Attention central Kentucky artists! Would you like to create a piece of art to help abused and neglected children? Would you like your art to be seen by hundreds at one of central Kentucky's swankiest Mardi Gras celebrations? (And thousands more will see it online!)

CASA of Lexington is issuing a call to artists who would like to paint barrel heads or bourbon bottles to be auctioned at the 2024 Bourbon and the Bayou gala. You can apply online right now.

The inspiration theme for this call to artists is: Kentucky.

Applications must be submitted by Oct. 25; artists will be notified if they have been selected on Oct. 30. CASA of Lexington is providing the barrel heads and bourbon bottles; artists will use their own paints and supplies.

Completed barrel heads and bottles must be dropped off at the CASA of Lexington office no later than Jan. 15, 2024.

If you have any questions, please email Community Engagement Coordinator Delaney Thomas at dthomas@casaoflexington.org.

CASA Volunteer Stuart Bennett

When Stuart Bennett was first assigned as the CASA volunteer for a set of siblings in the foster system, they were living in separate homes in different counties. Today, the siblings are living and thriving together in a stable home — something Stuart has been credited with helping to make happen. 

“Without Stuart’s unwavering dedication and advocacy, these children would still be separated,” said Rebecca Brereton-Farr, Stuart’s Volunteer Manager at CASA of Lexington. “He was their voice. And even when it felt like no one was listening, he continued being that voice. He ensured that these siblings stay bonded and together.” 

For his hard work on this case and others during his four and a half years as a CASA volunteer, Stuart has been named a CASA Volunteer of the Month. 

Stuart visited the siblings in different homes around the state every month and advocated for their reunification once the opportunity arose. Brereton-Farr said Stuart pushed repeatedly for the siblings to be placed together, but even when it seemed no one was paying attention, “Stuart kept going.” 

Stuart, who has also spent time volunteering with therapeutic riding organizations, said he finds serving as a CASA volunteer rewarding because “you’ve helped in some way to get kids out of bad situations and into stable family settings.” 

CASA volunteers are trained and supported by CASA of Lexington staff and matched with children in the family court system who have been abused or neglected. Each volunteer visits their child monthly, talks to adults in the child’s life, reads through educational and medical records, and provides written reports to the judge on the case. 

CASA reports give judges a lot more information about a child’s situation, enabling the judge to make more informed decisions. And because CASA volunteers are regular people, not attorneys or social workers, they provide a fresh perspective and keep everyone focused on the needs of the child in the case. 

CASA of Lexington has hundreds of volunteers serving seven central Kentucky counties, but there are so many family court cases that only about one out of every five children receive a CASA volunteer. Last year alone, there were nearly 1,600 children in the organization’s service area who suffered abuse or neglect. 

Stuart said it would be great if more people signed up to be CASA volunteers. 

“Getting involved could be the most important volunteer opportunity imaginable,” he said. “There is no question that you can make a difference.” 

CASA Volunteer Melissa Martin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nicholasville, Ky. (Sept. 6, 2023) – Anyone who wants to serve as a CASA volunteer and help improve the lives of abused and neglected children in Jessamine County can now sign up for a training class beginning Oct. 2.

The “Guided Learning” online format includes seven two-hour Zoom classes, along with homework-style assignments completed on participants’ own time, for a total of 30 hours of training. At the end of the training, new volunteers will be sworn in by Family Court Judge Jeff Moss and can begin advocating for abused and neglected children in the Jessamine County Family Court system.

CASA services came to Jessamine County about two years ago. Since then, the program has grown to serve dozens of children every year, thanks to local volunteers.

Judge Moss has said he values the input he receives from CASA volunteers because they are regular people and bring a different perspective into the courtroom.

CASA volunteers invest roughly 5-10 hours a month in their assigned cases, and they commit to serving for a minimum of two years. Each CASA volunteer is matched with a child who has suffered abuse or neglect. They visit the child monthly, talk to adults in the child’s life, review records and write reports for Judge Moss.

