Siblings in the foster system find hope in a friend
Kayla Pelphrey bonded with her CASA kids, bringing some fun and consistency into their lives
The art that hangs on the wall of Kayla Pelphrey’s office isn’t by anyone famous. It isn’t worth a lot of money. But it does represent an investment in the future.
Pelphrey’s office art was created by her CASA children: kids in the family court system who have suffered abuse or neglect.
“When I walk into my little office every day and see the coloring book pages and notes I’ve hung in my corner from visits, I think about the little smiles that created them,” Pelphrey said. “Those soft little smiles are something I know I’ve helped grow into great big happy grins of excitement — despite the situation at hand.”
Pelphrey has been a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer for six different children since 2022. She visits the children she is matched with regularly, getting to know them often better than anyone else assigned to the case.
Pelphrey provides a regular person’s perspective that is often lacking in court cases, which enables the judge to make more informed decisions that focus on what the children need.
“Being a CASA volunteer is one of the best things you can get involved in,” Pelphrey said. “It not only allows you to be a support for kiddos and have some fun, but sheds light on your community — the good, bad and ugly. Getting involved, understanding, and listening are the first steps to make any kind of change.”
Pelphrey is supported in her work as a CASA advocate by her Volunteer Manager Rebecca Brereton-Farr.
Brereton-Farr said Pelphrey is a natural at engaging with the children she is serving. With one group of siblings, Pelphrey brought a stuffed toy dog to the first visit. They named the dog “Muffin” and Pelphrey told them the dog would come back for every visit, bringing along photos of what it got up to in between.
“The kids fell in love with Muffin and would run to play and cuddle with him when Kayla arrived for visits,” Brereton-Farr said. “She would tell them the stories of her adventures and show pictures.
“Kayla followed through on every visit and provided consistency, fun, and attention. At every visit, the kids would run to see and hug Kayla, with Muffin coming in a close second for hugs! And their smiles would grow bigger and more genuine with every visit.”
Pelphrey said she believes every child deserves to have positive experiences that stick with them into their adulthood.
“That’s something I always had growing up and something everyone deserves,” she said. “If I can have any little piece of helping to make that a reality for someone, it is time well spent!”
For more information about becoming a CASA volunteer, visit www.casaoflexington.org.