More CASA volunteers are needed to serve abused and neglected children in Lincoln County

Lincoln County resident Priscilla Miller has been named a CASA Volunteer of the Month for January 2024.

CASA Volunteer Priscilla Miller

Miller has been a CASA volunteer serving abused and neglected children in Lincoln County for a little over a year.

“It has been an amazing journey for me to be able to give back to the community and be able to advocate for a child,” Miller said. “I wasn’t sure if I had the time, but I gave it a try and it has been a bigger blessing for me to give back. And I love it because the CASA family is amazing!”

Jennifer Lamb, Miller’s Volunteer Manager, nominated her for the Volunteer of the Month honor because of how she has supported her CASA child and consistently advocated for his best interests.

“Priscilla has had to make some tough recommendations, but she has always stood firmly behind the facts and having this child’s well-being and safety as her primary concern,” Lamb said. “I have no doubt she will remain in this child’s life and continue to be a source of stability for him.”

CASA volunteers complete a training class and then are matched with children in the local family court system who have suffered abuse or neglect. While social workers and attorneys routinely work dozens of cases at once, CASA volunteers can focus in on one case at a time, volunteering for about 5-10 hours a month.

“The work I do with CASA is valuable because I provide the communication the judge would never get from the child,” Miller said. “A lot of times, the judge never sees the child. As a CASA, I can attach pictures. I can let the judge know who this child actually is. I have that opportunity to speak up for the child.”

The CASA program serving Lincoln and Garrard counties is currently the fastest growing program based on population size in the state.

“Our growth in Lincoln County is essential because our rate of child abuse and neglect is above the state average. That means there are many kids in need of someone to speak up for them right now,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director.

Miller said she strongly recommends others sign up to become CASA volunteers — because of the difference they can make for kids in need, and because of the culture inside the CASA program.

“The atmosphere with CASA is great! It’s a family,” she said. “I’m telling you — you think you can’t do it? Yes, you can. Everybody can be a voice, an advocate for a child. It’s just such a blessing and once you start, the rewards you get back are amazing.”

The next training for new CASA volunteers in Lincoln and Garrard counties begins Jan. 23 in Lancaster. A complete schedule of training dates is available at www.casaoflexington.org/training and you can apply to be a CASA volunteer at www.casaoflexington.org/apply.

More CASA volunteers are needed for abused and neglected children in Woodford County

Versailles resident Fred Thomas has been named a CASA Volunteer of the Month for January 2024. 

CASA Volunteer Fred Thomas

Thomas, who has been a CASA volunteer since 2019, has advocated for five abused and neglected children in Woodford County Family Court over that time.

“I have deep concern for making the world better than I found it,” Thomas said. “CASA has been a huge step forward in that direction.”

As a CASA volunteer, Thomas is matched with children in family court who need someone to listen and speak up for their needs. He visits his CASA child every month, talks to others in the child’s life, and writes reports for the judge on the case. It takes about 5-10 hours a month to serve as a CASA volunteer.

Woodford County CASA Volunteer Manager Heather Porter nominated Thomas for Volunteer of the Month because of how well he connects with the children he serves — and because of a recent court report of his that the judge loved.

“The judge commended Fred's court report during a hearing, noting that she appreciated Fred's ability to clearly state the facts of the case and advocate in an empathetic manner that was considerate of all parties involved,” Porter said.

Thomas is working on his social work degree while he works at the Woodford County Detention Center, where he said he sees people who could have benefited from having CASA volunteers when they were children.

Research has shown that children who receive a CASA volunteer do better in school, have more hope for the future, and are far less likely to re-enter the foster system after their cases close. As a result, they are less at-risk for problems like substance use disorder.

Thomas said serving as a CASA volunteer is one of the best uses of his time.

“I get to be hands-on and actually talk with a child who genuinely needs some help,” he said. “I also find myself becoming a better person because my CASA kids need me to be — more patient, more kind, more empathetic, just better for the world around me.”

“We need more volunteers like Fred in Woodford County, because there are children in family court who do not have CASA volunteers currently,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of Woodford’s CASA program. “The course of a child’s life can be changed forever with just a few hours of your time each month.”

If you’re interested in becoming a CASA volunteer in Woodford County, you can learn more at www.casaoflexington.org or by emailing woodfordcounty@casaoflexington.org.

CASA volunteers Jackie Washburn, left, and Susan Isaacs are December’s Volunteers of the Month.

When a new case of child neglect involving six siblings came across Rebecca Brereton-Farr’s desk last year, she knew she would need some special CASA volunteers for the job.

Brereton-Farr, a Volunteer Manager at CASA of Lexington, paired up Jackie Washburn, a veteran CASA volunteer with 15 years of experience, and Susan Isaacs, a new CASA volunteer who was waiting for her first case. Together, they would begin advocating for the children’s best interests.

The results have been amazing.

Jackie and Susan discovered their strengths complemented each other nicely — Jackie brought her experience; Susan brought strong computer skills. Both shared a love of children and a desire to improve their world.

“I feel like I have a new friend,” said Susan, a retired educator and consultant. “I know about her children and her grandchildren. We talk about a lot more than just the case.”

The pair have now spent more than a year as CASA volunteers on the case. They visit the children monthly, talk to adults in the children’s lives, review educational and medical records, and write reports for the judge on the case, leading to better outcomes.

Children who receive CASA volunteers like Jackie and Susan have usually suffered trauma and have little or no stability in their lives. CASA volunteers provide hope that things will get better, advocate for more stability, identify needs that others in court have overlooked, and help return children to safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible.

