Fayette Family Court judge says cases are worse now than they ever have been

62 new CASA volunteers have been added by CASA of Lexington during 2023

CASA volunteers improve outcomes by connecting with children and advocating for their needs

New CASA volunteers are sworn in at the CASA of Lexington office on Oct. 17. The newest class of CASA volunteers will serve children across the nonprofit’s seven-county service region.

Cases of child abuse and neglect have been getting more extreme since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Fayette County Family Court Judge Traci Brislin. But Brislin said a growing number of new CASA volunteers in central Kentucky represent a ray of hope for children who might otherwise fall through the cracks.

Brislin swore in 14 new Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers for CASA of Lexington this Tuesday, bringing the total number of new CASA volunteers added this year to 62. These volunteers could help more than 150 abused and neglected children over the next year in the seven counties served by CASA of Lexington.

“I don’t know why, but since COVID, we’ve seen some of the worst cases we’ve ever had,” Brislin said during the swearing in ceremony for the new volunteers. “Cases I’ve never envisioned we would have before.”

Brislin said a little boy on one recent case has been through unimaginable trauma involving physical and sexual abuse. The boy disclosed a lot of what happened to him to social workers, police and investigators, but it wasn’t until he received a CASA volunteer and she bonded with him that he felt comfortable disclosing some of the worst abuses.

“She has been the one person who has been consistent,” she said. “He trusts her. … He couldn’t protect himself. And she has been the only one who has really been able to (make him feel protected).”

CASA volunteers complete a 30-hour training and then are matched with children in the family court system. They visit the children monthly, talk to adults in the children’s lives and review records about the children. Then, they provide written reports that help judges make more informed decisions. Children who receive a CASA volunteer get more services and support while they are in care, are moved around less frequently, and are half as likely to re-enter foster care after their cases close.

CASA volunteers regularly get to the root causes of problems for the children they are matched with, said CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison. That can be something as simple as identifying the child is missing a favorite stuffed animal that helps them sleep, or something as life-altering as identifying an overlooked medical condition.

Brislin said she has seen CASA volunteers change the trajectory of a child’s case countless times. She hopes the CASA program can continue growing until every child who suffers abuse or neglect can receive a CASA volunteer.

“I want to thank you for your time in doing this, because I know you’ve got all kinds of things you could be doing with your time,” Brislin told the volunteers. “The fact that you are doing this says an awful lot about you as a person and your heart. It’s not always going to be easy work — in fact, it will be very hard work. But it will be the most meaningful and wonderful thing you could possibly do with your time.”

The newest volunteers sworn in Tuesday are Amanda Betzing, Cindy Budek, Morgan DeChene-Arvin, V de la Vega, Brooke Fatzinger, Autumn Grace, Madelyn Grant, Susan Maupin, Erin Peel, Lisa Ramirez, Kelly Sampson, Casey Sanford, Shreya Tamilselvan and Barbara Waldmann-Ward.

CASA of Lexington is currently able to serve about 20% of the abused and neglected children in its service region — Bourbon, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Scott and Woodford counties. More volunteers are needed, and the next training for new volunteers begins Jan. 9, with classes in Lexington on evenings and weekends.

You can view the training schedule at www.casaoflexington.org/training and you can apply to be a CASA volunteer at www.casaoflexington.org/apply.

CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison accepts the award for Core Model Program of the Year from Kentucky CASA Network Executive Director Andrea Bruns during the 2023 Kentucky CASA Conference.

CASA of Lexington won two statewide awards at the annual Kentucky CASA Conference this month. The nonprofit serving abused and neglected children in seven central Kentucky counties won Core Model Program of the Year and was one of two programs spotlighted for their work on diversity, equity and inclusion.

“It is truly a team effort to fulfill our mission and serve as many children as we can with CASA volunteers,” said Executive Director Melynda Jamison as she accepted the Core Model Program of the Year Award. “Not because it is about numbers, but because it is about children’s futures. We believe every abused and neglected child across the state deserves someone committed to advocating for their best interests and ensuring they have a safe and permanent home. We know that someone is a CASA volunteer.”

