WATCH HIGHLIGHTS

You can see highlights from the virtual swearing in ceremony on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/cl0IYTW3uF4

Eight community members were sworn in as new Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers with CASA of Lexington this month. The volunteers completed a 30-hour virtual training and will now be assigned to advocate for abused and neglected children in the family court system.

“Thank you all for agreeing to be CASA volunteers … and to open your hearts to these children,” Fayette Family Court Judge Lucinda Masterton told the new volunteers during a virtual swearing in ceremony held over Zoom.

CASA volunteers take the oath of confidentiality with a judge before they are assigned to cases matched with their preferences and backgrounds.

“We are so fortunate that we have CASA … because the voice of the CASA is so vital for these children,” Masterton said. “Other than me, you are often the only consistent person in these children’s lives. They need you … it’s just so important for us to hear your voice.”

CASA volunteers visit regularly with the children on their assigned case, interview adults involved in the children’s life and review educational and medical records of the children. They write reports for the judge that help better inform decisions and lead to better outcomes for the children.

Nationally, a child who receives a CASA is more likely to receive services such as therapy or educational support; more likely to succeed academically, and half as likely to re-enter the foster system after being placed in a permanent home.

CASA children also spend on average five and a half months less in the foster care system, saving thousands of taxpayer dollars.

NEXT TRAINING

CASA of Lexington is holding an in-person training for new CASA volunteers beginning June 15. A full schedule of training dates and more information about applying is available at www.casaoflexington.org/training.

“We really do want to say thank you to you and your loved ones for making this commitment,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington. “You finished 30 hours of initial training. You’re here at graduation to be sworn in. Now the real journey begins of getting matched with a child or sibling set and being able to advocate on behalf of them.”

Jamison assured the new volunteers that CASA Volunteer Managers will be available to support them in their work, by joining them on home visits and offering advice and guidance from their experience.

“They’re always in court with you as well,” she said. “They’re there to guide you through the process.”

The new volunteers join more than 230 active CASA volunteers at CASA of Lexington. Last year, CASA volunteers in Fayette, Bourbon, Woodford and Scott counties advocated for 583 children. But the number of new cases of child abuse and neglect in 2020 was more than double that, and the total number of abused and neglected children with open cases could be four times as big.

“You are so needed,” Jamison told the new volunteers. “And this is going to change your life.”

“That’s all true,” Masterton said. “And it’s important.”

CASA Volunteers of the Month for April 2021 Pat Riddell and Carrie Gordy.

CASA of Lexington’s Volunteers of the Month for April are Pat Riddell and Carrie Gordy.

Riddell has been a CASA volunteer for almost two years and has advocated for three abused and neglected children during that time.

Like many people, he hadn’t heard about Court-Appointed Special Advocates or the need for them to help abused and neglected children in central Kentucky. He plays pickleball, one of the fastest growing new sports in the nation, and one day a pair of fellow pickleball players who are also CASA volunteers told him about what they do.

“Upon hearing what CASA was all about, I decided I need to look into becoming a volunteer,” he said. “For years, I had been dismayed by media accounts of the abuse and neglect of a great number of children, especially in Kentucky. But I was not aware of any way to help with this horrible reality.”

Since completing his volunteer training, Riddell has been an outstanding advocate for children’s needs, said his Volunteer Manager Cara.

“He has been patient and thoughtful in working his case and works well with collateral sources including relatives and schools,” she said. “He is understanding, compassionate and empathetic, and he maintains an objective point of view when working his cases.”

Riddell said he enjoys the sense of accomplishment he gets from working a case and seeing a positive change in a child’s case.

“As a CASA volunteer, you become more aware of the magnitude of the problem of child abuse in our own state,” he said. “For anyone thinking about becoming a CASA volunteer, I would strongly encourage them to do it. The amount of support and guidance you receive from the CASA staff is excellent.”

CASA of Lexington’s other Volunteer of the Month, Carrie Gordy, is a veteran CASA volunteer who has advocated for 10 children over the course of almost four years. She is a Scott County resident, and last year became the first CASA of Lexington volunteer to serve in that county.

A retired pediatric nurse practitioner, she discovered CASA of Lexington when she was looking for a way to continue helping children after she retired.

