CASA of St. Louis News

CASA of St. Louis Welcomes Largest Class of Volunteers

CASA of St. Louis Onboards New Volunteers in Swearing-In Ceremony

St. Louis – SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 – The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of St. Louis nonprofit organization is excited to welcome 25 new community members who completed a seven-week training course to become appointed volunteer advocates on Wednesday, September 6, at 9 a.m., at the St. Louis City Family Court located at 920 N. Vandeventer in St. Louis, Missouri.  A virtual swearing-in will take place on Monday, September 11, at noon for those advocates unable to attend in-person.  CASA of St. Louis, part of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian Ad Litem program, recruits, trains and supports those interested in advocating for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect.  Their advocacy enables judges to make the most well-informed decision for each child.  CASA of St. Louis assists with cases in the 21st and 22nd Circuit Courts.

The newest class is the largest class to date for the program.  “Welcoming 25 new CASA volunteers means we will serve 30-50 children who have been waiting for a caring adult, an adult they can trust to speak up for them in court, at school, within their foster placement and in the community,” said CASA of St. Louis Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Howard.  Once accepted into the program, volunteers complete hours of training which prepares them for different scenarios in their new role.  “This is a 30-hour training program that includes both independent study and facilitator led sessions to cover the following elements: Relevant State and Federal laws that govern child welfare practice, juvenile court process, family dynamics, communication and information gathering, cultural competency and advocacy,” said CASA of St. Louis Chief Program Officer, Nickie Steinhoff.

The next training beginning in October, is expected to be another large class of community members.  “We anticipate 20 applicants in our next training session,” said Steinhoff.  The 2024 training is set to begin in early January.

CASA of St. Louis looks to continue increasing the number of advocates as there is an unfortunate increase with children in foster care.  “Our goal is to serve an ever-increasing number of children in foster care through effective and compassionate volunteer recruitment, training, and supervision,” Howard said.  “This year we will serve at least 432 children in foster care and by June 2025 we plan to be serving at least 570 children through the advocacy of 395 CASA volunteers.”

For more information about becoming a volunteer with CASA of St. Louis, visit www.stlcasa.org or contact Bradley Hoffman: bhoffman@stlcasa.org 314-615-4508. 

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CHILD ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION SPENDS DAY AT THE CAPITOL TO BOOST SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE

“Our programs thrive where community support is strongest.”

Dateline: [Jefferson City, MO, April 4, 2023] — The Missouri Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (Missouri CASA) rallied its local programs on Tuesday, April 4 at the Missouri State Capitol to share its important mission with legislators: to support, improve, and grow local Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA®) programs and lead advocacy efforts for abused and neglected children across Missouri. Missouri CASA, based in Columbia, was joined by nine of its local CASA programs from around the state. These programs brought staff members and volunteers to visit with Representatives and Senators from their judicial circuits.

The goal of CASA at the Capitol Day was to ensure that legislators understand the work that CASA does. Twenty-four local programs around the state recruit, screen, train, and support community volunteers who provide best-interest advocacy for abused and neglected children in the foster care system. CASA programs ensure that these children have a consistent voice during their journey in foster care.

Volunteers and staff were able to share the impact that CASA has on children and youth and why it is essential to support this important work at a statewide level. CASA volunteers primarily work with one child or sibling group, visit with people in the child’s life, and learn key information about the child. This information, the child's wishes, and recommendations regarding the child’s best interest, are submitted to the juvenile court judge via written court report. Recommendations to the judge are vital to the case and the child’s well-being, often leading to more resources for the child and impacting placement when there are safety concerns. These reports also help the child reach permanency as quickly and safely as possible.

According to the Missouri CASA Community Outreach and Education Coordinator, Alana Hickman, “Our programs thrive where community support is strongest.” This is why Missouri CASA believes that engaging with elected officials from communities where CASA programs are present will help strengthen these programs over time.

In addition to strong community support, CASA programs also require financial resources to ensure that staff members can supervise enough volunteers to advocate for the many children in foster care. One paid staff member can supervise up to thirty volunteers or forty-five cases (children and/or sibling groups). Community and financial support are vital for programs to exist, grow, and thrive.

Missouri CASA and each of its twenty-four affiliate programs truly appreciate the time that our elected officials took to visit with the staff and volunteers who came to the Capitol. Amid the busy schedules, we appreciate any time taken to learn more about the importance of volunteer-based advocacy for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. We are grateful for any efforts that Missouri legislators give to support our children, families, and communities.

