Oscar and Matilda are stars of the new children’s book, “Oscar’s Family,” which teaches children about family and introduces them to what CASA volunteers do for kids.

What does it mean to have a family? And who is part of your family? Oscar, a loveable and curious little boy, learns there’s much more to family than he thought in a new children’s picture book written and illustrated by two Kentucky residents.

“Oscar’s Family” is a brightly illustrated, 36-page book available now directly from CASA of Lexington or through Amazon. It follows Oscar as he gets to draw a picture of his family at school, and then learns from his foster mom how lots of people count as his family — whether or not they look like him or live with him.

Along the way, you meet Oscar’s CASA volunteer, Liz, and her certified courthouse facility dog Matilda.

“’Oscar’s Family’ is first of all a story about discovering just how many people care about you, which is a message all kids need to hear,” said the author, Melynda Jamison. “Kids and families can also learn about CASA along the way. CASA is a court program essential to improving the futures of so many children, but it’s also relatively unknown to many people.”

Jamison, a Perryville native, is Executive Director of CASA of Lexington, the largest CASA organization in Kentucky. She said “Oscar’s Family” is a fun read for any kid and their parents.

“Even children who have a loving, stable home will encounter friends at school and in the community who are not so lucky,” Jamison said. “’Oscar’s Family’ introduces all children to the idea that families can look very different, and that’s a good thing!”

“Oscar’s Family” was illustrated by Matthew Walden, a Lexington resident who has also crafted unique superhero characters for CASA of Lexington’s annual Superhero Run.

“Telling the visual side of ‘Oscar’s Family’ was an exciting opportunity, because I was given much freedom with style, colors, and design, as well as the interpretations of characters and the emotions underlying their words and actions,” Walden said. “Illustrating ‘Oscar’s Family’ was also an opportunity to use my time and talents to help put something good into the world, to add beauty that might enrich the lives of others and inspire them to think in new ways about what love and family mean. It’s my own way to join in the kind of work which CASA does so well.”

While all the other characters are fictional, Oscar’s teacher, Mrs. Best; his CASA Volunteer, Liz; and her dog, Matilda, are all based on real people. Mrs. Best taught elementary school children in Jamison’s hometown of Perryville for 49 years, and just recently retired. Liz and Matilda are members of the CASA of Lexington staff — Liz Noffsinger is a Volunteer Manager and Canine Handler and Matilda is Kentucky’s only certified courthouse facility dog, now in her fourth year of service.

“Matilda has helped countless Kentucky children, whether they have CASA volunteers or not,” Noffsinger said. “She has traveled all over the state, helping kids testify in court and going on home visits to help put children at ease. Matilda is a helper at heart, and now she gets to help every kid who reads ‘Oscar’s Family!’”

All proceeds from sales of “Oscar’s Family” will benefit CASA of Lexington in its mission to ensure all children in central Kentucky have a safe, permanent home. CASA of Lexington is on Facebook and Instagram as @CASAofLexington. Walden is on Instagram as @mdaileywalden.

Buy Oscar's Family Online

"Oscar's Family" is available directly from CASA of Lexington at https://bit.ly/oscarsfamily or on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3QGGeYz.

Since her parents were also foster parents, Loretta Craft grew up seeing what foster children had been through. 

CASA Volunteer Loretta Craft

So when her former boss told her about the CASA program in Bourbon County, Craft signed up. 

“I want to be able to help children that are in the foster care system and CASA gives me the option to do so,” she said. “The most rewarding part of being a CASA volunteer is getting to know the children that I am serving. I enjoy learning about them as a person — their likes, their dislikes.” 

Craft has served as a CASA volunteer for nearly two years, and she has excelled in the position, said Gudrun Allen, Craft’s Volunteer Manager. Because of her excellent work for children, Craft has been named a CASA volunteer of the Month for the Bourbon County CASA program. 

“She is persistent, and she also handles changes on her case with a calm and gentle manner,” Allen said. “She is an excellent advocate for children’s educational and therapeutic needs.” 

As a CASA volunteer, Craft is matched with abused or neglected children in the Bourbon County family court system. She visits the child she is matched with frequently, showing the child that someone cares and giving the child hope for the future. She also talks with everyone involved in the child’s life and checks to see if the child is getting all the medical and educational care they need. 

Craft brings everything she learns back to Bourbon family court Judge Lisa Hunt Morgan and everyone else involved in the child’s case. Her reports make it easier for Morgan to order services the child needs.  

