CASA volunteer Barbie Carter

Barbie Carter stays busy working full-time at Lexmark, but that doesn’t stop her from enjoying family time or hobbies like photography. It also hasn’t stopped her from making a difference in her community as a CASA volunteer. In fact, it was through her workplace’s Women @ Work group that she discovered CASA of Lexington.

Now, Carter, one of many Lexmark employees who serve as CASA volunteers, is one of CASA of Lexington’s Volunteers of the Month for January. She has advocated for children from four different families over her nearly five years of service.

“Barbie has been a tremendous source of support for foster parents, often helping to intervene to get the attention of the social worker or other parties to a case when needed,” said Liz Noffsinger, Carter’s Volunteer Manager who nominated her for the award.

Noffsinger said Carter has been a dedicated volunteer, even traveling long distances across the state when children were placed far away from where their case originated.

Carter said she loves building relationships with the children for whom she advocates. CASA volunteers are matched with children in the local family court system who have been abused or neglected. They visit children monthly, talk to adults involved in the children’s lives and bring reports and recommendations back to the judge. Children who receive a CASA volunteer are more likely to do well in school, more likely to receive services they need while in care and less likely to re-enter the foster system after their case closes.

“As a CASA volunteer, you are the person who can focus on one case and really get to know the people involved,” she said. “This helps you get a better view of what the child needs, so you can be a voice for that child. What I find most rewarding is getting to know the people involved and being able to influence and help in a tangible way that really makes a difference in one child’s life.”

CASA volunteer April Jilbert

April Jilbert first became a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer in northern Kentucky more than a decade ago. After her family moved to Lexington, she signed back up to be a CASA volunteer with CASA of Lexington.

Since she began volunteering with CASA of Lexington more than four years ago, Jilbert has helped change the future for a dozen children. This month, she is one of CASA of Lexington’s Volunteers of the Month.

“April is a fantastic CASA!,” said Kyrsten Adkins, Jilbert’s Volunteer Manager. “April is always professional and works collaboratively with the social worker on the case. She writes a great court report, submits her hours on-time and it’s not unusual for us to have an hour phone call several times a month discussing her case.”

As a CASA volunteer, Jilbert is matched with the cases of abused and neglected children in the local family court system. She visits the children monthly, talks to adults involved in their lives and makes reports and recommendations to the judge.

Jilbert said she loves the process of developing relationships with the children on her cases.

“It can be a real challenge, but that just takes persistence, especially with the teenagers,” she said. “But it’s so worth it, especially when you see that breakthrough. That’s probably my favorite part.”

When children in family court receive a CASA volunteer like Jilbert, they are more likely to have the judge order services they need. They are also more likely to perform well in school and to find a safe, permanent home that doesn’t disrupt after their case closes.

Jilbert said a lot of people don’t know what a CASA volunteer is, so she likes to keep it simple when she’s telling someone for the first time.

“I tell them I advocate for children in court. If they start to ask questions, that’s when I will go more in-depth,” she said. “I definitely love it or I wouldn’t have been doing it this long.”

CASA of Lexington volunteers Ava Crow and Anne Flynn

Ava Crow and Anne Flynn both found ways to advocate for others in their careers: Crow as a lawyer representing children and adults with disabilities in civil rights cases; Flynn as a nurse in adult protective services.

But after the couple entered retirement, they found a new way to keep helping others — by serving as CASA volunteers. Now, after seven and a half years of volunteering and serving a combined 16 abused and neglected children, Crow and Flynn have been named CASA of Lexington Volunteers of the Month for December.

This isn’t the first time they have won the honor — they also earned it in April of 2016.

Crow and Flynn’s Volunteer Manager Jenifer Bahr said each case they have taken on has been more challenging than the last.

“They have traveled all over the state to stay connected with their children, never letting distance be a hindrance,” Bahr said. “Their reports and recommendations have been invaluable to the court. They truly have been the only constant in every single one of their cases.

“Their ability to connect with the children on their cases speaks volumes to the kind, compassionate, amazing individuals they are.”

Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are trained community members who are matched with abused and neglected children in the local family court system. Each CASA volunteer visits their assigned child monthly, talks with adults involved in the child’s life, reviews records and makes recommendations to the judge on what actions would be in the best interest of the child.

CASA volunteers help identify educational and medical problems that are being overlooked, connect families with resources and get children back into safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible.

CASA teams are pairs of CASA volunteers — spouses like Crow and Flynn, parent-child pairs, or even best friends — who are matched together to cases involving multiple children. CASA teams are often invaluable on these larger and more complex cases.

Crow and Flynn said they originally discovered CASA of Lexington through a newspaper article, and it seemed like the duties of a CASA volunteer meshed well with their abilities.

“There are three things that keep me coming back as a CASA volunteer, year after year,” Flynn said. “One – the kids are terrific! We don’t always know them long, but they always leave a place in my heart. Second – the other CASA volunteers are great people and several have become my friends over the years. Finally – I really like working with Jenifer. She is dedicated to the job and has a great sense of humor, which helps a lot when the job gets difficult.”

Crow seconded Flynn’s endorsement of Bahr and the support provided by CASA of Lexington staff to its volunteers.

“The staff at CASA are amazing,” she said, encouraging anyone curious about becoming a CASA volunteer to sign up for the next volunteer training. “Go to the training and see if it seems like a match for you. If it does, give it a try. You’ll get incredible support and you’ll feel good about whatever you accomplish.”

CASA Volunteer of the Month Kevin Eby

When Kevin Eby changed jobs and discovered he had more free time on his hands, several of his friends encouraged him to become a CASA volunteer.

"I didn't even know what CASA kids were," Eby said. "I just assumed it was something to do with Spanish. I hadn't investigated it at all."

At CASA of Lexington, Eby found a community of people like him, who want to create real, positive change in the world by giving children better childhoods.

Eby, a UK professor who also works with the Fatherhood Foundation, went through the CASA training, took a case and was hooked.

Eby's Volunteer Manager, Liz Noffsinger, said Eby is an "exemplary advocate" who has taken on a tough case and helped transform a child's life. Because of his work, he has been named a CASA Volunteer of the Month for November 2022.

Eby said serving as a CASA volunteer is rewarding, but "I will enjoy it the most when I'm able to see my child get a home."

CASA volunteers typically take one case at a time, advocating for the best interests of an abused or neglected child in the family court system. Kids with CASA volunteers have more hope for the future, get more services they need to thrive and are far less likely to re-enter the system after their cases close.

Kentucky's child abuse and neglect statistics are among the worst in the nation, which is one reason Eby said he volunteers with CASA — and a reason he thinks others should, too.

"Talk to a CASA volunteer and try it. It's worth it," he said. "The need will always be there. The numbers are pretty amazing."

CASA Volunteer of the Month Erin Hall

Erin Hall loves to improve children's lives. But her passion hasn't put her in a classroom; it has put her on a horse farm — and in a courtroom.

Hall is a therapeutic riding instructor by day, helping children with diagnoses of autism or Down Syndrome. She also moonlights as a CASA volunteer, advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the local family court system.

Hall actually began serving as a CASA volunteer years ago, stopped for a while, then came back to the work in June 2020. This month, her dedication to helping children has earned her the designation of CASA Volunteer of the Month.

"I love making a connection with the children and figuring out how to best help them and their family," she said. "Early on in my life, I would have thought, 'Well, those children just need to be taken from the home.' But that's not always the best way."

Jeanne Box, Hall's Volunteer Manager, said Hall has spent dozens of hours locating resources in the community for the children she serves. For one child, Box said, Hall "focused on addressing ways in which she could improve conditions for him, and left no stone un-turned until his circumstances were improved."

Hall has also helped a child completely turn around their educational performance, Box said, ultimately putting the child on a path toward potentially perfect attendance.

