Please note: Session titles and descriptions are subject to change; additional details will be added to this page as they are confirmed.
Monday, November 17
Volunteer Appreciation Dinner and Awards Ceremony Keynote with Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Pamela R. Goodwine
Justice Goodwine's message of resilience and determination in pursuit of excellence will inspire CASA volunteers in their work on behalf of abused and neglected children and shine a light on the impact they can have in court and in the life of a child.
Judges Panel: Q&A on Court Trends and Best Practices with Family Court Judges
This session will allow CASA volunteers, staff, and board members the opportunity to hear from a panel of Family Court Judges from throughout the state. Judges will discuss trends and issues currently present in their dependency, neglect, and abuse dockets and factors that affect permanency for children involved in the child welfare system. Judges will also offer their insights on how child welfare advocates can have an impact on the cases in their courtrooms.
Resilient Advocates: Staying Grounded While Lifting Others
Advocacy work is deeply meaningful—but it can also be emotionally taxing, especially over the long haul. This session explores the critical role resilience plays in sustaining effective advocacy efforts over time. Participants will learn to recognize common signs of burnout and emotional depletion and explore three proven strategies to regulate emotions, protect personal energy, and stay grounded in their mission. Whether you're a seasoned advocate or new to the field, this session will offer practical tools to help you thrive while continuing to drive change.
Presenter: Jonathan Walker, MRT-PE, RBLP-T, Mind the Gap Consulting
Building a Strong Financial Foundation for Growth and Impact
This session teaches on software and tools to increase efficiency with financial management, understanding the different finance roles an organization might need and building a best in class finance team with limited resources, and building a finance routine for monthly, quarterly, and annual financial management tasks.
Presenter: Stephanie Skryzowski, 100 Degrees Consulting
Building Power Together: Asset-Based Community Development & Volunteer Engagement
In this interactive session, participants will explore the principles and practices of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) to transform how we recruit, engage, and sustain volunteer energy. Rather than starting with needs and deficits, ABCD invites us to recognize and mobilize the strengths, gifts, and passions already present in our communities. Through real-world examples and facilitated discussion, we’ll examine how to align volunteer roles with community-driven goals, cultivate meaningful relationships, and build momentum for long-term impact. Whether you’re a new to volunteerism or a seasoned professional, this session will equip you with practical tools to reframe engagement strategies and build power with, not for, your community.
Presenter: Marc McAleavey, MSW, Health by Design
From Financial Freakout to Prosperous Nonprofit
This session teaches the most important financial statements you should be reviewing, how to calculate key metrics to understand the financial health of your organization and tell your financial story, and the key elements of building a useful and accurate budget and incorporating forecasting into your monthly routine.
Presenter: Stephanie Skryzowski, 100 Degrees Consulting
Volunteer Networking Circles
An interactive, peer-driven session designed to spark conversations and practical problem-solving across the CASA network. In this structured yet informal setting, participants will connect in small groups to share experiences, brainstorm solutions to common challenges, and celebrate program successes that can inspire others. Topics may include volunteer recruitment and retention, fundraising, relationships with DCBS and court stakeholders, continuing education, handling complex cases, and more. Come ready to talk, listen, and leave with fresh ideas—and new connections—you can take back to your program.
Tuesday, November 18
Keynote Address by Gaelin Elmore - Be The Difference: Belonging is the Support We Need
What determines if an individual is a “success” story or a “cautionary” tale? Is it talent? Is it resilience or grit? Is it simply luck? Gaelin Elmore knows that stories of caution and success have more things in common than we’d care to admit. He knows because he lived it. Mr. Elmore’s powerful story has motivated and inspired thousands, but instead of using his story to focus on “success,” he uses it to shed light on the importance of belonging and “support.” Throughout this keynote, attendees will be challenged and inspired to be individuals who CARE about belonging, because belonging is ‘the difference’ between a story of success and a tale of caution.