CASA of Lexington received the Core Model Program of the Year by achieving success in a variety of ways: The program excelled at training volunteers, providing continuing education and elevating awareness of CASA services among the general public.

The CASA Core Model is a national standard that spells out the purpose of CASA programs. When following the Core Model, CASA volunteers seek to reunify or keep children with their natural parents whenever it is safely possible. When that best outcome is not possible, they advocate for safe placement with relatives. When that outcome is also not possible, they will advocate for adoption or an appropriate placement that provides children stability and the services they need to thrive.

CASA of Lexington was also one of two Kentucky CASA programs that earned the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Spotlight Award. In 2022, CASA of Lexington and CASA of the River Region (serving multiple counties in and around Louisville) became the first CASA programs in Kentucky to be certified through the All Children All Families initiative from the Human Rights Campaign.

The certification means CASA of Lexington has put in the work to create an affirming, welcoming and safe culture for LGBTQ+ individuals. CASA of Lexington was certified as an innovative organization, the highest tier of certification that ACAF offers.

CASA of Lexington has also worked to recruit new CASA volunteers from populations that have traditionally been underrepresented among CASA volunteers, including men and black people. This year, CASA of Lexington has seen a roughly 60% increase in new male CASA volunteers and a roughly 70% increase in new black CASA volunteers.

“Diversity brings more ideas to the table. And children gain even more from having a CASA volunteer when they have a shared culture or background,” Jamison said while accepting the DEI Spotlight Award. “Beyond that, having a wide variety of experiences and points of view included in the CASA of Lexington family makes us stronger and more effective as a nonprofit organization.”

CASA Volunteer Alex Allouch

After Nicholasville resident Alex Allouch saw a documentary about an abused and neglected child, she knew she wanted to change the trajectory of her career. She decided she would find ways to make a difference for the children in her own community who had been abused or neglected.

Allouch is pursuing a master’s degree in social work and plans to be a licensed clinical social worker. But on her way to that goal, she also discovered she could serve as a CASA volunteer.

“I stumbled across CASA and knew it would be the perfect fit for me,” she said. “Creating lasting bonds with the children I serve is a feeling unmatched by any other. To know them is to love them, and being a voice, an ally, and a constant safe presence in the life of a child in need is definitely the most rewarding aspect of being a CASA volunteer.”

CASA volunteers are regular people who find 5-10 hours a month to give so that abused and neglected children can have brighter futures. CASA volunteers visit the children and often get to know them better than anyone else on the case. They provide insights about what’s going on in children’s lives, which helps family court judges make more informed decisions.

Allouch has advocated for four children since she first became a CASA volunteer in 2020. This month, her Volunteer Manager Cara MacLeod nominated her to be a Volunteer of the Month because she has done an amazing job connecting with her CASA kids and advocating for their needs.

MacLeod is the Volunteer Manager for Jessamine County and supports all the local CASA volunteers, going with them on initial home visits, attending court with them and providing guidance when they have questions.

“While knowing the facts and issues and gathering information is important, Alex’s most important asset is her ability to meet her CASA kids where they are and accept them for who they are, no matter the circumstances,” MacLeod said. “She develops a connection with those she serves, and that connection allows for a greater understanding and trust. It is an honor to watch and guide as Alex advocates for her CASA kids.”

Allouch said there are highs and lows of being a CASA volunteer — “some days you will laugh, others you will cry.”

“Above all, you will know that you are making a difference in the life of a child who desperately needs someone to be their voice,” Allouch said. “… you are never alone in the fight. As a volunteer, you are part of a family of people who are all passionate about the same cause. Everyone from the judge on the bench to your Volunteer Manager and fellow volunteers is involved in a concerted effort to help all children feel safe, loved, and valued.

“It is an important and undeniably worthy mission.”

CASA Volunteer Training

If you would like to become a CASA volunteer and be matched with an abused or neglected child who needs a voice, you can apply online at www.casaoflexington.org/apply. Trainings for new volunteers are held regularly throughout the year, including trainings specifically for Jessamine County volunteers. CASA volunteers must be 21 years old, pass background checks and complete a 30-hour training class before being matched with a child. Every CASA volunteer commits to serving an average of 5-10 hours a month (most work scheduled on their own time) for a minimum of two years. If you have questions about becoming a CASA volunteer, email jessaminecounty@casaoflexington.org.