“I read an article about CASA and got very excited about the possibility,” she said. “I did the CASA training and the rest is history.”

Gordy’s Volunteer Manager Mary Beth said she is willing to tackle difficult situations and take on complex cases.

“Her tenacity makes her a great fit for the types of cases we see in Scott County, which tend to be very involved both at the family and provider levels,” she said. “Carrie truly sees the value in her role as a CASA volunteer, and I think that’s why she works her cases so thoroughly, to provide the judge with the complete picture of a child’s life.”

Gordy said she loves how being a CASA volunteer lets her interact with and help children in need.

“I love being able to contribute in some small way to happy endings for those kids,” she said.

If you want CASA of Lexington’s amazing courthouse facility dog, Matilda, to win a 2021 American Humane Hero Dog Award, there are several ways you can help:

First, you can vote for Matilda every day through May 6 by visiting bit.ly/matildaherodog. If you have a reminder app on your phone, you can set a daily reminder and put that URL in the note to make it quick and easy!

Second, you can share one of these photos of Matilda and use one of our message templates to create your own social media post! Click on the images below to download them, and feel free to copy/paste our suggested posts, modify them or write your own!

Suggested post message 1: Matilda with @CASAofLexington is the only Kentucky dog up for the 2021 #HeroDogAwards therapy dog award! Please join me in voting for her every day through May 6 at bit.ly/matildaherodog! #MatildaIsAHero

Suggested post message 2: Kentucky is lucky to have such an amazing dog as Matilda with @CASAofLexington! She helps abused children testify against their perpetrators. Please vote for Matilda by visiting bit.ly/matildaherodog and help her win the #HeroDogAwards! #MatildaIsAHero

Suggested post message 3: I just voted for Matilda, Kentucky’s only certified courthouse facility dog, in the #HeroDogAwards! Let’s make sure Matilda wins and makes it onto the Hallmark Channel this fall! Tell everyone #MatildaIsAHero by voting at bit.ly/matildaherodog. @CASAofLexington

A central Kentucky dog who helps abused and neglected children is in the running for a 2021 American Humane Hero Dog Award and an appearance on the Hallmark Channel.

Matilda is a 4-year-old lab/golden retriever mix who works for CASA of Lexington, an organization that provides volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children in the family court system. Matilda is the only certified facility dog in the state. She has traveled all over Kentucky to visit children and help them through difficult experiences.

Matilda helps children calm down and open up about abusive experiences they have had. She can also go with them when they have to undergo an examination for sexual abuse, or if they have to testify against a perpetrator in court.

“One of the most valued qualities of Matilda is the unconditional love and attention that she gives to the children with whom she interacts,” said Liz Noffsinger, CASA Canine Handler. “Matilda has uncanny instincts when working with children. She seems to know just what they need. If they need calm, she is calm. If they need play, she is playful. She’s a wonderful ice breaker when getting to know the children that we work with.”

The American Humane Hero Dog Awards searches out and recognizes dogs who do extraordinary things in seven different categories. Matilda is competing in the Therapy Dogs category, which requires all nominees to be credentialed. Matilda was trained and is certified through Canine Companions for Independence.

The public can vote in the competition through May 6 at herodogawards.org. To visit Matilda’s voting page, you can go to bit.ly/matildaherodog. After voting concludes, the winners will be honored on the Hallmark Channel’s nationwide broadcast of the American Humane Hero Dog Awards in October.

“CASA of Lexington and Matilda are known around the state and we have lots of friends who are helping cast votes for her every day,” said Melynda Jamison, CASA of Lexington Executive Director. “If everyone who hears about Matilda takes five seconds to vote for her, I’m confident she can win. Then the whole nation can learn about the amazing work she does right here in Kentucky.”

Online

Hero Dog Awards: Herodogawards.org

Matilda’s voting page: bit.ly/matildaherodog

CASA of Lexington: www.casaoflexington.org

New CASA volunteers and a new CASA interpreter are sworn in by Fayette County Family Court Judge Traci Brislin, far right second from bottom, in late February.

Abused and neglected children in central Kentucky have gained six new CASA volunteers who will advocate for their best interests.

The six new court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteers and one interpreter were sworn in by Fayette County family court Judge Traci Brislin at the end of February.

