---
title: "Six Ordinary People, Six New Voices: The Women and Men Who Stand Up for Children in Crisis"
description: Court-appointed volunteers in West Virginia offer vital advocacy and steady support for children facing trauma and uncertainty in the foster system.
author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2025-06-27T09:31:57.000Z
updated: 2026-04-23T13:08:16.785Z
canonical: https://richwoman.co/article/six-ordinary-people-six-new-voices-the-women-and-men-who-stand-up-for-children-in-crisis
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/ungfy_mqon4.jpg
categories: Philanthropic Minds
content_type: Feature
region: West Virginia
publication: Rich Woman Magazine
---

The Jefferson County Courthouse felt particularly solemn on a Wednesday morning in June as six people raised their right hands and took an oath that would change not only their lives, but the lives of vulnerable children across the Eastern Panhandle. Judge Bridget Cohee administered the words that transformed these everyday community members into court-appointed special advocates – voices for children caught in the system through no fault of their own.

Among those sworn in was Robert ‘Robbie’ Gillette, already familiar with CASA of the Eastern Panhandle as a staff member, now adding volunteer supervisor duties in Berkeley County to his commitment. Alongside him stood Angelina Gray and Crystal Barnhouse from Jefferson County, and Ron Tran, Dianne Keilholtz and Kim Hartman from Berkeley County. Each brings their own story, their own motivation for stepping into what can be emotionally demanding work.

What drives someone to commit to 30 hours of training and then take on the responsibility of advocating for a child they’ve never met? [It’s about showing children that kindness counts](https://richwoman.co/article/teaching-kids-that-kindness-counts-tracy-drost-s-mission-as-mrs-illinois-america-2025), even when their world feels uncertain. The reality that West Virginia has the highest per capita foster care placement rate in the United States, with over 6,000 children in foster care as of 2024, makes their commitment even more crucial.

## Why These Children Need Advocates

In Berkeley County alone, there’s a backlog of approximately 400 child abuse and neglect referrals awaiting investigation by child protective services. For many of these children, a CASA volunteer becomes the one constant adult presence as they navigate court proceedings, family visits and placement changes.

The training these six completed isn’t just about learning legal procedures. It’s about understanding trauma, recognising the signs of abuse and neglect, and developing the emotional resilience needed to advocate effectively. Volunteers learn that their role isn’t to provide therapy or make decisions about placement – it’s to be the child’s voice in court, ensuring their needs aren’t overlooked in an overburdened system.

CASA-EP operates across Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties, where about 60 active volunteers serve as advocates for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Since 2003, the organisation has served over 5,000 children, with volunteers helping to reduce both the time children spend in foster care and their likelihood of re-entering the system.

## What CASA Volunteers Actually Do

They meet with the child regularly, observe visits with family members, attend court hearings and school meetings, and compile reports for judges. They might be the person who notices a child needs glasses or struggles with reading, or who advocates for a sibling group to stay together when possible.

The work isn’t easy. [Working with trauma survivors requires strength](https://richwoman.co/article/stepping-into-your-power-with-trauma-expert-sherrie-allsup) and the stories they witness can be heartbreaking. Substance use disorders are frequently a factor in the cases CASA volunteers handle. Yet research from Fairmont State University shows that children in CASA-served counties are much more likely to achieve case goals and permanency.

The volunteers who took their oath that June morning join a [network of advocates](https://richwoman.co/article/ahlaianne-garfinkel-victim-advocacy-network) who often describe their role as both challenging and deeply rewarding. They speak of children learning to trust again, of being present during crucial moments when decisions about a child’s future are made, and of knowing they’ve made a difference in at least one young life.

## Beginning the Journey

Following the courthouse ceremony, the newly sworn volunteers, CASA staff, board members and their families gathered at Glory Days Grill in Ranson for a reception. It’s a tradition that recognises the significance of the commitment these volunteers have made, but also acknowledges that this is just the beginning.

Each of the six will soon be assigned to work one-on-one with a child or sibling group, beginning relationships that can last months or even years as cases work their way through the court system. They’ll write reports, attend meetings and court hearings, and serve as a bridge between the child and the various adults involved in their case.

The ceremony represents hope for children who may have had little reason to believe adults could be trusted. CASA volunteers often become the only consistent adult presence in these children’s lives during a time of uncertainty and change.

## Finding Your Way to Help

CASA-EP continues to recruit and train volunteers year-round because the need never stops. With approximately 1,900 children being victims of abuse or neglect daily in West Virginia, there are always more cases than available advocates. [Sometimes helping others becomes its own calling](https://richwoman.co/article/stacey-ellis-homeless-and-addicted-to-helping-others), and the organisation looks for volunteers from all backgrounds – parents and non-parents, retirees and working professionals, people who’ve experienced the foster care system themselves and those who haven’t.

What matters isn’t professional experience with children or special expertise. What matters is the willingness to show up consistently for a child who needs someone in their corner. The training provides the knowledge; volunteers bring the commitment.

For those considering whether they could take on such a role, [ordinary people can rise above challenges to help others](https://richwoman.co/article/amanda-coleman-an-irish-angel-for-first-responders-and-vets). The 30-hour training prepares volunteers for the practical aspects of advocacy, but the real preparation happens in the heart – in the decision that every child deserves someone who will listen to them, speak for them and ensure their voice is heard.

The work isn’t about saving children dramatically. It’s about showing up, paying attention and making sure that in a system where cases can become numbers, each child remains visible as an individual with specific needs, hopes and potential.

Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a CASA volunteer can visit [the CASA-EP website](https://mycasaep.org) for information about training sessions and requirements. The organisation emphasises that volunteers come from all walks of life, united by their commitment to ensuring children’s voices are heard throughout the court process.

Back at Glory Days Grill, as the reception wound down, the conversation wasn’t about the challenges ahead but about the children who would soon have new advocates in their corner. [People who dedicate themselves to advocacy work](https://richwoman.co/article/from-immigration-advocate-to-cannes-shirley-maia-cusick-s-journey-of-boundless-vision-and-uns) know that every child served represents not just a case closed successfully, but a young life given a better chance at healing and hope.