Champions for Children: CASA Volunteers Share Their Passion and Perspective During Awareness Month

April marks a significant time each year as we observe Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month alongside CASA Volunteer Appreciation Month. It’s an ideal opportunity to elevate community awareness about preventing child abuse and to pause and express gratitude for our dedicated Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers. These individuals tirelessly advocate year-round for children navigating the complexities of the child welfare system through no fault of their own, offering crucial recommendations to the Court focused solely on the child’s best interest.

To shed light on this vital work, we spoke with several CASA volunteers. They shared their motivations for joining, their reasons for staying committed, and their perspectives on the most pressing needs within the child welfare system today.

Voices from the Field

For Nichole Ervin, becoming a CASA was a response to a personal calling. “I wanted to help make a difference and help keep children safe and happy,” she explains. Taking that leap has proven deeply rewarding. Nichole stays committed because the positive impact outweighs the inherent challenges. “The first smile or hug from your child reminds you why you are here,” she shares. Witnessing children grow, laugh, and finally feel secure, whether the outcome is reunification or adoption, fuels her determination. Reflecting on the system’s needs, Nichole emphasizes prioritizing children’s best interests above all else through protective regulations. She also points to the critical need for well-supported foster families and comprehensive services addressing both children’s and adults’ needs, believing that “change is possible when people are willing to try.”

Angela Spillman was driven by a desire to “make a real difference in a child’s life,” recognizing that many children in the system feel forgotten. She stresses the importance of standing up for them and ensuring their voices are heard. This conviction keeps her committed. “I see how much our CASA team’s work impacts these children,” Angela says. Building relationships, watching them grow, and contributing to better futures provides immense fulfillment, even amidst emotional difficulties. In her view, the greatest needs within child services are fundamental: “consistency and compassion.” She observes that agencies can sometimes lose sight of the individual child, making the CASA’s role—listening, valuing, and fighting for them—even more critical in a system that can feel impersonal.

Jodie Thurston found herself increasingly drawn to CASA after repeatedly encountering it. “I knew I needed to be part of something that was more than just my world,” she recalls. The realization that children are often overlooked and lack a consistent voice or support system in court solidified her decision. “That reason alone was all it took to find out more,” Jodie states. Her experience as a CASA has been eye-opening, confirming her initial belief in the importance of advocating for children who desperately need someone in their corner.

Starting through a college internship, Keyera Jenkins chose to remain a CASA volunteer because she believes deeply “it is important for children to have a voice in court.” For Keyera, the most significant need within children’s services boils down to having enough dedicated supporters and ensuring children’s basic needs are consistently met.

Brittany Stegall always felt a pull towards helping others. After initially considering CASA years ago, an internship opportunity later reignited her interest. Learning more about the role solidified her commitment. Witnessing CHINS (Child in Need of Services) cases where children lacked a CASA fueled her dedication. “I knew I wanted to keep advocating for those that seem to get pushed to the side,” she says, noting that often parents’ and foster parents’ requests are met while the child’s voice remains unheard. Brittany perceives a major need for more “behind-the-scenes” support to ground the process and offer additional perspectives. She observes systemic shortcomings in communication and staffing, cautioning against treating children like items on a checklist rather than “humans that don’t have the means to know how to advocate for themselves and that just got their world rocked.”

The desire to give children in the system “a voice of their own” motivated Carrie Dunaway to become a CASA. She notes that while parental support services are important, “the children must be the priority.” Carrie remains a volunteer because she sees the direct impact CASAs have on children who enter the system scared and uncertain. CASAs help them understand the process and affirm their right to express their needs and wants, acting as their voice when necessary or empowering older children to communicate directly or even write to the judge. For Carrie, the paramount need is ensuring the child always comes first, focusing on safety, stability, appropriate services, school continuity, and mental health support.

A Year-Round Commitment

Child abuse prevention is not confined to a single month; it requires continuous vigilance and collective action from our entire community throughout the year. Protecting children and advocating for their well-being is a shared responsibility. We must work together consistently to create a safer environment for all children.

---

How You Can Help

• If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected in Indiana, please call the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 1-800-800-5556.
• If you are inspired to become part of the solution and wish to volunteer with the CASA Program, please contact Sheri Tandy at 765-825-2778 today to learn more.