On Oct. 13, 2020, new CASA volunteers and two Friends of CASA interpreters took the oath of confidentiality and were sworn in by Family Court Judge Kathy W. Stein. You can view highlights from the virtual swearing in ceremony here:
This is unusual: Normally, by this time in the year, Endow Kentucky tax credits are long gone. But 2020 is not your average year by any measure!
As of last week, there was still nearly $40,000 available from the Endow Kentucky program. Those dollars provide tax credits of 20% on eligible donations made to permanent endowments at the Blue Grass Community Foundation. Year-end is always a great time for charitable giving and these tax credits provide an added boost to the tax advantages!
If you're interested, we have all the information you need to get started right here:
The first step is to complete an application and return it to the Kentucky Department of Revenue, or to BGCF, which can review for accuracy and submit on your behalf.
To support CASA of Lexington with your donation, write "CASA of Lexington Endowed Fund" in field J of your form.
If you have questions, you can email Scott Fitzpatrick with BGCF or call BGCF at (859) 225-3343.
Once approved, you may complete your gift using cash, appreciated stock, or other tangible assets. Kentucky taxpayers may receive a 20% tax credit on gifts up to $50,000 every year. This applies to both individuals and businesses. There is no minimum on donations; you might give $100, the maximum $50,000, or anywhere in between.
If you have any questions, you can contact Executive Director Melynda Jamison at mjamison@lexingtonky.gov. Or if you’d like to support CASA of Lexington without pursuing an additional tax credit, you may do so at any time by using our online donation portal.
Susan Stewart, left, and Connie Handman are CASA of Lexington’s Volunteers of the Month for December 2020.
CASA of Lexington is honoring a pair of volunteers in December who between them have advocated for 19 abused and neglected children.
Connie Handman and Susan Stewart are the nonprofit’s December Volunteers of the Month. Both have taken on multiple cases involving multiple children during their times as CASA volunteers.
“Connie has had three cases since she started with CASA a little over a year ago, and she currently manages two simultaneously,” said Beka Schwartz, Handman’s Volunteer Manager. “She gives her whole heart to her CASA kids and trying to improve their situations.”
Stewart’s Volunteer Manager Liz Noffsinger said her reports to judges have been characterized as “perfection.”
“Susan has a natural curiosity that is extremely beneficial to her advocacy,” Noffsinger said. “She knows how to uncover pertinent details regarding the children so that she can ensure that the children’s needs are being met.”
CASA of Lexington asked Handman and Stewart some questions about their time as CASA volunteers. Here are their responses:
Q: How did you get involved with CASA of Lexington?
Handman: Kelly Hale from Immanuel Baptist Church (another CASA of Lexington volunteer). I went to her for help finding a good fit for using my time to help kids grow up in a loving environment.
Stewart: I heard (CASA of Lexington Executive Director) Melynda (Jamison) being interviewed on WEKU in early 2017. Most of my volunteering has been political or with the LGBTQ community, so this kind of work with kids had never occurred to me. I don't know why, but I couldn't stop thinking about Melynda's description of CASA's work and the desperate need of children in our community. When I can't shake a thought like this, I know it's the universe's way of telling me I need to act. So, I reached out in the spring of 2017 and started training that May.
Q: What have you found rewarding about being a CASA volunteer?
Stewart: When I can see a direct, clear, positive change in a child's life because of something I have done, it's very motivating. The work we do is usually less firework-y than that, more subtle. Most days as a CASA wouldn't make very good made-for-TV-movie fodder, much less blockbuster material.
It's work, it's building relationships, it's asking a lot of questions and making a lot of contacts. But sometimes, SOMETIMES I can see a difference that I made -- like tracking down a family member no one knew was there or intervening in the nick of time before a child is harmed. Those are the blockbuster moments!
Handman: Watching children begin to feel safe and cared for, as hopefully, their parents take advantage of the many services offered to them through Kentucky’s great family resources. It’s a “Win-Win” situation!
Q: What would you say to someone who is thinking about becoming a volunteer?
Handman: If a volunteer is wanting to see abused or neglected children start to thrive due to his/her support and encouragement and make a difference in their lives, then I would say, “What are you waitng for?” CASA has great managers who will give you all the help you need to be successful. So please come join our team!
Stewart: I remember being intimidated at first -- intimidation can stop of a lot of people from taking the plunge. I'm not a social worker or lawyer. I have no special experience that makes me good at working with kids. What if I mess up? I was very anxious about starting.
Then, as part of my training, I spent part of a day in court, watching case after case after case. The numbers of these struggling families and children in that one morning were horrifying to me. It was unbelievable that these cases were a proverbial thimble-full of the suffering out there -- the suffering that I'd committed to help change.
Maybe it's counter-intuitive, but I immediately felt better. I realized that it's impossible to make these situations worse; it is ONLY possible that your intervention, however meager you think it is, will help. So, let's just get in there, pick up some work, and help.
Q: Susan, you’ve advocated for nine different children over all the cases you’ve had; and Connie, you’ve advocated for 10 different children. What does it feel like to know you’ve helped so many children by serving as a CASA volunteer?
Stewart: I stay completely focused on the case I'm working at the moment. As a CASA volunteer, I'm really only as valuable as my current contribution, so that's where I fixate mentally. That said, I'm immensely humbled to have gotten to know these children, humbled that they've let me into their lives and shared their fears and goals and stories with me. I feel like the work I do leaves its own, very small imprint on our community, through the lives of these kids and their families.
Handman: A warm, fuzzy, satisfying knowledge that I had some small part in helping these 10 children experience life that supplies them with the basic needs, safety and nurturing from people who love them.
Russell Whitney joined CASA of Lexington's Board of Directors this year. He previously trained to be a CASA volunteer in 2017.
Whitney is a retired international Delta Air Lines captain who had a 27-year career. He said he his philosophy has always been that "every child should have good parents." And he has been a good parent for his own children.
Whitney is married to Mary Pat and has raised two sons and two daughters. Now, he gets to have fun with his three grandchildren, as well.
Whitney has lived and worked on his tree farm for 28 years. He has been an active member of the Catholic Lexington Dicese, participating on the Finance Advisory Board and the Board of Education. He is also a bridge director at the Lexington Bridge Club, where he is a life master.
Whitney said he agrees whole-heartedly with the mission of CASA of Lexington.
"If a child is abused or neglected, then CASA should help find a loving, permanent home for that child," he said.
Family court Judge Lisa Hart Morgan, second from left on bottom, swears in five new CASA volunteers over Zoom on Nov. 23, 2020.
Five new volunteers from Fayette and Bourbon counties were sworn in as Court-Appointed Special Advocates the week of Thanksgiving. They are among a growing number of people who are choosing to help abused and neglected children during these very trying times.
The new CASA volunteers were sworn to confidentiality by family court Judge Lisa Hart Morgan in a virtual ceremony held over Zoom. It is the fourth such virtual ceremony the nonprofit CASA of Lexington has held since the pandemic began, swearing in a total of 49 new volunteers.
Judge Morgan told the new volunteers that CASA advocacy has had a huge impact on the futures of children involved in her court, which covers Bourbon, Scott and Woodford counties.
“I started in this position in 2015, and we did not have a CASA program in any of the three counties. We now – thankfully, thankfully, thankfully – have them in all three,” she said. “It has been just such a tremendous resource for everyone involved in the dependency and neglect process. It’s been especially helpful to me, and of course to our families.”
CASA volunteers are regular community members who complete a 30-hour training, currently offered in a completely virtual format by CASA of Lexington, and then are assigned to family court cases involving child abuse and neglect. The volunteers visit with the children regularly, interview adults involved in their lives, and file reports and recommendations with the judge on what would be in the best interest of the children.
The pandemic has complicated things greatly for family courts across the state, as they switch to virtual formats and plans in individual cases are delayed or changed.
CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison said sometimes, a child’s CASA volunteer may be the only one who was able to actually see a child and assess the situation in between court hearings.
“We have been hearing from all five of our judges … how important the CASA reports are in helping them have more pieces of the puzzle to make a more informed decision,” she said. “I know Judge Morgan is tickled to have more volunteers coming to the Bourbon County court … right now looks a little different. We are pivoting in lots of different ways.”
Judge Morgan told the five newest CASA volunteers she is grateful for the people who are stepping up right now to fill such an important need.
“During this time where resources are stretched so thin, we know that more of these kinds of concerns are going on, kids aren’t in school – it’s just becoming even more and more of a critical role, this advocacy for the children,” she said. “I do thank you all so much for the tremendous time and commitment that you have decided to devote to these families … I think it does make a huge difference in the court system and in these families’ lives.”
CASA of Lexington switched to offering virtual training for new CASA volunteers over the summer, as the pandemic prevented in-person gatherings but the need for more volunteers continued unabated.
“This has looked a little different, but it seems to be working well and we’ve had multiple classes go through the guided learning, which is what the online training is called,” she said. “And they have been sworn in and are actively working cases, so it’s going well.”
CASA of Lexington’s next virtual trainings with open seats will begin in mid-February. New volunteers must be 21 years old, pass a background check and complete their training before being appointed to a case. For more information, email info@casaoflexington.org or call (859) 246-4313.
Watch Online
See highlights from the Nov. 23 virtual swearing in on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/tTeLSrQWRJs
Dusty Cummins, left, and Josh Cummins participate in Thursday’s CASA Angel Tree lighting event at Dan Cummins of Georgetown.
Georgetown, Ky. (Nov. 12, 2020) – The CASA Angel Tree, filled with names of abused and neglected children from Scott County, was lit up Thursday morning at Dan Cummins of Georgetown. Minutes later, attendees at the tree-lighting ceremony had chosen to sponsor every single child who appeared on the tree.
This was the first year for the CASA Angel Tree in Scott County. That’s because CASA of Lexington just expanded services into the county this year. Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers spend time with children who have suffered abuse and neglect, interview adults involved in the children’s lives and advocate for the children’s best interests in court.
The 2020 Scott County CASA Angel Tree
In all counties where CASA of Lexington operates, the nonprofit organization runs an annual CASA Angel Tree program, allowing community members to sponsor children in the local court system by purchasing them holiday gifts from their wish lists.
CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison said the program is off to a fast start in Scott County. The local office is already open at 109 N. Court St. in downtown Georgetown and a Volunteer Manager is already attending court.
“We’re excited that we actually already have five CASA volunteers serving here in Scott County, which is pretty crazy because we haven’t been here that long and they are actively matched with children,” Jamison said. “We know that the need is huge. Fortunately, Scott County is one of the fastest-growing counties, but unfortunately, you have one of the highest percentages of child abuse and neglect in the state of Kentucky. And that’s even worse than it sounds because Kentucky is the top state for child abuse and neglect right now.”
The CASA Angel Tree event was held at Dan Cummins of Georgetown on Cherry Blossom Way. The Cummins family was instrumental in helping CASA of Lexington launch in Bourbon County several years ago, and they are supporting the newest expansion into Scott County now.
“We have such a growing community here in Scott County. So many positive things are happening,” Josh Cummins said. “But along with a lot of change, you have children who can fall into this circumstance. You have a time with the coronavirus and COVID, which has probably increased alcoholism, other abuses, and it all falls onto the kids who are caught in the cycle. … It’s our job to break that cycle.”
Scott County Judge-Executive Joe Pat Covington also spoke at the tree-lighting ceremony.
Scott County Judge-Executive Joe Pat Covington speaks at the Scott County CASA Angel Tree lighting event Thursday.
“As a former educator and principal for 27 years, I know how important it is to have that one person in your life, in the lives of these young people who are struggling and put in difficult circumstances,” he said. “If you have that one person, it makes a difference. It can be all the difference in turning your life around and giving you hope. … I’m grateful for CASA.”
Jamison said last year, there were 176 substantiated new cases of child abuse and neglect in Scott County. Those are children who could all potentially benefit from having a CASA volunteer appointed to their cases in Scott County family court.
Jamison encouraged attendees to become CASA volunteers themselves, donate to CASA of Lexington or become “Friends of CASA” and lend their talents to support the organization. One thing everyone can do to help, she added, is tell their friends and family about what CASA volunteers do and why it matters.
“We really depend on word of mouth and people sharing about the services of CASA,” she said.
CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison, right, speaks to virtual attendees of the CASA Angel Tree lighting on Facebook Live Tuesday morning.
Lexington, Ky. (November 10, 2020) – Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton helped highlight the needs of abused and neglected children in Fayette County Tuesday morning, when she lit the annual CASA of Lexington Angel Tree.