“I want to make sure that all the kids are where they need to be, that they are in a good home,” Jackie said. “And if parents can be that home, and we can help them with that, I like to see reunification as much as possible.”

Because of the excellent work Jackie and Susan have done on their case, they have been named CASA Volunteers of the Month for December 2023.

“Susan and Jackie have been the dynamic duo this case and these kids needed,” said Brereton-Farr. “Susan can navigate the school system and ensure the older children’s educational needs are being met. Jackie can navigate the court system. Both provide a sense of comfort to mom as she works to regain custody and make her own personal progress.”

Brereton-Farr said Susan and Jackie have become a trusted source of information for the judge on the case and helped guide all sides in their case to productive solutions that ultimately help the children.

“I truly believe that without Susan and Jackie on this case, we would not have seen progress and these kids would have just lingered,” Brereton-Farr said.

It takes about 5-10 hours a month to serve as a CASA volunteer. While CASA volunteers always have support from their Volunteer Managers, CASA volunteers who serve on a CASA team also have their partner to bounce ideas off of and share in the highs and lows.

“We talk back and forth to make sure we are on the same page,” Jackie said. “It works very well having two people on this case.”

Susan agreed.

“I had never been to court before; Jackie talked me all through that. I had never done a court report before; Jackie talked me through that,” Susan said. “I’m really relying on her expertise to help me know what to do, what not to do. I’m forever grateful that somebody here had the wisdom to put us together.”

Next CASA Volunteer Training

Anyone interested in becoming a CASA volunteer can fill out an application at www.casaoflexington.org/apply. You can see upcoming training schedules at www.casaoflexington.org/training. For more information, email info@casaoflexington.org.

CASA Volunteer Nick Luddy

Nick Luddy spent 24 years in the U.S. Army, including a 10-year stint doing anti-terrorism work. He has traveled the globe for his job, serving in multiple countries across the Middle East and Africa.

Today, Nick is retired from the Army, but he has found a new way to have an impact: He serves as a CASA volunteer, advocating for vulnerable children in the local family court system.

As a military police officer, Nick said he saw some unfortunate situations involving domestic violence and child abuse. Nick would work with social workers to find a family member or another safe placement for the children who were harmed.

After he retired, a family friend told him about the Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, and its purpose resonated with Nick because he knows about the challenges some kids can face.

“Once I heard about CASA, I thought maybe I could try to make a difference in a few kids’ lives,” he said. “I enjoy getting to meet the children and their families, seeing their struggles and being able to offer some help.”

CASA volunteers are matched with children who have suffered abuse or neglect. They visit the children monthly, talk to adults in the children’s lives, review records, and write recommendations and reports for the judge on the case.

Fayette County family court judges have praised CASA reports for containing a far greater level of information and detail about children’s lives than would otherwise be available. The judges say CASA volunteers bring an ordinary perspective focused on the child’s needs rather than legal requirements, which helps ground decisions in what’s best for the children.

Nick has been a CASA volunteer with CASA of Lexington for more than two years, and he has now been named a Volunteer of the Month for November 2023.

“Nick is always willing to learn. He has done a great job navigating language barriers in his cases, and he has become a great support for a dad,” said Kyrsten Adkins, a Volunteer Manager who has supported Nick in his volunteer role.

Kealy Griffin, who also served as a Volunteer Manager for Nick, said he would do anything to be a great CASA volunteer for the kids on his case.

“As a newer volunteer, Nick has grown a lot over the last year, but one thing that has remained consistent throughout his case is that he always makes his CASA kids a top priority – no matter what,” Griffin said.

Nick said one of his favorite parts about being a CASA volunteer is seeing his CASA children’s eyes light up when he arrives for a visit. He said he knows there are many more children who still need a CASA volunteer right now.

“We need more CASA volunteers. And we really need more male CASA volunteers,” he said. “I think every CASA volunteer should try to help get the word out about this.”

CASA Volunteer Jan Colbert

Jan Colbert might be a little too good at getting her steps. She uses a pedometer — not to encourage more walking, but to know when she’s hit her limit.

“I have two dogs and we go on very, very, very long walks,” Jan said, laughing. “I have to keep it down to 10,000 steps.”

Jan, a retired accounting professor, said after a career tied to computers and finance, she has found she can’t get enough of getting out in nature. Another thing she can’t get enough of? Serving as a CASA volunteer.

“It really makes a difference,” she said.

Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are ordinary people who are matched with abused and neglected children in the family court system. A CASA volunteer like Jan visits her child monthly, talks to adults in the child’s life, reviews records, and writes reports for the judge on the case. In all, it takes about 5 to 10 hours a month.

For the past two years, Jan has been the CASA volunteer for two young siblings. During her time on the case, the siblings have changed placements nine times — but Jan has been a consistent, positive presence for them wherever they go.

“It’s just a joy to go see them,” Jan said, explaining one time she went to see them while they were at school and she saw the older one in gym class. “He saw me through the window and he came running over to me — he was so joyous!”

Because of Jan’s hard work for her CASA children, she has been named a CASA Volunteer of the Month for November 2023.

“Jan is the most consistent person on her CASA kids’ case. She knows all of the history and maintains consistent contact with all the parties,” said Kyrsten Adkins, Jan’s Volunteer Manager. “She has followed her kids across the state as they have been moved nine times since coming into foster care. She has also helped us recruit new volunteers and spread awareness in the community!”

Jan said she thinks more people should explore becoming CASA volunteers.

“It really is the most impactful volunteering I can do and I just think it’s so rewarding,” she said.

CASA Volunteer Alex Allouch

After Nicholasville resident Alex Allouch saw a documentary about an abused and neglected child, she knew she wanted to change the trajectory of her career. She decided she would find ways to make a difference for the children in her own community who had been abused or neglected.

Allouch is pursuing a master’s degree in social work and plans to be a licensed clinical social worker. But on her way to that goal, she also discovered she could serve as a CASA volunteer.

“I stumbled across CASA and knew it would be the perfect fit for me,” she said. “Creating lasting bonds with the children I serve is a feeling unmatched by any other. To know them is to love them, and being a voice, an ally, and a constant safe presence in the life of a child in need is definitely the most rewarding aspect of being a CASA volunteer.”

CASA volunteers are regular people who find 5-10 hours a month to give so that abused and neglected children can have brighter futures. CASA volunteers visit the children and often get to know them better than anyone else on the case. They provide insights about what’s going on in children’s lives, which helps family court judges make more informed decisions.

Allouch has advocated for four children since she first became a CASA volunteer in 2020. This month, her Volunteer Manager Cara MacLeod nominated her to be a Volunteer of the Month because she has done an amazing job connecting with her CASA kids and advocating for their needs.

MacLeod is the Volunteer Manager for Jessamine County and supports all the local CASA volunteers, going with them on initial home visits, attending court with them and providing guidance when they have questions.

“While knowing the facts and issues and gathering information is important, Alex’s most important asset is her ability to meet her CASA kids where they are and accept them for who they are, no matter the circumstances,” MacLeod said. “She develops a connection with those she serves, and that connection allows for a greater understanding and trust. It is an honor to watch and guide as Alex advocates for her CASA kids.”

Allouch said there are highs and lows of being a CASA volunteer — “some days you will laugh, others you will cry.”

“Above all, you will know that you are making a difference in the life of a child who desperately needs someone to be their voice,” Allouch said. “… you are never alone in the fight. As a volunteer, you are part of a family of people who are all passionate about the same cause. Everyone from the judge on the bench to your Volunteer Manager and fellow volunteers is involved in a concerted effort to help all children feel safe, loved, and valued.

“It is an important and undeniably worthy mission.”

CASA Volunteer Training

If you would like to become a CASA volunteer and be matched with an abused or neglected child who needs a voice, you can apply online at www.casaoflexington.org/apply. Trainings for new volunteers are held regularly throughout the year, including trainings specifically for Jessamine County volunteers. CASA volunteers must be 21 years old, pass background checks and complete a 30-hour training class before being matched with a child. Every CASA volunteer commits to serving an average of 5-10 hours a month (most work scheduled on their own time) for a minimum of two years. If you have questions about becoming a CASA volunteer, email jessaminecounty@casaoflexington.org.

CASA volunteer Jessica Schroeder

As a teacher, Jessica Schroeder saw many children who had significant home life issues — they were being abused or neglected and struggling at school as a result. But the school system couldn’t address what was going on in those kids’ lives well enough to make a difference.
That’s when she decided to become a CASA volunteer.

“Besides being a CASA, I am most proud of recently becoming a mother,” Schroeder said. “It is the purest love and joy I’ve ever known.”

Schroeder has advocated for seven children as a CASA volunteer since she began in 2022. This month, she was named a CASA volunteer of the month.

Schroeder’s Volunteer Manager Rebecca Brereton-Farr said Schroeder was assigned to her first case because it was “stuck” and the judge wanted to see if additional insight from a CASA volunteer would help. Schroeder began visiting with the kids and learning about their situation.

“As a result, the children returned home,” Brereton-Farr said.

CASA volunteers spend 5-10 hours a month volunteering, most of which is visiting an assigned child, talking to adults in the child’s life, reviewing records about the child and writing down what they have learned for the judge — all done at times when it works for the volunteer.

Every volunteer completes a 30-hour training and receives a Volunteer Manager for support, who goes with them on their first home visit, attends court with them and is always available to provide guidance.

Schroeder said she enjoys forming bonds with the children she is matched with and seeing how excited they get when she comes for a visit.

“Every month that goes by, these kids light up more and more when you rejoice in their accomplishments or praise their hard work in school and sports,” she said. “They look forward to sharing their successes with you, despite the circumstances they find themselves in.

“The most rewarding aspect of being a CASA is the personal fulfillment you receive when you know you are advocating for the right thing, even when it’s difficult. It has become a powerful healing process for my own childhood experiences.”

CASA Volunteer Training

If you would like to become a CASA volunteer and be matched with an abused or neglected child who needs a voice, you can apply online at www.casaoflexington.org/apply. Trainings for new volunteers are held regularly throughout the year. CASA volunteers must be 21 years old, pass background checks and complete a 30-hour training class before being matched with a child. Every CASA volunteer commits to serving an average of 5-10 hours a month (most work scheduled on your own time) for a minimum of two years. If you have questions about becoming a CASA volunteer, email info@casaoflexington.org.

CASA Volunteer Melissa Martin

One of Melissa Martin’s proudest moments was becoming a mom. 

“My daughter is my whole life. I would not know what to do without her,” Melissa said. “She changed my life for the better. I had her so young. But she has taught me what fighting for a better life is all about.” 

If you ask Melissa what else she is proud of, serving as a CASA volunteer will also be near the top of the list. 