CASA volunteer Jessica Schroeder

As a teacher, Jessica Schroeder saw many children who had significant home life issues — they were being abused or neglected and struggling at school as a result. But the school system couldn’t address what was going on in those kids’ lives well enough to make a difference.
That’s when she decided to become a CASA volunteer.

“Besides being a CASA, I am most proud of recently becoming a mother,” Schroeder said. “It is the purest love and joy I’ve ever known.”

Schroeder has advocated for seven children as a CASA volunteer since she began in 2022. This month, she was named a CASA volunteer of the month.

Schroeder’s Volunteer Manager Rebecca Brereton-Farr said Schroeder was assigned to her first case because it was “stuck” and the judge wanted to see if additional insight from a CASA volunteer would help. Schroeder began visiting with the kids and learning about their situation.

“As a result, the children returned home,” Brereton-Farr said.

CASA volunteers spend 5-10 hours a month volunteering, most of which is visiting an assigned child, talking to adults in the child’s life, reviewing records about the child and writing down what they have learned for the judge — all done at times when it works for the volunteer.

Every volunteer completes a 30-hour training and receives a Volunteer Manager for support, who goes with them on their first home visit, attends court with them and is always available to provide guidance.

Schroeder said she enjoys forming bonds with the children she is matched with and seeing how excited they get when she comes for a visit.

“Every month that goes by, these kids light up more and more when you rejoice in their accomplishments or praise their hard work in school and sports,” she said. “They look forward to sharing their successes with you, despite the circumstances they find themselves in.

“The most rewarding aspect of being a CASA is the personal fulfillment you receive when you know you are advocating for the right thing, even when it’s difficult. It has become a powerful healing process for my own childhood experiences.”

CASA Volunteer Training

If you would like to become a CASA volunteer and be matched with an abused or neglected child who needs a voice, you can apply online at www.casaoflexington.org/apply. Trainings for new volunteers are held regularly throughout the year. CASA volunteers must be 21 years old, pass background checks and complete a 30-hour training class before being matched with a child. Every CASA volunteer commits to serving an average of 5-10 hours a month (most work scheduled on your own time) for a minimum of two years. If you have questions about becoming a CASA volunteer, email info@casaoflexington.org.

CASA volunteers, staff and board members pose with pumpkins around the CASA monument at the 2023 Fall Festival volunteer appreciation event.

CASA of Lexington held its annual Fall Festival volunteer appreciation event in September, honoring the efforts of hundreds of CASA volunteers over the past year to provide hope to abused and neglected children.

All current CASA volunteers received a CASA cooking apron, a pumpkin from Shell Farms (and board member Jonathan Shell), a floral arrangement from Rolling Blooms (and board member Heather Barron), a gift card, free food and live music from Stoner Creek Shakedown (with CASA Volunteer Manager Sarah Fightmaster on mandolin).

This was also the first year for the Debbie LaBoone Volunteer of the Year award, which has been named after a CASA volunteer who passed away several years ago and whose family remains strong supporters of CASA’s mission.

Executive Director Melynda Jamison said LaBoone impacted the futures of five children while she was a CASA volunteer.

“The work she did will live on,” Jamison said. “Debbie was so amazing that for this inaugural award, we couldn’t give it to just one.”

The inaugural Debbie LaBoone Volunteer(s) of the Year Award was given to spouses Anne Flynn and Ava Crow, two veteran CASA volunteers who have worked on many cases over the years together.

The following volunteers also received awards for going above and beyond:

Most Miles Driven: Brittney Thomas (2,659 miles)

Most Continuing Education Hours: Virginia Cincotti (134 hours)

Excellent Advocacy Award: Jenn Cathey

Exemplary Court Report Award: Pat Riddell

Compassionate Connection Award: Dan Wu

Kids Champion Award: Ute Keathley

Above and Beyond New Advocates: Julie Creech, Kayla Pelphrey, Kellye Cole and Anna Jones

Above and Beyond Seasoned Advocates: Alex Allouch, Susan Stewart, Michelle Rudzik and Roxana Del Campo

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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.”