Organization is one of seven local CASA programs nationwide to earn the highest tier of recognition 

CASA of Lexington is one of seven local CASA programs in the nation recognized for innovative LGBTQ+ inclusiveness through the All Children All Families program. 

The 2023 All Children All Families report from the Human Rights Campaign was released Dec. 14. It recognizes 172 partner agencies for working to improve LGBTQ+ inclusivity for foster children and families. 

Fifty of those partner agencies, including CASA of Lexington, were recognized at the highest, “Innovative Inclusion” tier. Of those 50, seven are local CASA programs and one is a state CASA organization (Texas CASA). 

“The work we have done at CASA of Lexington to ensure inclusiveness will help save lives. It may have already saved lives,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington. “LGBTQ+ children in the family court system face enormous challenges that threaten their well-being. CASA volunteers can come alongside these children, tell them they matter, and advocate for their needs. Research has shown if even one person affirms an LGBTQ+ youth like this, it can make all the difference.” 

According to the 2023 ACAF report, approximately one in three children in foster care identifies as LGBTQ+. And 44% of LGBTQ+ youth in state custody ran away from home or were thrown out for reasons directly related to their identity. LGBTQ+ youth in care report higher rates of mistreatment, more frequent placement disruptions and a higher chance of being placed in residential facilities. 

LGBTQ+ youth, whether in foster care or not, are also at higher risk of contemplating or attempting suicide. Research from The Trevor Project has shown that acceptance from adults is associated with lower rates of suicide among LGBTQ+ youth. 

CASA volunteers visit with their assigned children regularly, talk to adults in the children’s lives and advocate for the children’s best interests in court. They help provide children with hope for the future and get children more services. They also help children return to safe, permanent homes that are far less likely to disrupt. 

“This is what CASA is about: ensuring all children — no matter who they are or how they identify — can have safe homes and grow up to be happy, healthy adults,” Jamison said. “We are proud of what we have been able to accomplish, and we are already working to further improve our inclusive culture moving forward.” 

This is the second year CASA of Lexington has been recognized as an innovative partner through All Children All Families. As an ACAF partner, the organization has reviewed and updated all internal policies to be inclusive, added required training for staff on LGBTQ+ inclusion, increased training options on LGBTQ+ issues for volunteers, added inclusive family benefits for employees, and more. 

Across all 172 partnering agencies, more than 9,500 policies and practices were evaluated in 2023 to ensure they meet best practices criteria. An estimated 1.4 million children, youth and families across 43 states have benefited from these agencies’ work on inclusivity. 

“Providing children and families with the most inclusive environment in which to grow should always be the number-one priority,” said Phii Regis, Director of the All Children All Families program. “We are grateful for CASA of Lexington’s work as part of this partnership. Together, we can win the fight for equality and build safe and loving communities at the same time.” 

You can see the 2023 ACAF report at https://hrc.im/ACAFReport. You can learn more about CASA of Lexington and apply to be a CASA volunteer at www.casaoflexington.org.

The next training class for new CASA volunteers begins in Lexington on Jan. 9, with classes on evenings and weekends in January and February. 

CASA volunteers Jackie Washburn, left, and Susan Isaacs are December’s Volunteers of the Month.

When a new case of child neglect involving six siblings came across Rebecca Brereton-Farr’s desk last year, she knew she would need some special CASA volunteers for the job.

Brereton-Farr, a Volunteer Manager at CASA of Lexington, paired up Jackie Washburn, a veteran CASA volunteer with 15 years of experience, and Susan Isaacs, a new CASA volunteer who was waiting for her first case. Together, they would begin advocating for the children’s best interests.

The results have been amazing.

Jackie and Susan discovered their strengths complemented each other nicely — Jackie brought her experience; Susan brought strong computer skills. Both shared a love of children and a desire to improve their world.

“I feel like I have a new friend,” said Susan, a retired educator and consultant. “I know about her children and her grandchildren. We talk about a lot more than just the case.”

The pair have now spent more than a year as CASA volunteers on the case. They visit the children monthly, talk to adults in the children’s lives, review educational and medical records, and write reports for the judge on the case, leading to better outcomes.

Children who receive CASA volunteers like Jackie and Susan have usually suffered trauma and have little or no stability in their lives. CASA volunteers provide hope that things will get better, advocate for more stability, identify needs that others in court have overlooked, and help return children to safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible.

“I want to make sure that all the kids are where they need to be, that they are in a good home,” Jackie said. “And if parents can be that home, and we can help them with that, I like to see reunification as much as possible.”

Because of the excellent work Jackie and Susan have done on their case, they have been named CASA Volunteers of the Month for December 2023.

“Susan and Jackie have been the dynamic duo this case and these kids needed,” said Brereton-Farr. “Susan can navigate the school system and ensure the older children’s educational needs are being met. Jackie can navigate the court system. Both provide a sense of comfort to mom as she works to regain custody and make her own personal progress.”

Brereton-Farr said Susan and Jackie have become a trusted source of information for the judge on the case and helped guide all sides in their case to productive solutions that ultimately help the children.

