MISSION of CASA of LEXINGTON:

The mission of CASA of Lexington is to provide trained, supervised volunteers to advocate on behalf of the best interest of children in the Family Court system due to abuse, neglect, or dependency. CASA is respected by the court system and community as an organization of qualified volunteers who help ensure that each child is given the chance not only to survive, but to thrive. 

Our volunteers go through a 30 hour training series at our office here in Lexington and are thereafter appointed to a case in the Fayette County Family Court system. Once appointed on the case, the CASA volunteer interviews everyone involved.  This can include any or all of the following, but is not limited to: the child, biological parents, foster parents, teachers, friends, doctors, therapists, and relatives.

The CASA then writes reports which are sent to the Judge and all other parties (lawyers and social worker) in the case.  The judge uses these reports as his or her eyes and ears on the cases that need more attention than others. These reports are very valuable to the Judge. They often provide information on these critical cases that would not otherwise be available.

CASAs are unique. Unlike lawyers and social workers, who are required to consider the parents’ or family’s best interest, the CASA focuses solely on what is best for the child or children. Throughout the child’s case quite often the foster parents, social workers, schools, towns, and everything else in the child’s life will change many times due to placement. One of the goals of CASA is to minimize these changes, both by providing continual monitoring and advocacy for the child, and by being a stable and constant person in this child’s life.

Only 16% of Fayette County’s children are receiving the advocacy that all of the children need.

Please consider becoming an advocate for an abused or neglected child!