She first learned about CASA — a program that provides volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children — from a child that came through the emergency room where she works as a healthcare professional. She looked into it and decided to sign up as a volunteer. 

“The most rewarding part of becoming a CASA has been getting to meet new people and being able to help with what’s going on in their life,” she said. 

Martin has served as a CASA volunteer for about 18 months, and has now been named a CASA Volunteer of the Month thanks to a nomination by her Volunteer Manager Dennis Stutsman. 

Stutsman said Melissa jumped right in on her first assignment and has done a great job helping improve her CASA children’s lives. 

“She has done a tremendous job of advocating for the kids in court, often clarifying facts that appear to be unknown,” Stutsman said. “She has ensured that the children get proper medical care, special needs evaluations and educational services.” 

Melissa has also helped the family of the children find community resources and develop a support network. 

Children who receive CASA volunteers do better in school and far less likely to re-enter the system after their cases close. That’s because volunteers like Melissa find common-sense solutions that might otherwise go overlooked and help ensure families are in a stronger position to stay together and stay safe. 

CASA volunteers receive a 30-hour training before being assigned to a child and are supported by a Volunteer Manager every step of the way. A volunteer typically spends 5-10 hours a month volunteering, and all volunteers are asked to commit to serve for at least two years. 

Melissa said serving as a CASA volunteer has been personally rewarding. 

“Sometimes, it’s not rainbows and sunshine,” she said. “But helping the children within our community to succeed in life – it’s very rewarding, especially when the world is against them.” 

The CASA of Lexington Volunteers of the Month for August are working on related cases together, helping a teen mom and her child find a brighter future.

Jennifer Cathey and Jane Crickard are working as a team, one advocating for the needs of the teen mom and one advocating for the needs of the mom’s child, explained Volunteer Manager Liz Noffsinger.

“They have worked tireless advocating for reunification of the mom and her child,” said Noffsinger, who nominated Cathey and Crickard to be Volunteers of the Month. “Jane and Jenn have been tenacious in gathering therapy records, medical records and have built a strong trust with the teen mom.”

Cathey and Crickard are an example of a CASA team – a pairing of multiple CASA volunteers who work on a case or related cases together. Often CASA teams are spouses or parent/child pairings, but they can also be any CASA volunteers who work well together.

CASA Volunteer Jenn Cathey

Cathey, who has been a CASA volunteer for seven and a half years and advocated for 13 children, said the children and families she has served have been “an absolute joy in my life.”

“They have taught me what hard work, sacrifice, love and tenacity can accomplish,” she said. “Helping children reach a point of permanence is honestly one of the most amazing things I’ve been involved with.”

Crickard has been a volunteer for close to a year and a half.

“I knew working with children in the Foster Care system would be rewarding, but I had no idea how rewarding,” she said. “Experiencing firsthand how difficult, frustrating and scary this process can be for the children involved, I really see how critical it is for that child to have that one person who is there for them through all of it, no matter how long it takes.”

Noffsinger said Cathey and Crickard’s work has helped create a stable living situation for the mom and her child — in a place where they can be together. The CASA volunteers have also helped get the mom’s education on-track. Given where the case was when the CASA volunteers were appointed, Noffsinger said the outcome is “nothing short of miraculous.”

CASA Volunteer Jane Crickard

Both Cathey and Crickard said they have tackled truly difficult things in their lives — Crickard left the corporate world and started her own business five years ago, and Cathey has cared for her husband as he battled cancer and is a breast cancer survivor herself.

“If you think you don’t have time to serve as a CASA volunteer, please reconsider,” Cathey said. “ I’ve served with CASA through parenthood, full-time employment, while obtaining my master’s degree, as I volunteered in other capacities, while caring for my husband in his battle with pancreatic cancer, and throughout my own cancer journey. Making time to serve a child in need is the best way I know to improve our community and make a true difference.”

CASA volunteers complete a 30-hour training class before they are matched with a neglected child. They visit the child each month, talk to adults in the child’s life, review records and provide reports to the judge on the child’s case. It takes about 5-10 hours a month to be a CASA volunteer. CASA of Lexington volunteers can serve in seven central Kentucky counties: Bourbon, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Scott and Woodford.

“If you are thinking of becoming a CASA, I would say talk to current volunteers, read about it, take the training and if you still feel like you want to move forward, you will absolutely find it to be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do,” Crickard said. “I plan to be a CASA as long as I have breath in me!”

CASA of Lexington’s next training class for new volunteers begins Sept. 7, with classes in Lexington on evenings and weekends. Additional trainings for those wishing to serve in Jessamine, Garrard and Lincoln counties are also being scheduled this fall. You can see all training class schedules at www.casaoflexington.org/training and you can apply to be a CASA volunteer at www.casaoflexington.org/apply.

CASA Volunteer Nicole Creech

Nicole Creech first heard about Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers in 1994. The possibility of advocating for neglected children intrigued her, but she had too much else going on at the time to make the commitment.

Later, Nicole learned about the “loss of a child in my own family to the system.”

“I found out after the fact … it was too late to step in and try to help,” she said. “It left me shocked and heartbroken.”

But in 2019, a friend shared about the local CASA program and Nicole’s interest was reignited.

“I immediately signed up for the training,” she said. “Being retired also afforded me even more time to dedicate to this wonderful cause.”

Because of her excellent volunteer work over the past two years, Nicole was chosen as a CASA Volunteer of the Month for July.

