Paige Slover helps solve problems for children as a CASA volunteer
CASA Volunteer Paige Slover
Lexington, Ky. (Dec. 4, 2024) – Paige Slover was trying to solve a problem. A child, William, was having major difficulties adjusting to Kindergarten.
William, whose name is changed here for privacy, was a neglected child, and Slover was appointed as his CASA volunteer to advocate for his needs. That was lucky for David, because Slover is good at problem-solving.
“Paige is an excellent collaborator and team builder,” said Heather Porter, Slover’s Volunteer Manager at CASA of Lexington. “Paige organized a meeting with multiple school staff and administrators, David’s counseling provider, his social worker and family members to find solutions that would address his needs and set him up for future learning success.”
Because of her success in helping William, Slover has been named a CASA Volunteer of the Month for December.
Slover first learned about what CASA volunteers do three decades ago, when the national sorority she was working for, Kappa Alpha Theta, adopted CASA as its national philanthropy.
“I was hooked the moment I learned about what CASA does and decided I wanted to become a volunteer,” she said. “It took over 30 years for the stars to align to actually become a CASA volunteer. But I’m glad I never gave up on that goal.”
CASA volunteers are regular people who are matched with abused and neglected children in the family court system. Each volunteer visits their CASA child monthly, gathers information about the child’s life, helps improve communication among the people involved in the child’s life, and helps ensure the child’s needs are never overlooked.
“Of course, the best part about this job is being with the kids,” Slover said. “My approach is to just play with them and let them be kids. I genuinely have fun hanging out with them and I believe they sense that. Our time together always goes too fast.”
It takes about 5-10 hours a month to serve as a CASA volunteer and all volunteers complete a 30-hour training class that prepares them for the work.
“I’d tell anyone contemplating being a CASA volunteer that it’s one of the most important jobs you could ever do,” Slover said. “It’s not easy. It’s not for everyone. But all you need is a kind and generous heart – and that’s about all!”
The next regional training class for new CASA volunteers begins Jan. 9 in Lexington, with classes on Thursday evenings and a pair of Saturdays. To learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer or fill out a volunteer application, visit www.casaoflexington.org.