"I get a cabinet report and that's good, but the CASA report gives me more and it gives me different insights,” Moss said at the most recent swearing-in ceremony for new CASA volunteers. “The level of detail and information you will be able to include because you have this relationship with the child is truly valuable.”

If you would like to join the October training class, you can apply online at www.casaoflexington.org/apply. Virtual classes will be 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 2, 4, 11, 18 and 25; and Nov. 1 and 8. You can learn more about what the training covers at www.casaoflexington.org/training.  

CASA of Lexington Board Member Leonard Harrison

CASA: Hi Leonard! Welcome to the CASA of Lexington Board of Directors! You are the new representative for Garrard County, where you work for Marksbury. What do you do?

Leonard: I work in meat processing and distribution. I'm also a pastor, and I do landscaping, lawn care and construction.

CASA: That's a wide range of experiences! Could you tell us about your family?

Leonard: I have a wife and two kids - a 9-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl. We are very active in lots of activites.

CASA: Why did you choose to become a CASA of Lexington board member?

Leonard: To help represent the helpless and to help mentor the youth so they can be our future.

CASA: That's excellent. Do you have any hobbies you love?

Leonard: Yes - fishing, golf and community activities.

Family Court Judge Jeff Moss swore in three new CASA volunteers in Nicholasville in August, enabling them to begin advocating for abused and neglected children.

The new volunteers — Devin Hendricks, Trey Rogers and Macy Young — will now be matched with children in their local family courts and begin visiting the children every month. CASA volunteers give 5-10 hours a month and provide reports to judges like Moss, giving them details about children's lives and recommendations on how to make things better.

"I get a cabinet report and that's good, but the CASA report gives me more and it gives me different insights," Moss told the new volunteers as he swore them in at his office downtown. "The level of detail and information you will be able to include because you have this relationship with the child is truly valuable."

Moss said he appreciates the new volunteers giving their time — and the volunteers' families for supporting them in their efforts to improve the future for children in need.

"If we don't have people like you all, the system just doesn't go," he said. "We have to have volunteers. We have to have people willing to give of their time to do this."

Children who receive a CASA volunteer do better in school, get more services that help them thrive, have more stability while their cases are open and are far less likely to re-enter the system after their cases close.

The new volunteers plan to serve children in Jessamine and Fayette counties. CASA of Lexington trains and supports CASA volunteers with local staff in seven counties: Bourbon, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Scott and Woodford.

CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison said volunteers are needed in all seven counties as the number of children with open abuse and neglect cases continues to outpace the number of available CASA volunteers.

"If someone wants to make a lasting, positive change to a child's future, serving as a CASA volunteer is one of the easiest ways to do that," she said.

The next 30-hour training class for new CASA volunteers begins Sept. 7 at the CASA of Lexington office off Nicholasville Road across from Lexington Green. Classes are held on nights and weekends; a full schedule is available at www.casaoflexington.org/training. You can also learn more by calling (859) 246-4313 or emailing info@casaoflexington.org.

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

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

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

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

CASA Volunteer Jenn Cathey

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

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

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

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

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

CASA Volunteer Jane Crickard

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

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

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

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

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

CASA Board Member Jessica Gilbert

Jessica Gilbert is a new CASA of Lexington board member, but she has been a supporter of CASA of Lexington through Dan Cummins Auto Group for years.

CASA: Hi Jessica! Welcome to the CASA of Lexington Board of Directors! We are thrilled to have you. Where do you work?

Jessica: I am the Executive Manager at Dan Cummins Auto Group. I do many different things, but primarily, I support our management and owners in facilitating an exceptional customer and employee experience across our three stores.

CASA: Could you tell us a little about your family?

Jessica: I am recently re-married to my husband, DJ. We love boating and spending time with our four blended children.

CASA: Why did you choose to become a CASA of Lexington Board Member?