“Making a positive difference in a child’s life should be everyone’s mission,” she said. “It may not be easy at times, but it’s always worth it.”

CASA volunteers are matched with abused and neglected children in the local family court system. They visit them monthly, talk to people involved in their life and review records. They write reports for the judge on the case that focus solely on what actions would be in the best interest of the child.

CASA volunteers prioritize reunification with parents whenever it is safely possible, or placement with relatives if reunification is not possible. They can also advocate for adoption when it is the best option available for the child.

Nicole has been a “constant in an ever-changing landscape” for the children she serves, said Sarah Fightmaster, Nicole’s Volunteer Manager.

“She continues to fiercely advocate for siblings who are placed in separate homes. She is a voice for them to return to the same placement so they may grow up together,” Sarah said. “Nicole has developed a sweet and caring relationship with the children on this case and remains a positive and stable fixture in their lives.”

In addition to serving as a CASA volunteer, Nicole serves on the board of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, advocates for legislation that affects people with rare diseases and helps raise awareness about sickle cell disease as a blogger for WebMD.

“What I’ve found to be rewarding as a CASA is having the opportunity to help children in our community who need it,” she said. “Children who are not often considered and who need assistance with major life decisions, which may be difficult and beyond their control. I enjoy being their voice so they can be heard, effecting positive outcomes in their lives.”

Nicole said she recently met someone who told her how they had received a CASA volunteer at one point in their childhood, and how it had an “extraordinary impact.”

“That’s exactly why I do this,” she said. “We need more people to help make that kind of impact for children. They are our future.”

CASA Volunteer Mary Duke

Mary Duke has spent nearly three decades as a physician-educator at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and the Lexington VA Health Care System. She does important work in her job, and for the past two years, she has also been doing important work as a CASA volunteer.

“I first learned about CASA several years ago when I read a flier posted on a bulletin board,” she said. “At the time, I thought, ‘What a wonderful mission! If I ever have extra time on my hands, I’d like to get involved with them.’”

Then, during the pandemic, Mary found some extra time and signed up. She completed the initial 30-hour training class and was matched with an abused or neglected child in the family court system who needed her.

Mary’s work has been so good that her Volunteer Manager Dennis Stutsman nominated her to be a CASA Volunteer of the Month in July.

“Mary has done a great job on her CASA case,” Dennis said. “She has compassionately worked with parents who love their child but (cannot create a safe home). Her medical background has really helped to understand both the challenges faced by the parents and the needs of her CASA child. She has supported her CASA child with access to resources and encouraged the positive parenting of the child’s foster parents.”

Mary said she has found it very rewarding to work with CASA children. And she has greatly enjoyed getting to know “the terrific people who work for CASA.”

“They are wonderful people, dedicated to the mission of helping children,” she said. “The CASA staff are very supportive and will assist with anything that is unfamiliar or difficult.”

CASA volunteers spend 5-10 hours a month visiting children, learning about their situations, writing reports for judges and advocating for the children’s best interests. Each volunteer commits to serving for at least two years. There are no educational requirements to serve as a CASA volunteer, other than completion of the 30-hour training class provided for new volunteers.

Children who receive a CASA volunteer do better in school, are more likely to receive services like therapy and educational interventions, and less likely to be moved around or re-enter the foster system after their cases close.

“The children in foster care are in great need of this service and they benefit from anything you can do for them,” Mary said. “This is worthwhile work for an exceedingly worthwhile cause!”

CASA Volunteer Rene Shaw

Rene Saner spent three decades as an elementary school principal and teacher.

“My heart went out to students who were at risk,” she said of her time in education. “I looked for ways to make their life better at school.”

Now in retirement, Rene has found another way to help children — as a CASA volunteer.

Rene went through CASA volunteer training in the fall of 2022 and has advocated for two abused or neglected children since being sworn in nine months ago. Now, because of her amazing work, she is a CASA Volunteer of the Month for June.

“Rene has said she feels being a CASA advocate is what she was always meant to do,” said Kealy Griffin, Rene’s Volunteer Manager. “It is obvious that Rene was truly meant to be a CASA in how she has gone above and beyond to make that her CASA kids have the opportunity to thrive in safe and loving homes.”

Rene said she first saw the positive change that CASA volunteers can create when she was a principal and CASA volunteers would visit children at school.

“These kids were having a very difficult time and their CASA volunteers helped them to settle down and do better in school,” she said. “I went home and told my husband that I wanted to be a CASA volunteer when I retired.”

Rene said she thinks every child deserves to feel safe and loved.

“When I first see a child after they have moved and changed placements, it melts my heart when their face lights up and they come running up to me for a big hug,” she said. “Then I know that I am making a difference in their life.”

Rene’s duties include visiting her CASA child every month, gathering information about their life and providing recommendations focused on what would be in the child’s best interest. Children who receive a CASA volunteer do better in school, get moved around less frequently and rarely re-enter the foster system after their cases close.

“Being a CASA volunteer gives me the opportunity to become a servant for kids who need it the most,” Rene said. “If you have a heart for kids and want to see every child have a leg up in life, being a CASA volunteer is for you!”

CASA Volunteer Michael Hale

Three years ago, Michael Hale read about the rising problem of child abuse and neglect. He couldn’t ignore what was happening.

“I felt like I needed to get involved,” he said.

And Michael knew how he wanted to get involved: He wanted to become a CASA volunteer.

Three years later, Michael has advocated for the best interests of eight abused or neglected children in central Kentucky. And he is now one of CASA of Lexington’s Volunteers of the Month for June.