The tree represents the holiday wish lists of 182 Fayette County children who have suffered abuse or neglect. Sponsors can pick children from the tree and purchase them gifts – a process being handled virtually this year due to the pandemic.
“The pandemic has been so hard on many people … it has been especially hard on these children,” Mayor Gorton said during the virtual CASA Angel Tree lighting ceremony, streamed live on Facebook.
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton flips the switch and lights the CASA Angel Tree at CASA of Lexington's office Tuesday morning.
But the pandemic has also “brought out the best in Lexington,” Mayor Gorton said. “We have good people in Lexington who do this sort of thing, have a great heart. We are a generous community. Through the (CASA Angel Tree) program, we make sure that local children who are in need have a Christmas, have a holiday.
“CASA and its dedicated volunteers serve a special purpose in our community. In difficult situations, they focus on what’s in the best interest of the child,” Mayor Gorton continued. “… They provide stability in the lives of these children.”
James H. Frazier III with the McBrayer Law Firm, the sponsor of the CASA Angel Tree kickoff, announced the firm’s members had already stepped up to sponsor holiday gifts for more than 70 of the 182 CASA children on the tree.
“As always, the McBrayer Firm is proud to be a sponsor and proud to participate in this wonderful organization,” said Frazier, who is Managing Member of the firm. “It’s been a tough year for all of us. It’s been a hard year for this law firm, for all law firms, for all folks. And these kids have had a tougher year than all of us put together.”
CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison explained the nonprofit is asking community members to step up and sponsor children, as well, so that every child with a CASA volunteer in Fayette County can have a slightly brighter December.
“During 2020, as I’ve become overwhelmed, I’ve stopped and thought, ‘What can I do right here, right now?’” she said. “For me, CASA is one of those things we can do right here, right now.”
Sponsoring a CASA Angel Tree child looks a little different this year, thanks to the pandemic. Instead of picking an envelope off a physical tree, sponsors can email angeltree@casaoflexington.org to sign up. Preferences such as boy/girl or age range can be listed in the email. Sponsors will receive their child’s wish list, as well as information about how to drop the gifts off to CASA of Lexington.
“You don’t even have to leave your couch, if that’s where you’re at,” she said.
Jamison noted there are other ways community members can help, as well:
An Amazon wish list of frequently requested gifts is available at bit.ly/casa-angel-tree-2020, enabling supporters to buy one or two gifts, which will then be allocated to whichever children still need additional gifts.
Donors can help cover the cost of providing a CASA volunteer (about $1,000 annually) by visiting www.casaoflexington.org and clicking “Donate Now.”
Anyone interested in becoming a CASA volunteer and making a difference in the future of local children’s lives can ask for more information by emailing info@casaoflexington.org or apply by visiting www.casaoflexington.org/advocates.
During the tree-lighting ceremony, Mayor Gorton announced she is sponsoring a little girl from the tree.
“I just want to urge our citizens that even in a pandemic, one of the worst years we’ve ever had in many ways … let’s make sure every child has a wonderful Christmas,” Mayor Gorton said.
Watch online: The CASA of Lexington Fayette County Angel Tree lighting ceremony can be watched on the organization’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CASAofLexington.
Paris, Ky. (November 6, 2020) – Bourbon County community members stepped up to make the holidays a little brighter for 57 abused or neglected children Friday morning.
All of the children on the CASA Angel Tree at Dan Cummins Chevrolet Buick were picked within minutes at a special tree-lighting ceremony held at the Paris dealership.
Sponsors who chose a child from the tree will purchase gifts for the child from his or her wish list. CASA of Lexington, which advocates for the children in Bourbon County family court, will deliver the sponsors' gifts to the children's caretakers in time for the holidays.
"It's just such a blessing to have an opportunity like this once again," said Josh Cummins of Dan Cummins. "... You don't have to have a position to be a leader; you just have to capitalize on the opportunities that are in front of you ... you can effect change within yourself, within your home, within your friends, within your community, that will end up changing the world."
Josh Cummins said the gifts purchased by sponsors will be going to "children who simply need to know that they matter."
"They feel like they may not matter deep into their adulthood," he said.
CASA of Lexington recruits, trains and supports court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteers who are appointed by family court Judge Lisa Hart Morgan to cases involving child abuse and neglect in Bourbon County. CASA volunteers often serve as role models and mentors for the children, in addition to being the only ones in the courtroom tasked solely with advocating for the child's best interests.
This was the fourth year that Dan Cummins has hosted the CASA Angel Tree event. This year looked a little different because of the pandemic: Attendees congregated outside, wearing masks and practicing social distancing. Catered meals were provided in individual packages for attendees to take with them.
"2020 definitely has been a year where sometimes — have you felt hopeless?" Josh Cummins asked. "... It's been a year where we feel like we have no power over so many things."
But the Angel Tree event is one way people can take action and feel a little less hopeless, he continued.
CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison picked up on that theme when she explained what the lives of some CASA children are like.
"I have to stop and think about the children we serve. It's not 2020 that's full of changes for them — they live amidst changes their entire lives, often," she said. "For us, a child could be in seven foster homes in six months."
Josh Cummins' brother, Dusty, also encouraged those in attendance to think about how good their lives have been, and to give back generously to those in need.
"Every single one of us is just completely blessed," he said. "Help the children, please."
Jamison said CASA of Lexington is extremely grateful to Dan Cummins for the support they have provided over the years and the role they played in bringing CASA services to Bourbon County. The CASA Angel Tree event is one way community members can help make things a little less chaotic and little happier for children in need, she said.
"These children often stay in the community after they turn 18 and become adults," she said. "So why would we not do everything we can to make them contributing community members and productive members of Bourbon County?"
Amy Dailey rejoined the CASA of Lexington Board of Directors this year after previously serving a four-year term. She is a vice president and branch manager for Community Trust Bank and her career in banking spans more than 30 years.
"I primarily process loans — residential mortgage and construction loans and consumer loans," she said. "I have always loved the lending piece of my job moreso than the other pieces."
Dailey is married with one daughter, two "bonus daughters" and three grandchildren. She and her husband took in one of their grandchildren after he was removed from his parents' home, which is how she discovered court-appointed special advocates.
"My husband and I were in the family court system and learned of CASA. Not long afterwards, I applied for a board position," she said. "We still have custody of our grandson, who is turning 18 next month. Thankfully, his mom got her life turned around and he is not reunited with her. I serve as a board member to promote CASA and share awareness of the organization within the community."