“I truly believe that without Susan and Jackie on this case, we would not have seen progress and these kids would have just lingered,” Brereton-Farr said.

It takes about 5-10 hours a month to serve as a CASA volunteer. While CASA volunteers always have support from their Volunteer Managers, CASA volunteers who serve on a CASA team also have their partner to bounce ideas off of and share in the highs and lows.

“We talk back and forth to make sure we are on the same page,” Jackie said. “It works very well having two people on this case.”

Susan agreed.

“I had never been to court before; Jackie talked me all through that. I had never done a court report before; Jackie talked me through that,” Susan said. “I’m really relying on her expertise to help me know what to do, what not to do. I’m forever grateful that somebody here had the wisdom to put us together.”

Next CASA Volunteer Training

Anyone interested in becoming a CASA volunteer can fill out an application at www.casaoflexington.org/apply. You can see upcoming training schedules at www.casaoflexington.org/training. For more information, email info@casaoflexington.org.

Family Court Judge Jeff Moss swears in four new CASA volunteers, who will now begin advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children in Garrard and Lincoln counties.

Family Court Judge Jeff Moss swore in four new CASA volunteers in November, growing the number of local community members who are making a difference for abused and neglected children in Lincoln and Garrard counties.

"We can't do this without you all," Moss told the new CASA volunteers at their swearing in ceremony.

The new volunteers are Blake Baker, Hope Baker, Ashley Smalley and Stephen Smalley. The Bakers and Smalleys both plan to serve as CASA teams — when two volunteers work on a case together. They will be matched with cases of children in the local family court system who need an advocate.

CASA volunteers visit their CASA children monthly, talk to adults in the children's lives, review records and provide reports to the judge, creating better outcomes for the children.

Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of the CASA program serving Lincoln and Garrard counties, said she is excited at how the program has grown, fueled by impressive support from residents who are willing to give their time to make children's lives better.

"For our population size, we are the fastest growing program in the whole state," she said.

After completing a 30-hour training class, CASA volunteers spend about 5-10 hours a month volunteering and they commit to serve for at least two years. Children who receive a CASA volunteer have more hope for the future, do better in school, receive more services and are far less likely to re-enter the foster care system after their cases close.

Anyone interested in becoming a CASA volunteer can email lincolncounty@casaoflexington.org or garrardcounty@casaoflexington.org for more information, or visit www.casaoflexington.org.

A regional training for new CASA volunteers begins Jan. 9 in Lexington, with classes on evenings and weekends. An in-person training specifically for Lincoln and Garrard volunteers will be held in Lancaster beginning Jan. 23, with classes on evenings and one weekend.

You can view all upcoming CASA volunteer training schedules at www.casaoflexington.org/training.

Donation announced at Bourbon County CASA Angel Tree event will fund advocacy for abused and neglected children in 2024

The CASA program serving Bourbon County has once again received a $100,000 donation from the Dan Cummins Auto Group, funding advocacy for abused and neglected children in 2024. 

Josh Cummins presented the $100,000, raised by taking a portion of each car sale made at Dan Cummins dealerships this year, to CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison at the organization’s annual Bourbon County CASA Angel Tree event Nov. 9. 

"We have something to present to CASA,” Cummins said as he pulled an oversized novelty check from behind the CASA Angel Tree. “It's $100,000 we have raised this year to help you with your efforts and to help the volunteers going forward once again. So we would like to present you with this ‘small’ check." 

“I’m not sure the folks here in Paris understand the definition of ‘small,’” Jamison joked. “But we will happily take it because this means 100 children get a CASA volunteer for an entire year.” 

Court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteers are trained community members who are matched with abused and neglected children in the family court system. Each CASA volunteer visits with the child on their case monthly, talks to adults in the child’s life, reviews records and writes reports for the judge. 

Children with a CASA volunteer have more hope for the future, get more services to help them thrive, do better in school and are far less likely to re-enter the foster system after their cases close. 

The CASA Angel Tree program is the community’s opportunity to brighten the holidays for CASA children by purchasing them gifts from their wish lists. This year, there were 38 children on the CASA Angel Tree in need of someone to purchase their gifts for the holidays. Every name on the tree was picked within minutes. 

Bourbon County Judge-Executive Mike Williams spoke at the event, thanking the Cummins family and employees for their dedication to the CASA mission. Williams said he is proud that the Bourbon County Fiscal Court not only provided some of the funding required to bring CASA services, but has increased its funding for the CASA program over the years. 

“I do understand how important CASA is, and especially understand how important it is for Bourbon County,” he said. 

Josh Cummins said supporting CASA is a great way to create positive change in the world at the local level, rather than focusing on problems “halfway across the world.” 

“You can fix your neighbor. You can help your community,” he said. “(CASA is) something that will affect the rest of our lives, our community’s growth, the lives and relationships of our children.” 

Last year in Bourbon County, there were 53 children who suffered documented abuse or neglect. Given that the average case lasts two years or longer, there are likely more than 100 children with open family court cases in Bourbon County right now. CASA of Lexington served 56 of those children in 2022. 

