About us

Building trust and offering
hope to vulnerable children

Who we are & what we do

We advocate for children under the protection of the circuit court because of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or their parents’ inability to safely care for them. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are officers of the court and, as such, are ordered to make assessments and recommendations to the judge regarding the best interest of the child to whom they are appointed. 

CASA’s attempt to identify the specific needs of each child for the court, advocate for service provision to meet those needs, and assist in seeking a permanent resolution for each child’s life as quickly and safely as possible. Through their consistent presence and willingness to speak up for children’s needs, CASAs offer hope to children. Court Appointed Special Advocates are adult volunteers from the community who are screened, trained, and supervised by professional staff members.

Our mission

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of the Mid-Shore is a consistent presence and voice for children placed under court protection due to abuse or neglect.

Our VISION

Children will thrive in safe, loving, and permanent homes.

Our Core Values

HOPE:

We are optimistic, knowing good outcomes can grow from difficult situations. We believe one person has the power to make a positive difference in the life of another.

Compassion:

We approach people and challenges with empathy, honesty, kindness, and openness. We care and want the best for all people.

integrity:

We strive for excellence, both individually and collectively. We steward others’ faith in us, and we are trustworthy and accountable. We strive for equity. 

Respect:

We listen. We empower others by valuing their opinions. We treat everyone with esteem.

CONSISTENCY:

We are steady, proactive, and fair. We stay true to our mission by being trustworthy and reliable.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging:

We acknowledge the importance of teamwork and collaboration. We value diversity and the unique qualities of individuals, recognizing we are stronger together than alone.

Our history

The nation’s first Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program was created in Seattle, Washington in 1977 by Judge David Soukup, who wanted to make sure he and other judges and magistrates were making the best possible decisions about the lives of abused and neglected children needing court protection. He began recruiting and training adult citizens to serve as advocates for children who came before the court as a result of maltreatment by their parents or guardians. His idea worked, and CASA programs were born all across the country.

We started in 1990 and were known as CASA of Talbot County. We expanded in late 2009 to serve Dorchester County children, again expanding in 2014 to serve children in Queen Anne’s and Kent Counties. Known now as CASA of the Mid-Shore, our mission is to serve as many children as possible in Talbot, Dorchester, Queen Anne’s and Kent Counties who need a CASA volunteer.

Our staff

Meet our wonderful team!

Robin Davenport Headshot | Executive Director, CASA of the Mid-Shore

Robin
Davenport

Executive Director

Susan
Schumacher

Assistant Director/Case Supervisor

Colleen R (1)

Colleen
Ryan

Outreach Coordinator

Anna
Krupka

Case Supervisor

Belinda
Frankel

Case Supervisor

Photo - Wendy Knopf

Wendy
Knopf

Office Assistant

JANE
CRAWFORD

Volunteer Coordinator

Board of Directors

OFFICERS

Paula
Statkiewicz

President

Robert
Cowin

1st Vice President

Christie
Grabis

2nd Vice President

Linda
Chandlee

Secretary

Mary
Griffin

Treasurer

directors

Childlene
Brooks

Michael
Clark

Spencer
McAllister

Dr. Sarah
Moerschel

James
Pinkett

Anthony
Smith

Sidney
Davenport-Trond

The Honorable
Brett Wilson

" To give a child a casa is to give them a voice. to give them a voice is to give them hope, and to give them hope is to give them the world."

Volunteer Inquiry Form

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