CASA of the Cheaha Region

06/09/2026

From our friends in Kent County doing the most important work with us

Recently, a volunteer shared a photo* of a pile of items and reflected on her CASA child moving placements for the 16th time:

"This pile represents one youth.

Sixteen placements in 2½ years.

What you see here are garbage bags, donated totes, backpacks filled with dirty clothes, blankets, broken toys, personal items, and the few possessions they have managed to keep through move after move after move.

What I see is something else.

I see broken dreams.

I see instability.

I see a child who has had to pack up their entire life sixteen different times before they were old enough to drive.

This should not happen. Yet it happens every day in foster care systems across our country.

It is not my role as a CASA volunteer to transport belongings. But our caseworkers are carrying impossible caseloads, and I was happy to help. I’ll also be happy to sort through these bags, wash the clothes and blankets, fold them, organize them, and care for them. Not because it is my responsibility, but because every child deserves dignity and care.

Every bag tells a story. Every move leaves a mark.

Children in foster care deserve more than surviving. They deserve stability. They deserve consistency. They deserve a place where they can unpack and stay.

No child should have their entire childhood reduced to a pile of garbage bags and donated totes.

These kids deserve better.

If advocacy is tugging at your heart, now is the time to explore how you can help."

If you're interested in learning more about how to help a child in foster care, visit casakentco.org
*Photo has been changed for confidentiality.

05/29/2026

It’s graduation season, and we’ve had a blast celebrating milestones with so many deserving kids this month!

One of our CASA volunteers received a very special invitation to be a special guest at a graduation celebration for a child she was the CASA for nearly six years ago.

Her mother surprised her with her CASA at lunch, and the screeches could be heard county wide. Six years after case closure and reunification, this CASA still held a place at the core of this family.

While catching up, they reminisced about the first time this scared twelve year old girl newly in a foster home hours away met her wildly spirited CASA. She expressed she was angry when her volunteer pulled up- another face, another person who would be in and out checking a box. She was overwhelmed, and she retreated to her closet. Shortly after, a soft knock was placed on the closet door with a “mind if I join you?”

There, in some closet unfamiliar to them both, sat two strangers who would never be strangers again. The CASA explained well how she would come see her wherever foster care took her. She wasn’t a professional, but she was a constant. She asked her what small needs she had because that seemed to be all either of them had control over.

Scrunchies.

The child asked for scrunchies, and her CASA left the closet and reported back from town with a variety of fun, colorful hair accessories. Consider that a CASA-Dash.

I’m not sure how many dry eyes sat at the table when the soon to be high school graduate said, “hey, did I ever tell you thank you for the scrunchies?”

Our CASA volunteers don’t look for thank yous. They don’t need anything in return. The privilege of being allowed to show up again and again in these angel’s lives is enough… scrunchies are optional.

Volunteers are always needed. You can email [email protected] to learn more. We might be out celebrating more kids, but we will save you a seat.

05/18/2026

Cheaha CASA and the Calhoun Cleburne Children's Advocacy Center hosted the annual Candlelight Vigil with guest speaker Judge Peggy Lacher at the Oxford Veteran's Memorial Park in April. Together, we will advocate for, serve, and protect every single abused and neglected child in our communities.

Thank you, Alex Ference, for the photography year after year.

05/18/2026

We LOVE having visitors in office when they bring new toys AND checks! We neglected to inform the McAdams family that the perfect trifecta of donation also includes snacks.

Even after Bill and Jeanie’s donation of the complete renovation of the upstairs CASA office totaling around $75,000, they keep coming back to keep it stocked for the children. Thank you!

Message us to schedule your time to stop by and bring your new item donations! We are always in need of new hygiene items, teenage gifts, and comfort items for our children experiencing foster care.

05/18/2026

We sat with a precious child newly experiencing foster care on a visit today in the hospital. Learning and leading from our volunteer advocates, we asked this younger youth the age old question we learned from advocate Shelley Burt. “When I leave, will you feel safe and will you feel loved?” Being the sassy, hilariously mischievous child they are, they asked “if I say no, do you have to stay?” They laughed. We laughed. We haven’t been allowed to leave yet. Send snacks. This child has found a loop hole.

04/18/2026

The XI Pickleball Classic presented by Alpha Xi Delta benefiting Cheaha CASA is happening now!

04/14/2026

04/12/2026

Please, join us Wednesday!

OXFORD, AL — Local organizations are inviting the community to come together in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month with a special event focused on awareness, advocacy, and action. The program, hosted by CASA of the Cheaha Region and Calhoun Cleburne Children’s Center, will take place at...

04/11/2026

If you drive by the CASA office on Tenth Street, check out the labor of love brought to us today by Brookside Baptist Church! The Church, led by Pastor Spurlin, donated over 40 hours of work to the cleaning, organization, and overall presentation of the office with careful planning by Karen Cobb. Church members brought cleaning supplies, landscaping materials, and a joyful morning getting the place to a beautiful condition. Mr. Ed Turner’s monetary donation helped with some ongoing supplies needed like light bulbs and little fixes that made a big impact- like WD40. We invite you to find a squeaky door in the whole place. You won’t.

Church members were encouraged to participate in shopping our Amazon wishlist for teen items, baby things, and some older youth necessities for the gaggle of kids we have aging out soon.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints once had a vision for CASA. Bill McAdams helped make their generous vision a reality. Now, thanks to people and congregations like Brookside Baptist Church, these dreams goals that every single child victim to abuse or neglect have a dedicated CASA volunteer in our area continue to become reality in EVERY way. Every way matters. Thank you for reminding us that everyone can do something!

02/14/2026

Thank you, Golden Springs Baptist Church, for bringing a little love by the office this Valentine’s Day! You’re sure to put smiles on some very deserving faces with the teddy bears and whatever cookies weren’t confiscated during the quality assurance testing 😉❤️