CASA volunteers typically spend 5-10 hours a month volunteering and commit to 2 years of service. One CASA volunteer improves outcomes for two children every year, on average. 

Craft said serving as a CASA volunteer is rewarding because she can actually change the life of a child in need. 

“We can be the child’s safe haven from the neglect and pain they have felt — or just a friend to spend time with,” she said. 

To learn more about the CASA program in Bourbon County or to inquire about becoming a volunteer, email bourboncounty@casaoflexington.org or call (859) 246-4313. 

Dr. Tim Scott was a family doctor for 40 years, but since retiring he has discovered a new way to help families: Serving as a CASA volunteer. 

CASA Volunteer Tim Scott

“A lot of times, I would get to know different people from a family in my office, but it was not often I would see them in their home,” Scott, a Jessamine County resident, said. 

Scott became a CASA volunteer in 2021, after his good friend Kevin Eby, who is also a CASA volunteer, let him know about the program. 

Scott has exceled in developing relationships with the children he serves and been a strong advocate for their medical needs, said Cara MacLeod, Scott’s Volunteer Manager. For those reasons, Scott was named a Volunteer of the Month for August by the Jessamine County CASA program. 

“I appreciate his attention to detail and his knowledge of child development and family dynamics,” MacLeod said. “He is an instrumental part of CASA in Jessamine County.” 

As a CASA volunteer, Scott is matched with abused or neglected children in the Jessamine County family court system. He visits the child he is matched with frequently, show the child that someone cares and giving the child hope for the future. He also talks with everyone involved in the child’s life and checks to see if the child is getting all the medical and educational care they need. 

Scott brings everything he learns back to Jessamine family court Judge Jeff Moss and everyone else involved in the child’s case. His reports make it easier for Moss to order services the child needs.  

CASA volunteers typically spend 5-10 hours a month volunteering and commit to 2 years of service. One CASA volunteer improves outcomes for two children every year, on average. 

Scott said he volunteers because he had not previously known how big a problem child abuse and neglect is in Kentucky. He also does it because helping people in need is part of his faith. 

“This is a very concrete way of making a difference,” he said.   

To learn more about the Jessamine County CASA program or to inquire about becoming a CASA volunteer, email jessaminecounty@casaoflexington.org or call (859) 246-4313.

Andrea Miller is the new Lincoln County representative on the CASA of Lexington Board of Directors. She is also the director of the Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce.

CASA of Lexington Board Member Andrea Miller

CASA: How did you first learn about CASA of Lexington?

Andrea: I was on the CASA board for Lincoln County when it was with Pulaski and my brother is a social worker ,so I've known about CASA for a long time.

CASA: What do you do with the Lincoln County Chamber?

Andrea: I try to get businesses engaged with the community and plan community events and advocate for our community. I've been there 22 years.

CASA: What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Andrea: Competitive dancing — ballroom and country western dancing. And baking!

CASA: What is your proudest accomplishment?

Andrea: Probably my kids. One has her own interior design business, one works at Lincoln Manufacturing and one is a media specialist for advertising in Tennessee. But it's who they are as people more than anything else.

CASA: What would you like to say to CASA of Lexington's volunteers?

Andrea: Thank you! I can't imagine what you see and what you hear, but thank you for making a difference in the lives of the children you work with.

Stuart Hurt is one of CASA of Lexington’s newest board members. He runs House by JSD Designs and is the adoptive parent of children who had a CASA volunteer!

CASA Board Member Stuart Hurt

CASA: How did you first learn about CASA of Lexington?

Stuart: I first learned of CASA through an anonymous friend, who helped myself and my husband get a CASA volunteer very early in our Fostering tenure.

CASA: What do you do where you work - House by JSD Designs?

Stuart: I am Owner/Operator and one of the Lead Interior Designers for our company. I like to focus on design and construction, but also put many hours into the physical store, taking care of inventory, accounts payable and ordering the products we sell in our retail store.

CASA: What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Stuart: Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my daughter and husband, as well as having gatherings at our home. On solo time, I am a cycle instructor at CycleYOU Lexington, and when I can, I get away to the lake for some reflection and down time.

CASA: What is your proudest accomplishment?

Stuart: Honestly, I try to make myself proud every day by accomplishing even the smallest tasks after a busy work day. In my career, I was proud to have been in the first group to gain the CID Certification for Interior Design, and also pushing myself past my own comfort level to own and operate my own business. 

Raising my daughter is also making me proud — and teaching me a lot about the life I already thought I knew, but I would not change it for anything.  