In 2022, CASA programs around the state served nearly 4,800 abused and neglected children with over 2,100 volunteer advocates and staff, but programs still need your help. To learn more or to volunteer with a local CASA program, visit mocasa.org/volunteer.

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CASA’s Rhonda Lingard Chosen for Leadership Program

February 8, 2023

FOCUS St. Louis recently announced the 26 outstanding individuals selected for the spring 2023 cohort of Women In Leadership, and we’re pleased to share that Rhonda Lingard, Operations Manager at CASA of St. Louis, has been chosen for participation! Her more than 25 years of experience with nonprofits includes seven years as CASA’s Coordinator of Volunteer Programs and Coordinator to the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Webster University. Rhonda holds a Masters in Adult and Higher Education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and is working toward a doctorate in Education.

The Women In Leadership program offers professionals the opportunity to refine their leadership competencies, gain a deeper understanding of the St. Louis region, and connect with women from diverse backgrounds. “For more than 40 years the Women In Leadership program has been bringing together a diverse mix of women from across sectors for growth, learning and connection,” says Shalia Ford, WIL Program Director. More information about this program can be found here.

CASA of St. Louis recently welcomed two new members to our Young Professionals Board

October 25, 2022

CASA of St. Louis Welcomes New Board Members

October 11, 2022

CASA of St. Louis recently elected four individuals to our Board of Directors. Get to know them below:

Lance Taylor

Lance is originally from San Bernardino, California and currently lives with his fiancée Sarah in Maryland Heights. The four children making up their blended family—Ein, Donovan, Harper and Christopher—range in ages nine to twenty-three and keep them busy. Lance enjoys getting out on the lake and fishing with Sarah, and riding on his Harley. He is an avid reader and a self-proclaimed foodie who loves to experiment in the kitchen.

Lance is the Department Leader of the Cloud Services area at Edward Jones. He also serves as a leader on the People and Culture strategy group for the Digital Technology division, increasing awareness of the firm's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives and serving as a facilitator for the Courageous Conversations program. He joined Edward Jones in 2016 after a 12-year career on Active Duty in the Air Force and continues to serve today as a Reservist at Scott Air Force Base.

Lance is deeply committed to building community and service before self. This drive is instilled in part from being first generation born American to a migrant family from Jamaica that had to scrape for everything that they had as well as help raise children in an extended family. Watching his family work hard to establish strong roots in this country created an understanding that you give whenever you can. Lance appreciates the opportunity to serve on the board for CASA and continue the Edward Jones tradition of service and community impact.

Lacey Sewing

Lacey Sewing is from Saint Louis and currently resides in Kirkwood with her husband Chris, daughter Flynn, and a German Shepherd named Leroy Popsicle. Lacey is the Vice President of Merchandising and Product Development for a soft goods company called 5 Horizons. Lacey shared, “I spend my free time shuttling my daughter to her various activities, spending time with friends and family, running, and traveling.” 

Lacey has served on CASA’s Young Professionals Board for several years and co-chaired the CASA Trivia Night this past August. Lacey looks forward to bringing the experience and knowledge gained in the Young Professionals Board to the CASA Board of Directors.

Elaina Richardson-Lee

Elaina Richardson-Lee is currently employed as a Manager, Human Resources Business Partner for Centene. Elaina has more than twenty-five years of experience in Human Resources, mostly in the insurance and healthcare fields. Much of her work has been with nonprofit organizations which support underserved communities. 

Elaina earned an MBA from Fontbonne University and a BS in Business Administration from Central Missouri State University.  She is a certified Human Resources Professional and holds both her Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM-SCP Certifications.

Elaina is an Alumnae of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows Program. She is part of the Divine 9 and an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated-St. Louis Alumnae Chapter, a public service sorority where she serves on the Community Awareness and Involvement and Economic Development Committees. She is a member of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and a member of the United Way Charmaine Chapman Society. She has also served a volunteer advisor for CASA working with the Risk Management Team.

Elaina and her husband, David Lee, Olympic Athlete (1980 Olympic Team) have one daughter, Jania. Elaina and David are former foster parents with personal knowledge of the foster care system. In her free time Elaina enjoys music, entertaining, spending time with friends and family, traveling, volunteering, promoting financial literacy, and being an entrepreneur.

Sam Pratt

Sam Pratt is a Material and Process Engineering Manager for Boeing and previously spent 18 years in the semiconductor industry. He served in the US Navy as part of their nuclear power program. 

Originally from De Lassus, Missouri, Sam attended the University of Kansas and earned a BS and MS in Chemical Engineering; he’s avid Kansas Jayhawks fan. 