“Michael has a calm and insightful way of working with families under stress that makes him ideal as an advocate for the best interests of kids,” said Dennis Stutsman, Michael’s Volunteer Manager. “I can always count on Michael to step up and handle whatever task the court – or family – gives us, including finding prom dresses for middle-school girls.”

As a CASA volunteer, Michael is matched with children in the family court system who have been abused or neglected. He visits the children every month, talks to adults in their lives and reviews records. Then, he compiles all the information he has gathered into a report for the judge on the case, providing a level of detail and understanding that would otherwise not be available.

“I’ve found it to be really the most challenging and rewarding experience that I’ve had,” Michael said. “It gets me out of the normal things I do. It keeps me on my toes and keeps me exploring new areas of serving.”

Dennis said Michael does an excellent job bridging cultural divides between the families he works with and the courts or service providers.

For Michael, CASA is not the only way he gives back by being a good listener. He also works with a local prayer ministry – something he said he is most proud of outside of his CASA service.

“That is really a fulfilling thing for me to be able to listen to people,” he said.

There are currently only enough CASA volunteers in CASA of Lexington’s seven-county service region to serve about one out of every five abused or neglected children. Michael said if someone is considering whether they could help fill the gap and advocate for a child, they should ask themselves if they have the ability to be empathetic.

“Do you think you can be of service to children going through some hard situations?” he asked. “And if you think you can be, know that CASA provides training for you to act on that desire to help.”

CASA volunteers Glenn Burns and Carrie Gordy

Scott County residents Carrie Gordy and Glenn Burns swept CASA of Lexington’s Volunteer of the Month awards for May.

Gordy and Burns both earned Volunteer of the Month honors for doing outstanding work advocating for the abused and neglected children they serve.

“Sometimes it hurts your heart to see these kids,” Burns said. “But the second part of that is that it’s much better once you can help them.”

Burns has served as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer since 2019; Gordy has been a volunteer since 2017. Between them, they have advocated for more than 20 abused and neglected children in the local family court systems served by CASA of Lexington.

As CASA volunteers, they are matched to children who have suffered abuse or neglect. They visit the children monthly, talk to adults in the children’s lives and write reports for the judges. Children who get a CASA volunteer do better in school, get more services and are far less likely to re-enter care after their cases close.

“It’s a lot harder than I thought it would be,” Gordy said. “But it’s also a lot more rewarding. I learn new things every single day and it’s just a really good way to help children in need.”

Scott County Family Court Judge Lisa Hart Morgan has said the local CASA program leads to better outcomes for children.

"In every case where we have our CASA volunteers, I know we're getting better information about our children, I know fewer things are falling through the cracks, I know these kids are getting tremendous resources in terms of care,” Morgan said previously. “It's making a huge difference in these kids' lives."

CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison said Gordy doesn’t back down when it comes to advocating for children’s best interests.

“Carrie has the ability to see clearly what a child needs and to never waiver in her advocacy for those needs,” Jamison said. “That’s why she’s been able to change the entire trajectory of many children’s lives.”

Dennis Stutsman, Burns’ Volunteer Manager, said Burns has worked on three different cases now, each one more complex than the last.

“As he has taken on increasingly more difficult cases, he has risen to the task of cooperatively working with all parties for the best interest of the kids,” Stutsman said.

Burns said he has taken to heart the idea that “the measure of a society is how you treat the least members of the society.”

“If you really want to make a difference, it isn’t going to be your normal, everyday volunteer activity that makes that difference. It’s things like CASA,” he said. “If you really want to make a difference, you need to be focused on the changes in your society that will make that difference.”

Volunteering with CASA

Anyone interested in becoming a CASA volunteer can join the next new volunteer training class, which will be held the week of June 26. More information about the class is available at www.casaoflexington.org/training.

CASA Volunteer Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark will soon start her legal career as an associate attorney at the Lexington law firm Jackson Kelly. But she will already have around two years of experience in court when she walks in the door on her first day.

That’s because Clark serves as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer. She is matched with abused and neglected children in the family court system and advocates for their needs, helping them gain much-needed services and stability.

“I wanted to be involved with something in law school that would get me out of the classroom, get my mind off of class and give me a sense of purpose,” Clark said. “There was a lunch panel discussing pro-bono work and one of the presenting organizations was CASA. I instantly connected with CASA’s mission and knew that I wanted to become a volunteer.”

Because of her excellent work advocating for the children on her cases, CASA of Lexington named Clark a Volunteer of the Month for April 2023.

Clark has made a huge impact on the children she advocates for, said Rebecca Brereton-Farr, Clark’s Volunteer Manager who nominated her for Volunteer of the Month.

“She has been such a valuable addition to these kids’ lives. If you asked them for a list of their best friends, they would include Taylor,” Brereton-Farr said. “There is no doubt in my mind that 30 years from now, these children will still think of Taylor and the way she impacted their lives for the better.”

“While Taylor is an exceptional advocate, it is not out-of-the-ordinary for people from younger generations who are interested in making things better to sign up and become CASA volunteers,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington. “More than one in three of our CASA volunteers are Millennials or part of Gen Z. These younger volunteers aren’t waiting for others to make the world better — they’ve seen the problem and they’re choosing to be part of the solution.”

Kentucky has one of the worst rates of child abuse and neglect in the nation. In CASA of Lexington’s seven counties alone, there were nearly 1,600 children with new family court cases in 2022.

