CASA Volunteers

Our volunteers, known as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), are assigned specific cases by the Hardin & LaRue County Family Court judges. CASA is often appointed to the most severe or worrisome cases of abuse and/or neglect.

CASA volunteers ensure that the children they serve receive proper advocacy, guidance, and support while navigating the complexities of the legal and social service systems. CASA volunteers advocate for their children on many levels to ensure they receive therapeutic, educational, and personal attention needed to recover from the trauma they have endured. A CASA volunteer is often the eyes, ears and voice for a child while within the system. By meeting these needs, children increase their chances to grow into healthy, thriving adults.

A CASA volunteer is often the one constant adult in a child’s life throughout the entire Family Court process. By focusing solely on that child’s best interest, the CASA ensures that their specific and individual needs are met, while the ultimate goal is to make certain a child is placed in a safe, permanent and loving home.

Volunteer Training Process

Each CASA volunteer undergoes a thorough training process, which includes:

Application

Completing an application packet and an initial interview with a CASA of the Heartland staff member.

Training Course

Completing the Volunteer Training Course, administered by CASA of the Heartland. The five-session course provides the required 30 hours of training and is offered six times throughout the year.

Final Interview

Engaging in a final interview with a CASA of the Heartland staff member, board member, and current volunteer

Get Sworn In

Being sworn in by a Family Court Judge.

Observation

Completing courtroom observation.

Volunteer Training Process

Each CASA volunteer undergoes a thorough training process, which includes:

Application

Completing an application packet and an initial interview with a CASA of the Heartland staff member.

Training Course

Completing the Volunteer Training Course, administered by CASA of the Heartland. The five-session course provides the required 30 hours of training and is offered six times throughout the year.

Final Interview

Engaging in a final interview with a CASA of the Heartland staff member, board member, and current volunteer

Get Sworn In

Being sworn in by a Family Court Judge.

Observation

Completing courtroom observation.

Meet our CASAs!

Statement of Purpose

CASA volunteers act as dedicated advocates for children who are involved in dependency, neglect, and abuse cases in the Family Court system.

Manfredo Quiros

Manfredo has served as a CASA volunteer for 1.5 years. He first learned about CASA online and decided to do a little research into the organization. What he learned inspired him to become a volunteer! Manfredo is originally from Puerto Rico and moved to the United States for college. He earned a Mechanical Engineering degree […]

Read More
Cindy Trent

Cindy first heard about CASA when she attended the Farm to Fork event. She later received a newsletter that said, “You can be a model to the masses, but to have the most meaningful influence, you have to work with individuals" – and she took it as a sign and became a CASA volunteer. Cindy […]

Read More
John House

John has served as a CASA volunteer for 10 years. He learned about CASA from Judge Pamela Addington, retired Hardin County family court judge. Once he realized how great the need was for volunteers, John gladly stepped up. John lives in Rineyville and his hobbies include backpacking and photography. He also has a 5th degree […]

Read More
Meet More CASAs!

Friends of CASA

There are many ways to support CASA of the Heartland, including donating time and talent; serving as a board member, staff member, or volunteer advocate; or providing funding for administrative expenses. Situations routinely occur that require special training or expertise the organization does not possess, which can be difficult and expensive to obtain. When this occurs, CASA of the Heartland turns to professionals and skilled individuals who donate their time and expertise by serving on committees, addressing special needs, providing guidance to the board of directors, or simply performing tasks that are beyond the ability of the organization to accomplish.

Friends of CASA donate their services to address these needs, which in turn are shared on the website as a way of recognizing their contributions in support of CASA of the Heartland. It is just as important to answer a single important question or render a professional opinion as it is to lead a project. Therefore, any donation is accepted and appreciated, regardless of the time and effort required. Anyone interested in becoming a Friend of CASA is encouraged to contact the office at 270-982-2274 or by email at casastaff@casaheartland.org.

How Can You Help?

Our goal is to recruit, train and support enough volunteers to provide a CASA for every child that needs a CASA. This cannot happen without a healthy level of support from our community by way of fundraising and receiving financial donations.

Per National CASA standards, all chapters must employ one full-time staff member for every 45 children we serve. The financial support of our community partners helps support our cause and enables us to employ our paid staff, who are available 24 hours a day to support our CASA volunteers as needed.

CASA of the Heartland staff members are continuously active in community networking, building relationships, and growing our organization. By increasing our capacity, we can recruit more volunteers and serve a greater number of children. We always welcome the opportunity to speak about CASA of the Heartland with community groups and organizations. If your organization is interested in learning more, please contact us to schedule a presentation.

CASA of the Heartland is a member of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (NCASA) Association and the Kentucky CASA Network. We are also a United Way of Central Kentucky funded partner.

Staff

Executive Director

Michelle Kail

EMAIL
Advocate Coordinator & Program Specialist

Natalie Curtis

EMAIL
Advocate Coordinator &

Community Outreach Specialist

Amy Hollingsworth

EMAIL
Lead Advocate Coordinator

Recruitment & Training Specialist

Patti Mayhew

Meet Patti
EMAIL
Assistant Advocate Coordinator

Larry Hoh

EMAIL
Advocate Coordinator

Jordanna Pike

EMAIL

Board Members

Vice Chair

Beth Avey

EMAIL
Board Secretary

Megan Stith

EMAIL
Human Resources Board Member

Barbara Jones

EMAIL
Treasurer

Tanya Deneen

Meet Tanya
EMAIL
Board Member

Katie Butler

EMAIL
Board Member

Sherry Powers

EMAIL
Board Member

Abe O'Bryan

EMAIL
Board Member

Neal Gibbs

EMAIL
Board Member

Kelly Emerine

EMAIL
©2024
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram