Nine new CASA volunteers and a state CASA employee are sworn in by Family Court Judge TIffany Yahr on June 30.

Halfway through 2023, a total of 40 central Kentucky residents have become advocates for abused and neglected children with CASA of Lexington.

“These new CASA volunteers will likely improve outcomes and create brighter futures for more than 100 children in their first year on the job,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington. “Kentucky has a big problem with child abuse and neglect — we are one of the worst states in the nation and have been for years. But these volunteers are helping fix things one child at a time.”

The nine newest CASA volunteers were added to the ranks on June 30, when Family Court Judge Tiffany Yahr swore them in during a ceremony at the Fayette County Circuit Courthouse.

Fayette County Family Court Judge Tiffany Yahr speaks to new CASA volunteers during a swearing in ceremony at the circuit courthouse on June 30.

“You will all be valuable assets to the court system,” Yahr said. “Thank you very, very much for taking on this work, because it really is good and valuable work.”

In order to be sworn in and matched with an abused or neglected child in need, the new volunteers completed a 30-hour class led by CASA of Lexington’s Volunteer Managers. The Volunteer Managers will also be guiding and supporting the volunteers as they take their first cases.

“We appreciate you all sacrificing your time this summer to be with us and to learn and grow in your role as advocates,” CASA of Lexington Program Manager Jenifer Bahr told the volunteers.

CASA volunteers spend an average of 5-10 hours a month volunteering. That includes visiting the child on their case, talking to people involved in the child’s life, staying up-to-date on the child’s medical and educational needs, and writing reports for the judge on the child’s case.

“After being traumatized by the original abuse or neglect that landed them in the system, many children continue to struggle because no one is truly speaking up for their needs,” Jamison said. “CASA volunteers identify problems for these children and recommend actions to help. They are the only person in the courtroom whose only concern is, ‘What is best for this child?’”

Judge Yahr encouraged the volunteers speak up whenever they have questions or concerns about what is happening with a child’s case.

“You will think in your mind, ‘How in the world could people make such terrible choices in their life?’ But it all gets balanced out by the good that you’re getting ready to do,” she said. “All four of our judges are just so grateful to have you. CASA is an invaluable piece of the court system.”

The nine newest CASA volunteers are John Bradley, Paul Huber, Rhonda Jackson, Shanita Jackson, Jory Karthikeyan, Shannon Richardson, Jan Roehl, Lauren Saini and Shanquita Williams.

If you are interested in making a difference as a CASA volunteer, CASA of Lexington’s next volunteer training begins Sept. 7, with classes on evenings and weekends at the CASA of Lexington office, 3245 Loch Ness Dr. A full training schedule is available at www.casaoflexington.org/training.

CASA Volunteer Nicole Creech

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CASA Volunteer Mary Duke

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CASA Volunteer Rene Shaw

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CASA Volunteer Michael Hale

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Family Court Judge Ross Ewing, top center, swears in new CASA volunteers May 30.

CASA of Lexington added 13 new volunteers Tuesday, who will now go to work advocating for abused and neglected children.

“Thank you for giving of your time and energy this way,” Fayette County Family Court Judge Ross Ewing told the new volunteers as he swore them in at the CASA of Lexington office.

Ewing said people ask him how CASA volunteers help improve outcomes for children.

“How do they not help?” he said. “It’s everything.”

The new volunteers join more than 200 others who are gathering information and making recommendations for children in the local family court systems. These 13 newest volunteers may help improve outcomes for as many as 32 children in just their first year.

CASA Board Member Zach Brien speaks to new CASA volunteers during the swearing-in ceremony on May 30.

“It’s unbelievably important work,” said Zach Brien, a CASA board member who attended the swearing in. “I have seen firsthand how big of a difference your role plays in saving kids lives, in making kids’ lives better.”

The new volunteers are Debbie Birdwhistell, Susan Bukowski, Jamie Butler, Brian Collins, Kelly Davis, Hope George, Mary Gould, Bailey Hume, Brooke Kuerzi, Candye Pinkston, Rachel Davidson-Stebbins, Olivia Turner and Dan Wu.