Dailey's term as a board member lasts through July 1, 2024.
Brian Wright, left, and Ellen Wood are CASA of Lexington’s Volunteers of the Month for November 2020.
CASA of Lexington has named a pair of newer court-appointed special advocates as Volunteers of the Month for November.
Brian Wright and Ellen Wood are recent additions to CASA of Lexington’s nearly 200 volunteers: Wood began advocating for abused and neglected children in the fall of 2019 and Wright began early in 2020.
Wright was nominated by his Volunteer Manager, Mary Beth, who said he has jumped into the work “with both feet and an unending supply of enthusiasm.”
“Brian loves a challenge, and I love having a male volunteer who welcomes the hard stuff, whether it’s a case with a lengthy history – and a pile of documents to match, an out-of-county placement or just hard-to-read tweens and teenagers,” she said. “Brian has established himself as a respected voice in court, and I often hear that the judge has quoted from his report. Brian really cares and I think that’s something the kids can sense.”
Wright said he is semi-retired and was looking for a way to contribute toward a meaningful effort when he found out about CASA of Lexington.
“I realized immediately it would be the perfect fit for me,” he said. “I’ve always been concerned about children in need and didn’t think there was anything I could do. And then CASA appeared and I was set.”
CASA volunteers spend around 10 hours a month visiting with children who are involved in family court cases due to abuse or neglect. They become role models and positive adult figures in the children’s lives, and they advocate for each child’s best interests by providing the judge with regular reports.
“This is a serious commitment, but as serious as it is, it is that much more rewarding,” Wright said. “The idea you can have a major impact on a child’s life is the absolute best feeling.”
Wood discovered CASA of Lexington when she did her practicum for a bachelor’s in social work with the nonprofit in 2019.
“I just loved the work so much and I admired the mission, so I decided that I wanted to take on a case,” she said. “It’s been super rewarding. I love getting to build relationships. With one of my kids, building a relationship over the past year has been the most amazing thing.”
Wood’s Volunteer Manager Cara said her dedication to writing very thorough reports for the judge has made a lasting impact for the children on her case.
“Ellen is generous, kind and fun,” she said. “Her ability to accept people where they are goes a long way with the children and families we serve.”
Wood said helping vulnerable kids is, for her, a great way to have direct impact on her community.
“Right now is a really crucial time. We need more CASA volunteers,” she said. “There are so many kids and families in need because of the pandemic and we need community members to step up and step into that role.”
For Fayette County family court judges Lucinda Masterton and Libby Messer, making difficult decisions about cases involving child abuse and neglect is a regular part of the job. One thing they say helps them make better decisions is the work of court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteers.
Masterton and Messer spoke to the UK Women Lawyers Association this month about the vital importance of the local CASA program. CASA volunteers advocate for children’s needs in 49 of the 50 states and more than half the counties in Kentucky, but many in the public are unaware of just how useful the unique program has proven to be for family court judges.
“The first thing I read is the CASA report,” Masterton told the WLA members who attended a virtual training session Oct. 21. “It’s important for us to hear about all the details that are going on with these children. And the CASA reports do that for me.”
The two judges, CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison and CASA volunteer Julie Butcher spent an hour explaining how CASA works. Volunteers undergo a comprehensive, 30-hour training and then are assigned to cases involving child abuse and neglect. The volunteers meet regularly with the children on their cases and develop a rapport with them. They also interview adults involved in the children’s lives and have a court order granting them access to essentially all records concerning the children. CASA volunteers condense this information into regular reports to the judge and make recommendations based on what would be in the best interest of the child.
“If we are not working on that case or with the children, there’s no one providing the exact same role as a CASA volunteer,” Jamison said. “Our objective and mission is to find a safe and permanent home for that child. We are there solely for what’s in the best interest of the child.”
Judge Messer said CASA volunteers’ recommendations may concern big decisions, such as reunification with parents or termination of parental rights. But many recommendations also focus on smaller things that can make a big difference – like in the case of one girl who was struggling to read. It turned out the girl just needed glasses, but no one else had caught the problem until a CASA volunteer was appointed to the case.
“It’s a very, very different relationship than what a social worker has, whose focus is divided between, ‘What can I do to help these parents get better?’ and then, ‘Are these kids OK and safe where they are?’” Messer said. “It’s much more (on the) surface for the social worker than it is for the CASA.”
Messer said CASA volunteers also provide a much greater depth of knowledge than guardians ad litem – attorneys appointed to represent children’s legal interests.
“The CASA and the GAL often work hand-in-hand, but the GAL is there to make sure the legal interests of these children are being met … whereas a CASA volunteer is truly involved with this child,” she said. “They are that steady person the child can rely on and they are the voice for the child in court on those little things that maybe wouldn’t be something that an attorney is looking for.”
Judge Masterton said she believes it is “amazingly vital” to have someone who can be focused on a single child or case like a CASA volunteer can. She pointed to one case involving a child who had been removed from the home due to medical neglect, and problems were continuing after the removal.
“This kid was in serious trouble and really needed to be seen by a therapist,” Masterton explained.
But it wasn’t until the first review hearing in the case that the CASA volunteer on the case pointed out the child still had not received therapy, even though it had been 90 days since the removal.
“In 90 days, this kid had had a whole raft of social workers and there was nobody else who really was paying attention to what was going on with the kid – except the CASA,” Masterton said. “That CASA’s voice moved the case forward and I started having reviews much more often because of that. I wanted to make sure we didn’t get lost in the shuffle again.”
Masterton said unfortunately, getting lost in the shuffle can happen all too easily for abused and neglected children. It’s a problem CASA volunteers help prevent – when there are enough volunteers.
“Our social workers are incredibly overworked. They have way too many cases. They can’t pay the kind of attention to these children that we need to,” she said. “So then we have situations where the kids just kind of disappear. We need a CASA for every kid in care. Because that’s the only way we can feel comfortable that this kid’s needs are absolutely being met.”
In 2019, there were more than 1,100 new substantiated cases of child abuse or neglect in Fayette County alone. Since cases often last 18-24 months, there could easily be more than 2,000 children with cases in the family court system at any point in time. Last year, CASA volunteers served 534 of those children, meaning hundreds more did not have a CASA volunteer to ensure they were not overlooked.
Masterton said she clearly sees the need for more CASA volunteers.
