By Victoria Benge, Executive Director, CASA of the Wilderness Trail

Kentucky is fourth in the nation for child abuse and neglect. In 2025, there were 414 Madison County children who were abused and neglected. CASA of the Wilderness Trail is a local nonprofit that advocates on behalf of abused and neglected children (aged 0-18 years old) in Madison, Clark, Estill, Lee, and Owsley Counties.

We provide abused and neglected children with a CASA volunteer who advocates for the child's best interests in the courtroom. To know what is in the child's best interest, our volunteers are required to meet with their assigned child or sibling set in-person at least monthly. They meet with all people associated with that child, which ranges from biological parents, foster parents, and relatives to teachers, therapists, and doctors. We work closely with the social workers and attorneys to ensure the children and family have the highest quality of services and support.

Our volunteers on average have one case at a time, which is different to the social worker who has on average 30 cases. A case is a family unit and we keep sibling sets together if at all possible. The only time we assign siblings to different volunteers is if they have perpetrated on each other or are a large sibling set. CASA volunteers write court reports to the Judge and make recommendations regarding what is in the child's best interest. 

CASA volunteers are never on their own and have a staff member who supervise them and provide support along the way. We ask that volunteers commit two years as that is the average length of a case. So many people come in and out of these kids' lives, we want to be a constant. Also, on average, our volunteers dedicate around five to 10 hours a month on their cases.

The most important aspect of a CASA is visiting with their assigned child/sibling set at least monthly and building a relationship with them (playing games, playing sports, helping with homework, arts and crafts), we are not here to investigate or remove children—our main goal is to identify what that child needs and what is in their best interest. 

To become a CASA volunteer, individuals must go through 30 hours of training. We hold this training four times a year and our next one will take place in April 0f this year. Individuals have to complete and pass five different background checks. Volunteers have to complete 12 hours of continuing education annually. To find out more information visit madisoncasa.org or call us at (859) 353-8608.