Sam enjoys spending time with his fiancée Charm Kirby and his ten-year-old son Dexter, as well as supporting the St. Louis food scene as well as sampling wines and craft beer. 

Sam states, “Ever since I first found out about CASA and its mission, I was hooked. Being able to provide children with someone to look out for their best interests is a huge step in them having a chance of reaching their dreams - who wouldn't want to be a part of that?”

Meet Our VROM!

September 29, 2022

We’re excited to welcome Schalene Houston-Butler to our staff! Schalene joins us as the Volunteer Recruitment and Outreach Manager (VROM). In this new position, Schlalene leads volunteer recruitment and marketing, and will engage the community to increase awareness of CASA of St. Louis and our need for qualified volunteers. 

Schalene brings to the agency experience in content creation and production across many platforms, as well as developing community relationships to further mission and outreach. She recently served as a Video Production Supervisor for STL TV, the communications division of the City of St. Louis. She holds a Masters in Media Management from Webster University and a BA in Mass Communications from SIU-Edwardsville. 

Schalene was initiated in the East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated in 2017 and is active on both the Founders Day Committee and the Communications, Public Relations and Technology Committee. She also serves on the Sorority’s National Communications and Public Relations Committee and has edited social media content celebrating Delta Sigma Theta’s 107th Anniversary. 

Originally from Mexico, Missouri, Schalene came to the St. Louis area for higher education and has been here ever since. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially her husband, aunt and uncle, and their dog Laynie. Schalene spends spare time reading, working out, and relaxing with streaming shows. Explaining her passion for the work of CASA of St. Louis, she shared, “I realize CASA is very important to this area, and I’d like to help increase awareness of this organization.”

CASA of St. Louis welcomes two new members to our Young Professionals Board this spring: meet Madeline and Sydney!

June 17, 2022

Madeline Brunner 

She’s a nurse with a Barnes-Jewish Hospital Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. She travels, takes boxing classes, is active in her sorority alumnae group, and she’s planning her March wedding! Meet Madeline Brunner, newly elected to the CASA of St. Louis Young Professionals Board. 

Madeline, her fiancé Patrick, and their “fur baby” Harley - a long-haired dachshund - live in South St. Louis City. Madeline has been a nurse for over three years, and says “I can't imagine not working in Oncology or cancer research… I love my unit because I am always critically thinking and on my feet. Our patients stay about 4-6 weeks in the unit for their transplant and I really get to know them and their families and learn how to take care of them the best. Although it can be emotionally and physically exhausting, it is still very rewarding to be there for patients during their journey.”

Madeline’s dedication to helping others extends well past her nursing career and into her personal time. Her experience with CASA of St. Louis goes back to her college years. Madeline moved from Carmel, Indiana to St. Louis when she enrolled in nursing school at Saint Louis University, and joined Kappa Alpha Theta (“the Thetas”) as a freshman. CASA is the designated charity for Theta groups nationwide, so at SLU she learned more about CASA of St. Louis as the group held fundraising events and volunteered for our organization. After graduating, she became a recruitment advisor for the Theta Alumnae chapter and met Ami Boehlje, who serves on the CASA Board and is a fellow Theta alum. Ami recommended Madeline for the CASA Young Professionals Board. “I knew this was my chance to make a difference with CASA and become more involved,” Madeline explains. “I am so excited to get more involved with CASA and be able to make more of a connection between CASA and SLU's Kappa Alpha Theta chapter.”

Madeline shared, “I think CASA is an amazing organization that provides crucial care and assistance to kids in need. I am passionate about caring for people and supporting them through their tough times. I think that passion compels me to support CASA's work. I think there's a lot of work to be done with this country's foster care system and this is a hands-on way to impact that. I also think support for kids beyond foster care is so important so that they can thrive and achieve their goals.” 

Sydney Ovaitt 

Also joining the CASA Young Professionals Board this spring is Sydney Ovaitt. Sydney graduated from Nerinx Hall in St. Louis, then studied Business Management at the University of Missouri. She’s now a Loan Officer Trainer at Veterans United Home Loans, a mortgage company that specializes in the VA home loan. Sydney started with Veterans United as a Loan Officer, but jumped on the opportunity to become a trainer “because I have a passion for helping others succeed”, she explains; “I wanted to extend my reach when it comes to serving those that serve our country. I worked as a trainer at my previous employer, Enterprise Holdings, so training is kind of my bread and butter.”

