May is Mental Health Awareness Month: Supporting Children and the People Who Show Up for Them
Mental health is not a side issue. For children who have experienced abuse or neglect, it is often at the center of everything. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and at CASA of the Eastern Panhandle, it is an opportunity to talk openly about something we see in our work every day: the emotional weight […]
May is National Foster Care Month: Standing With Children and the Families Who Care for Them
Every May, communities across the country pause to honor the children in foster care, the families who care for them, and the advocates who walk beside them. National Foster Care Month is a time to reflect on how far we have come and how much more work remains. At CASA of the Eastern Panhandle, this […]
Recognizing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week: Listen. Act. Advocate.
Each year, communities across the country observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), a time dedicated to raising awareness about victims’ rights and the services available to support them. In 2026, NCVRW takes place April 19 through April 25 with the theme: Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities. This week serves as an important […]
Anne Mortensen: Finding Purpose Through Advocacy
When Anne Mortensen moved to the Eastern Panhandle, she was looking for a way to get involved in her new community. What she found was a familiar and meaningful path — one that allowed her to continue making a difference in the lives of children. “My name is Anne Mortensen and I’m a CASA volunteer,” […]
Meet Haleigh Wiley: Turning Lived Experience into Advocacy
CASA of the Eastern Panhandle is proud to welcome Haleigh Wiley as our newest Case Coordinator, bringing with her not only professional passion, but lived experience that deeply shapes her approach to advocacy. Haleigh grew up in the foster care system, giving her a unique understanding of what many of the children CASA serves are […]
Volunteer Spotlight: Julie Adelmeyer
Julie Adelmeyer became a CASA volunteer advocate because she has always been aware of the challenges facing children in foster care and the court system. After relocating to the Eastern Panhandle, she began noticing CASA’s presence throughout the community. “I decided to become a volunteer advocate after attending several community functions where CASA had information […]
Volunteer Spotlight: Heather Kahsay
For four years, Heather Kahsay has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), bringing her experience, perspective, and steady presence to children navigating some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Heather has been married for 31 years and is the proud mother of eight children—two of whom are adopted—and three grandchildren. She […]
A Lifelong Love for Advocacy: Volunteer Spotlight on Karen Calhoun
Karen Calhoun has been part of the CASA of the Eastern Panhandle family since March 2023, serving both as a volunteer advocate and as a staff member at the CASA Visitation Center. Karen’s path to CASA began years before she officially joined. Her desire to serve children stayed with her, waiting for the right moment. […]
Finding Purpose Through Mentorship: Michael Decker’s CASA Journey
Michael Decker didn’t set out looking for a volunteer opportunity—but when he learned about CASA’s Mentorship program, something immediately clicked. Introduced to CASA through a connection at his church, Michael describes the program as sounding “interesting and challenging and fun and rewarding,” enough to move him to take the next step. That step led him […]
13 Years of Advocacy: Volunteer Spotlight on Kerstin Budlong
For 13 years, Kerstin Budlong has been a steady, compassionate voice for children in the Eastern Panhandle. Sworn in as a CASA in February 2011, Kerstin first joined the program after retiring — and later found herself working for a law firm that was fully supportive of her volunteer role. “I could always say, ‘I’m […]