Katie Sherman expects to be a foster parent one day. Until then, she’s found another way to help children trying to navigate the child welfare system: She serves as a CASA volunteer.
“In my time with CASA, I have met many different children and have really enjoyed getting to know them,” said Sherman, who works at GreenHouse17 in Lexington. “I have gotten props for my court reports from judges and that has encouraged me to keep advocating for the kids as best I can.”
CASA volunteers like Sherman are matched with abused and neglected children with open family court cases. They visit the children regularly, gather information, and advocate for what the children need. CASA volunteers can prevent children from slipping through the cracks and help get them back to safe, permanent homes quickly.
“Serving as a CASA volunteer has been great because it allows me to help kids who many not have such an easy life,” Sherman said. “And by advocating for them, I can share things that others may not know about them, like favorite foods, how they wear their hair, or a favorite pet.”
Sherman is doing such good work that she was selected as a Volunteer of the Month in CASA of Lexington’s seven-county region.
“Katie is very dedicated to the families that she serves,” said Holly LaFavers, Sherman’s Volunteer Manager. “She has been there for some children for multiple years, giving them a face they know and a little bit of stability in an unstable situation.”
It takes about 5-10 hours a month to serve as a CASA volunteer, and every volunteer plans to serve for at least two years.
Sherman said serving as a CASA volunteer has been very much worth her time.
“The kids you will get to know and help are so diverse and sweet, and being an advocate really allows you to help the kids who need it most,” she said. “You get to connect with families and kids who will make you see the world differently!”