Sydney has been familiar with CASA’s work for many years; her mother served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate in Callaway County, advocating for two sibling groups in the foster care system. Last year her good friend, Gina Watts, approached Sydney about securing a donation from Veterans United Foundation - her employer’s charitable group funded by employee contributions - to support CASA’s trivia night. Veterans United Foundation generously signed on as the presenting sponsor. As she talked more with Gina about CASA’s work and reflected on the impact of her mother’s CASA advocacy, Sydney agreed to join the Young Professionals Board. 

When she’s not working hard to help veterans secure home loans, or volunteering with CASA and other organizations, Sydney keeps busy with pickleball, reading, and dancing with friends. She adopted two cats - Kim and Trousers - during COVID, who keep her busy as well. When asked for a fun fact to share, Sydney notes “I hardly ever get the hiccups!” As a sophomore in college she won a bet that she wouldn’t hiccup in the next year. She won that bet, and the streak has continued for eleven years since!

Sydney is passionate about helping children in foster care achieve the connections and positive outcomes they deserve. She explains, “My friend Molly and her husband just became licensed to be foster parents. She and I have bonded over our new connection with the foster care system and how we can impact it, even in small ways. I’m excited to be part of this community and help raise awareness and funds for such a fantastic organization.” 

We’re grateful to our dedicated Young Professionals Board for their support of our recruitment, awareness, and fundraising efforts. To learn more about the group or to inquire about joining, contact ypboard@stlcasa.org.

Chief Program Officer Cheryl Latham Marks 15 Years

June 15, 2022

This month we celebrate our Chief Program Officer Cheryl Latham as she marks fifteen years with our agency! Cheryl has been instrumental in guiding CASA of St. Louis through transition and growth, and continues to inspire staff to to advocate for children in foster care. 

We’re truly fortunate to have Cheryl on our team. Prior to joining CASA in 2007, Cheryl worked in the child welfare system, including hotline investigations and foster care management. When asked what brought her to CASA of St. Louis, Cheryl explains, “I first became acquainted with the CASA movement while working as a volunteer coordinator in Wichita, Kansas many years ago and after having spent several years as a hotline investigator.  It didn’t take me long to recognize the power of and importance of the CASA mission – engaging community members to help children get the services they need while in foster care and to help them have a safe, permanent home once they leave the foster system. CASA volunteers keep children’s best interests and wishes centered in all service planning!” 

As CASA of St. Louis has navigated growth and transitions, Cheryl has been steadfast in steering the organization toward a more diverse and inclusive staff and culturally appropriate advocacy. As CPO, Cheryl supervises all staff involved in volunteer recruitment, training, and management of CASA volunteers. She is a leader focused on prioritizing the children and families we serve. Cheryl strives to help staff and CASA volunteers navigate the complexity of each case and is dedicated to leading growth opportunities for volunteer recruitment, retention and training. As Shamele Hill, our Director of Training and Volunteer Development, notes, “It’s a joy working with Cheryl and learning from her. Throughout the organization’s changes and growth, Cheryl has been consistent in her leadership. She has given me opportunities to grow, accommodating my interest in training volunteers and allowing me to use my skills and be creative in building our training program.” 

Cheryl is a dedicated and passionate advocate for children in both her personal and professional life, and was recently re-elected to the Hazelwood School Board. She has also volunteered in her children’s schools and on many school and districtwide committees. Her work has been recognized by Annie Malone (Child Advocate of the year), Hazelwood School District (two-time GEM Volunteer Award Recipient), and the North County incorporated Regional Development Association (Public Service Leadership Award). 

As a spokesperson for our work, Cheryl speaks passionately and authentically to CASA’s mission and the needs of children in foster care. As one of Missouri’s largest and oldest CASA programs, the St. Louis organization often serves as a resource for other programs. CEO Jennifer Howard states, “CASA is fortunate to benefit from Cheryl’s deep knowledge of child welfare, child advocacy, and the CASA program model. She is dedicated to our staff, volunteers, and community. It’s hard to comprehend the lives touched and forever changed for the better because of Cheryl’s work throughout her career. Through knowing and working with her, each one of us is a better, more thoughtful person.” 

In her own words, “Our volunteers are a vital member of a foster child’s village. In so many instances, they have been a bridge or difference maker! This is what has sustained me all these years… I know that for our children, their advocates’ dedication and consistency really matters.  They may not remember all of the foster homes in which they’ve lived, Case Managers they’ve had or judges that presided over their cases, but they will always remember how their CASA advocated for them month after month, year after year, no matter what, I never lose sight of that!”

CASA Corner - Linda Mathson