“I would highly recommend that anyone who has a little bit of time and has a great big heart – and doesn’t mind having it broken – signs up to be a CASA,” she said.
Julie Butcher, a local attorney, also spoke to the WLA members about her experience as a CASA volunteer.
“I had a bit of overload at first,” she admitted, but added that support from the CASA of Lexington staff was outstanding. “It really is probably the best thing I’ve ever done outside of family stuff. It’s very important work, it’s fulfilling, and yes, you truly can make a difference in children’s lives.”
CASA of Lexington Available for Speaking Engagements
If you would like CASA of Lexington to speak to your club, organization or group, please email info@casaoflexington.org. Presentations can be provided in-person or virtually, for any length of time. To watch the full presentation to the UK Women Lawyers Association, visit https://youtu.be/_Ql29vLFRc8.
Lexington, Ky. (Oct. 22, 2020) – Cardinal Office360 is one of the Governor’s Service Business Award winners to be honored during a virtual broadcast from Serve Kentucky this Saturday.
Cardinal was nominated by CASA of Lexington for the prestigious award because of the company’s Partners in Giving program, which has given more than $300,000 to local nonprofit organizations.
The Partners in Giving program allows Cardinal customers to designate a nonprofit to benefit from the purchases they make. Cardinal gives 5% of the customer’s total purchases to the designated nonprofit. The program is similar to the larger give-back initiative Amazon Smile, run by Amazon, but Cardinal’s program gives back a percentage 10 times larger.
CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison nominated Cardinal for the Governor’s Service Award. She said Cardinal has given more than $31,000 to CASA of Lexington through the Partners in Giving program.
“In addition to this partnership, Cardinal has been involved in a variety of other ways,” Jamison wrote in her nomination letter. “Cardinal has purchased a table at CASA of Lexington’s largest fundraiser, Bourbon and the Bayou, and been involved in that event. At this event, they often introduce other businesses and customers to the work of CASA, who then get involved with the organization. Some become CASA volunteers, others have become sponsors of events and many buy tables of their own to future events.
“It is honestly impossible to determine the multiplying effect Cardinal has had on positive contributions to CASA of Lexington.”
The Governor’s Service Awards are given out annually by Serve Kentucky, an agency within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. This year, Cardinal was one of two businesses to receive the Business Service Award, along with Abound Credit Union in Hardin County.
The 25th annual Governor’s Service Awards presentation will be held virtually at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24. The live stream will be available on Serve Kentucky’s Facebook page (facebook.com/ServeKY) and linked to from CASA of Lexington’s Facebook page (facebook.com/CASAofLexington). The event can also be accessed directly here: https://fb.me/e/kUQel8jjQ.
About Cardinal Office360
Cardinal Office360, formerly Cardinal Workplace Solutions, has been serving businesses throughout Kentucky, southern Ohio and Indiana since 1954. The office supply company’s annual sales exceeded $20 million last year. The company can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/CardinalOffice360.
About CASA of Lexington
CASA of Lexington’s trained and supervised volunteers advocate through the family court systems in Fayette, Bourbon, Woodford and Scott 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 at casaoflexington.org, by calling (859) 246-4313 or by emailing info@casaoflexington.org.
Lexington, Ky. (Oct. 19) – CASA of Lexington has been selected as one of six local nonprofit organizations that will receive three-month media campaigns through iHeartMedia Lexington.
The iHeartMedia Lexington Community Partnership Program is creating in-kind media campaigns for CASA of Lexington, the Alpha Beta Lambda Chapter of Lexington, Amachi Central Kentucky, the Carnegie Center, Newton’s Attic and Visually Impaired Preschool Services Central Kentucky.
Each nonprofit will be given a designated on-air station personality to serve as public ambassador. iHeartMedia Lexington will work with each of the nonprofits to create a three-month marketing campaign based on their specific needs. CASA of Lexington will be launching a marketing campaign intended to recruit more volunteers to serve as court-appointed special advocates — particularly male volunteers, who are currently underrepresented in CASA of Lexington’s volunteer base.
“Our CASA volunteers often serve as role models for their CASA-appointed children. For many young boys who have been abused or neglected, adding a strong male role model to their lives can be incredibly beneficial. We hope to find more men willing to fill that need through this partnership,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington. “iHeartMedia’s Local Advisory Board chose to partner with us on this campaign because they understand how changing the course of child’s life today can have huge positive impacts for generations to come.”
The iHeartMedia Lexington Local Advisory Board (LAB) is comprised of more than 15 community leaders, educators and entrepreneurs, who selected the recipients through an extensive application process. The mission of iHeartMedia Lexington’s LAB is to harness the resources of iHeartMedia to improve the quality of life for Central kentuckians by bringing visibility to organizations and programs strengthening the Bluegrass region.
“iHeartMedia Lexington is committed to the local community,” said Earl Jones, Metro President of iHeartMedia Kentucky. “It is important that we use our reach to support organizations that are working to better our community and help its children grow into responsible adults.”
iHeartMedia is the leading media outlet in the Lexington market with multiple platforms, including its broadcast stations, live events, data and its digital businesses and platforms. Its stations include 98.1 The Bull, 104.5 The Cat, 100.1 WKQQ, Real 103.9, Mix 94.5 and Newsradio 630 WLAP, among others. CASA of Lexington’s media campaign is expected to launch in the spring of 2021.
CASA of Lexington Board Member Miranda Wyles, center, accepts the Governor's Volunteer Service Award at CASA of Lexington on Oct. 7. At left is Bourbon County Judge-Executive Mike Williams; at right is CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison.
Lexington, Ky. (Oct. 12, 2020) – CASA of Lexington Board Member Miranda Wyles has been given a prestigious Governor’s Service Award for her tireless devotion to volunteering for good causes, including the expansion of court-appointed special advocate services.
Wyles is a recipient of the 2020 Volunteer Service Award, which recognizes individuals who have met a community need in an innovative or effective way. The Governor’s Service Awards are given out annually by Serve Kentucky, an agency within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
Wyles was nominated by CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison for her instrumental role in expanding CASA of Lexington’s service area, number of volunteers and number of children served.
“Mrs. Wyles has provided leadership, worked to develop a cohesive strategic plan, attended board development workshops and trainings, participated in statewide CASA trainings and interacted with our National CASA leadership,” Jamison said in her nomination. “In the past four years, the program has experienced explosive growth in terms of number of children served, number of active CASA volunteers and awareness in the community.”