“We always have a lot of abused and neglected kiddos that we’re dealing with, but I think that it’s even worse during this pandemic. I’m sure there’s a lot of kids out there that we don’t even know about,” Brislin said during the swearing-in ceremony, which was held virtually over Zoom. “CASA makes our jobs as judges so much easier because they get us information that we need to help make the best possible decision for these kids in care.”

Brislin said she appreciates how CASA volunteers have gotten creative during the pandemic as they continue to visit with children and advocate for them.

“What you are about to embark on is very important – it’s crucial. It’s really life-changing type of stuff,” she said.

CASA of Lexington has been offering online training for new volunteers since the pandemic began, enabling those with a heart for helping children to make a difference during a very trying time. In 2020, the organization’s 235 volunteers advocated for 583 children.

Children with a CASA volunteer are more likely to receive services to help them with learning disabilities or coping with past trauma. They are also far less likely to re-enter the foster care system after finding a safe, permanent home.

“There are hundreds more children still in need of a CASA volunteer right here in Fayette, Bourbon, Woodford and Scott counties,” CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison said. “These new volunteers are helping fill that need. We need even more people like them.”

The next CASA of Lexington training for new volunteers begins June 15. More information is available at www.casaoflexington.org/training.

WATCH ONLINE

You can watch highlights from the virtual swearing-in ceremony on YouTube using this link: https://youtu.be/-Xe9GoEStkc.

Fifty-one CASA of Lexington volunteers have been awarded the federal President’s Volunteer Service Award for giving of their time to a worthy cause.

The PVSA award program recognizes the nation’s most outstanding volunteers for contributing large amounts of time to the organizations they support.

A total of 48 CASA volunteers with CASA of Lexington earned the Bronze-level PVSA for working more than 100 hours in 2020. Many of those volunteers far exceeded the 100-hour threshold. Two CASA volunteers earned the Silver-level PVSA for contributing more than 250 hours. One CASA volunteer earned the Gold-level PVSA for working more than 500 hours.

Each volunteer is receiving a Bronze, Silver or Gold pin or coin from the PVSA award program, as well as a personal thank-you letter from the U.S. president.

“Serving as a CASA volunteer is a significant time commitment of about five to 10 hours a month. But it’s also incredibly important and extremely rewarding work,” said Melynda Jamison, CASA of Lexington’s Executive Director. “We are proud of the work done by all of our volunteers. Receiving recognition from such a high level is welcome and our volunteers deserve it. At the same time, they would be the first to tell you the real reward is helping children find safe, permanent homes and changing their lives forever.”

In 2020, CASA of Lexington’s 235 volunteers spent almost 14,000 hours (583 days) advocating for abused and neglected children. That includes time spent visiting with the children, speaking with adults involved in their lives, writing reports and advocating for the child’s best interests in court.

The PVSA was created in 2003 to “recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity,” according to the PVSA. The award “honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too.”

Barbie Carter, left, and Kristie Epperson are CASA of Lexington’s Volunteers of the Month for March 2021.

Both of CASA of Lexington’s Volunteers of the Month for March got involved out of a desire to make a real difference for vulnerable children in their communities.

“CASA is such a real way to help,” said Barbie Carter, one the Volunteers of the Month. “We get directly involved in the system and get to know the families and children we are helping. And, as a side benefit, being a CASA volunteer helps you understand how our social services and the legal system work for our kids and ways we can get involved to help make it better.”

Carter is a three-year veteran CASA volunteer who has advocated for the best interests of eight children in the Fayette County family court system. She is one of many CASA volunteers who work at Lexmark.

“Barbie is an absolute joy to work with,” said Volunteer Manager Cara MacLeod. “Her passion for her CASA children shines through. Barbie is kind, patient and compassionate. She collaborates well with others to understand what services are available for her CASA children. And she is persistent in making sure they receive the services they need for success.”

Kristie Epperson is also a Volunteer of the Month for March. Epperson was sworn in as a CASA volunteer in October and has already jumped in to make a difference for a child on her first case.

“I was searching for a way to help children in our community outside of my job as a teacher,” Epperson said. “A woman in my Bible study had just finished training to become a CASA volunteer and she was encouraging some of us to sign up. I talked to her about it and decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did!”

Volunteer Manager Liz Noffsinger said Epperson’s attention to detail and well-written court reports have really made a difference for the child on her case.