CASA: What would you like to say to CASA of Lexington's volunteers?

Stuart: I would like to say that your work is seen. YOU are making an impact to those you may not know, and to those whom know your face, you may very well be the only truth they know. KEEP GOING!

CASA Volunteer Olivia Mattox

Olivia Mattox was nearing graduation from the University of Kentucky in 2020 when a long-time friend and sorority sister came to her and suggested she become a CASA volunteer.

“She knows I love children and I have a heart for helping kids,” Olivia said. “She told me, ‘I don’t know what you’re doing after college, but if you’re interested, I think you would make an amazing CASA volunteer.”

Olivia’s friend, Megan Campbell, was already a CASA volunteer with CASA of Lexington. Olivia signed up for CASA volunteer training after graduation and was sworn in during the summer of 2021. She made a new friend in training and the two were assigned to work a case together.

Olivia visited the children on their case regularly, even when the children were placed in different homes so it meant multiple visits each month.

"Olivia helped gather records from more than six schools the children had attended, as well as from multiple medical and therapeutic providers," said Melynda Jamison, CASA of Lexington Executive Director. "She earned the respect of professionals on the case for her thoroughness in information gathering. She also earned the respect of the children's mother, who appreciated how she developed relationships with the children."

Because of her hard work on behalf of children over the past 10 months, Olivia has been named one of CASA of Lexington's Volunteers of the Month for July.

Olivia said she likes how serving as a CASA volunteer helps her see things from different perspectives.

"It forces you to look at situations with a different lens," she said. "And I think that's something that not everybody can do."

Olivia is also a professional nanny, something she loves because she gets to work with children all day. She's glad she has also found CASA so she can do even more for kids in need.

"If you are bored with your day-to-day and you want a purpose, and if you want to help kids but you don't know how, I would recommend CASA," she said. "I wish I had known about it sooner."

CASA: How did you first learn about CASA of Lexington?

Kasey: I first learned about CASA through Lexington Police Det. Tyler Chelf who used to serve on the board. When he began law school, he asked who would like to fill his position. I volunteered after he told me what CASA was all about!

CASA: What is your role with Lexington police?

Kasey: I have been with Lexington Police Department since October of 2015. I have been a Crimes Against Children Detective for almost three years now. I am the only runaway/missing juvenile detective on the department but also still work abuse cases when needed. Fun fact: you have to spend three years on patrol before you can interview for a specialized position. It was my goal from day one to join the Special Victims Sections. When I was on patrol, my beat was the area surrounding the CASA office!

CASA: What do you like about serving as a CASA of Lexington board member?

Kasey: I have loved learning all the aspects of CASA and how we help children day-to-day. It has been nice seeing how some of the cases we investigate are positively affected by the CASA volunteer assigned. We all unfortunately see and hear terrible things, but it’s nice to know we have a common goal in helping these victims. I did not know much about CASA before joining the board position and I have enjoyed educating others about CASA now that I am part of it!

CASA: What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Kasey: Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my husband and dogs. My husband and I have known each other since the seventh grade! We have three rescue dogs; a German shepherd, a tripod-pitbull mix and a blind/deaf pug. We like to go camping, hiking, fishing, and of course eating! I love trying new restaurants and all kinds of food. However, right now we are anxiously house prepping and life prepping for our first baby on the way. Ms. Salem Virginia is set to make her arrival on Sept. 23!

CASA: What would you like to say to CASA of Lexington's volunteers?

Kasey: Hearing all the horrific stories and situations these children go through has really made me realize how blessed I am in this life. Being part of CASA has made me so thankful there are people out there fighting for these kids when no one else is. To the volunteers, I’d just like to say thank you! We do the Superhero Run every year for the kids, but you all are superheroes too. Thank you for your time, patience and resilience in helping these kids time and time again.

CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison, right, presents CASA volunteer Kelley Sloane with the nonprofit’s first ever Volunteer Achievement Award for her dedication to a single CASA case over eight years.

For the better part of a decade, Thomas had no permanent home. Different adults cycled in and out of his life as he was moved around in the foster system to more than 20 different placements.

Often, children stuck in foster care for such a long time like Thomas never regain permanency.

Jamison speaks about Sloane’s dedication to her volunteer work.

“The likelihood of adoption drops the older a child gets,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington. “All too often, the story ends with a child aging out, becoming an adult without ever finding a permanent family.”

