LEXINGTON, Ky. — Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in Lexington were recognized for their tireless effort to help needy children.

What You Need To Know

  • CASA for Children in Kentucky shared they have a need for more volunteers 

  • Advocates are appointed by a family court judge

  • CASA recently awarded volunteers across seven counties with their President’s Volunteer Service Award

  • In five years, CASA has awarded 293 President’s Volunteer Service awards to advocates

Once a court-appointed special advocate himself, director of communications Ben Kleppinger helps promote CASA's mission to help neglected and abused kids.

“This is our training room where we train new volunteers," Kleppinger said. "Every volunteer goes through a 30-hour training where we give them all the information they need and the support they need to do the job well." 

Advocates are appointed by a family court judge to learn about the quality of life these children have and advocate for solutions. Kleppinger said while they are grateful for the help of their village support right now, volunteers are needed at this time.

“We're only serving about 18% of the children who need a Casa volunteer in Fayette County, and across our seven-county region, it's lower than that,” he said.

To be an advocate, one must complete the required training, be 21 years old and complete and a background check. Kleppinger shared that, in 2024, almost 700 at-risk children in their seven-county region were supported by 273 volunteers.

“It speaks to how dedicated our volunteers are to changing these children's lives and just how much they're pouring into these kids who haven't been given what they need so that these kids can grow up to have good lives,” Kleppinger said.

To show their appreciation for all the volunteers' hard work, the national CASA team and Ameri-corps honor volunteers who dedicate long hours to the work with the President’s Volunteer Service award.

“Forty-nine volunteers who gave more than 100 hours just in 2020, including two of those volunteers, gave more than 500 hours and earned the gold president's volunteer service award, and six of them earned the silver for volunteering more than 250 hours,” Kleppinger said.

Kleppinger said it’s a priority meant for those who value helping those who are most vulnerable.

“President's Volunteer Service award is kind of rare for just the average person, but here at CASA, Lexington, quite a few of our volunteers give so many hours that they regularly earn it,” Kleppinger said.

In five years, CASA has awarded 293 president’s volunteer service awards to advocates.

For those interested in volunteering can go to CASA of Lexington.