Attendees will learn:
- The fundamental difference between stories of “success” vs tales of “caution”
- The transformational power of belonging
- How to support others using the CARE model
Presenter: Gaelin Elmore, Gaelin Speaks
Luncheon Plenary with Shimaine Holley - Leading with Purpose: Reigniting the CASA Mission Through Lived Experience
This keynote presentation is designed to empower CASA volunteers by sharing Shimaine’s lived experience and professional expertise. It will inspire advocates to continue their important work and provide actionable insights to help them navigate the next steps in supporting youth. Attendees will leave feeling re-energized and equipped to guide youth toward stability and success.
Presenter: Shimaine Holley, Change is Inevitable LLC
The Belonging Need: Understanding Belonging to Go from Surviving to Thriving
Belonging is a crucial, innate need that influences our daily decisions, motivation, problem-solving, and overall well-being. Genuine belonging fosters resilience and positive health outcomes in us, and those that we serve. This workshop addresses the
power of belonging through the 4-directional model; internal, horizontal, vertical, and external. This workshop will empower participants to embrace belonging and bridge the gap for others while offering a fresh perspective and intention for impactful work.
Attendees will learn:
- Why belonging is a fundamental need for everyone
- How belonging impacts development
- Why belonging matters in the workplace
- And how belonging allows us to successfully serve in our roles
Presenter: Gaelin Elmore, Gaelin Speaks
Head, Heart, and Action: A CASA Guide to Trauma-Informed Youth Advocacy
This session will cover the “head, heart, and feet” of advocating for adolescent youth:
- Head: CASA volunteers will deepen their understanding of adolescent brain development, with a focus on how access to resources and fair treatment influence a young person’s growth, behavior, and individual needs. This insight will enhance their ability to identify and recommend supports that are tailored to each child’s unique life experiences.
- Heart: Advocates will gain personal insight into how data, lived experience, and trauma intersect to shape a child’s journey. This deeper understanding will support their ability to engage with empathy and collaborate effectively with professionals and caregivers in the child welfare system.
- Feet: Volunteers will walk away with clear strategies to report observations and recommendations through a trauma-informed lens. They will also be more confident in recognizing key developmental milestones and advocating for services that align with a young person’s individual needs and strengths.
Presenter: Shimaine Holley, Change is Inevitable LLC
Support the Parent, Support the Child: Child-Centered Strategies for Engaging Birth Parents
This session will examine how CASA volunteers and child advocates can prioritize children’s best interests by building respectful, empathetic, and collaborative relationships with their biological families. A diverse panel—including parents with lived experience and professionals addressing systemic challenges—will offer insights into how trauma, stigma, and service barriers affect families working toward safe reunification. Participants will gain practical strategies for fostering trust, making informed recommendations that support both children and families, and navigating these relationships effectively within the boundaries of the CASA role.
Panelists: Kayla Harmon, KY-SEAT; Laketa Gray, KY-SEAT; Dr. Darlene Davis-Goodwine, PhD, LP, Parents Zone/Aidan Behavioral Health & Consulting; Kristin Turner, K. Turner Legal Practice
Moderator: Shontelle Davis, Kentucky Youth Advocates
KY RISE: Resources for Current and Former Foster Youth
This workshop will review the benefits, qualification requirements, and process for accessing benefits available to Kentucky transition age foster youth, including access to cell phones, funds for extracurricular activities, supports for obtaining driver's license and car insurance, career preparation, tuition benefits, and even how foster youth can get paid to pursue their GED or a vocational certificate.
Presenters: Paula Saenz and Jeff Culver, Department for Community Based Services
Key Principles of Court Report Writing
Court reports are a critical tool for CASA volunteers to share case updates and make best interest recommendations to the court. In this interactive session, participants will explore best practices for court report writing and develop skills to clearly and concisely summarize case information and volunteer activities. Attendees will learn how to craft reports that are informative, neutral in tone, and aligned with judicial expectations. The session will also highlight common pitfalls—such as vague statements, biased language, or unsupported conclusions—and offer strategies to avoid them. Whether you're a new volunteer or looking to sharpen your court report writing, this workshop will help you write stronger, more effective court reports.