But that’s not the way the story ended for Thomas, whose name has been changed to protect his privacy. He was adopted eight years after his case was first opened in Fayette County family court.

“Thomas’ adoption was no accident. It was made possible in large part thanks to his CASA volunteer, Kelley Sloane,” Jamison said.

To honor Sloane for her dedication to helping Thomas, and for serving as a CASA volunteer for 10 years, CASA of Lexington gave her its first ever Volunteer Achievement Award.

Sloane was nominated for the award by CASA of Lexington Program Manager Jenifer Bahr, who supervised Sloane on her case.

“Kelley has gone above and beyond as a CASA volunteer,” Bahr said. “Kelley was not only a consistent presence in (Thomas’) life, she never stopped advocating for his best interest. She maintained consistent contact with everyone involved in the case and was not afraid to disagree with a recommendation when she knew it would not be what was best for the child.”

CASA volunteers are trained community members who typically spend 5-10 hours a month advocating for abused and neglected children. CASA volunteers visit with their assigned children regularly, talk to adults involved in the children’s lives and provide reports and recommendations to the judge on the case.

CASA volunteers often gather information no one else has the time to gather. Their reports help judges order more services and return children to safe permanent homes.

Sloane, who is currently taking a deserved break from volunteering, was presented with her Volunteer Achievement Award at a swearing in for new CASA volunteers May 24. The new volunteers had just completed their initial 30-hour training.

Jamison said Sloane logged more than 450 hours of volunteer work throughout the eight years she was appointed to advocate for Thomas.

“Those are just the documented hours,” Jamison said, adding that Sloane certainly contributed many more hours that didn’t get counted.

“Kelley was the only constant this young man had through his journey,” Jamison said.

While accepting the award, Sloane told the new CASA volunteers waiting to be sworn in that they were setting off on a “very rewarding journey” that is also “at times very difficult.”

“You’re going to see a lot that is heartbreaking sometimes,” she said. “And sometimes you’re going to feel like you can’t do everything you want to do.”

But, she added, if you stick with it, the rewards of serving as a CASA volunteer are priceless.

Sloane said she was recently visiting Thomas, who remains a close friend even after his case closed with a successful adoption.

“He said, ‘You know, I’m not sure I ever told you this, but I just want you to know how important you are to me, that you have followed me everywhere I’ve been.”

Sloane encouraged the new volunteers to also be there for children who need to know someone cares about them.

“You are always doing more than you probably think you are,” she said.

CASA volunteer Misty Green

At her day job, Misty Green is a patient care advocate. When she’s not at work, she becomes a different kind of advocate: a CASA volunteer.

Green has advocated for abused and neglected children as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer for four and a half years, helping an incredible 18 children during that time.

“Her background in the medical field, combined with her insight as a parent, have really helped her connect with her kids and caregivers,” said Dennis Stutsman, Green’s Volunteer Manager at CASA of Lexington. “She has special insight into strengthening educational progress and resolving medical issues which threaten safety and stability.”

Because of her hard work, CASA of Lexington named Green one of its Volunteers of the Month for June.

Green said she first heard about CASA on social media, and when she read more about what CASA volunteers do, “I knew I had to be a part of this!”

“I enjoy building relationships with my kiddos and being a consistent part of their life during the case,” she said, “My goal is to see the children in a safe, stable home.”

Green said it takes a lot of patience to be a CASA volunteer.

“You have to stick in there,” she said. “The kids depend on you.”

CASA of Lexington has volunteers with all kinds of different backgrounds, said Melynda Jamison, CASA of Lexington’s Executive Director. The nonprofit learns each volunteer’s unique background and skillset and works to match them with children in the family court system they can effectively advocate for, she said.

“We have teachers assigned to cases where education is a major concern and nurses assigned to cases where children have unique health needs,” Jamison said. “But we also have many more cases where the big need is simply for an outside perspective from a regular person whose goal is solely to help that child  have a better future.”

CASA volunteers spend about 5-10 hours a month volunteering. They visit the child on their case monthly, talk to adults involved in the child’s life and provide reports to the judge. Those reports can catch things others have not had the time to see, and they help ensure children are getting services and can be returned to safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible.

Stutsman said Green has been excellent at working to reunify the children on her cases with their biological families whenever safely possible.

“She is a calm, objective and patient CASA who is able to work as well with parents and relatives as she does with children,” he said.

New CASA of Lexington volunteers are sworn in by Fayette County family court Judge Lucinda Masterton, fourth from left at the CASA of Lexington office May 24.