Now that they have completed their 30 hours of training and been sworn in, they will each be matched with the case of an abused or neglected child in family court.

Each volunteer will visit their child monthly, talk to adults in the child’s life and review records. Then, they will provide all the information they gather back to the judge on the case. The work requires volunteering for about 5-10 hours a month and every volunteer has committed to serving for at least two years.

Judge Ewing said as a relatively new judge who just inherited hundreds of cases, CASA reports have been especially valuable in learning what’s going on. CASA volunteers provide a level of detail in their reports that is simply unavailable from anyone else on the case, he said.

“The CASA volunteer is so valuable because more information means better decisions for the children,” Ewing said.

CASA of Lexington currently serves about one out of every five children in the family court systems of Bourbon, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Scott and Woodford counties. The organization runs training classes for new volunteers 4-6 times a year in order to boost the number of volunteers and serve more of the children in need.

The next CASA training class is scheduled for June 26-30; it is a “condensed” training that takes place during the day and fits all 30 hours into a single week. CASA of Lexington has also scheduled a training specifically for those interested in serving in Garrard and Lincoln counties, which begins on June 12. And there will be a fall training on nights and weekends in Lexington that begins Sept. 7.

More information about volunteering and full training schedules are available at www.casaoflexington.org.

CASA volunteers Glenn Burns and Carrie Gordy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Volunteering with CASA

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

CASA Volunteer Taylor Clark

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CASA Volunteer Beth Monarch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CASA of Lexington volunteer Sandy Nichols holds her Volunteer Achievement Award, which she earned by providing years of invaluable advocacy in a particularly difficult family court case.

When Sandy Nichols was first assigned to Peter’s case, she had no idea the twists and turns it would take before he would finally find a permanent, loving home.

Nichols spent more than six years as Peter’s Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, proving to be his only constant as he moved through more than a dozen placements in the Kentucky foster care system. (Peter is a pseudonym used to protect his privacy)

Peter watched as his siblings all found permanent placements and got adopted. But he remained in the system, moving to placements all around the state as his problematic behaviors caused disruption after disruption.

By spending regular time with Peter, Nichols was able to identify the root cause of his behavioral issues — remarkably, something no one else working on the case had figured out: Peter was deaf.

“He would lash out because he couldn’t tell what people were saying to him,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington, the program Nichols volunteers with. “Imagine if you struggled to hear what people were saying to you but were constantly expected to know what was going on anyway. I know I would find that incredibly frustrating.”

Because Nichols identified that Peter is deaf, he was able to get appropriate educational interventions. He learned to speak American Sign Language (ASL) and received implants to help him hear.

“His behavior did a complete 180,” Jamison said. “By the time his case closed, he was earning fantastic grades in school and had found a permanent, loving home. That’s sadly a rare outcome for older children in the foster care system with behavioral problems.

“I don’t know that any of that would have ever happened if Sandy had not said yes to being a CASA volunteer.”

CASA volunteer Sandy Nichols speaks to the audience after receiving her Volunteer Achievement Award.

Nichols has served as a CASA volunteer for around eight years and advocated for nine children during that time. Because of her dedication to the CASA mission and to Peter, Nichols was awarded CASA of Lexington’s Volunteer Achievement Award on Feb. 28. It is only the second time the organization has given out the award.

Nichols said, “the highs and lows of serving as a CASA volunteer are unbelievable,” but the children in the foster care system deserve to have someone on their side.

During one particularly unhappy turn in Peter’s case, when it turned out a promising placement would not become his permanent home, Nichols said she called her Volunteer Manager, a full-time staff member tasked with supporting CASA volunteers, and just began crying.

“I thought, ‘I don’t know if I can keep doing this,’” she said. “But I did. I kept thinking, ‘I can’t give up on this child. He meant and he means so much to me.”

CASA Canine Handler Liz Noffsinger shares about Sandy Nichols’ connection with a child she served as a CASA volunteer.

Liz Noffsinger, CASA of Lexington’s Canine Handler, would sometimes bring the organization’s certified courthouse facility dog Matilda on visits with Nichols. Matilda provides a calming presence for many children, who feel more comfortable with the golden retriever-lab mix around.

