2023
ANNUAL REPORT
OUR MISSION
OUR VALUES
To support, develop, expand and unite local CASA programs
in recruiting and training volunteers to advocate for
Tennessee's children who have been abused and neglected.
With local programs.
With volunteers.
With courts.
With policy makers.
We value children.
We value volunteer-centered advocacy.
We value collaboration.
We value developing, growing and sustaining local
programs.
We value credible leadership and impeccable ethics.
We value unity in our network.
We value protecting the rights of children.
We value expertise and best practices in child welfare.
We value celebration of successes.
Greetings
This has been a challenging year for child welfare nationally as well as in Tennessee. As the
Department of Children’s Services has worked to overhaul their services while operating
with a worker shortage, Tennessee CASA has continued its critical work of advocating for
children who have been abused and neglected. Tennessee CASA continues to provide high
quality training and technical assistance to the network as well as to inform and improve
the work of all involved in our state child welfare system. Now, more than ever, CASA
advocates have played a vital role in ensuring that the children we serve are supported
with caring, best interest advocacy.
Tennessee CASA and the network of local programs continue to provide advocacy for
children who have the most difficult and complex situations. In 2022, 1660 volunteers
advocated for 4,829 children giving 85,471 hours of time. Our primary goals in the
upcoming year are to strengthen and support the network to ensure they can provide the
highest quality advocacy, to increase the number of children served by existing programs,
and to launch new programs in unserved counties. We will continue to focus our efforts on
the ultimate goal of being able to provide an advocate for every child in the State of
Tennessee who needs one.
Tennessee CASA believes in Celebrating Success. We want to thank the General Assembly
for allocating a significant increase in funding for the local programs. Each county now
receives $40,000, an 82% increase! This will help build the capacity of local programs to
serve more children. We also want to congratulate Lynne Farrar, the Tennessee CASA
Executive Director, for being honored with the NCASA/GAL State Director of the Year
Award at the annual conference in St. Louis.
Once again, we would like to take this opportunity to express gratitude for the CASA staff,
volunteers, and board members as well as all our partners in child welfare. We look
forward to continuing to work together to expand our program and safeguard children.
Every child deserves a consistent caring adult in their life who will advocate to ensure they
are in a safe and stable home.
from Our Board President
EMILY JENKINS
Emily P. Jenkins
Emily P. Jenkins
Board President, Tennessee CASA
TENNESSEE CASA NETWORK
Operating with a CASA program
None
CASA Corridor
(McMinn, Meigs, Rhea)
Frances Witt- McMahan
CASA For Kids
(Sullivan, Hawkins)
Shannon Kern
CASA Nashville
(Davidson)
Julieanna Huddle
CASA Monroe
(Monroe)
Alisa Hobbs
CASA of Bradley & Polk Counties
(Bradley, Polk)
Natalie Barrionuevo
CASA of Campbell County
(Campbell)
Janet Jones
CASA of Cannon County
(Cannon)
Kamille Smith
CASA of the Highland Rim
(Dickson, Stewart, Hickman)
Renee Badon
CASA of East TN
(Knox)
Amy Jackson
CASA of Henderson County
(Henderson)
Annie Searock
CASA of Maury County
(Maury)
Jennifer Ballard
CASA of Northeast TN
(Greene, Unicoi, Washington)
Melanie Feathers
CASA of Robertson County
(Robertson)
Leah Blocker
CASA of Rutherford County
(Rutherford)
Kassie Davis
CASA of the TN Heartland
(Anderson, Blount)
Kesha Waters
CASA of the TN Valley
(Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Cumberland, Overton,
Putnam)
Sherri Hundley
CASA Works, Inc.
(Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Warren)
Wanda Strayhorn
Decatur County CASA
(Decatur)
Pamela Bartholomew
Dyer/Lake/Crockett CASA
(Crockett, Dyer, Lake)
Wendy Smith
Hamilton County CASA
(Hamilton)
Catherine Gray
Henry County CASA
(Henry)
Tas Smith
Junior's House
(Lincoln, Marshall)
Crystal Guess
Juvenile Court of Memphis & Shelby County
(Shelby)
Michelle Childs
Lakeway CASA
(Hamblen, Jefferson, Sevier, Grainger)
Kelley Williams
CASA of West TN
(Madison, Haywood)
Hannah Snowden
SETHRA CASA
(Bledsoe, Grundy, Marion, Sequatchie)
Margie Clemmer
Sumner County CASA
(Sumner)
Sonya Manfred
CASA of Tipton County
(Tipton)
Nina Smith
CASA of Midwest TN
(Carroll, Gibson)
Treva Maitland
Williamson County CASA
(Williamson)
Stuart Tutler
Wilson County CASA
(Wilson)
Cathey Sweeney
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
For the year ended June 30, 2023 | Audited
REVENUE
Grants
Dues and Fees
State Marriage License Tax
Contributions
Interest
TOTAL PUBLIC SUPPORT
EXPENSES
Salaries and Wages
Employee Benefits
Occupancy Expense
Telephone
Office Expense
Travel
Public Relations
Printing and Publications
Dues
Training & Technical Assistance
Interest
Expansion Expenses
Professional Services
Insurance
TOTAL EXPENSES
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Beginning of Year Net Assets
End of Year Assets
$509,127
$14,332
$119,955
$8,316
$202
$651,932
$5,173
$143,047
$148,220
$383,238
$29,296
$36,462
$13,383
$2,245
$3,669
$59,600
$13,257
$930
$84,583
$1,770
$14,590
$1,147
$2,589
$646,759
OUR IMPACT
Based on a $31.80 value of volunteer time per hour according to independentsector.org
1,660
VOLUNTEERS
4,829
CHILDREN
SERVED
$1,151
MEDIAN COST
PER CHILD
85,471
VOLUNTEER HOURS
TOTALING
2.7M
IN VOLUNTEER
TIME
to the following directors on their year(s) of service to CASA and
their commitment to the children they serve.
Melanie Feathers
Natalie Barrionuevo
Wendy
Smith
Tas
Smith
Amy Jackson
Pamela Bartholomew
Sherri Hundley
to the following local programs on their anniversaries:
CASA of
Cannon County
Dyer/Lake
Crockett CASA
CASA of
Rutherford
County
Williamson
County CASA
CASA of the TN
Heartland
Thank You
We would like to recognize the following individuals and organizations for their support.
Meagan Frazier with Harris Frazier
Government Relations for donating
her legislative advocacy services.
Tennessee CASA Board of Directors
Office of Criminal Justice Programs - VOCA & METH Funding
Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth
Tennessee Bar Foundation - IOLTA Program
Tennessee Employee Charitable Campaign
Hands On Nashville in honor of Emily Jenkins
This project is funded under a grant contract with the state of Tennessee.
Special Thanks
Thank you to the 2023 General Assembly for allocating an additional
to the CASA network for expansion.
Senator Bo Watson, Senate Budget Amendment Sponsor
Representative Gary Hicks, House Budget Amendment Sponsor
$1,182,000
During the 2023 National CASA Conference Tennessee’s very own was
awarded the National State Director of the Year. We are so proud of you
for everything you do on behalf our local programs and
Tennessee’s children.