“The judge said because of Kristie’s court report, she feels as if she knows this child on a more personal level,” Noffsinger said.

CASA volunteers visit with abused and neglected children on a monthly basis. They also interview adults involved in the children’s lives and have access to records concerning the children. They compile reports for family court judges, providing them with a level of detail about the children’s lives that others do not have the time to produce. As a result, judges are better able to order services that benefit the children, and children are half as likely to re-enter foster care after obtaining permanency.

“It is a time investment and some things can be sad to see. But it is also very rewarding because of the people you meet and the ability to make a positive impact in someone’s life,” Carter said. “And these amazing people will definitely make an impact on your life as well!”

Epperson said becoming a CASA volunteer is a great opportunity for someone looking to make a real difference for children.

“You will be an advocate for the best interests of the child. Don’t worry about your abilities,” she added. “You will receive excellent training and will have great support throughout. Do it!”

You still have time to sponsor an abused or neglected child through CASA of Lexington and make Ryan Lemond run a mile.

In case you haven’t seen CASA of Lexington’s virtual Bourbon and the Bayou event yet, Lemond (of Kentucky Sports Radio fame) agreed to run – not walk – 1 mile for every child who is sponsored through March 1.

Ryan emceed the virtual gala with CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison, who pitched the idea of running for kids to Lemond during the Feb. 12 event.

“You’ve got this sneaky little smile on your face. I don’t know what you’ve cooked up here,” Lemond said as Jamison began proposing her friendly challenge.

“I’m thinking before the 2022 Bourbon and the Bayou, you run one mile for every kid who gets a sponsor,” Jamison said. “And maybe you’ll be in some new duds by then!”

“I need to get in a little better shape because of all my COVID weight,” Lemond joked. “So if we sponsor 100 kids, I need to run 100 miles before next year’s Bourbon and the Bayou?”

“That’s right but don’t be a whiner about it,” Jamison joked, before explaining for every mile Lemond ran, she would run.

Jamison, an avid runner, also agreed to train Lemond so he could accomplish the challenge.

“Can I start by walking?” Lemond asked.

“Yes, but those won’t count,” Jamison said with a smile. “You have to start where you’re at.”

A run tracker for Lemond’s progress at meeting the challenge has been set up at casaoflexington.org. Already 43 children were sponsored at $1,000 per child leading up to and during the virtual event. More sponsorships are still coming in. After the March 1 deadline, CASA of Lexington will announce the final number of miles Lemond will have to run.

Normally an in-person “Fat Friday” gala at the Carrick House, the Bourbon and the Bayou event went virtual this year due to the pandemic. The event is CASA of Lexington’s largest single fundraiser each year. It has helped the non-profit provide volunteer advocates for hundreds of abused and neglected children in Fayette, Bourbon, Woodford and Scott counties.

CASA volunteers visit monthly with children who are in family court cases and provide reports to judges, helping them make better informed decisions. Children who receive a CASA volunteer are more likely to receive services they need, more likely to do well in school, and half as likely to re-enter the foster care system after finding a safe, permanent home.

Supporters sponsor children through Bourbon and Bayou by covering the costs associated with giving a child a CASA volunteer for one year – $1,000.

Thanks to generous sponsors and donors and a wildly successful silent auction, this year’s virtual event once again made it possible for well over 100 children to receive advocates. But the pandemic also limited the fundraiser in some important ways, and the fundraising total is currently well below what it was in 2020.

“There are hundreds of abused and neglected children in the family court system right now who would have brighter futures if a CASA volunteer was available to take their case,” Jamison said. “The more people who step up and sponsor a child now, the more of those children we can serve.”

You can sponsor a child by visiting http://bit.ly/BB21-sponsor. You can also watch a recording of the 2021 Bourbon and the Bayou event at https://BandB2021.givesmart.com. And you can keep up with Lemond’s running progress at www.casaoflexington.org.

CASA of Lexington’s February Volunteers of the Month are both in their first year of advocating for abused and neglected children. They chose to speak up for abused and neglected children during one of the most difficult years in recent history, and both say they have found the experience extremely rewarding.

Jenica Hall

“It is extremely heart-wrenching to witness what these children had to endure, but so gratifying when you know you have had a big impact on their life,” Jenica Hall said.