Fifteen central Kentucky residents were sworn in as the area’s newest CASA volunteers May 24.

The Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers can now begin to advocate for abused and neglected children in the local family court systems served by CASA of Lexington.

Those sworn in are Kaylee Babb, Jennie Berk, Rader Bolling, Sherill Durham-Sanders, Robert Fisher, Yelena Litvin, Melissa Martin, Lee Meyer, Devonte Patterson, Kimberly Reeder, Grace Ross, Emma Sandrock, Jessica Schroeder, Dana Smith and Emma Stone.

 “Without you as volunteers, we could not exist,” said CASA of Lexington board member Maynard Crossland during the swearing in ceremony. “You are about to embark on a journey of hard work and wonder.”

Fayette County family court Judge Lucinda Masterton swore in the new class of volunteers, telling them they are needed by the court system to help children.

There are many abused and neglected children in the system right now who have suffered trauma, and who feel like they are being forgotten about, Masterton said.

“These kids need someone like you so badly,” she said. “They believe nobody cares about them. They believe nobody is paying attention to them. It is so vital that they have somebody who will be there for them.”

Masterton shared the story of one young boy who had extremely bad behavior, to the point that “it looked like everybody was going to give up on him.” But his CASA volunteer recognized that the child had significant hearing problems — in fact, he was deaf, she said.

The child was given implants to help him hear and he began learning American Sign Language.

“He is kind of a normal kid now. Now he’s got a real life,” Masterton said. “And the only reason he has a real life is because of that CASA. She saved that child’s life.”

The new volunteers all completed a 30-hour training class prior to their swearing in. The class taught them about the effects of trauma on children, how the local courts and criminal justice system works, how to advocate for the needs of LGBTQ+ children, racial disproportionality in the foster care system, how to write court reports and more.

Now, the volunteers will be matched with cases of abused and neglected children and begin spending 5-10 hours a month, on average, working their cases. They will visit with the children monthly, talk to adults involved in the children’s lives, and prepare reports for the judge that include recommendations on what actions would be in the child’s best interests.

After the class was sworn in by Judge Masterton, each was presented with their CASA volunteer badge and family and friends who attended the ceremony gave them a warm round of applause.

UPCOMING VOLUNTEER TRAININGS

CASA of Lexington is offering a summer training for new volunteers that runs for a single week, June 27-July 1. Classes are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday. CASA of Lexington’s fall training will be Sept. 7 to Oct. 19, with classes on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and a pair of Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To see full training schedules and learn more, visit www.casaoflexington.org/training.

CASA volunteer Cynthia Phillips

Cynthia Phillips never heard of CASA volunteers until it seemed like someone was standing up the president of her restaurant company for an important meeting.

Phillips had flown with her president to Indiana to meet with managers of some restaurants the company had just acquired. One of the managers was late.

“I thought that was pretty bold to be late for a meeting with the president of the company that had just acquired you,” she said.

But when the manager arrived, he explained he had been in court, advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children.

That caught Phillips’ attention. When she got back to Lexington, she looked into the local Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program and signed up to become a volunteer herself.

“I found out the company I worked for was a big supporter of CASA, which I hadn’t known,” she said. “So they were very supportive of my work.”

More than 13 years later, Phillips is now retired from her job, but she has continued to serve as a CASA volunteer. She is one of CASA of Lexington’s longest-serving volunteers and has advocated for countless children. And this month, she has also been named one of the nonprofit’s Volunteers of the Month.

“In each case she takes, she is objective, taking each family as she finds them and looking to identify and build strength and stability,” said Dennis Stutsman, Phillips’ Volunteer Manager. “She has empathetically worked cases involving poverty, neglect, physically excessive discipline, cultural issues, educational neglect, and parental neglect and abuse due to mental illness and substance misuse.”

Stutsman said even on cases where parents are making no progress and it’s clear it will be impossible to reunify the family, “Cynthia finds a way to communicate empathetically and to encourage them toward making decisions in their children’s best interest.”

“She truly represents what is best about CASA as an advocate for children, but also understanding that children’s best interests are intertwined with the humanity of imperfect parents.”

Jonathan Shell is CASA of Lexington's newest board member, providing representation from Garrard County. His first CASA board meeting was in April.

CASA: How did you first learn about CASA of Lexington?

Shell: My wife Brooke and I have been involved over the years doing what we can to help kids in need and supporting families who step up to care for Kentucky’s kids. That’s why CASA caught my eye. 

