Bourbon County CASA volunteer earns Volunteer of the Month award for passionate advocacy

CASA Volunteer John Mullins

John Mullins has been a coach his whole life.

“I’ve coached every sport there is — even ice hockey,” he said.

Mullins actually coached his son’s hockey team to state runners-up finishes twice. Mullins has also found another way to help children grow: He serves as a CASA volunteer.

“CASA volunteers are vital. We act as a voice for the children,” Mullins said.

Mullins has served as a CASA volunteer in Lexington for a year, and in Louisville for seven years before that. As a CASA volunteer, he is appointed to children in the family court system who have suffered abuse or neglect. He visits them regularly, talks to adults in their lives and advocates for their best interests in court.

Because of his dedication and passion for helping kids, he has been named a CASA Volunteer of the Month for March. Bourbon County Volunteer Manager Weida Allen nominated Mullins for the honor.

“John is a very strong advocate for the kids he advocates for in court,” Allen said. “He always visits the children monthly, sometimes twice a month if he feels it is necessary. He has never missed a court date.”

Mullins said being a CASA volunteer isn’t for everyone, but it is a great fit for people who are caring, compassionate, thoughtful and passionate about making a real difference.

“CASA is vital. When I found out about CASA, I said, ‘I’ve got to do this. I’ve got to help with this,’” he said. “I hate to say this, but the court system is broken. That’s why they need CASA volunteers. Your social worker is underpaid, over-worked and under-appreciated. You may see something they don’t see. We have more time than a social worker may have on a case.”

CASA volunteers bring a regular person’s perspective into the courtroom, providing the judge with a lot more detail about what’s going on in a child’s life than they would otherwise have. Just by observing what is happening in a child’s life and providing recommendations to the judge, a CASA volunteer can help ensure a child receives appropriate medical attention, gets educational interventions or even finds a safe, permanent home faster.

“All these children ever want is two things: They want to be loved and they want to have hope,” Mullins said. “If you’re looking for a way to make a difference in a kid’s life — and I mean a real difference — this is it.”