CASA volunteers complete a specialized 30-hour training course, then spend an average of 5-10 hours a month volunteering. Each volunteer is matched with a child, whom they visit every month. The volunteer also talks to adults involved in the child's life and reviews records. Then, the volunteer provides reports to the judge on the child's case, increasing the likelihood the child receives services they need and can be returned to a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible.

Hall said she knows sometimes, people are hesitant to get involved with CASA because they are reluctant to get attached or involved in the life of a child in need.

"I tell people, 'You need to get involved!'" she said. "That's a good thing — it means you care and you're becoming a part of the solution for the child."

CASA Volunteer Charlene Floyd

Charlene Floyd stays busy in a lot of different ways — she enjoys hiking, painting, photography, live music, sharing delicious dinners with friends and her monthly book club. But one of her most rewarding activities is serving as a CASA volunteer. 

“I heard about CASA through a volunteer a number of years ago and have always been interested in volunteering,” she said. “Since my family and I moved frequently, I wasn’t able to make the time commitment needed. Now that I am settled, I decided to investigate the volunteer opportunities more seriously.” 

After being sworn in as a CASA volunteer a little more than a year ago, Floyd was assigned to her first case, advocating for abused and neglected children in Jessamine County. This month, she was recognized as a Volunteer of the Month. 

“Charlene is a steadfast advocate. She embodies the skills and attributes that make a successful CASA,” said Cara MacLeod, Jessamine County’s CASA Volunteer Manager. “Charlene works collaboratively with partners on the case, remaining open-minded and compassionate. She is an active listener and consistently sets up and attends home visits, building rapport and trust.” 

CASA volunteers spend about 5-10 hours a month visiting with children, speaking with adults involved in children’s lives and advocating for the children’s best interests in family court. CASA volunteers help improve communication and fill gaps in knowledge for the judge on the case. Research has shown children with a CASA volunteer receive more services, do better in school and are far less likely to re-enter the foster care system after their cases close. 

“What I have enjoyed most about being a CASA volunteer is spending time with my CASA child,” Floyd said. “You are there to help a child, to be a voice for that child in the courtroom, a voice for that child through a period of time that may be one of the most frightening times of their life. 

“These children need to know that there is someone in their corner, who will show up for them time and time again. If you want to help children who so desperately need help, consider becoming a CASA volunteer.” 

A training for new CASA volunteers in Jessamine, Garrard and Lincoln counties begins Oct. 11 in Garrard County and a winter training for volunteers in Jessamine, Garrard, Lincoln, Bourbon, Fayette, Scott and Woodford begins Jan. 10. You can view schedules of the trainings and apply to be a CASA volunteer at www.casaoflexington.org. Call (859) 246-4313 or email jessaminecounty@casaoflexington.org for more information. 

CASA Volunteer Nancy Tucker

Nancy Tucker has been helping children succeed around the country for decades. Her educational work includes helping found the Head Start program in Kansas City and helping found a similar early education program here in Kentucky. 

Today, Tucker continues to help children by serving as a CASA volunteer. The veteran volunteer has been advocating for the needs of local children in the family court system for six years this month, making her one of the longest-serving volunteers with CASA of Lexington. 

This month, she has also been named a CASA Volunteer of the Month, thanks to a nomination from her Volunteer Manager Dennis Stutsman. 

“Nancy has worked effectively with 8 families since being sworn into service in October 2016,” Stutsman said. “On her current case, which she has been working for several years, Nancy has been a tremendous source of support and resource referral for the foster mother, often helping get the attention of the social worker or the court when a child needed treatment but was waitlisted by providers.” 

Tucker said she has found serving as a CASA volunteer to be extremely rewarding. 

“It has more than met my expectations,” she said. 

As a CASA Volunteer, Tucker is assigned to cases of children who have been abused or neglected. She visits the children every month, speaks with adults involved in the children’s lives, reviews educational and medical records, and advocates for the children’s best interests in family court. 

Tucker said CASA works with many of children and families who get judged by others all the time, even though they are often doing the best they can with what they have. 

