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\u201cYou can always count on me,\u201d she had assured him. \u201cI will be your voice inside the courtroom. I\u2019ll tell the judge anything you want him to know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her words, \u201cYou can always trust me,\u201d echoed through his mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1977, a judge from Seattle, Washington, longed for more in-depth information regarding children who were taken into state custody. He already had testimonies from the caseworkers representing the Department of Children\u2019s Services (DCS), and he could interview parents or caregivers. Still, he wanted to know the child\u2019s point of view. Who did they want to live with? What was their home life really like? This was vital information. To ensure that his ruling is in the best interests of the child, children must have a voice in his courtroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CASA was formed in 1976 to ensure children in state custody have a liaison who makes sure they are seen, heard, and advocated for. By 1984, CASA had expanded into Nashville. Today, 31 CASA programs serve 60 counties. Most CASA advocates are volunteers who feel called to be the \u201cvoice of the voiceless.\u201d They go where no child should ever have to go \u2014 inside a courtroom to face the very people who hurt or abused them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wanda Strayhorn, a Bell Buckle native, said, \u201cWorking with CASA Works is my passion. God put me here \u2014 I believe that without a shadow of a doubt. Sometimes, He even wakes me up in the middle of the night and tells me how to handle tough situations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Strayhorn comes from a long line of strong, independent women. The morals, integrity, and fortitude she lives by were modeled by her mother, Eloise, and her grandmother, Viola Buckingham. Both had a servant\u2019s heart, so jumping in and helping is a natural response for Strayhorn. She became a supervisor with CASA Works in 2009, serving Coffee County, and in 2014, was promoted to executive director over three counties \u2014 Bedford, Coffee, and Franklin. After hearing about the integrity of this program, Warren County asked to join three years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCASA provides a voice for abused and neglected children. It\u2019s not our job to ask about the abuse. We are there to let the children know they have someone they can depend on, no matter what. I have hired four supervisors, and we are a team,\u201d Strayhorn said. \u201cDana Farris serves 103 children in Franklin County, and Jenna Johnson serves 43 in Bedford County. Tammy Holt serves 35 children in Coffee County, and Debbie Helton sees over 90 in Warren County. They are dedicated, passionate, and tough when they need to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When everything in a child\u2019s life has been turned topsy-turvy, CASA workers and their volunteers provide a steady, reliable connection. A common question they ask is, \u201cWhat do you want me to tell the judge?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Strayhorn serves four counties, Bedford is lagging. Strayhorn said, \u201cJenna Johnson is determined to build her volunteer base. We have done all that we know to do to recruit volunteers. We are in a position where we can\u2019t take on any more children because of this. That means, there are children without a voice in the courtroom inside Bedford County.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n CASA volunteers receive 35 hours of online training plus a full day of in-person training. They also complete annual continuing education hours and receive background checks. But volunteers aren\u2019t caseworkers \u2014 they don\u2019t work for the state, the parents, or the judge. Their only clients are the children they serve and advocate for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/shelbyville\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/10\/4-1-1024x683.jpg\")
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