Susan Pope changes the world through ‘incremental changes’ as a CASA volunteer
CASA Volunteer Susan Pope
Susan Pope wanted to find a way to put her energy into something meaningful. She asked around and discovered a local nonprofit called CASA — Court-Appointed Special Advocates — that came highly recommended from people she trusted.
She learned CASA of Lexington trains regular people to be matched with children in the family court system who have suffered abuse or neglect. And that even though the volunteers only give a few hours a month, the time they spend with the children and the advocacy they provide can be transformational.
“I was fortunate to get involved pretty quickly after I was sworn in,” Pope said. “I enjoy the monthly visits with the kids, who tend to open up once you’ve demonstrated you are there for the long haul.”
Pope has now advocated for eight children in just 11 months – many more than most CASA volunteers take on. And she has made a difference in those children’s lives by visiting them and alerting the judge when they need things.
Because of her incredible work, her Volunteer Manager Dennis Stutsman nominated her to be a CASA Volunteer of the Month for February.
“Susan has done a great job collecting information about all of these kids’ lives, making sure everyone understands what is happening and why,” Stutsman said. “The information she provides has helped the judge make decisions that were best for the children.”
Kentucky has one of the highest rates of child abuse and neglect in the nation. Kentucky social workers often carry dozens of cases involving abused and neglected children at a time. Judges can hear hundreds of cases in the span of a month.
CASA volunteers, by contrast, often work with one child at a time. They focus on each child’s needs and what actions would be in the child’s best interests. Their reports help judges make more informed decisions and get better outcomes for the children.
“We have to look out for each other — especially for those who can’t look out for themselves,” Pope said. “It is hard to change everything all at once, but CASA shows you that incremental changes add up.”
If you’re interested in becoming a CASA volunteer like Pope, you can learn more and fill out a volunteer application at www.casaoflexington.org.