Can you imagine a child sitting alone in a courtroom—surrounded by adults speaking a language they don’t understand?
He doesn’t know why he’s there. She wonders if anyone notices her at all.
They’ve been taken from home. Their world has changed overnight. And they’re wondering, deep down, “Do I even matter?”
CASA volunteers are there to make sure the answer is always yes.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Western Oklahoma trains and supports volunteers who serve as the voice for children in the court system—children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or unsafe living conditions. These volunteers commit to being a consistent, caring presence for a child navigating the most uncertain chapter of their lives.
And the best part? You don’t need a law degree. Or a background in child welfare. Or endless free time. You just need a heart—and the courage to show up.
CASA offers supportive, step-by-step training— just a few hours a week—to help volunteers feel confident and prepared. You’ll be paired with a supervisor, guided through your first case, and never left to navigate it alone.
A PROGRAM ROOTED IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA CASA of Western Oklahoma was established in 2017 and serves children across Beckham, Custer, Dewey, Roger Mills, and Washita Counties. Since its founding, the program has joined a statewide network of advocates that, in 2022 alone, connected more than 1,200 volunteers with over 3,000 Oklahoma children. These volunteers made more than 136,000 contacts on behalf of the children they represented.
Often, a CASA volunteer becomes the most consistent adult in a child’s life throughout their case—especially when placements or caseworkers change.
MEET THREE OF CASA’S NEWEST ADVOCATES
KEELEY SANDERS
A former kindergarten teacher turned insurance agent and mother of three, Keeley was among those sworn in at the recent CASA ceremony. Balancing work, family, and community involvement, Keeley is committed to making time for advocacy.
“When you want to do something and there’s a need, you just make the time,” she said.
For Keeley, volunteering with CASA is more than a service— it’s a meaningful way to impact a child’s life outside the classroom.
“I’d rather spend my time on something meaningful than scrolling through TikTok,” she added.
TRISHA DOUCET
A mother of nine from Hydro and an administrative assistant at SWOSU’s Residence Life and Housing department, Trisha felt a persistent pull to get involved—something that kept nudging her to take action.
Her mother had served as a CASA in Grady County years ago, and Trisha remembered how seriously she took the role—even if she couldn’t talk about the cases. More recently, it was a CASA commercial, heard by chance at her mother’s house, that sealed it.
“It was God’s timing,” she said. “Every door opened when it needed to. I’m not doing what I think I need to be doing—I’m doing what I know I’m supposed to be doing.”
Trisha and her husband Jeff have two teenage daughters still at home, and while fostering wasn’t the right fit for their family at this moment, CASA gave her a way to make a real difference.
“You don’t need a degree. You don’t need special training. You just need a heart and a willingness to show up.”
KELLIE HURTGAM Residing near the Beckham– Washita County line, Kellie was also sworn in at the recent ceremony. For her, the motivation is clear: ensuring that children’s voices are heard.
“Sometimes their perspective gets overlooked,” she explained. “They might be scared or unsure if their opinions matter—but they do.”
Kellie is balancing CASA with home and work responsibilities, but she’s committed to making the time. Her goal is to help wherever she can, whenever she’s needed—because she knows that even small voices deserve to be heard in a big system.
WHY IT MATTERS MORE THAN EVER These volunteers aren’t superheroes. They’re neighbors. They’re parents. They’re people who said yes when it mattered most.
The volunteers we spoke to aren’t sitting around with time on their hands. One is a full-time administrator and mother of nine. Another balances home life and work between two counties. One juggles insurance, rental properties, and three kids of her own.
They all looked at their lives and said: “I’ll make time. Because a child needs me.”
And CASA gives them a way to help. Volunteers work with teachers, doctors, and attorneys. They attend court hearings. They write reports. But most importantly, they show up— for a child who needs them to.
TAKE THE FIRST STEP You don’t need a cape. You don’t need a title. You just need to care.
Start with one email. One phone call. One moment of courage.
CASA of Western Oklahoma will walk with you from there.
A new volunteer training class is starting soon in Weatherford, Oklahoma.
To learn more, contact CASA Volunteer Coordinator Tamra Misak at tamra.misak@ casawok.org or call 580774-9017.
Now picture that same child, sitting in the very same courtroom.
Only this time, he knows he’s not alone.
She feels the warmth of being seen by someone who stands beside her.
He hears his own fears and hopes echoed by an adult who speaks up with strength.
That child doesn’t just hope to be heard—he knows he is.
Because what could possibly matter more than helping a child feel safe, supported, and seen?
