together we will

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The mission of CASA of the Wiregrass Region is to be the voice for children who have been victims of abuse and/or neglect. Our Vision is to serve every child in the Wiregrass by providing them with a caring and competent trained volunteer.

CASA of the Wiregrass Region

Court Appointed Special Advocates of the Wiregrass Region will provide abused, neglected or abandoned children with a highly trained volunteer to advocate for the child’s best interest before family courts in Houston County in the State of Alabama. Our volunteers will be recruited, screened and trained by paid staff. Our staff and volunteers will then work in conjunction with the judges, lawyers, and social workers to help ensure children receive appropriate care and support while navigating the court, child welfare, and foster care systems.

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Volunteer training and
continuing education

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Public awareness
efforts

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Legislative and
governmental advocacy

CASA of the Wiregrass Region serves 2 of 21 counties in the state of Alabama that assist abused and neglected children in their communities.

You can help Change A Child’s Story by volunteering with CASA of the Wiregrass Region

GET INVOLVED

History

1977
1977
In 1977, Judge David Soukup, a Seattle juvenile court judge, was concerned that there was too little information available to base life-changing decisions about the safety, permanency and well-being of children. To address this problem, he conceived the idea of citizen volunteers speaking up for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courtroom. A CASA pilot program was formed to recruit and train community volunteers based on Judge Soukup’s idea.
1982
1982
In 1982, the national CASA Association was established to direct CASA’s emerging national presence. From that first program has grown a network of nearly 1,000 CASA and guardian ad litem programs that are recruiting, training and supporting volunteers in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Read more about the history of the CASA movement.
CASA History »
1993–1997
1993–1997
On September 24, 1993, representatives from the then three local CASA programs (Jefferson, Madison, and Shelby) met and voted to establish a formal Alabama State CASA Network. As a result, the Alabama CASA Network, Inc. was incorporated in 1997.
Today
Today
Today, CASA of the Wiregrass Region has 33 volunteers. In 2019, we served 176 children, with 77 finding permanency.
View Programs »

Leadership

Board of Directors

President

Rachel Swope
Child and Family Services

Vice-President

Peggy Contreras

Secretary/Treasurer
Tammy Speigner
Laurel Oaks Behavioral Center

Staff

adelyn

Executive Director
Adelyn Bhuiya

Adelyn became a CASA volunteer in the fall of 2015, in Fort Wayne Indiana. She has experienced “the system” from multiple perspectives: as a CASA, and in working for the Department of Child Services both in the field and on the legal team. Adelyn believes that there is nothing more important to any community than ensuring that all children have someone on their side. She considers it her absolute privilege to be a part of CASA of the Wiregrass Region. Adelyn is married and the proud mother of 2 sons and 2 daughters. Adelyn holds a BS from Indiana University and a JD from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

To contact her, please email abhuiya@alabamacasa.org or phone (334) 610-5450.

kelsey-1

Advocate Coordinator
Kelsey Ristau

Kelsey interned with the CASA program from May of 2018 to July of 2018 and then remained a volunteer until she was hired as an Advocate Coordinator in April of 2019. Kelsey graduated from Troy University with a bachelor’s in human services and a minor in case management. Kelsey loves being a part of the CASA program because she loves building friendships with the children and ensuring safe permanency in a timely manner.

To contact her, please email kristau@alabamacasa.org or phone (334) 329-8443.

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Advocate Coordinator
Taylor Edwards

Taylor has been with the CASA program since April of 2018 as a volunteer. She was hired as a staff member in July of 2018. Taylor studied Social Work at Troy University and was a Pre-School Teacher for three years. Taylor has always enjoyed working with children but says she has a passion for being an advocate and making a difference in their life while gaining new friendships with children and families along the way.

To contact her, please email tedwards@alabamacasa.org or phone (334) 435-8001.

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SPEAKING UP FOR ALABAMA’S CHILDREN