In 2016, CASA of Lexington was providing advocates for abused and neglected children in Fayette County family court, but nowhere else. Wyles connected with CASA of Lexington when Jamison spoke to the Paris Rotary Club. Over the next year, Wyles and Jamison worked together to put a framework in place that would allow CASA of Lexington to begin providing services in Bourbon County.
Today, CASA of Lexington serves abused and neglected children in Fayette, Bourbon, Woodford and Scott counties.
Jamison also noted Wyles dedication to a wide variety of volunteer efforts beyond CASA of Lexington: She has been actively engaged with the Bourbon County Backpack Program, the Bourbon County Christmas Concert, the Spooktacular on the Steps event in Paris, the Paris Pike Corridor Commission and the Bourbon County Rotary. She is also a Women’s Inclusion Leader for Edward Jones, the founder of Hope Park and the co-founder of ARTWALK in Bourbon County.
“In addition to all of her volunteer work – and I’m sure I have left some out – she owns a local business and is a mother of two young children,” Jamison wrote. “I can think of none more deserving than Miranda Wyles and she would be an excellent choice for the Governor’s Service Award for Volunteering.”
Video Online
A video interview with 2020 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award winner Miranda Wyles can be watched on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/9yl_kdZMCac.
Lexington, Ky. (Date) – CASA of Lexington is honoring a pair of retired educators as Volunteers of the Month for October: Vicki Ritchie and Ute Keathley.
Vicki Ritchie
Vicki Ritchie
Vicki Ritchie began serving as a CASA volunteer this year and has already made a difference for her CASA children.
"Her case is complicated," said Mary Beth, Ritchie's Volunteer Manager. "It involves different out-of-county placements and a complex history. But to Vicki, that's just her case. She is persistent, dependable and just plain likable, which goes a long way with the children we serve and the families we work with."
Ritchie is a retired principal, which she said has served her well on her particular case. CASA of Lexington often matches volunteers with cases where their individual skillsets will be helpful.
"I think people in the community have all different kinds of skills and talents and experiences that could come to bear in working with children and families that are going through tough situations," Ritchie said. "And there's a very flexible schedule. In case you have a busy life, it fits really well. I would encourage anybody that's looking for a volunteer opportunity to look into CASA and learn more about it."
Mary Beth said Ritchie's reports to the judge are thorough and have had an impact on the trajectory of the case.
"They not only provide the judge with a vivid image of the children and their needs, but also their interests and the things that are important to them," she said.
Ritchie said she appreciates how servign as a CASA volunteer allows you to use whatever talents you have to support children and families in what may be "the toughest moment of their lives."
"Not only are you helping a family that's in need, but it contributes to your own knowledge," she said. "It's a growing opportunity for the volunteer, as well."
Ute Keathley
Ute Keathley
Ute Keathley has been a CASA volunteer in Fayette County for more than two years and is serving on her third case.
"The most rewarding thing is that you get to stay in contact with kids at a time when they need some stability in their lives," she said. "You are the one that gets to see them regularly, so you provide stability even if the current placement doesn't work out for whatever reason. Overall, you leave a great, positive impact for children who need it."
Cara MacLeod, Keathley's Volunteer Manager, said as a former preschool teacher, Keathley understands family dynamics and is able to easily connect and build relationships with her CASA kids.
"She is such a joy and a bright light to be around, always ready to take on a new case no matter the difficult circumstances," MacLeod said. "Through building relationships and advocating in the court system, Ute has already made a huge difference in the lives of her CASA kids."
Keathley learned about CASA of Lexington at Run The Bluegrass, an annual half marathon held in central Kentucky. Helping abused children appealed to her, but like many eventual CASA volunteers, she had a busy schedule that prevented her from taking on the job immediately.
"It took me a while to feel like I actually had the time in my life to commit to it," she said.
When she had time later, she came back and was trained as a CASA volunteer.
"It is less of a time commitment than I thought it would be," she said, noting there is a good amount of work when a case starts.
But after the initial assignment, Keathley pointed out much of the work CASA volunteers do can be done on their own schedules, not at preset times like might be required for other volunteer work.
"It is a little intimidating to think you'll be in court and you have to represent these kids. But it is totally doable," she said. "I think if I can do it, anybody else can totally do it, too. There's great support from your volunteer manager and CASA staff."
CASA volunteers, clockwise from top left, Kelley Sloane, Anne Flynn, Ava Crow, Sandy Nichols, Kelly Hale and Doug Myers are working the longest ongoing CASA cases in the Fayette County family court system.
Since 2014, Trevor has had at least five different social workers. He’s also had many different foster parents, therapists and teachers.
Trevor, whose name has been changed in this story to protect his privacy, was still elementary-school age when he was removed from his home, along with his siblings. He is now in high school. All along, he has been looking for a permanent family in a world of change.
But there has been at least one constant in Trevor’s life: his CASA volunteer, Kelley Sloane.
"He knows that no matter what, there's this one constant person that has always been there,” Sloane said. “I won't quit. I'm not going to stop with him until he doesn't want me around anymore. I will always be there for him, in whatever form that takes."
Sloane is one of six CASA volunteers honored this September by CASA of Lexington as the nonprofit organization’s “Extra Mile” Volunteers of the Month. The volunteers are working the longest ongoing CASA cases in the Fayette County family court system.
The abused and neglected children in these cases have unfortunately been waiting years to obtain permanency. But the CASA volunteers have remained dedicated to advocating for the children’s best interests through every twist and turn.
‘How much tougher is it for them?’
Kelley Sloane
CASA stands for “Court-Appointed Special Advocate” – a unique job in the local family court system filled by regular people who volunteer several hours each month to improve outcomes for abused and neglected children. There are around 200 CASA volunteers serving children in CASA of Lexington’s service area of Fayette, Bourbon, Scott and Woodford counties.
“It’s been wonderful,” Sloane said of her lengthy tenure as a CASA volunteer. “At times, of course, it is challenging from an emotional standpoint. But if it’s tough for me emotionally just hearing about what it’s like for these kids and what they’ve had to live through – what they’re still living through – how much tougher is it for them?”
CASA cases that continue for four, five or even six years are not the norm. Sloane and the other five Extra Mile volunteers represent only around 3% of volunteers with CASA of Lexington. Circumstances make the length of each case unique, but on average, cases last between 18 and 24 months.
