As 2025 comes to a close, CASA of the Eastern Panhandle is reflecting on a year defined by growth, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to children and families navigating abuse and neglect cases across our region. The needs facing children in the Eastern Panhandle continue to rise—but so does our community’s response.
Serving Children When They Need It Most
In 2025, 961 children appeared before the courts in Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan counties. Of those children, 455 were served by CASA-EP, thanks to the dedication of our trained volunteers and staff. While this represents meaningful impact, it also underscores the work still ahead—over half of children before the courts remain without a CASA advocate, highlighting the ongoing need for volunteers and community support.
Our volunteers are the heart of this work. This year:
- 78 volunteer advocates actively served children
- 28 new volunteers were sworn in
- 3,446 volunteer hours were dedicated to advocacy, mentoring, and support
Each of those hours represents a child being seen, heard, and supported through one of the most difficult chapters of their life.
Expanding Programs to Meet Growing Needs
In 2025, CASA-EP continued to expand beyond the courtroom, strengthening programs designed to support children and youth before crises escalate and long after cases close.
Fostering Futures played a central role this year, serving 48 youth through educational events, leadership development, and life-skills programming. Signature experiences included the Youth Leadership Summit, where teens explored career pathways, personal strengths, and future goals, and a variety of hands-on activities designed to build confidence, connection, and resilience.
At our Family Visitation Center in Charles Town, CASA-EP facilitated 500 supervised visits, providing a safe, structured environment for families to maintain critical connections during court involvement.
Through Education Advocacy and Scholarships, CASA-EP awarded two college scholarships and provided additional educational support, helping youth continue their education with stability and encouragement.
Volunteer training was also strengthened this year, with an optimized training model that includes four full days plus self-study—ensuring advocates are prepared, confident, and supported from the start.
New Initiatives Launched in 2025
This year marked several important milestones for CASA-EP:
- A new Mentorship Volunteer Track was launched, with 23 mentors trained, expanding our ability to support older youth through consistent, positive adult relationships.
- The launch of CASA Permanency Services (CASA P.S.) allowed us to serve 15 families, offering support beyond traditional court advocacy to help families achieve long-term stability.
- Four new staff members joined CASA-EP, strengthening our capacity to train volunteers, support families, and expand programming.
Moments That Defined the Year
Some of the most powerful moments of 2025 happened when our community came together.
The Youth Leadership Summit gave teens a space to be heard, explore possibilities, and envision a future beyond their circumstances.
Wrap and Rave, CASA-EP’s largest annual event, brought together more than 100 volunteers, staff, board members, and family members to wrap gifts for children across the Eastern Panhandle—ensuring that every child experienced joy, dignity, and care during the holidays.
Throughout the year, additional Fostering Futures events, community gatherings, trainings, and celebrations reinforced a simple truth: children heal and grow when surrounded by consistent, caring adults.
Looking Ahead with Purpose
In 2025, CASA-EP continued to show up with compassion, professionalism, and hope, even as the challenges facing families grow more complex.
As we look toward the year ahead, our commitment remains clear: to ensure every child navigating abuse or neglect has a dedicated advocate, a stable support system, and a pathway to a brighter future.
Thank you to our volunteers, staff, board members, donors, sponsors, and community partners who made this year possible. Together, we are changing outcomes—and lives—one child at a time.
To learn more about CASA-EP or how you can get involved, visit www.mycasaep.org