Hall has been a CASA volunteer since June 2020, and she has worked hard on her first case to make sure a teenage girl is getting therapy and can rebuild a healthy relationship with her parents, said Dennis Stutsman, Hall’s Volunteer Manager.

“Jenica has worked to make sure the child feels safe in her placement, and has assistance in meeting her goals for her educational and future employment plans,” Stutsman said. “Jenica has been a great support in helping her teen to advocate for herself in maintaining independence as she charts her own life forward.”

Hall said she heard about CASA of Lexington from a friend, Crystal Shepard. Despite the pandemic, she signed up for CASA volunteer training and completed CASA of Lexington’s virtual training course over the summer.

“What I have found to be the most rewarding is I am advocating for these children when they cannot, and helping them have more opportunities and resources they may not have had before,” she said. “CASA is the most rewarding organization I have ever been a part of!”

Terri Potter, also a CASA Volunteer of the Month for February, said she is also very glad she made the decision to volunteer.

Terri Potter

“After retiring from teaching, I was looking for a volunteer experience in which I could help children and allow me to have a flexible schedule,” she said. “I had a friend who was fostering a child and was working with a CASA. She explained what a CASA did and how important that was for children who are in the court system.”

Potter reaches one year of CASA volunteering this month, and she just closed her first case. She has already been assigned to another.

“I have been grateful to be an advocate for children who aren’t able to advocate for themselves, and hopefully help families find the best possible outcomes for their unique situation,” she said. “I was hesitant at first because several people I talked with thought volunteering as a CASA might be depressing. I am new at this, but what I’ve found so far is that there are so many really good people – like social workers, judges, attorneys and others – who are doing their best every day to help children in Kentucky. I find that uplifting!”

Potter’s Volunteer Manager Kyrsten Adkins said she is kind, patient and objective.

“She recently had a case that included cultural and language barriers, but Terri collaborated with numerous parties to ensure those barriers were being addressed,” Adkins said. “I believe if Terri had not been involved, working closely with a parent, relatives and others, this case would have had a different outcome. Her determination and hard work kept this case from falling through the cracks. It’s not often that when a case closes, an attorney who represents a parent thanks the CASA for their dedication to the child and family, but in this case, that’s exactly what happened.”

CASA of Lexington was able to train Hall and dozens of other new volunteers in 2020 thanks to a new 100% online training curriculum that keeps everyone safe while they learn how to advocate for children’s best interests. CASA of Lexington’s next online training begins Feb. 23; another round of trainings are slated to begin in April. For more information, email info@casaoflexington.org.

Jillian Kyde

“What is put in the mind of a child is most definitely what comes out in the life of an adult.”

This is what drives Jillian Kyde daily and led her to join CASA of Lexington’s Board in 2018, where she chairs Bourbon and the Bayou, CASA of Lexington’s largest fundraiser. This will be Jillian’s third year helping with this incredible event. Last year, Bourbon and the Bayou reached new heights, raising over $200,000, which provided for 200 CASA advocates. This year, she is coordinating a virtual version of the event and raising as much money as possible for the essential CASA advocates helping the vulnerable children in Fayette, Bourbon, Woodford and Scott counties.

Delivering exceptional service and one-of-a-kind experiences is in Jillian’s blood. Due to this, Jillian traveled the world professionally as a corporate event planner, planning high-end corporate incentives, events and meetings in places such as Tuscany, Barbados, Pebble Beach and Scotland. Jillian also specialized in corporate compassion events and team builds benefiting small grassroots charities such as Project Shero. Her work caught the attention of hotel executives for the City Center complex in Las Vegas, where she had them build custom bicycles for children in their community who had never owned their own bicycle.

Prior to moving to Kentucky, Jillian also worked as Director of Sales for the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Las Vegas, and opened Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas as their Executive Director of Sales, helping shape their team culture of giving back.

Three years ago Jillian left her home state and moved to her husband’s home state of Kentucky with their two sons. Jillian volunteered with CASA of Las Vegas for over a decade, along with many other philanthropic efforts near and dear to her heart. As a freelance hotel consultant, she stepped into temporary Director of Sales roles so New York City hoteliers could take maternity leaves. She is passionate about keeping mothers in the workforce and ensuring they can feel confident their work will be handled while they enjoy bonding time with their babies.