Research highlighted by the National CASA Association shows judges often assign CASA volunteers to more severe cases, where, for example, there might be complex problems or a lengthy history of involvement with the child welfare system. Despite that, children who are given a CASA volunteer are statistically more likely to do well in school, less likely to remain in long-term foster care and less likely to re-enter the foster system after their case closes.
‘Tireless advocacy’ for kids
Anne Flynn
CASA volunteers Ava Crow and Anne Flynn have been working as a team on their CASA case for more than five years.
“Through their tireless advocacy, the children have remained in the same stable placement since the beginning of the case,” said Jenifer Bahr, Crow and Flynn’s Volunteer Manager. “They are set to soon be adopted by a very loving family.”
Crow said the children she advocates for are “amazingly strong” and she’s happy to be even a small part of their lives.
Ava Crow
“I generally believe that kids are better off in their biological homes and connecting with a parent who is trying to provide a good home for a child,” Crow said. “Being able to connect with a child who may have few, if any, other connections is very gratifying.”
Flynn said she has found working as a CASA volunteer to be a rewarding experience, as well.
“I feel like I have helped make a difference in children’s lives and I have met many wonderful people along the way whom I now consider my friends,” she said. “CASA volunteers and staff are very professional but they also have big hearts and it is a joy to work with the organization.”
‘The only consistent person’
Doug Myers
Doug Myers is another CASA volunteer with a lengthy case, which has lasted almost four and a half years so far. He became a CASA volunteer after finding out how many children are removed from their homes every year.
Last year alone, there were more than 1,500 substantiated petitions for abuse and neglect in CASA of Lexington’s four counties. Removals don’t happen in every case, but each one of those 1,500+ petitions represents a child whose life has been substantially altered by abuse or neglect.
“I became a CASA volunteer to help provide a consistent voice and face for a child,” Myers said. “In one of my cases, the child was removed from his home and has been in over 15 different foster homes, hospitals and residential treatment facilities over the last five years in the system. He has also had multiple state workers. The only consistent person in this child’s life since his removal has been this CASA volunteer.”
Myers’ Volunteer Manager Kyrsten Adkins said he has traveled all over the state in order to stay connected with his CASA child.
“While everyone else in the world has given up on this child, Doug hasn’t and still sees his potential,” she said.
‘This kid is not going to be lost’
Kelly Hale
It’s definitely “frustrating” to watch a child’s case continue for years without closure, acknowledged Kelly Hale, a CASA volunteer with a case that has been ongoing since mid-2016. But, she added, “It’s been fun to watch him grow up.”
Her CASA boy has seen other children get adopted while he continues to wait. But she has continued to push for his best interests in court and his case is now getting closer and closer to adoption.
“To be able to advocate for somebody who doesn’t have a voice and might otherwise be ignored or passed over just because there are so many kids out there with needs – it’s good to be able to kind of home in on one kid and say, ‘This kid is not going to be lost in the system,’” she said.
Hale said she sees how many more kids could benefit from having a CASA volunteer.
“Social workers go great jobs. They do the best they can, but they have really heavy caseloads,” she said. “So just to be able to pay attention to that one kid is great for that child. Every child needs an advocate.”
‘You can make a difference’
When Sandy Nichols first took her CASA case nearly four years ago, one of the children, a little boy, “would not let me come near him,” she said.
Sandy Nichols
He was wary of her, but she set up boundaries that made him comfortable.
“I think because I kept showing up and talking to him – I don’t remember how many months I was into seeing him, but I was leaving the house one day, and he was looking at me,” she said. “I said, ‘Can I have a hug from you today?’ And he said, ‘Yes!’ And then he asked, ‘Can I hug you one more time?’ And I said, ‘Yes!’
“Then as I was leaving, I don’t know who said it, but someone said, ‘I love you.’ I turned around and said, ‘I love you guys, too.’ That was just so rewarding to know I was making a difference.”
One of Nichols’ CASA children has been adopted, but another is continuing to wait – possibly the toughest part for everyone involved.
“I just don’t know how much longer it’s going to be,” Nichols said.
But even though it can be emotionally difficult, “it’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done,” she added. “Just to know that you can possibly make a difference in a child’s life to help them, whether that means going back to their biological family or to a foster home.
“If you’re there, I think it’s just rewarding to know you can make a difference in that child’s case.”
Helping kids along – no matter what
Nichols, Hale, Myers, Crow, Flynn and Sloane all acknowledged how frustrating it can be at times to pursue permanency for a child for so long. But they also feel no matter how long their cases might last, their CASA children will have better lives because of their advocacy.
Trevor, Sloane’s CASA child who has been in the system since elementary school, is one example:
“He’s hopefully going to be able to go to a foster family here soon,” Sloane said. “Sometimes, you go through periods and you feel like, ‘I’m not making much of a difference.’ But after getting over the hump, I realized what an important role being a CASA volunteer is.
“I really do feel that I have been able to make some impact in terms of getting his needs met and beyond that, just being that constant for him for the last six years. It’s really rewarding knowing that maybe I helped him along a little bit.”
CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison, left, and Forcht Bank Lexington Market President Houston Hall stand with the Salute to Small Business Nonprofit Community Impact Award CASA of Lexington won as part of the 2020 Salute to Small Business Awards.
CASA of Lexington received the Salute to Small Business Nonprofit Community Impact Award, hosted a Facebook Live event with Commerce Lexington, participated in multiple webinars on business success and more during Commerce Lexington’s week-long Salute to Small Business celebration.
Jamison leads a tour of the CASA of Lexington office during a Facebook Live on Sept. 21.
The week kicked off with a Facebook Live video at CASA of Lexington, during which Executive Director Melynda Jamison explained CASA of Lexington’s mission and took Commerce Lexington representatives and Forcht Bank Lexington Market President Houston Hall on a tour of the building.
Jamison also participated in webinars throughout the week focused on how the Salute to Small Business award-winners had succeeded in their fields, including how they have adapted during the pandemic.
The week wrapped up with a virtual watch party, the pandemic version of an awards ceremony, at which Churchill McGee was chosen as the Small Business of the Year. During the watch party, CASA of Lexington was featured as one of the four Salute to Small Business category winners.
“We were so excited to be selected and I think it shows the countless hours that our volunteers, staff, board members and supporters put in,” Jamison said during the watch party. “Hopefully this is more awareness and people will understand what CASA is and what the need is.”