CASA: Why do you serve as a CASA of Lexington board member?

Shell: CASA is doing work that is making a tangible difference in the life of kids. I’m proud to be a part of that effort. 

CASA: Tell us about your work/career.

Shell: I’m spending most of my time at “the office,” which is either my tractor in the field or in our family’s green houses. 

CASA: What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Shell: Spending that time with my kids. My two boys are into video games and also baseball right now. I love watching my two girls dance. If I can find time I like getting in a good workout, too. 

CASA: What would you like to say to CASA of Lexington's volunteers?

Shell: Their work is changing lives and this entire region appreciates their work.

CASA of Lexington named Betsy Paulding and Martha Thompson Volunteers of the Month for May 2022. The volunteers earned their awards for the work they are doing advocating on behalf of abused and neglected children.

Thompson has had the same CASA case for about five a half years — much longer than a typical case runs.

“Martha has been a steady, consistent advocate,” said Dennis Stutsman, her Volunteer Manager. “While a five-plus-year engagement is not easy for any CASA, she has regularly driven out-of-state and around the state just to maintain the engagement needed to advocate for a safe and successful future for her CASA child.”

Thompson said she learned about CASA when she interviewed someone else for a job with her company before she retired.

“I was interviewing a potential applicant and they had CASA on their resume,” she said. “We hired him because that was what I was looking for in people. Our organization was all about helping people, so I looked for people who were drawn to that.”

Thompson said it takes dedication to make things better to serve as a CASA volunteer.

“It takes a lot of love — a lot of desire to help, and love,” she said. “A desire to help others is the main thing.”

Paulding is a CASA volunteer in Bourbon County, who has advocated for six children during more than 3 years of service. She knew about Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs because her sister had served as a CASA volunteer in the Washington, D.C., area. Then one day, she saw a news article in the Bourbon County Citizen that a CASA program had launched in Bourbon County.

Paulding said her favorite memories of serving as a CASA volunteer include meeting with one child at a playground during the height of the pandemic and playing on separate equipment while they talked; and of attending a child’s adoption ceremony.

“I think you have to be convinced that what you’re going is for the good of the children,” she said. “And I think you have to really be able to pay attention to detail.”

Gudrun Allen, Paulding’s Volunteer Manager, said she has shown great flexibility as the circumstances of the children she advocates for has changed.

“Betsy has been instrumental in make sure one of the children received assessments that got them glasses,” Allen said. “I am thankful for her persistence and attention to detail.”

Fayette Family Court Judge Lucinda Masterton, far right, swears in the newest class of CASA volunteers on April 14.

Fourteen people in central Kentucky were sworn in as CASA volunteers this month.

Fayette County Family Court Judge Lucinda Masterton swore in the newest class of Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers on April 14, enabling them to begin advocating for abused and neglected children.

More than 1,600 children were abused or neglected in CASA of Lexington’s seven-county service area last year. There are many more cases still moving through the courts from prior years.

“CASA volunteers serve fewer than one in five children currently in the family courts,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington. “These new volunteers will enable us to serve more children in need — as many as 35 children may benefit from these volunteers’ work in their first year.”

CASA volunteers advocate for the best interests of children in the family court system, providing details the judge otherwise might not have and identifying children’s needs that have been overlooked. Research has shown CASA volunteers help children receive more services, do better in school and return to safe, permanent homes faster.

CASA volunteers complete a 30-hour preservice training before being sworn in and assigned to a case. They volunteer 5-10 hours a month, on average, for a minimum of two years.

“If you have a heart for helping kids, you are needed right now,” Jamison said. “You can help end cycles of abuse and neglect, restore families and give kids brighter futures by becoming a CASA volunteer.”

In 2021, CASA of Lexington had 278 CASA volunteers who advocated for 616 abused and neglected children.

CASA of Lexington’s next training is a condensed summer training that allows new volunteers to complete all 30 hours in a single week, from June 27 to July 1. More information is available at www.casaoflexington.org/training.  

Stanford’s Main Street is a little brighter and bluer during April, thanks to community members who planted pinwheels in front of the Lincoln County Courthouse Friday.

The pinwheels were planted for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Representatives of Stanford, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Stanford police, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky State Police, Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, local judges and many other community members participated in the planting.

“The pinwheels represent the lives of children in Lincoln County who have been abused or neglected,” said Ben Kleppinger, Community Engagement Coordinator for the local Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, which organized the event. “There’s a reason the pinwheels are bright and blue. This is an exercise in hopefulness for the future, not despair about the past.”