“We want to get to the point where we’re able to serve every child who needs a CASA volunteer,” Jamison said. “In order to do that, we need more volunteers. So we’re continuing to recruit volunteers in Bourbon County.” 

The next regional training class for people who want to serve in Bourbon County will begin Jan. 9, with classes on evenings and weekends at the CASA of Lexington Fayette County office, 3245 Loch Ness Dr. in Lexington. 

You can learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer and the training class at www.casaoflexington.org/training.  

Participate in CASA Angel Tree 

All names from the 2023 Bourbon County CASA Angel Tree have been selected, but you can provide additional gifts by purchasing from the CASA Angel Tree Wish List, available at https://bit.ly/casaangeltree2023. When you place your order, ensure you choose the “gift registry address” for shipping rather than your own address. The gifts you purchase will be used to ensure every child receives a good number of gifts and that siblings receive comparable gifts. 

CASA Volunteer Nick Luddy

Nick Luddy spent 24 years in the U.S. Army, including a 10-year stint doing anti-terrorism work. He has traveled the globe for his job, serving in multiple countries across the Middle East and Africa.

Today, Nick is retired from the Army, but he has found a new way to have an impact: He serves as a CASA volunteer, advocating for vulnerable children in the local family court system.

As a military police officer, Nick said he saw some unfortunate situations involving domestic violence and child abuse. Nick would work with social workers to find a family member or another safe placement for the children who were harmed.

After he retired, a family friend told him about the Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, and its purpose resonated with Nick because he knows about the challenges some kids can face.

“Once I heard about CASA, I thought maybe I could try to make a difference in a few kids’ lives,” he said. “I enjoy getting to meet the children and their families, seeing their struggles and being able to offer some help.”

CASA volunteers are matched with children who have suffered abuse or neglect. They visit the children monthly, talk to adults in the children’s lives, review records, and write recommendations and reports for the judge on the case.

Fayette County family court judges have praised CASA reports for containing a far greater level of information and detail about children’s lives than would otherwise be available. The judges say CASA volunteers bring an ordinary perspective focused on the child’s needs rather than legal requirements, which helps ground decisions in what’s best for the children.

Nick has been a CASA volunteer with CASA of Lexington for more than two years, and he has now been named a Volunteer of the Month for November 2023.

“Nick is always willing to learn. He has done a great job navigating language barriers in his cases, and he has become a great support for a dad,” said Kyrsten Adkins, a Volunteer Manager who has supported Nick in his volunteer role.

Kealy Griffin, who also served as a Volunteer Manager for Nick, said he would do anything to be a great CASA volunteer for the kids on his case.

“As a newer volunteer, Nick has grown a lot over the last year, but one thing that has remained consistent throughout his case is that he always makes his CASA kids a top priority – no matter what,” Griffin said.

Nick said one of his favorite parts about being a CASA volunteer is seeing his CASA children’s eyes light up when he arrives for a visit. He said he knows there are many more children who still need a CASA volunteer right now.

“We need more CASA volunteers. And we really need more male CASA volunteers,” he said. “I think every CASA volunteer should try to help get the word out about this.”

CASA Volunteer Jan Colbert

Jan Colbert might be a little too good at getting her steps. She uses a pedometer — not to encourage more walking, but to know when she’s hit her limit.

“I have two dogs and we go on very, very, very long walks,” Jan said, laughing. “I have to keep it down to 10,000 steps.”

Jan, a retired accounting professor, said after a career tied to computers and finance, she has found she can’t get enough of getting out in nature. Another thing she can’t get enough of? Serving as a CASA volunteer.

“It really makes a difference,” she said.

Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are ordinary people who are matched with abused and neglected children in the family court system. A CASA volunteer like Jan visits her child monthly, talks to adults in the child’s life, reviews records, and writes reports for the judge on the case. In all, it takes about 5 to 10 hours a month.

For the past two years, Jan has been the CASA volunteer for two young siblings. During her time on the case, the siblings have changed placements nine times — but Jan has been a consistent, positive presence for them wherever they go.

“It’s just a joy to go see them,” Jan said, explaining one time she went to see them while they were at school and she saw the older one in gym class. “He saw me through the window and he came running over to me — he was so joyous!”

Because of Jan’s hard work for her CASA children, she has been named a CASA Volunteer of the Month for November 2023.

“Jan is the most consistent person on her CASA kids’ case. She knows all of the history and maintains consistent contact with all the parties,” said Kyrsten Adkins, Jan’s Volunteer Manager. “She has followed her kids across the state as they have been moved nine times since coming into foster care. She has also helped us recruit new volunteers and spread awareness in the community!”

Jan said she thinks more people should explore becoming CASA volunteers.

“It really is the most impactful volunteering I can do and I just think it’s so rewarding,” she said.

Renee Shaw is an award-winning who serves as the Director of Public Affairs and Moderator for KET. She is also the host of Kentucky Edition on KET.

She is single and an only child to her parents; she chose to become a CASA of Lexington board member after learning about the organization through her work as a journalist.

Some of Renee's favorite hobbies are gardening, walking, hiking and decorating. Renee joined the CASA of Lexington Board of Directors this summer; her term runs through July 1, 2027.

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!