LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky has the highest rate of child maltreatment in the country. It’s a shocking rate of 20.1 per 1,000 children, according to the most recent U.S Department of Health and Human Services report.

Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lexington, a nonprofit to protect abused and neglected children, earned national recognition recently for its work in the community.

Signed and delivered from President Joe Biden to Camisha Boyd Powell, the President’s Volunteer Service Award (VSA) is special. It’s Powell’s first time receiving the award, where she earned a bronze level for her 116 hours dedicated to CASA.

65 total volunteers received the award, with a silver level for up to 500 volunteer hours and gold level for over 500 volunteer hours. All volunteer hours were done in the course of a year, and volunteers were given a pin or medallion in addition to a personal thank-you note from Biden.

Camisha Boyd Powell, a CASA of Lexington volunteer smiles as she learns she won the President's Volunteer Service Award. (Spectrum News 1/Diamond Palmer)

“This is the first time I’m seeing this and this is pretty awesome. This is my first year receiving one, so I’m really excited about it,” said Powell.

Powell smiles as she is one of 65 volunteers at CASA of Lexington who earned the VSA her 116 hours dedicated to CASA. The nonprofit is something she’s been a part of for five years.

“When your heart is in it, you really don’t even think about the hours you put in,” said Powell.

Her heart has been in it since she graduated from the University of Louisville with her bachelor’s and master’s degree. She started teaching kindergarten immediately after graduation for eight years.

The children she advocates for today know the Lexington native is a superhero. 

CASA of Lexington volunteers take on one case for two years. They dedicate 6-10 hours a month speaking up for abused, neglected children during home visits and court appearances.

The end goal is returning children to a permanent home as quickly as possible.

“It could seem like they’re in a great home. You know they have all of the basic needs but do they have the things in depth? Do they have reading classes in case you know they’re having visual trouble and they can’t see but people don’t notice that because they don’t talk to them or get to know them enough,” said Powell.

When Powell’s not at CASA, she’s at Community Action Council’s Head Start Program. She serves as the executive project coordinator currently.

It’s a balance act for Powell, as that’s her full-time job on top of her volunteer hours for CASA. Melynda Jamison serves as CASA of Lexington’s executive director and sees how hard Powell works for children that don’t have the best home life.

“She is so committed to the children and families on her caseload, and has really built bonds with some of the children on her cases. It really has almost a friendship with them that they might not have otherwise without their advocate,” said Jamison.

“And I feel that without being that advocate, that wouldn’t be done for that particular child,” said Powell.

Powell says she’ll continue to be an advocate. CASA of Lexington is looking for more volunteers—to find more information on becoming one, click here.