“You have to be non-judgmental. You never know what people have gone through,” she said. “You're not there to feel bad for these kids. You're there to show them that someone cares about them." 

To learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer, see schedules of upcoming trainings or apply to become a CASA volunteer, click here.

CASA Volunteer Kim Lyon

Kim Lyon was introduced to CASA through the CASA Angel Tree program, which provides gifts to children in the family court system during the holidays each December.

“For several years, we selected a CASA Angel and got to provide Christmas gifts for that child,” she said. “When I retired, however, I felt the pull to serve these children more personally and routinely. So, I became a CASA volunteer.”

Lyon has now served as a CASA volunteer for 18 months, advocating for nine abused or neglected children during that time. Her work has earned her the title of CASA Volunteer of the Month in September.

“Kim has worked a variety of cases in her time as a CASA volunteer,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington. “She is always willing to undertake a challenge, regardless of how intimidating or complicated the facts may be.”

Lyon said it’s sad to understand just how many children in the local community are victims of abuse or neglect. “But it has been both humbling and rewarding to see how CASA volunteers can help change the trajectory of a child’s life.”

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton picks an ornament from the Fayette County CASA Angel Tree in November 2021.

Lyon said if anyone is considering becoming a CASA volunteer, “first – there are children out there who need you. Second – don’t worry about whether you’re qualified. CASA’s training and ongoing support is excellent. Third – talk to a volunteer who will answer any questions you have.”

CASA volunteers complete a 30-hour training class before being assigned to the case of an abused or neglected child. They spend about 5-10 hours a month volunteering by visiting the child, talking to adults involved in the child’s life and writing court reports for the judge on the case.

Jamison said Lyon’s reports for the judge always provide a “clear picture of the abilities of each child, filling in gaps that may have previously impacted the court’s ability to make fully informed decisions.”

“CASA volunteers like Kim also provide the perspective of a regular person that may often be missing,” Jamison said. “We have CASA volunteers from all walks of life and careers. In fact, a majority of our volunteers work full-time.”

Anyone interested in becoming a CASA volunteer can visit www.casaoflexington.org, email info@casaoflexington.org or call (859) 246-4313 for more information. CASA Angel Tree ceremonies are held annually by CASA of Lexington in Bourbon, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Scott and Woodford counties in November. Watch www.casaoflexington.org for more information about locations and dates later this fall.

CASA Volunteer Amy Shaw

Eleven years ago, Amy Shaw read about a local businesswoman who was also serving as a CASA volunteer. The work intrigued her, so she looked into it and soon signed up to become a CASA volunteer herself.

Shaw has served as a CASA volunteer in Lexington ever since, and has now advocated for more than 10 abused or neglected children. She is also one of CASA of Lexington’s Volunteers of the Month for September.

“Through many challenges, setbacks and surprises on her current case, Amy has been steadfast in communicating with everyone, consistently visiting the children and making sure their best interests are a priority,” said Jenifer Bahr, Shaw’s Volunteer Manager. “Amy builds wonderful relationships with community partners and makes sure they have the information they need to provide the best services for the children she serves.”

As a CASA volunteer, Shaw is matched with abused or neglected children in the local family court system. She visits the children monthly, helps improve communication and advocates for what the children need.

“Being a volunteer means focusing on what is best for the child — that has to be top-of-mind, always,” Shaw said. “You may be the most consistent person in their life, so commitment is a must.”

CASA volunteers give about 5-10 hours a month on average, and serve for at least 2 years, in order to see cases through to closure. Kids who get a CASA volunteer do better in school, get more services they need and are returned to safe, permanent homes faster. They are also far less likely to re-enter the foster system after their cases close.

Shaw said more than a decade as a CASA volunteer has shown her how helping children often means helping the children’s families.

“Being a volunteer has reinforced for me that children are not little adults,” she said. “Hurt children become hurt adults, and sometimes parents need just as much support as the children.”

More information about becoming a CASA volunteer is available at www.casaoflexington.org, by emailing info@casaoflexington.org or by calling (859) 246-4313.