CASA volunteers, who must be at least 21 years old, volunteer 5-10 hours a month on average. Each volunteer visits the child on their case monthly, talks to adults in the child’s life, reviews records and writes reports for the judge on the case.

Children who receive a CASA volunteer do better in school, receive more services, have more hope for their future and are less likely to re-enter the foster system after their cases close.

“I absolutely love CASA and I’m grateful to be a volunteer,” Clark said. “I say to everyone in school that there is no better way to work your advocate muscle than to become a CASA. I wish more people would become a volunteer so every child has a CASA.”

CASA Volunteer Beth Monarch

Beth Monarch makes time for crafting, gardening and traveling in retirement. She also makes time for abused and neglected children.

Monarch serves as a CASA volunteer in Bourbon County, advocating for children from the community who have been abused or neglected. She has served as a CASA volunteer for five years and advocated for five children over that time.

This April, she is a CASA Volunteer of the Month because of her dedication to helping her CASA children.

“Beth has been the most consistent person besides the foster parent in her CASA kids’ lives,” said Weida Allen, Monarch’s Volunteer Manager.

Monarch said she first learned about Bourbon County’s CASA program in the Bourbon County Citizen, which had several articles about the program that launched in 2017.

Since it started, the Bourbon County CASA program has grown to serve around 60 children a year. Last year, there were 29 CASA volunteers in Bourbon County.

CASA volunteers give 5-10 hours a month on average. They visit the child or sibling set on their case every month, talk to adults in the child’s life and write reports for Family Court Judges Lisa Hart Morgan and Joseph Fooks. Those reports give Fooks and Morgan a lot of detail and background about what’s going on in the children’s lives, helping them make more informed decisions and provide more services to the children and their families.

“In every case where we have our CASA volunteers, I know we’re getting better information about our children, I know fewer things are falling through the cracks, I know these kids are getting tremendous resources in terms of care,” Judge Morgan has said previously. “It’s making a huge difference in these kids’ lives.”

“What I enjoy about being a CASA volunteer is knowing that I truly made a difference in the lives of kids,” Monarch said. “The biggest thing is you really can make a difference in the life of a child by being their advocate in court. There’s no question about that.”

CASA Volunteer of the Month Michelle Bridges

When Michelle Bridges and her husband were foster parents, their foster child had a CASA volunteer — a trained community member appointed to advocate for the child’s best interests.

“She made a big difference in our foster daughter’s life,” Bridges said. And so, “When I knew God was releasing us from our season of being foster parents, I decided to join CASA.”

Bridges has now served as a CASA volunteer for two years, advocating for four abused and neglected children during that time. And this month, she is a CASA of Lexington Volunteer of the Month.

“Michelle earned Volunteer of the Month because of all the hard work and thinking outside the box that she does on her current case,” said Rebecca Brereton-Farr, Bridges’ Volunteer Manager. “She visits her CASA children consistently and has learned just about everything about them. Her CASA kids know exactly who she is and that she is someone they can trust. And they are always happy to see her and chat her ear off!”

Because of Bridges’ experience as a foster parent, she’s also able to answer questions that foster families may have on her cases, Brereton-Farr noted.

“She is definitely a role model for the kids on her case,” she said. “And the social worker and Guardian ad Litem (attorney for the child) on this case know that Michelle may have details they don’t, given how she has built such great relationships with her CASA kids and their family.”

CASA volunteers complete a 30-hour training and then get matched with cases of abused and neglected children in the local family court system. They visit with their matched children monthly, talk to adults involved in the children’s lives and can review records about the children.

CASA volunteers give reports and recommendations to the judge on the case, often providing information that would not have otherwise been available. Children who receive a CASA volunteer are more likely to do well in school, have fewer movements while they in the system and are far less likely to re-enter the system after their cases close.

“It has been rewarding getting to know the families of the children and seeing each child and each person involved — getting to know their unique needs,” Bridges said. “Getting to know the kids has been one of the biggest impacts on me.”

Bridges said she serves as a CASA volunteer because she feels called to give of her time and from her heart.

“I don’t want it to be about me,” she said. “I don’t do it because it’s fulfilling for me. I do it because the children need it.”

CASA Volunteer of the Month Martha Thompson

When Martha Thompson first met the child she had been assigned to advocate for, all his belongings fit in a trash bag.

For more than six years, Thompson has served as the boy’s Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer. He moved through more than half a dozen different placements, but Thompson was a constant amid the chaos.

This month, Thompson is being honored as a CASA Volunteer of the Month for her dedication to helping abused and neglected children.

“Martha has been the epitome of what CASA is designed to be: the one constant in her child’s life while everything else was changing and unreliable,” said Dennis Stutsman, Thompson’s CASA Volunteer Manager. “Martha will remain a resource to him for a long time to come, steering him toward thoughtful and safe decisions regarding his future.”

Thompson is not a professional social worker or therapist; she is retired from UK and lives on her family farm, raising beef cattle and hay. But after she learned about CASA from a friend, then read a newspaper article about the program, she realized she could become a volunteer.

“You really can make a difference in the life of a foster child,” she said. “Besides your relationship with the child, you will keep the judge informed on what is really going on, so the best legal decisions can be made for the child’s life.”

CASA volunteers give 5-10 hours a month of their time to visit with a child who has suffered abuse or neglect and has an open case in the local family court system. They also advocate for the child’s needs in court, helping ensure they receive appropriate educational and medical attention and working to obtain permanency as quickly as safely possible.