Stanford Mayor Dalton Miller read a proclamation naming April Child Abuse Prevention Month in Stanford during the event.

“We can build healthier, safer, and thriving communities if we take the same approach to raising families that we do to tending a community garden on a shared piece of land,” Miller said, reading from the proclamation. “… children are locally grown and have a right to be safe and to be provided an opportunity to thrive, learn and grow.”

Last year, 152 children in Lincoln County were abused or neglected, giving the county one of the highest rates of abuse and neglect per 1,000 children in the state. Speakers at Friday’s event encouraged members of the public to do something about the problem by speaking up if they suspect abuse could be occurring, signing up to be foster families, or applying to become CASA volunteers.

The pinwheels will be on display in front of the courthouse throughout April.

CASA of Lexington’s one-week CASA volunteer training course will be June 27-July 1 this summer. New volunteers can complete all 30 hours of their required training and be sworn in by a judge with just five days of classes.

Classes are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, June 27, to Thursday, June 30, and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday, July 1. The swearing in ceremony for the class will be held at 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 1.

All classes are held at CASA of Lexington’s office, 3245 Loch Ness Dr. in Lexington. You can see which topics are covered each week at www.casaoflexington.org/training.

You can apply to be a CASA volunteer now at www.casaoflexington.org/advocates. After you apply, we will reach out with background check forms and to schedule an initial interview.

CASA volunteers spend 5-10 hours a month volunteering. They commit to at least two years of service, in order to ensure consistency for the children they serve. CASA volunteers visit the child or siblings on their case monthly, talk to adults involved in the child’s life and file reports with the judge, helping create better outcomes for abused and neglected children.

You can watch a CASA 101 video that covers the basics of training and serving as a CASA volunteer here.

Anyone interested in learning more Kentucky’s only certified courthouse facility dog and what CASA volunteers do to help vulnerable children is invited to attend CASA of Lexington’s special Walk and Learn with Matilda event on April 30.

We will be walking from the parking lot of Liberty Elementary School, 2585 Liberty Road in Lexington, at 9:30 a.m. that Saturday. The walk will be a loop of about 1 mile, but participants can stop and walk back at any point. Matilda and CASA staff will lead the walk.

You can ask questions and learn about what CASA volunteers do during the walk. Current CASA of Lexington volunteers are encouraged to attend and share their own general experiences (no specific case details).

This walk is part of the National CASA Association’s “Walk/Run/Thrive” initiative, aimed at raising awareness about what CASA volunteers do and how we can help children thrive.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP here.

Please note: Matilda will be in working mode during this walk and other pets can be a distraction. We kindly request only humans attend this walk. Thank you for understanding!

Pinwheels planted along Nicholasville Road in Lexington.

Blue pinwheels are brightening central Kentucky communities served by CASA of Lexington. We planted pinwheels in each of the counties we serve to help raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.

In Fayette County, pinwheels are planted along Nicholasville Road, in front of Raising Cane’s inside New Circle. In Bourbon County, pinwheels are planted in front of the courthouse and the Paris city offices. Pinwheels are planted or will be planted soon in Woodford, Scott, Jessamine, Garrard and Lincoln counties, as well.

“Every April, we want to raise awareness about the problem of child abuse. But awareness is just step one,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington. “Step two is going from awareness to action. And one of the best ways you can take action is by becoming CASA volunteer.”

Kentucky has one of the five worst rates of child abuse and neglect in the nation, according to the federal Child Maltreatment Report. The state has been the worst in the country for abuse and neglect three of the last four years.

More than 1,600 children were abused or neglected in CASA of Lexington’s service area last year, according to data from the Administrative Office of the Courts. There are likely thousands more cases still open from previous years. In 2021, CASA volunteers advocated for 616 of those children.

Pinwheels planted in front of the courthouse in Paris, Ky.

“There are definitely more children who need a CASA volunteer,” Jamison said. “We have trainings starting regularly throughout the year for anyone who has a heart for helping children and wants to make a real difference.”

CASA volunteers complete 30 hours of training, which can be completed in-person through classes on nights and weekends or virtually through online classes. Then, they are matched with children in the family court system.

CASA volunteers spend an average of 5-10 hours a month volunteering. They visit with the child on their case monthly, talk to adults involved in the child’s life and review documents like educational records. They file reports with the judge at each hearing, helping improve outcomes for the children.