Jillian began working with CASA of Lexington after hearing Executive Director Melynda Jamison speak at a conference in Florida.

Hard work, drive, perseverance, innovation and creativity have always been who Jillian is. While her professional experiences have been incredible and plentiful, her family has always been top of her inspiration and priority lists. In 2020, Jillian and her husband welcomed their third son while helping their elementary aged sons navigate virtual learning. The hardest part of COVID beyond the devastation to the world and her beloved hospitality industry has been worrying about the children who are not in safe homes and where the gap in education and mental health is taking place at unprecedented levels.

Jillian’s goal with her CASA work has always been to help as many children as possible break cycles of abuse and neglect and find loving and stable environments that are not only permanent but will help them thrive.

Beyond CASA, Jillian also serves as the Advisory Board Chairman for the Kappa Alpha Theta Chapter at University of Kentucky. As the national philanthropy for Theta, it was actually Theta that led Jillian to learn about CASA over 20 years ago, and led her to something she feels extremely passionate about to this day. Jillian also loves mentoring college women and seeing their dreams become reality. Multiple Theta women have become CASA advocates and volunteers each year, and Jillian feels strongly that her volunteer time is best spent helping the youth in any community that she finds herself in.

CASA of Lexington’s signature Mardis Gras event, Bourbon and the Bayou, has gone virtual this year, providing an opportunity to enjoy the experience of a private bourbon tasting event from the comfort of your own home.

The virtual party on Feb. 12 will feature a Bourbon education and tasting segment led by Sommelier Tim Knittel with Distilled Living. Knittel is a Kentucky bourbon industry insider with over 10 years of experience in bourbon education and event design.

The 2021 Bourbon and the Bayou virtual event, presented by Community Trust Bank, is free to attend and also features fun videos, opportunities to sponsor abused and neglected children in central Kentucky, and a silent auction. Those who wish to participate in the Bourbon education and tasting can enhance the experience by purchasing a Bourbon tasting kit on the event website, BandB2021.givesmart.com.

The kit includes a bottle of Old Limestone Mixing Water, two Woodford Reserve Bourbon balls from Ruth Hunt Candies, one Glencairn glass, two gift cards for entrees at Bourbon n’ Toulouse, a flavor wheel, a tasting mat and CASA of Lexington Mardi Gras beads.

Bourbon is not included; attendees are encouraged to purchase mini-bourbon bottles from their favorite liquor store. Knittel’s bourbon selection for the event is Jim Beam Black, Knob Creek and Four Roses Single Barrel.

All proceeds from the event benefit CASA of Lexington, a nonprofit that trains and supervises volunteer advocates who speak up for abused and neglected children in family court.

“We are following up 2020’s record-setting year for Bourbon and the Bayou with another first – a virtual event that anyone can attend,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington. “The fun looks different this year, but it will still be a whole lot of fun for a good cause.”

Another exciting part of the event is a silent auction that goes live Jan. 29 on the event website. The auction includes some blockbuster items, such as a week-long rental of a house in Jamaica and signed items from some big Kentucky Basketball names.

The Bourbon and the Bayou event will be held over Zoom. You can join the night of the event by visiting bit.ly/BandB2021, by visiting casaoflexington.org/bourbon-and-the-bayou, or by visiting BandB2021.givesmart.com. You can also receive it in your email by RSVPing to info@casaoflexington.org.

The auction will end at 9 p.m. on Feb. 12, shortly after the virtual event concludes. CASA of Lexington will go live on Facebook as the auction closes to announce winners and how many abused and neglected children were sponsored during the event.

It costs about $1,000 to provide a child with a CASA volunteer for one year – less than half the cost of a month in foster care. CASA volunteers work to ensure children receive services, are not re-traumatized and can return to safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible.

Last year, Bourbon and the Bayou attendees sponsored more than 80 children, helping ensure CASA of Lexington could continue providing services uninterrupted during one of the most difficult years many have experienced.

Because of the virtual format this year, CASA of Lexington is encouraging those who wish to sponsor a child to sign up early on the event website. Updates on the number of children sponsored will be shared on CASA of Lexington’s social media channels, @CASAofLexington.

“There are hundreds of children in the family court system right now who could benefit from having a CASA volunteer,” Jamison said. “If you support us through Bourbon and the Bayou, you are helping improve the future for children right here at home.”

IF YOU GO

Bourbon and the Bayou, presented by Community Trust Bank, will be held virtually over Zoom on Feb. 12. A bourbon education segment led by Tim Knittel with Distilled Living will begin at 6:30 p.m. The Bourbon and the Bayou video party will last from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Bourbon tasting kits for the event can be purchased for $50 on the event website, BandB.givesmart.com. The website also features mask-making kits for kids, silent auction items, a link to join the live event and the ability to sponsor an abused or neglected child for $1,000.

ONLINE

Bourbon and the Bayou Website: BandB2021.givesmart.com

CASA of Lexington Facebook: facebook.com/CASAofLexington

Link to join Zoom on Feb. 12: https://bit.ly/BandB2021

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. According to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, known vulnerabilities may be recent relocation, substance use, mental health concerns, involvement with the child welfare system, and being a runaway or homeless youth. About one in four trafficking victims are children and the average age is 14.

National CASA/GAL provides training resources for CASA and GAL staff and volunteers to help recognize and advocate for human trafficking and child exploitation victims:

Child Trafficking: Recognizing the Risks and Signs

Child Trafficking: Knowledge for Working with Survivors

Advocating for Trafficked and High-Risk Child and Youth Victims

CASA of Lexington’s two Volunteers of the Month for January both resolved to help abused children in their communities after hearing about the need for Court-Appointed Special Advocates.

Ruth Walker heard about CASA of Lexington after hearing about the organization at her church.

Ruth Walker

“It sounded like a good fit because I could volunteer and still maintain other commitments and travel with my husband,” she said.

A year and a half after completing her training, Walker has been named a Volunteer of the Month because of her dedication to helping a child in a difficult situation.

“Ruth is doing extraordinary work on her first CASA case,” said Dennis Stutsman, Walker’s Volunteer Manager. “Ruth has steadfastly advocated for her child, learning about developmental stages for a youth who identifies as transgender, advocating for cultural connection and a full exploration of potential extended family caregivers, and leaving no stone unturned in the quest for an appropriate placement.”

Walker said she likes that by serving as a CASA volunteer she can “change the trajectory of a child’s future,” and that she has support from “extraordinary people” throughout the system to help her do it.

“As a CASA volunteer, I have had the opportunity to positively influence the life of a child,” she said. “Though it is eye-opening to bear witness to the enormous needs of neglected and/or abused children and suffering families, it is rewarding to be a resource for them.”

Debra Gabbard is also a Volunteer of the Month for January; she said she got involved with CASA after a friend asked that people do good deeds in memory of a child who passed away.

“The same day, I received a note about a new class to train advocates for CASA,” she said. “I made the call the same day. It seemed to be destiny.”

Stutsman, who is also Gabbard’s Volunteer Manager, said Gabbard is an all-star volunteer who is currently working three cases; most volunteers work one case at a time.

“Debra is patient, persistent, thorough and always sensitive to the family relationships that complicate her kids’ lives,” Stutsman said. “She is a vocal advocate for what is first and foremost the best outcome possible for her kids.”

Debra Gabbard

“I have done a lot of volunteer work, but nothing that I have ever done has compared to the rewards that I receive from working with my CASA kids,” Gabbard said. “I currently have three cases, with children in many different foster homes ranging in age from toddlers to teenagers. Each case is different, but similar in the fact that we are focusing on what is best for the child to grow up in a safe and permanent home.”

Gabbard has also told her friends and coworkers about CASA of Lexington and talked about why she volunteers, which has led five other people to become CASA volunteers, as well.

“I credit that to not as much what I’ve done or said, but just being blessed with really amazing friends and coworkers who want to make a difference in a child’s life,” she said. “For most of the people I speak with, they are not concerned with the time it will take, but how difficult it will be to have a close relationship with a child who has been abused or neglected to the degree that we see.”

Gabbard has been a CASA volunteer more than two and a half years. During that time, she has advocated for eight children. This is her second time being named a Volunteer of the Month.

CASA volunteers are trained by CASA of Lexington staff and then appointed to cases of child abuse and neglect by a family court judge. They become friends to the children on their cases, and they provide insights and verify information, which helps inform the judge’s decisions.