Jessica: After many years of supporting CASA behind-the-scenes, I felt compelled to get more involved! I am very excited to be a part of this board.

CASA: What hobbies do you enjoy?

Jessica: I love to travel and experience all the things life has to offer. Water is my place to relax and unwind. Shopping is also my jam!

CASA of Lexington will be the host site for distribution of free computers to families without them. The Compudopt distribution event will be 4-6 p.m. on Aug. 29 in the CASA of Lexington parking lot, 3245 Loch Ness Dr., Lexington, KY 40517

Compudopt is a non-profit organization that provides computers and internet access to families that do not have them. Anyone can register to potentially receive a computer through this event if:

• they do own a working computer at home; and

• they have a child in K-12 education living in the home.

Recipients of computers will be chosen at random from the pool of those who registered three days prior to the distribution event. Computers come with a two-year warranty and free tech support. If you qualify and would like to register, visit https://www.compudopt.org/lexington.

Family Court Judge Jeff Moss swears in the three newest CASA volunteers serving abused and neglected children in Garrard and Lincoln counties.

Three more Garrard County residents were sworn in as CASA volunteers July 11, solidifying the Garrard and Lincoln program as the fastest growing program of its size in the state of Kentucky.

Trava Murphy, Joe Tuttle and Beth Wilson were sworn in by Family Court Judge Jeff Moss and will soon be assigned to cases of abused or neglected children who need someone to speak up for their best interests.

Judge Moss said he would love to assign the new volunteers to cases in his courtroom as quickly as possible. Unlike attorneys and social workers, CASA volunteers are not professionals working in the legal system; they are community members who provide an “outside perspective” and a focus on a child’s needs — something Moss said he values greatly.

“It’s a fresh set of eyes to look at the situation,” he said.

Research has shown children who receive a CASA volunteer do better in school, move around less while their cases are open, and are far less likely to re-enter the foster care system after their cases close.

The Garrard and Lincoln CASA program is part of the regional CASA of Lexington nonprofit organization; Garrard was added to the service area in 2021 and Lincoln was added in 2022. One child in Garrard and Lincoln received CASA services in 2021; 28 children received services in 2022. So far this year, 22 children have received services and there are 17 volunteers serving in the two counties.

That growth outpaces every other small CASA program in the state, said Executive Director Melynda Jamison.

CASA Executive Director Melynda Jamison speaks during the swearing in ceremony.

"We cannot say thank you enough because we could not do the work we do without volunteers,” Jamison told the new volunteers at their swearing-in ceremony.

While the growth of the local program has been remarkable, it’s still the case that fewer than one in five children in the local family court systems receive a CASA volunteer.

“We have a huge need,” Jamison said.

Each of the new volunteers completed a 30-hour training class led by the Volunteer Manager for Garrard and Lincoln counties, Jennifer Lamb. They will invest an average of 5-10 hours a month going forward working on their cases. That work involves visiting the child with whom they are matched monthly, talking to adults in the child’s life, reviewing records and writing reports for judges like Moss.

“It is a significant commitment to be a CASA volunteer,” Jamison said. “But the investment of your time is returned many times over in how the course of a child’s life can be completely changed.”

During their first year, the three new volunteers may help change the stories of between 6 and 9 Garrard and Lincoln children.

CASA of Lexington is offering another training for new volunteers at its Lexington office just off Nicholasville Road beginning on Sept. 7. Classes are held on evenings and weekends and a full schedule is available at www.casaoflexington.org/training. The CASA program is also always taking applications and is scheduling additional trainings this fall in Jessamine and Garrard counties. You can apply to be a CASA volunteer at www.casaoflexington.org/apply.

“The growth of this program is truly amazing. Garrard and Lincoln are showing Kentucky how it’s done,” Jamison said. “We need to keep it up and keep adding more CASA volunteers so that every abused or neglected child has someone looking out for them.”

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.