“Every time we did a visit, his face would light up — ‘Miss Sandy!’” Noffsinger said.

CASA volunteers visit the children they are assigned to at least monthly. They also talk to any adults in the children’s lives and review records and documents about the children. They compile all the information they gather into reports to the judges on the cases and provide recommendations on actions that would be in the children’s best interests.

CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison presents Sandy Nichols with her Volunteer Achievement Award.

“CASA volunteers are regular people who give five to 10 hours of their time each month to create lasting change for abused and neglected children,” Jamison said. “We have volunteers who have helped reunify families, who have helped identify relatives who are able to care for children, who have provided invaluable information and constant advocacy like Sandy did that leads to successful adoption.”

When presenting Nichols with her Volunteer Achievement Award, Jamison said Nichols had demonstrated through Peter’s case just how big a difference a CASA volunteer can make.

“She ensured that he had a voice and that we stayed focused on finding a permanent home for him.”

Serving as a CASA volunteer

To serve as a CASA volunteer, you must be at least 21 years old, pass background checks and complete a 30-hour initial training. Every CASA volunteer commits to serving 5-10 hours a month for at least two years.

Volunteers with CASA of Lexington served 671 children throughout a seven-county region in 2022. Sadly, there are hundreds more children who had new cases of abuse and neglect open last year who did not receive a CASA volunteer.

You can view the next training schedule for new volunteers here.

Fayette County Family Court Judge Tiffany Yahr swears in new CASA volunteers Feb. 28.

Central Kentucky has 18 new volunteers ready to advocate for abused and neglected children.

CASA of Lexington’s winter training class was sworn in by Fayette County Family Court Judge TIffany Yahr on Tuesday, Feb. 28. The new CASA volunteers are now ready to be matched with children in the family court systems of seven central Kentucky counties.

Yahr told the new volunteers they would be providing consistency and a voice in court for the children they serve.

Yahr, who also has lengthy experience working for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said she has seen everything change for children in the system over and over again, from homes to doctors to schools. But “no matter how much changes with placements, that CASA volunteer always stays the same,” she said.

She said whenever she is looking to learn more about a child’s case, “I always start with the CASA volunteer, because that is who has been invested in this kids life. The information the CASA volunteer brings is just invaluable.”

CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison speaks to new CASA volunteers during the Feb. 28 swearing in ceremony.

After completing their initial training and being matched with a child, each CASA volunteer spends an average of 5-10 hours a month volunteering. They visit with the child, often getting to know them better than anyone else in the courtroom. They also speak to adults in the child’s life and review important records and documents about the child.

CASA volunteers provide reports and recommendations to judges like Yahr, enabling them to make more informed decisions. Children who receive a CASA volunteer do better in school, get more services like therapy and educational interventions, move less frequently in the foster system and are less likely to re-enter foster care after their cases close.

Those sworn in Feb. 28 are Beverly Chandler, Jeff Clark, Kellye Cole, Phillip Ely, Katie Grubb, Emily Hale, Sarah Jones, Emily Koyagi, Alison List, Lindsay Medley, John Mullins, Leah Omeara, Matthew Rudoff, Debbie Rurik-Goodwin, Susan Schimmel, Melissa Sears and Payton Thurmond. Isaac Sutherland will also be sworn in at a later date.

Over the next year, the 18 new volunteers may serve as many as 50 children. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of children who suffer abuse and neglect in CASA of Lexington’s service region every year, and not enough CASA volunteers to serve them all.

Yahr said there will be highs and lows for the new CASA volunteers as they begin working their cases and getting to know their assigned children. But through it all, they will be filling huge need.

“You are absolutely going to make a difference,” Yahr told the new volunteers.

 Next CASA Volunteer Training

CASA of Lexington holds at least four volunteer trainings each year. The next training class begins April 6, with classes on evenings and weekends at the CASA of Lexington office, 3245 Loch Ness Dr. In Lexington. A full schedule of the classes is available at www.casaoflexington.org/training. Anyone interested in joining the class can apply to be a CASA volunteer at www.casaoflexington.org/apply.

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CASA Volunteer of the Month Michelle Bridges

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CASA Volunteer of the Month Martha Thompson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Miranda Wyles poses for a photo with her children, Delta and JW, and Matilda, CASA of Lexington’s certified courthouse facility dog.

Bourbon County resident Miranda Wyles will be the honoree at the 2023 Bourbon and the Bayou, central Kentucky’s largest Mardi Gras-themed gala.

Wyles is being honored for her leadership in bringing Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) services to Bourbon County. CASA volunteers spend time with abused and neglected children and advocate for the children’s needs in family court.

“Without Miranda, CASA may very well not have come to Bourbon County when it did,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington, the program serving Bourbon County. “Miranda’s efforts also kickstarted our organization’s efforts to expand services into additional counties. Countless children will benefit from her work for years and decades to come.”

Every year, CASA of Lexington’s largest fundraiser, Bourbon and the Bayou, honors someone who has served as a champion for children in need. Previous honorees include the Dan Cummins family and Woodford County thoroughbred farm owner Fred Seitz.

The 450-person gala sells out every year and regularly generates funding for more than 200 children to receive a CASA volunteer.

More than six years ago, after learning about CASA from Jamison at a Bourbon County Rotary meeting, Wyles said she knew she had to do something.

“I got to thinking about the children that weren’t being served in Bourbon County,” Wyles said. “I couldn’t live here and not try to do something more.”

Since CASA first expanded into Bourbon County in 2017, a total of 161 Bourbon County children have received a CASA volunteer. CASA of Lexington has since expanded into Woodford, Scott, Jessamine, Garrard and Lincoln counties.

“Our Bourbon County expansion served as the catalyst and model for our future expansions,” Jamison said. “Last year alone, nearly 230 children in our expansion counties had a CASA volunteer advocating for their best interests. That is huge.”

While this year’s Bourbon and the Bayou is again sold out, a video honoring Wyles will be available to watch after the event is over at www.casaoflexington.org. And anyone interested in supporting CASA through the event can bid on silent auction items online at BandB2023.givesmart.com.

“CASA is an amazing organization, no matter what capacity you are in,” Wyles said. “It is the best use of your time that you can give to make a child’s life better, to be the change in the future.”

Garrard County CASA Volunteer Terry Huffman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CASA Volunteer Training Begins April 6

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

About CASA of Lexington

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

Story by Riley Stull.

CASA Volunteer and Kappa Alpha Theta alum Kelly King

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About CASA of Lexington

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

Story by Julia Lee.

Lexington, Ky. (Feb. 22, 2023) – More than five dozen CASA volunteers in central Kentucky have earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award for their volunteer work in 2022.

The PVSA program recognizes the nation’s most outstanding volunteers for contributing large amounts of time to worthy causes. Every PVSA recipient will get a pin, coin or medal, along with a personal thank-you letter signed by the U.S. president.

CASA volunteers qualified for a bronze PVSA award if they volunteered for at least 100 hours in 2022. Many volunteered far more than that and earned higher-level silver and gold PVSA awards.

In all, 67 CASA of Lexington volunteers earned a PVSA award, with 14 of those earning a silver-level award and three earning a gold-level award by exceeding 500 hours of volunteer service. This represents an increase over 2021 in total awards and the numbers of volunteers reaching the silver and gold levels.

“We are thrilled to have our most ever volunteers qualify for PVSA awards, including three gold-tier volunteers. Our previous record was two at the gold tier,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington. “Our CASA volunteers give their time to make a real difference for abused and neglected children in central Kentucky. They do not do it for recognition, but we love recognizing and appreciating them anyway!”

CASA volunteers Brittney Thomas, Judy Kendall and Debra Gabbard were the three gold-tier volunteers. Between them, they contributed more than 2,800 hours to their work as advocates for abused and neglected children.

CASA of Lexington’s 14 silver-tier volunteers are Cynthia Phillips, Beth Monarch, Misty Green, Janet Colbert, Michael Hale, April Jilbert, Kimberly Skidmore, Betsy Paulding, Meredith Feiertag, Carrie Gordy, Gretchen LaGodna, Patty Overing, Connie Handman and Heather Padilla.

