CASA of the 8th Judicial District

STAFF & BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Staff

Denra Riley

Executive Director

Lisa Hatt

Director of Finance

Veronica Lane

Volunteer Coordinator

Board of Directors

John Purvis

President

Malia Lewis

Vice President

Matt Schlagel

Treasurer

Lynn Kruse

Secretary

Denra Riley

Executive Director

Jim Autrey

Board Member

Teresa Palmer

Board Member

Natasha Kelly

Board Member

Lisa Hatt

Parliamentarian

Peter Rumbold

Program Attorney

Mission & Values

Our Mission

CASA of the 8th Judicial District's mission is to advocate for the best interests of the abused and neglected children in the court system. We strive to help children have safe, permanent, and nurturing homes.

Our Values

 We value children.

 We value volunteer-centered advocacy.

 We value collaboration

 With local programs

 With volunteers

 With courts

 With policy makers.

 We value developing, growing and sustaining local programs.

 We value credible leadership and impeccable ethics.

 We value unity of our network.

 We value protecting the rights of the child.

     The CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program believes that every child has the right to a safe, permanent home. A child or children found by the court to be a Child in Need of Care (CINC) are often appointed a CASA volunteer.  This CASA volunteer speaks exclusively for the child’s best interests.  CASA volunteers are highly  screened and trained before they are appointed to a case in the juvenile court system. CASA volunteers are assigned to help one child or set of siblings at a time.  By handling only one or two cases at a time (compared to a social agency caseworker’s average load of 60 – 90), the CASA volunteer has the time to explore thoroughly the each case assigned to them and are often the one adult solely focused on that child/group of siblings.