Kevin Eby is a professor at the University of Kentucky. He also provides parenting training for young fathers through the Fatherhood Initiative. Eby became a CASA volunteer after learning how Kentucky has one of the worst rates of child abuse and neglect in the nation.

"Talk to a CASA volunteer and try it. It's worth it," he said. "The need will always be there. The numbers are pretty amazing."

Jackie Washburn is retired from Toyota and has served as a CASA volunteer for more than six and a half years.

“It’s fulfilling and you’re helping,” Washburn said of volunteering. “I know the numbers of kids in need are going up. I’m making a difference if I can help a family.”

Taylor Clark began serving as a CASA volunteer while completing law school.

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

Anne Flynn and Ava Crow worked as a nurse and a lawyer, respectively. Now, they serve as a CASA volunteer team, taking on difficult and complex cases together.

“They have traveled all over the state to stay connected with their children, never letting distance be a hindrance,” said Jenifer Bahr, their Volunteer Manager. “Their reports and recommendations have been invaluable to the court. They truly have been the only constant in every single one of their cases.”

Olivia Mattox is a recent college graduate who heard about CASA from one of her sorority sisters and signed up to go through the training. Olivia works as a professional nanny, but wanted to do more for children in need in her community.

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

Terry Huffman is a volunteer in Garrard County. He sees his contributions as a CASA volunteer as his way of giving back to his community and making it a better place.

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

Charlene Floyd serves as a CASA volunteer in Jessamine County. She is one 67 CASA volunteers who received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for the number of hours she volunteered in 2022.

“I heard about CASA through a volunteer a number of years ago and have always been interested in volunteering,” she said. “Since my family and I moved frequently, I wasn’t able to make the time commitment needed. Now that I am settled, I decided to investigate the volunteer opportunities more seriously.” 

Barbie Carter has volunteered for close to five years while she also works full-time at Lexmark. She can do both because much of the work CASA volunteers do can be done on their own time, when it fits with their schedule. Employers are also often eager to support their employees when they learn how important the work is.

“As a CASA volunteer, you are the person who can focus on one case and really get to know the people involved,” Barbie said. “This helps you get a better view of what the child needs, so you can be a voice for that child.”