A Good Problem to Have: CASA of Jefferson County Announces Volunteer Waitlist

In the world of child advocacy, some problems are actually milestones. Today, CASA of Jefferson County is celebrating one of those rare and remarkable moments: for the first time in our program’s history, we have a waitlist—not of children—but of volunteers ready to serve.

Let that sink in. Every child currently in the system who needs a Court Appointed Special Advocate has one. That means that when a child enters the child welfare system in Jefferson County, there is already a trained, compassionate community member prepared to stand beside them. For a program dedicated to ensuring every child has a voice in court and in life, this is nothing short of extraordinary.

What This Means for Children

For children navigating abuse or neglect cases, consistency and advocacy matter deeply. CASA volunteers provide a stable presence—someone who listens, observes, and speaks up for what is truly in the child’s best interest. Because of the incredible support from our community, CASA of Jefferson County can now say that every child we serve has an advocate. Even more encouraging, when new cases arise—and they inevitably will—we have volunteers standing by, ready to step forward. But placing a volunteer on a case is never rushed. Each case is carefully staffed to ensure the best possible match between the advocate and the child or sibling group. This thoughtful process helps create relationships that are strong, sustainable, and centered entirely around the needs of the child.

Why Matching Matters

Being a CASA volunteer is meaningful work, but it is also deeply personal. During the interview process, potential advocates are asked thoughtful questions about their life experiences, their availability, and the types of cases they feel equipped to support. Sometimes that means acknowledging limits. For example, a volunteer may not be in a place where they can drive two hours each way to visit a child every month. Others may have lived experiences that make certain types of abuse or neglect emotionally difficult to engage with. These conversations are not barriers—they are safeguards. Through testimonies and shared experiences among CASA programs across the state of Indiana, we have learned that many volunteers come to this work with their own lived experiences. Those experiences often inspire people to serve, but they also require care and awareness. Our responsibility is to ensure that volunteers remain healthy, supported, and able to advocate without bias.

“While we celebrate having volunteers ready to serve, we also recognize a difficult reality: there are likely children in our community who are experiencing abuse or neglect that has not yet been reported,” said Whitney Roberts Pennington, Executive Director of CASA of Jefferson County. “CASA encourages anyone who suspects a child may be in danger to call the Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline. Your call could be the one that brings a child’s case forward and opens the door to safety, services, and a dedicated CASA volunteer ready to advocate for them.”

A Community Showing Up

The fact that CASA of Jefferson County now has volunteers waiting to serve speaks volumes about the community we live in. It means people are raising their hands and saying: “When a child needs someone, I will be there.” And when those children do enter the system, our program will have several trained advocates to consider—allowing us to thoughtfully match each child with the volunteer best suited to walk alongside them.

Gratitude and Hope

This moment reflects the compassion, commitment, and heart of Jefferson County. While no community wants to see children enter the child welfare system, we can take comfort in knowing that when they do, they will not face it alone. Thanks to a growing network of dedicated CASA volunteers, every child who needs a voice will have someone ready to stand up and speak for them. And that is a powerful kind of progress.

If you suspect child abuse or neglect please call the Indiana State Child Abuse Hotline, 800-800-5556.