“A majority of our volunteers actually work full-time,” Jamison said. “Except for the court hearings, which you know about months in advance, volunteers get to plan their hours around their own schedules.”

If you would like more information about becoming a CASA volunteer, you can visit www.casaoflexington.org, email info@casaoflexington.org or call (859) 246-4313.

Briana Persley is one of three ex-officio members of the CASA of Lexington Board of Directors. She is the Director of Youth Services for Lexington's Department of Social Services.

CASA: How did you first learn about CASA of Lexington?

Briana: I learned about CASA of Lexington when I was a Crime Victims’ Advocate at the Fayette Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.

CASA: Tell us about your work/career.

Briana: I have worked with a vulnerable population of children throughout my entire career. Upon graduation from Eastern Kentucky University in 1997, my first job was at the United Methodist Home for Children and Youth in Versailles. I went on to work at the Manchester Center, a nonprofit agency that served the areas of Davis Bottom, Thompson Road Addition, and Speigle Heights. The Lexington Housing Authority offered me a position as the Resident Program Coordinator after giving them a tour of Manchester Center. After working there for a brief time, I was recruited to be a Crime Victims’ Advocate by the Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney, Ray Larson, where my specialty was residential burglaries and youthful offenders. I served on the Partners for Youth Foundation, Inc.’s board until I became the foundation’s Executive Director in November of 2017. This year, I was promoted to the Director of Division of Youth Services after Stephanie Hong’s retirement. I am excited to keep the torch of excellence lit as I oversee the teams at CASA of Lexington, Audrey Grevious Center, Juvenile Probation, and the Parent and Guardian Empowerment (PAGE) program.

CASA: What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Briana: I enjoy spending time with my family, designing and decorating spaces, and enjoying nature.

CASA: What would you like to say to CASA of Lexington's volunteers?

Briana: Without you, children who are abused and neglected may not have a voice in the court system. Having an advocate to verbalize the trauma they sustain is a blessing and helps them be placed in permanent, loving homes. We appreciate all you do for kids!

CASA of Lexington has named Bonnie Savage and Maquel Sarantakos its Volunteers of the Month for April.

Sarantakos has been a voice for 10 children in the family court system over the course of nearly two years as a CASA Volunteer. Savage has advocated for three children since she began volunteering almost a year and a half ago.

"There are many special memories I have from serving as a CASA volunteer," Savage said. "One that stands out was when I brought presents to give the children for Christmas. The excitement while opening each gift and the appreciation each child expressed was very rewarding."

Savage also helped a child who was struggling with reading, and got to watch as his test scores increased thanks to her help.

"As one of his reading tutors, his increase in confidence was worth all the hard work," she said.

Savage's Volunteer Manager Liz Noffsinger said Savage has helped her CASA children discover a love of reading they didn't know existed before.

"Bonnie is a retired teacher and has been instrumental in helping her CASA kids," Noffsinger said. "She visits weekly and reads with them. They look forward to her visits and getting to spend time with her, and she makes it enjoyable for them."

Sarantakos is also retired from teaching and said serving as a CASA volunteer has been a great way to keep interacting with kids.

"Volunteering with CASA has allowed me the opportunity to spend time with kids who need encouragement, love, and support," she said.

Sarantakos' Volunteer Manager Rebecca Brereton-Farr said she goes above and beyond for her CASA children.

"She baked brownies and homemade mac and cheese for one child on their birthday and provided books the child had been wanting to read," she said. "The family's mother told me she felt overwhelmingly blessed that Maquel was going to be part of their life story."

CASA volunteers like Savage and Sarantakos complete a 30-hour preservice training, then spend 5-10 hours a month volunteering on cases of children who have been abused or neglected. They visit monthly with children, speak to adults involved in the children's lives and provide reports to the judge that help keep the focus on what the children need. Kids who receive a CASA volunteer are more likely to get services that help with their education or the effects of trauma. They're also more likely to return to safe, permanent homes faster.

"To be a good CASA volunteer, you have to have a real love and heart for children," Savage said. "It is important to learn as much about their background as possible. I think it is necessary to be involved with the children in their academics, socially, and on all levels. Really listening to the children and learning their interests enhances your understanding."

Sarantakos said empathy, listening skills and the ability to be nonjudgmental are all important for serving as a CASA volunteer.

"Kids do not have many choices when their lives become unsafe, violent, scary, or chaotic," she said. "As a volunteer, you can imagine yourself at that age and put yourself in their shoes. My greatest advice is to love them, guide them, and be patient with the court process."