Michael Hale is the first male CASA of Lexington volunteer to receive a silver-tier PVSA.

“I saw a need and I wanted to help,” Hale said. “It has been one of the most rewarding and challenging endeavors I have ever undertaken.”

“Many think serving as a CASA volunteer is mainly for women, but around half of the children we serve are boys. And boys benefit from having strong, positive male role models in their lives,” Jamison said. “Michael is proof men can get involved and make real change, too.”

In another first, Mia Morales is CASA of Lexington’s first nonbinary CASA volunteer to earn the PVSA. They are one of 50 CASA volunteers who earned the bronze-tier award.

In 2022, CASA of Lexington had a total of 290 volunteers, who invested more than 18,000 hours advocating for the best interests of 671 children involved in family court cases. Their work includes visiting children monthly, speaking with adults involved the children’s lives and providing reports to the judges.

Children who receive a CASA volunteer are less likely to change placements while they are in care, more likely to do well in school and receive services like therapy and far less likely to re-enter the foster care system after their cases close.

“The average CASA volunteer invests 5 to 10 hours a month advocating for their assigned child,” Jamison said. “That investment is returned many times over after a CASA helps improve the outcome of their case and changes the course of their entire life.”

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.”

Volunteers receive a bronze award for contributing 100 hours. They receive a silver award for contributing 250 hours, or 175 hours if they are under the age of 26. And they receive a gold award for contributing 500 hours, or 250 hours if they are under the age of 26.

Since CASA of Lexington became certified to give the award in 2020, its volunteers have earned 187 PVSAs, including six total gold-tier awards.

In March, PVSA recipients will be honored in the counties where they serve or live with special ceremonies including local officials:

• Fayette County recipients will be honored at a Lexington council meeting at 6 p.m. on March 9 (second floor, 200 E. Main St., Lexington)

• Jessamine County recipients will be honored at the Jessamine County Courthouse at 4 p.m. on March 13 (107 N. Main St., Nicholasville)

• Garrard County recipients will be honored at the Garrard County Judicial Center at 12 p.m. on March 20. (54 Stanford St., Lancaster)

• Scott County recipients will be honored at the Scott County Justice Center at 11 a.m. on March 22 (119 N. Hamilton St., Georgetown)

• Bourbon County recipients will be honored at the Paris Municipal Center at 4:30 p.m. on March 28 (525 High St., Paris)

• Woodford County recipients will be honored at the Versailles Police Department at 12 p.m. on March 29 (239 N. Main St., Versailles)

Your next opportunity to become a CASA volunteer and change the future for an abused or neglected child is coming up in April.

CASA of Lexington will hold a training class for new volunteers beginning April 6 at its Lexington office, 3245 Loch Ness Dr. The training is for people interested in advocating for children in the family court systems of Bourbon, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Scott, or Woodford counties.

After completing the 30-hour training course, each Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is matched with an abused or neglected child in the family court system. They visit with the child every month, talk to adults involved in the child’s life and review medical and educational records. Then, they provide the information they gather to the judge on the case and make recommendations for actions that would be in the child’s best interest.

Family Court judges in CASA of Lexington’s service area say CASA reports and advocacy regularly change the course of a child’s life and lead to better outcomes.

“You have to be a judge to see how much CASA does,” Fayette County Family Court Judge Traci Brislin has said previously. “CASA is always there; they’re always paying attention; they’re always kind of filling in the blanks.”

CASA volunteers typically give 5-10 hours a month and commit to serving for at least two years. Research has linked CASA advocacy with many positive outcomes for the children served, including better grades and behavior at school, more stability while a child’s case is open and a greatly reduced likelihood that a child re-enters the foster system after their case closes.

The spring training class will graduate and be sworn in by a family court judge on May 30.

To sign up for the training, you can fill out an application at www.casaoflexington.org/apply. You can also learn more about the training and see the full schedule of classes at www.casaoflexington.org/training.

CASA volunteer Barbie Carter

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

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

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

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

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

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

CASA volunteer April Jilbert

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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