASA Canine Handler Liz Noffsinger shares about Sandy Nichols’ connection with a child she served as a CASA volunteer.

Liz Noffsinger, CASA of Lexington’s Canine Handler, would sometimes bring the organization’s certified courthouse facility dog Matilda on visits with Nichols. Matilda provides a calming presence for many children, who feel more comfortable with the golden retriever-lab mix around.

“Every time we did a visit, his face would light up — ‘Miss Sandy!’” Noffsinger said.

CASA volunteers visit the children they are assigned to at least monthly. They also talk to any adults in the children’s lives and review records and documents about the children. They compile all the information they gather into reports to the judges on the cases and provide recommendations on actions that would be in the children’s best interests.

CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison presents Sandy Nichols with her Volunteer Achievement Award.

“CASA volunteers are regular people who give five to 10 hours of their time each month to create lasting change for abused and neglected children,” Jamison said. “We have volunteers who have helped reunify families, who have helped identify relatives who are able to care for children, who have provided invaluable information and constant advocacy like Sandy did that leads to successful adoption.”

When presenting Nichols with her Volunteer Achievement Award, Jamison said Nichols had demonstrated through Peter’s case just how big a difference a CASA volunteer can make.

“She ensured that he had a voice and that we stayed focused on finding a permanent home for him.”

Serving as a CASA volunteer

To serve as a CASA volunteer, you must be at least 21 years old, pass background checks and complete a 30-hour initial training. Every CASA volunteer commits to serving 5-10 hours a month for at least two years.

Volunteers with CASA of Lexington served 671 children throughout a seven-county region in 2022. Sadly, there are hundreds more children who had new cases of abuse and neglect open last year who did not receive a CASA volunteer.

You can view the next training schedule for new volunteers here.