Chastity Keller, Director of Marshall County CASA appeared before the County Commissioners on Monday with an update on the program and a presentation for this year’s Volunteer of the Year.
Keller show a quick video that explained how CASA existed during the 2-year pandemic. Local volunteers met with their young clients using phone calls, texts, cards and care packages, facetime, and zoom meetings. While it wasn’t ideal, there were there for the children of Marshall County in need of services.
Several years ago, there were right at 100 children in need of services but a change in the philosophy of the Department of Child Services has drastically reduced the number of children needing CASA services. Keller said, “They are doing more in-home family preservation instead of removing the kids. They are trying to make it work.”
Keller told the commissioners there are 15 children currently being served and there are 30 volunteers.
Debra Feldman became a CASA volunteer in 2017. She has volunteered more than 500 hours of service. Three of her cases have continued the whole time.
Keller said Feldman and the rest of the CASA volunteers will be receiving a trip to French Lick to stay at the hotel and receive additional training.
