Each of the more than 700 advocate volunteers across the state is a superstar. Here are just a few of the outstanding women and men who have dedicated themselves to being a part of our community working to change a child’s story.
EMILY ARLO
CASA of Dutchess County
“Volunteering as a CASA has been an invaluable experience that has impacted all areas of my life. It has been a gift to work with people who have dedicated their lives to helping others and who work diligently in service of their community. The ongoing education offered through CASA is excellent. These trainings inspire me to be a more thoughtful, committed volunteer and have deeply influenced the way I think about this work and the work I hope to do in the future. Volunteering with CASA is a big commitment and at times challenging, but no other volunteer work that I’ve participated in feels as impactful as CASA. Children deserve to feel heard and seen as they navigate the family court system.”
Emily is patient, compassionate and always professional. She is an excellent communicator and provides thoughtful court reports. She is insightful, dependable and always willing to collaborate and explore solutions for our families in need.
Jessica Starkey, Volunteer Supervisor
ROGER PIGER
Genesee County CASA for Children
“I wanted to become a CASA volunteer because volunteering for CASA affords me the opportunity to demonstrate the love that God has for me to families and children who need to know that they too are loved and cared for by Him and that they have someone who is on their side, looking out for their best interests. “
Roger has served as a CASA volunteer with extraordinary commitment. Over the past year, he has taken on some of our most challenging cases with grace, empathy, and tenacity. Whether it's ensuring a child’s educational needs are met, attending court hearings, or meeting with families and social workers. His presence is consistent, his communication is thorough, and his heart is fully in the work.
What makes Roger truly stand out is how he builds trust with the children he serves. He listens without judgment, advocates without hesitation, and supports without expectation of recognition. His ability to connect with youth and families in a meaningful and genuine way is a gift, not only to them, but to all of us who witness the difference he makes.
In a role that can often feel thankless or emotionally heavy, Roger continues to lead with quiet strength and unshakable resolve. His contributions this year have been nothing short of extraordinary.
Jennifer Metz, Executive Director
TERRY TALBOT
CASA of the Great Lakes Seaway Region
“I wanted to become a CASA volunteer to help those most in need. I value being a CASA because it gives me the chance to make a difference in children’s lives. The best part about being a CASA is results, and seeing that I’ve made a positive impact.”
Terry has been an invaluable volunteer with our program since 2022, and his dedication to serving children goes back even further—he was a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) in the 1980s. In 2024 Terry played a crucial role in helping us expand our program into St. Lawrence County. His passion for advocating for children is evident in everything he does. Terry is not only deeply committed to the children he is assigned to, but he consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that their voices are heard and their needs are met. Our program is truly fortunate to have someone with Terry's wealth of knowledge and experience. His contributions in so many different areas make him an irreplaceable part of our team, and we are deeply grateful for all that he does.
Natasha Delaney, Program Coordinator
LESLEY SIEGEL
CASA of Long Island - Nassau County
“I’ve had many rewarding experiences as a CASA. At the top of the list: arranging for a 15-year-old boy to get a haircut, new glasses, and cooking with him weekly (even while his family was in a shelter). However, my best experience was gaining the trust of a grandmother to facilitate regular visits with her grandson. This is a prime example of the power of CASA. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes can affect positive change in a seemingly stagnant situation.”
Lesley's words resonated with me as she accepted the case: "Let’s hope I can be a positive force for these children." And Lesley has proved to be that and more for multiple families assigned to her through the CSA program.
Lesley, has not only been a positive force for the children of CASA, but for the entire team of volunteers from EAC CASA Long Island! Her energy has sent positive ripple effects through the program, inspiring other volunteers by her dedication and commitment to the children in her care. She embodies what the CASA program is built on - advocating for the children who need it most.
Elizabeth Matos, Esq., Case Coordinator
LEAH CHIAPPINO
CASA of Long Island - Suffolk County
“As a CASA Volunteer, you're only assigned a few cases at a time, which allows you to really be there for the child and their family—to learn the intricacies of their lives and find meaningful ways to support them. We may not be able to fix the system, but we can make a real difference in someone’s life. As much as I’ve impacted the kids I’ve worked with, they’ve impacted me just as deeply. They’ve taught me about gratitude, resilience, and perseverance. No matter the struggles they face, they keep going and striving to succeed—and so do their parents. I’ve forged wonderful relationships through this role, and it’s a true gift to be in their corner. Don’t get me wrong—there are hard, hard moments. But it’s the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”
Leah goes above and beyond, not just for the children in her cases but also for the CASA program in general. She is always sending along extremely helpful resources for other CASAs to utilize, from housing programs to food nonprofits. She is extremely dedicated to her CASA cases, and goes to the ends of the earth to find resources and support for the children and families involved. She also supports our program by attending tabling events and posting everywhere she can about volunteer recruitment.
Bonnie Bryant, Case Coordinator
MICHELLE MARTIN
CASA-NYC
“I love how being a CASA Advocate has a fluid job description. You can be a mentor, a housing coordinator, a listener, a career coach, or just general source of support all at once. Foster youth have so many people in their inboxes reaching out to help about specific areas, but are unable to help in others. I love how I can be a support system solely for the youth, across any area of their life that they want help with. I love that CASA focuses on helping kids in foster care holistically, in all aspects of life, meeting them where they're at, to figure out how to best empower them.”
Michelle is an exceptional advocate who has profoundly impacted the life of the youth she serves. Her dedication, persistence, and deep commitment have not only advanced her client’s case but also fostered an extraordinary bond—one that exemplifies the ideal advocate-youth relationship. Michelle has been an advocate for almost 3 years and was assigned to the youth’s case in May 2025. Michelle is not just the emergency contact when something bad happens—she is also the first person the youth calls with good news. She wants to celebrate her wins with her advocate, knowing she will be uplifted. Michelle constantly reminds her of how proud she is of her. She understands that support should not only come when a task is completed but throughout the journey.
Meaghan Ford, Director of Advocacy
CHANTAL MARTINEAU
CASA of Orange County
“I wanted to do work with meaning. Being a CASA volunteer allows me to make a difference to children who have experienced trauma and injustice. I once found a specialist for one of my CASA kids who diagnosed her with autism. The child finally got treatment, and the family was able to get extra support.”
Chantal is the CASA volunteer every family deserves—thoughtful, kind, and hardworking. She consistently shows up, supports the family, and makes sure they’re truly cared for.
Chantal continues to go above and beyond, year after year, for her CASA family. She puts in the time—writing thorough reports, coordinating with schools and doctors, and making sure the family is fully supported every step of the way.
Alexa Sullivan, CASA Coordinator, DRC
KRISTINA BELANGER
CASA of the Southern Tier
“My best experience so far is seeing first hand how building a positive and healthy relationship as a trusted adult can improve a child’s mental and emotional well being. I have also come to a greater understanding of what it means to ‘leave your own ideas, opinions and expectations of how children are raised at the door.’ It is a difficult lesson to learn, especially if you have always been a very involved parent with your own family. Families are like snowflakes - no two families are the same and that is what makes them unique. As a CASA volunteer, learning how to adapt to ever changing family dynamics that are not your own has provided me with personal growth I might not otherwise have had the chance to have.”
Kristina has taken on a very big case with keeping the children's best interest in mind. She is very timely and thorough with her documentation. She has connected with the children very well and is attentive to their individual needs. She is able to have open communication with all parties involved.
Heather Aranda, Volunteer Supervisor