CASA of Lexington adds 23 new advocates for abused and neglected children

Fayette County Family Court Judge Traci Brislin swears in new CASA volunteers in March 2026.

CASA of Lexington is adding 23 new volunteers this month, who will begin advocating for abused and neglected children across the non-profit’s seven-county region.

Most of the new volunteers were sworn in by Fayette County Family Court Judge Traci Brislin at a ceremony held in front of friends and family at the CASA of Lexington office.

“What you are doing is so remarkably selfless and it really does make a difference,” Brislin told the new volunteers. “I cannot stress enough how much we depend on you and how much we need you.”

Brislin said she was very happy to see such a wide variety of people becoming CASA volunteers, including mothers, retired people and UK law students.

The new CASA volunteers have recently completed 30 hours of training. Now that they are sworn in, CASA Volunteer Managers will match them with abused and neglected children in family court. Judges like Brislin ask for CASA volunteers on cases where they want more detailed information about what’s happening in a child’s life so that they can make more informed decisions and get better outcomes for the children.

Each volunteer will give on average 5 to 10 hours a month visiting their matched child, gathering information and informing the judge if there are things the child needs. During the next 12 months, the 23 new volunteers could advocate for more than 50 children.

CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison thanked the new volunteers for giving their time and their family members for supporting them.

“Judges read your CASA reports first in many cases because you know the child,” she said. “The child is not a stack of papers for you.”

Jamison said more CASA volunteers are needed because fewer than one in five children in the system currently get one. Many more children could have brighter futures if more people went through training.

“You are needed,” she told the new volunteers. “We are so thrilled you are here!”

SO YOU KNOW

The newest CASA volunteers with CASA of Lexington are Selena Allen, Kim Cooper, Brooklyn Haley, Bobbi Henson, Scott Marsh, Lora Martin, J.B. Richmond, Camille Skubik-Peplaski, Judy Stover, Debbie Traylor, Chris Westover, Diann Williams, Elizabeth Davis, Curt Kronberg, Michelle Lee, Joe Noonan, Carolyn Wadley, Ian Stuckert, Jaisa Adams, Brenda Bagger, Caroline Evans, Rylee Meacham, and Abigail Leimann.

If you would like to learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer, visit www.casaoflexington.org.