Last week, Christian County Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam informed his magistrates that the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Christian County would be permanently closing its doors, and no longer offering services to the community.
Monday afternoon, this was confirmed once again — when CASA officials announced these intentions by public notice.
In an open letter, CASA of Christian County said after “serious contemplation, and with a heavy heart,” Executive Director Kira Bailey and each CASA board member felt they had “no other option, but to resign” — and that each resignation was “an act of solidarity” in protection of the needs of Christian County children.
According to the organization, CASA of Christian County had served more than 20 children through a six-year period — all of which were associated through Family Court, and/or The Department of Social Services.
The statement mentioned that Bailey and her board “wholeheartedly embraced inclusivity, transparency and service” to the children of the region, and that a recent Kentucky CASA Network Memorandum of Understanding presented the organization with “severely-impacted funding, leadership and the needs” of the community.
As such, the board voted to cease operations.
Furthermore, this CASA board “could not embrace having people who are not members of the community come in from other Kentucky counties, and decide how the families and children in Christian County should receive services” — and that “further research” indicates no other Kentucky county operates in such ways.
As Gilliam reported last week, CASA’s location has been returned to the fiscal court, and all non-profit business functions are ended.
All questions, the letter said, should be directed to the Kentucky CASA Network.
At the local level, the Christian County Fiscal Court heartily approved in February 2023 for the CASA to find comfort in a new operating space inside the former judge-executive office on Weber Street.
It was an opportunity that became available when Gilliam optioned to move his setup into the former sheriff’s office building, and this past February, magistrates unanimously approved for this lease to continue another year.
Bailey and former Board Chair Bonnie Lynch said the move was prudent, and at the time, more than 300 children remained on the Christian County family docket for neglect, abuse and/or dependency concerns — emphasizing a “strong need” for continued advocacy.
“Fostering Futures” was supposed to begin in April, and would focus on children transitioning from the court system, back into the local community.
Bailey and Lynch told the court that the current CASA budget was $42,000 — enough for Bailey’s salary, and little else — and that a budget bumping back to $125,000 would answer the program’s sincere needs.