CASA of Lexington recruits, trains and supports around 200 community volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children in the local family court systems who have been abused or neglected. Volunteers help identify services children and families need so the children can recover from trauma and return to safe, permanent homes faster.
“We depend whole-heartedly on individual donations in order to be able to serve those children,” Jamison said.
You can read more about the Salute to Small Business Awards here. Check out video from all the events and webinars CASA of Lexington participated in below:
Studio46 Video https://vimeo.com/461942462
Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/kwbates/videos/10158622726427497/
Success Stories Webinar https://youtu.be/ooe6RgA_trM
4 O’Clock Focus on Marketing Strategies https://youtu.be/XGN8TUdrmpM
Watch Party https://vimeo.com/462862119
Lexington, Ky. (Sept. 17, 2020) – CASA of Lexington has won the 2020 Nonprofit Community Impact Award from Commerce Lexington. The organization will be celebrated along with other Salute to Small Business award-winners during a week of special virtual events, held Sept. 21-25.
“It is an honor for CASA of Lexington to receive the 2020 Nonprofit Community Impact Award from Commerce Lexington,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington. “The award speaks to the work of our CASA volunteers, board members, staff and supporters. We are proud of the work we do on behalf of the children we advocate for and could not do it without the collaborative effort of everyone.”
CASA of Lexington recruits, trains and supports community volunteers known as Court-Appointed Special Advocates or CASA volunteers. CASA volunteers are appointed to cases of child abuse or neglect and serve as the eyes and ears of the family court judge. They develop friendships with the children they serve and advocate for the best interests of the children in court.
The impacts of CASA advocacy are remarkable: Research has shown children with a CASA volunteer have significantly higher levels of hope about the future and perform better academically. They also receive more services ordered by judges and are moved between placements less frequently during their case. Children who had a CASA volunteer are also half as likely to re-enter the foster care system again.
CASA of Lexington was originally a program of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, but transitioned to nonprofit status in 2003. Over the past decade, the organization has grown from 46 volunteers serving 120 children to more than 200 volunteers serving more than 600 children.
CASA of Lexington is one of four award-winners announced by Commerce Lexington in advance of its week-long celebration of the annual Salute to Small Business Awards. Elaine Allen LLC is receiving the Minority Business Award; Churchill McGee is receiving the Business Success Award; and AU Associates Inc. is receiving the Entrepreneur Award.
CASA of Lexington’s award will be celebrated with a Facebook Live event from Commerce Lexington at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 21. There will also be a webinar that day at 2 p.m. featuring award winners, including CASA of Lexington. The week’s events culminate with a live watch party featuring the award winners and an announcement of the Overall Small Business of the Year at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25. To see a full schedule of events and register for watch party, visit www.commercelexington.com/event-schedule.
Alvin Seals and Rev. Chrysanthia Carr-Seals are sworn in by family court Judge Lisa Hart Morgan on June 2.
Retired Professor Alvin Seals and Rev. Chrysanthia Carr-Seals, J.D., were sworn in as CASA of Lexington’s newest volunteers by family court Judge Lisa Hart Morgan on June 2, 2020.
Alvin and Chrysanthia, who now advocate for abused and neglected children in Bourbon County, were the first two volunteers to complete CASA of Lexington’s new virtual, “guided learning” training curriculum.
The new curriculum enables volunteers to complete the required 30-hour training via virtual classes held over Zoom and homework assignments they complete on their own time. The new curriculum can be completed entirely virtually or in a hybrid format with some in-person meetings.
Chrysanthia and Alvin were excited to serve the Bourbon County community through CASA.
“Based upon our religious convictions and dedication to church and community, we are motivated to serve people in various ways, particularly for children who are experiencing difficulties in their pursuit of life and happiness,” they said. “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:14).’”
Chrysanthia is a reverend at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Paris.
From National CASA / GAL
As children across the nation have returned to school in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic – whether in person or virtually – the work of a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) or Guardian ad Litem (GAL) volunteer continues to be essential now more than ever. Children who have a court-appointed volunteer are more likely to succeed in school.
Here are some examples of how a CASA/GAL volunteer can stay connected to the children they serve during the new school year:
Many children may experience excitement or anxiety about starting school, especially during COVID-19. CASA/GAL volunteers can check in with the child and family they serve with a phone call or virtual meeting and ask them to share their feelings and anticipation about the new school year.
CASA/GAL volunteers are normally in frequent contact with teachers and school administrators to form a partnership to better understand the child’s unique strengths and challenges. Volunteers can reach out to the child’s school team virtually to establish a rapport. These interactions with the child’s school, combined with the volunteer’s relationship with the child, empower the volunteer to advocate in court for what the child needs to thrive academically.
CASA/GAL volunteers can engage with the child’s parents, sometimes serving as a coach or advocate for parental involvement in education matters.
If a child is receiving tiered response to intervention, special education or 504-related services, CASA/GAL volunteers can attend virtual school meetings and recommend strategies that support the child’s success in school such as tutoring, therapies, assistive technology, and other accommodations. They can also advocate for placement stability, knowing that frequent school transfers can cause a child to fall behind.
During the pandemic, CASA/GAL programs and volunteers are seeing significant gaps in distance learning technology (e.g. laptops, chrome books, iPads and/or internet access) for the children and families we serve. Volunteers can make sure those resource gaps are known to the child’s team, and in some cases, CASA and GAL programs are able to collaborate with community organizations or corporate partners to identify solutions.
Children who have experienced abuse or neglect are involved with multiple systems—the court system, the child welfare system, the school system, and the health care system. CASA and GAL volunteers can help connect the dots between these systems to ensure that information is shared, when appropriate, to get the best possible outcomes for children. CASA/GAL volunteers can work with the school social worker or child protective services staff member to advocate for comprehensive wraparound services for the child, including primary health, mental health and dental care, pandemic food assistance, mentoring and post-secondary education awareness.
For children in the system, pursuing “normal” childhood activities can be a challenge because of frequent moves, resource challenges or shame. CASA/GAL volunteers can make sure the court knows when a child has special interests and help remove barriers so the child can participate in extracurricular activities.
As you know, advocacy doesn’t stop during COVID-19. The complexities of the times may cause CASA/GAL volunteers to view the situation with a different lens and be aware of the need for different resources given the “new normal.” As children head back to school, having caring, consistent adults listen and put the child’s best interests before all others can make all the difference. Thank you for everything you do.