Thompson said over the years, she helped her CASA child obtain bicycles, Christmas presents and school supplies, so that he could have some sense of normalcy in his life.

“I hope the most important thing I did was to be present with him,” she said. “Through everything, I was his ever-present adult. He knows I care about what happens to him.”

Garrard County CASA Volunteer Terry Huffman

Terry Huffman has been serving at CASA of Lexington for seven months, but his interest in the program started long ago. In 2018, Huffman was watching the Dr. Phil show and CASA was featured, which eventually led to Terry to do more than donate.

Huffman lives in Garrard County and advocates for abused and neglected children in the local family court system. As a CASA volunteer, he visits children monthly, talks to adults involved in their lives and provides reports and recommendations to the judge on the children’s cases. CASA volunteers like Huffman typically invest 5-10 hours a month to give the children they serve brighter futures.

Huffman said he sees CASA as his chance to give something back to his community.

“I wish there was a CASA for every kid out there,” he said. “I think this is the grandest thing that ever was.”

Huffman said after he learned that the social workers in his community had overwhelming caseloads, he stepped up to give his kids the attention they deserve.

Because of his hard work and dedication, he was chosen as a CASA Volunteer of the Month for February.

“Terry is an all-around CASA volunteer star,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of the CASA program serving Garrard County. “He truly embodies the characteristics we look for in a CASA volunteer.”

“The judge would have had little to no information at the last hearing if not for Terry’s report,” said Jennifer Lamb, the Garrard County Volunteer Manager who nominated Huffman for Volunteer of the Month.

Lamb said Huffman provides a sense of calm for kids who have led unpredictable lives.

Huffman said he considers it a privilege to serve as a positive male role model for his CASA children. He said serving as a CASA is so rewarding that he encourages everyone to consider becoming a CASA volunteer, as well.

“I’m really enjoying it,” Huffman said. "It doesn't take up a whole lot of time and we really need more people to do this.”

CASA Volunteer Training Begins April 6

The next training for new CASA volunteers begins April 6 at the CASA of Lexington office, 3245 Loch Ness Dr. in Lexington. In-person and virtual trainings are scheduled regularly throughout the year. To apply to become a CASA volunteer, visit www.casaoflexington.org/apply. To see the full schedule of classes and learn more about CASA volunteer training, visit www.casaoflexington.org/training.

About CASA of Lexington

CASA of Lexington’s trained and supervised volunteers advocate through the family court systems in Bourbon, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Scott and Woodford counties to ensure all victims of child abuse and neglect are safe and thrive in a permanent home. Changes such as where the child lives or goes to school, changes in social workers, teachers and friends, as well as the uncertainty of what life holds, can be very overwhelming for these children.  The CASA volunteer is there to help recognize what the child needs, work to minimize these detrimental changes, and advocate for positive changes for the child’s future. Learn more by calling (859) 246-4313 or by emailing info@casaoflexington.org.

Story by Riley Stull.

CASA Volunteer and Kappa Alpha Theta alum Kelly King

As a Kappa Alpha Theta at the University of Kentucky, Kelly King was more aware than most people of CASA services for abused and neglected children. Her sorority has made CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) its national philanthropy, and the UK chapter is very active in supporting and promoting the local CASA program.

“I always knew CASA was special,” King said. “Once I became a working adult, I knew I could make a difference at CASA in a way I wasn’t able to in college.”

King now enjoys traveling, cheering on the Wildcats, exercising and spending time with family and friends. But she still makes time to be a CASA volunteer and make a difference for children in her local community.

Because of her hard work on behalf of abused and neglected children here in Lexington, King has been named a CASA Volunteer of the Month for February 2023.

King’s Volunteer Manager Cara MacLeod, who nominated her for the honor, said King is an excellent advocate who has stuck with her case over the course of years, even when things got more complicated.

“Kelly stands out as a CASA volunteer due to the changes that have occurred on her case and her go-with-the-flow mentality through it all,” MacLeod said. “She takes in all the information and continues to look at the facts.”

CASA volunteers contribute five to 10 hours a month on average, visiting children, talking to adults involved in their lives and writing reports for the judges on the children’s cases. Children who receive a CASA volunteer often do better in school, get moved less often and are more likely to find permanent, safe and loving homes.

CASA volunteers must be at least 21 years old, complete a 30-hour training class and commit to serving for at least two years, in order to ensure consistency for the children served. Many Thetas work to promote CASA while they are too young to serve as volunteers. Some are able to complete training and become volunteers while they are still in college.

Kelly said she aims as a CASA volunteer to keep open, honest communication with everyone involved on her cases.

“I try to put myself in the children’s shoes and keep their well-being of the utmost importance,” King said. “I truly hope my impact is to increase the children’s sense of hope, to know they have someone on their side. Whether it be a constant monthly contact, or someone that can be an advocate for their wellbeing behind the scenes, I put the children’s needs first – always.”

About CASA of Lexington

CASA of Lexington’s trained and supervised volunteers advocate through the family court systems in Bourbon, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Scott and Woodford counties to ensure all victims of child abuse and neglect are safe and thrive in a permanent home. Changes such as where the child lives or goes to school, changes in social workers, teachers and friends, as well as the uncertainty of what life holds, can be very overwhelming for these children.  The CASA volunteer is there to help recognize what the child needs, work to minimize these detrimental changes, and advocate for positive changes for the child’s future. Learn more by calling (859) 246-4313 or by emailing info@casaoflexington.org.

Story by Julia Lee.