Presenters: Dennis Stutsman, CASA of Lexington; Courtney Williams, Kentucky CASA Network
Stronger Together: Building Effective Partnerships Between CASA and Key Stakeholders
Strong, collaborative relationships between CASA programs, DCBS, and GALs are essential to improving outcomes for children and families. In this panel discussion, CASA, DCBS, and GAL representatives will share key characteristics of effective partnerships, strategies they've used to strengthen working relationships, and examples of collaboration in action. Panelists will highlight real-world experiences and lessons learned to illustrate how strong cross-agency partnerships can improve outcomes for children. Through real-world case studies and regional team insights, attendees will gain practical tools to enhance communication, build trust, and work more effectively across roles.
Panelists: Stephanie Diaj, CASA of the Wilderness Trail; Skyler Hayes, Madison County DCBS; Jennifer Houser, CASA of the Northern Bluegrass Region; Susanna Thomas, Boone County DCBS; Kristin Turner, K. Turner Legal Practice
Peer-to-Peer Learning: Lessons and Tools from the Field
This interactive session invites nonprofit board members from local CASA programs to engage in dynamic peer-to-peer learning focused on practical tools, templates, and governance practices that drive effectiveness and accountability. Drawing from the themes of the past year’s board governance webinar series, participants will share and explore resources that have supported their boards in areas such as strategic planning, board and executive director evaluations, mission-focused risk management, and board member education. Whether it's a board self-assessment tool, a dashboard for tracking strategic metrics, or a practical checklist for onboarding new board members, this session will surface what’s working in the field—and why.
Presenter: Greg Nielsen, Nielsen Training & Consulting, LLC
AI and Board Governance
In this session, you will learn why nonprofit boards should care about Artificial Intelligence (AI), the common uses of AI in the nonprofit sector, and ethical considerations for nonprofits using AI.
Presenter: Greg Nielsen, Nielsen Training & Consulting, LLC
Beyond ACEs: The Power of Positive Childhood Experiences to Enhance Resilience
Although adversity and trauma in childhood can have lasting deleterious impacts, positive childhood experiences have been found to be associated with better long-term outcomes, even in people with high levels of childhood adversity. This session will describe the research related to the protective, promotive and healing impacts of positive childhood experiences for mental health, educational achievement and employment and income stability. The four building blocks of HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences) will be presented and participants will identify practical strategies to promote positive experiences and build resilience in individuals, families and communities.
Presenter: Miriam Silman, Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID)
Lean on Me Kentucky
Do you feel like the system of supporting kids is just too overwhelming and do not know where to start? This workshop is the place to start your journey in changing our mindset to be community supporters. You will learn how the use of primary prevention in connecting with struggling families will allow you to make a huge difference in preventing child abuse and neglect. Child protection services are often the first thought of intervention when you witness a child with needs. The system is very overwhelmed and often reports are not considered due to not meeting criteria. We aim to change the lens of how you can make an impact on your community. This workshop is interactive. You will leave with your own personal plan to go back to your community and begin your role as a community supporter.
Presenter: Mickey Little, M.Ed, MSW, Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky
Voices of Experience: Wisdom and Inspiration from Veteran CASA Volunteers
Join us for a panel discussion filled with insight, encouragement, and practical guidance from veteran CASA volunteers. These experienced advocates, each of whom have been recognized with special honors for their service, will share the lessons they've learned, the strategies that have helped them navigate challenges, and the moments that have fueled their passion to continue serving. Whether you're new to CASA or a long-time volunteer yourself, this session offers a unique opportunity to gain practical advocacy tips, build resilience, and be inspired by powerful stories from the field. Come prepared to ask questions, connect, and walk away with renewed motivation to make a difference—one child at a time.
