CASA Spotlight: Penny Robinson

The 12-year-old boy had spent almost seven months at a residential treatment facility without a single visitor so when Penny Robinson walked into the large gymnasium, his eyes lit up. 

“I had been in touch with his counselor and had talked to him monthly by phone or via Zoom, but I wanted to meet in-person when I could,” said Penny, who took on the case of the boy in December. “We talked about the steps he was taking and about his options once he finishes his program, he was easy to engage with, even virtually, and he has been receptive to getting the help he needs. We talked about his desire to be someplace safe, which all children should have and which is why we advocate for them.”  

Penny drove four hours round-trip to meet with the boy. “I plan to do that as often as I can for the facility’s visitation days,” she said. “It was worth the long drive.”

CASA Senior Case Advocacy Supervisor Danielle Sitze says that kind of dedication makes Penny Robinson an outstanding advocate.  “Her calm demeanor and ability to take the reins and pursue the best outcomes has made all the difference.” 

Prior to coming to CASA two years ago, Danielle worked with at teen outreach program for two different agencies and as a case manager. In her current role, Danielle supports both staff and CASA volunteers as they navigate through a system that involves gathering information, working with a family support team, and making informed recommendations about what is in the child’s best interest.

In the two years she has worked with Penny, Danielle has been amazed at how Penny took what she learned during pre-service training and put it into action.  “Penny immediately took on a case involving five siblings, age 13 to a few months old, and met with them monthly, initially in-person and then via Zoom after COVID. She documented everything and wrote excellent court reports, while keeping in touch with the family services case worker and grandmother who took care of the children over the past five years. She also made sure the children had the resources they needed.”

Legal guardianship of the four older children was awarded to the grandmother, but Penny remains involved with the youngest member of this family now 18 months old. “I continue to talk to the social worker, and I recently visited the child.  She has a number of health issues and is being cared for at a pediatric rehabilitation hospital.  It is an amazing place offering great care,” she added.

Penny also has nothing but praise for Danielle’s support and advice and for the CASA volunteer training program. “The training can be a little overwhelming at first, but the instructors and materials offer answers to every imaginable question,” she said.  “Having some experience with the court system has been beneficial.”

In fact, Penny came to CASA with 30 years’ experience as a family law attorney. She is a certified family law mediator and trained in collaborative law, as a Guardian ad Litem and as a Parenting Coordinator. Penny was born in Lexington, Kentucky, but grew up primarily in Indiana. She moved to St. Louis from Indianapolis in 2002 to join her husband. They are the parents of three adult children. 

Penny had heard about CASA in her practice and had previously volunteered in programs that supported families in crisis and taught children mediation skills to resolve conflicts, but she has found being a CASA particularly rewarding.

“With CASA, you can have an impact on the lives of children who need someone to consistently advocate for them throughout their case, which can stretch for months and even years,” she added.  “As a CASA, you work to ensure that the right resources are available to the kiddos and that their voices are heard.”