CASA volunteers are often assigned to some of the most difficult cases of abuse and neglect. But their work helps get services to those children -- and helps them return to permanent, safe and loving homes.

“Honestly, it is hard, but this is going on every single day,” Gabbard said. “There’s a child waiting for someone to speak up for them. I have never regretted for a single moment my decision to help these children.”

Chris Hoskins is one of the longest serving members on CASA of Lexington's Board of Directors. Having served on the Board since 2015, he has been a part of the organization's impressive growth over the past six years, including expansion from Fayette into Bourbon, Woodford and now Scott counties.

"I was born and raised in Woodford County, so it really means a lot that we now serve a community that has given so much to me," he said.

Hoskins lives in downtown Lexington and is a partner at Jackson Kelly PLLC, where he specializes in equine and construction law.

"I had never heard of CASA until a friend suggested I get involved and serve on the board," he said. "Now, everyone knows about CASA, which is a testament to (Executive Director) Melynda (Jamison), the CASA team, and the volunteers' passion for an unduplicated resource that makes a real difference in our community."

Hoskins' mother is actively involved in CASA as well and has served as a CASA volunteer for several years.

"As a pediatric oncology nurse at UK for more than 40 years and an advocate for that cause, she is passionate about making a difference in our community," he said. "And CASA is one of her true passions."

Hoskins is in his second term as a CASA board member; his current term ends in June.

Every person who buys a car from a Dan Cummins dealership in 2021 will also be helping abused and neglected children in central Kentucky. 

Through the 2021 Dan Cummins Cares program, a portion from each vehicle purchase at the Cummins’ families three central Kentucky dealerships will be donated to CASA of Lexington. The nonprofit trains and supports hundreds of community volunteers who serve as advocates, friends and role models for some of the area’s most at-risk children. 

“The Cummins family has long supported CASA’s efforts to help abused children find safe, permanent homes and give them the childhoods they deserve,” said Josh Cummins. “Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, we are taking that commitment to our communities’ kids to the next level. We have set a goal for this program of raising $100,000 for CASA of Lexington.” 

That money will allow CASA of Lexington to further grow its number of advocates and serve hundreds more children in central Kentucky, said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director. 

“It also means the thousands of people who buy a Dan Cummins vehicle every year will learn a little bit about how many children right here in our local community are in need,” she said. “There are more than 2,000 abused or neglected children in our four counties with cases before a judge right now. We served close to 600 of those children in 2020; there are hundreds more who need an advocate.” 

The Cummins family have been major sponsors for multiple CASA of Lexington fundraisers. They have also been instrumental in helping CASA of Lexington expand its services beyond Fayette County. The organization now also serves children in Bourbon, Woodford and Scott counties. 

By committing to significant, recurring financial support, the Cummins family has also become CASA of Lexington’s first Sustaining Partner. 

“CASA of Lexington has no guaranteed funding from any source. As funding levels from federal and state grants change, it will become more important for CASA to find Sustaining Partners who want to see positive change in their community,” Jamison said. “We’re thrilled that we have found our first Sustaining Partner in the Cummins family.” 

Josh Cummins said donations will be taken from the proceeds of each vehicle sale after the purchase is complete. 

“We are giving to make a difference. We are giving because it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “Hopefully when our customers drive their new cars home, they will feel good knowing their purchase helped kids in need.” 

About the Cummins Family 

The Cummins Family owns three dealerships in central Kentucky: Dan Cummins Chevrolet Buick of Paris, Dan Cummins Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Paris, and Dan Cummins Chevrolet Buick Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Georgetown. The dealerships are open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. Dan Cummins Chevrolet Buick of Paris is located at 1020 MLK Jr. Boulevard in Paris and the phone number is (877) 661-2805. Dan Cummins Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Paris is located at 2021 Alverson Dr. in Paris and the phone number is (859) 740-0352. Dan Cummins Chevrolet Buick Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Georgetown is located at 1470 Cherry Blossom Way in Georgetown and the phone number is (502) 947-6760. You can find out more about their dealerships at www.dancummins.com. 

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:

1. 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.

2. To support CASA of Lexington with your donation, write "CASA of Lexington Endowed Fund" in field J of your form.

3. 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