Garrard CASA volunteers honored with Serve Kentucky Awards

Four CASA volunteers were honored at the Garrard County Fiscal Court meeting Monday for giving hundreds of hours to help abused and neglected children.

Well-known Garrard resident Linda Baker was one of two CASA volunteers to receive a “Top CASA Volunteer” medal for volunteering with the Garrard County CASA program for more than 300 hours last year.

The other three volunteers could not attend the meeting, but they are Priscilla Miller (also a “Top CASA Volunteer” with more than 300 hours of service in 2025), Susan Maupin and Megan Huston.

Maupin and Huston each volunteered for more than 100 hours in 2025. Together, the four volunteers logged 1,497 hours working CASA cases. All four received Serve Kentucky Awards signed by Gov. Andy Beshear.

The Serve Kentucky Volunteer Recognition Program is a partnership among the Office of the Governor, AmeriCorps, and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. It recognizes volunteers who make a difference by giving their time within the state of Kentucky.

CASA volunteers are matched with children in the family court system who have been abused or neglected. Each volunteer visits their CASA child at least monthly, gathers information about the child’s life, provides reports to the judge on the child’s case, and speaks up if the child needs something they aren’t getting.

Garrard’s CASA program used 14 volunteers to serve 30 children in 2025. CASA’s Executive Director Melynda Jamison said that represents roughly 12% of all the children who have open abuse or neglect cases in Garrard County.

“We want to see that percentage increase and we’re working to make it happen,” Jamison said.

Children who receive CASA volunteers can do better in school, receive more services ordered by the judge, and be far less likely to be abused or neglected again.

“We are so thankful to these four dedicated volunteers, and to all the Garrard County volunteers who are giving their time each year to make this community better for our most vulnerable children,” Jamison said. “There are many more kids who could benefit if we could get more volunteers. But today, we are celebrating the work that is already being done!”

It takes about 5 to 10 hours a month to serve as a CASA volunteer. If you are interested in becoming a CASA volunteer, supporting the Garrard County CASA program or learning more about what CASA volunteers do, visit www.casaoflexington.org.