Panelists: Vicki Schmidt, CASA of the Heartland; Martha Steil, CASA by the Lakes; Jennifer Rose, CASA of the Northern Bluegrass Region
The CASA Volunteer and Friend of the Court Model: What CASA Volunteers Need to Know about Testifying and Participating in Court Proceedings
This session will provide background on the CASA/ KRS Statute and specifically address what a CASA volunteer needs to know about being called to testify in a TPR and DNA Court proceeding. How often and what reasons are CASA volunteers called to testify? What types of preparation and support are given to CASA volunteers who are called to testify?
Communicating to Connect: Navigating Difficult Conversations in Advocacy
Effective advocacy requires more than sharing information—it requires meaningful connection, especially when conversations are challenging. CASA volunteers and staff engage with families, service providers, legal professionals, and other stakeholders whose perspectives, strong emotions, or past experiences can complicate the advocacy process. This interactive breakout session equips participants with tools to navigate difficult conversations with empathy and professionalism, manage conflict, and foster trust in even the most complex situations. Drawing from John Maxwell’s communication principles and Ryan Leak’s practical strategies for working with complicated people, attendees will learn how to transform moments of tension into opportunities for understanding and collaboration. Participants will leave with actionable techniques to strengthen relationships and ultimately support better outcomes for children.
Presenter: Lettie Johnson, Gifted by Design Leadership & Consulting, LLC
Creating Fundraising Resilience and Sustainability
In today's dynamic environment, diversifying revenue is no longer optional—it's vital for survival. This interactive session will guide you through developing resilient revenue models that prepare your organization for any economic climate, unlock growth potential, utilize AI to increase efficiencies, and mitigate risk. You'll learn tools to build a sustainable financial framework that ensures your organization's enduring impact today and for generations to come.
Presenter: Kelly Wesley Taylor, J.D., Taylor Bell Consulting
Substance Use Disorder, Recovery, and Parenting: What CASA Volunteers Need to Know
This session will provide participants with a foundational understanding of substance use disorder and recovery, emphasizing how these dynamics impact parenting capacity and child well-being. Participants will explore the unique challenges parents face when navigating recovery while trying to meet the demands of both parenting and system involvement. The session will also introduce participants to the START (Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams) model, an evidence-based collaborative, family-centered approach promoting family stability. Attendees will gain practical tools and insights for identifying helpful community resources and making court recommendations that support children impacted by parental substance abuse.
Citizen Foster Care Review Board and CASA: Working Together for Children in Out-of-Home Care
This session provides an overview of the Citizen Foster Care Review Board (CFCRB) and explores the complementary roles of the CFCRB and CASA in advocating for the best interests of children in out-of-home care. Participants will learn about the structure, purpose, and processes of CFCRBs and how CASA volunteers can collaborate with review boards to support timely, informed recommendations to the court. Attendees will come away with practical strategies for engaging with CFCRBs and strengthening cross-system collaboration.
Presenter: Delores Smith, Citizen Foster Care Review Board, Administrative Office of the Courts
JCAMP and CASA: Improving Court Practices and Outcomes for Children
The Judicial, Court, and Attorney Measures of Performance (JCAMP) was developed to help child welfare, legal, and related professionals strengthen court practices and improve outcomes for children and families. JCAMP assesses court processes, professional practices, and family experiences across five key areas: family engagement, due process, high-quality legal representation, safety, and permanency. This session will provide an overview of JCAMP, walk through the current implementation plan, and explore how CASA volunteers support improved outcomes for children and families.
Presenters: Todd Stetler and Ashlee Slone, Administrative Office of the Courts - Family and Juvenile Services
Carrying Care: Building and Sustaining Professional Resilience
Working with people engaged in the child welfare system inevitably takes a toll—whether you're serving in a professional or volunteer capacity. This session will address protective factors to reduce risk for and manage the potentially negative effects of such work, including secondary traumatic stress, moral distress, and burnout. Practical strategies that organizations and individuals can implement to promote and support resilience at both the individual and organizational levels will be provided.
Presenter: Miriam Silman, Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID)
