2016 CASA Volunteer of the Year Named - Articles

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2016 CASA Volunteer of the Year Named

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Dec 30, 2015

The TBA YLD has selected April Herrington of College Grove as the 2016 CASA Volunteer of the Year. At its winter meeting in January, the YLD Board will present the award to Herrington and Kristin Parker, executive director of CASA of Maury County.

Herrington was a standout volunteer for CASA's Fostering Futures program, which focuses on the needs of older foster youth at risk of aging out of custody. This program is especially challenging because CASA's National team does not provide a training guide for older youth. Herrington pioneered CASA's "Life Boxes," which provide resources and needed supplies to help young adults. She spearheaded the program alongside the young person that was her first case assignment.

The Life Boxes were designed to be a way for young people to organize important documentation, such as birth certificates, medical records or resumes, needed to secure employment, housing and other necessities. Herrington visited local agenies and diligently researched online to collect information for inclusion, and continues to revise and refine the boxes to be as up to date and complete as possible.

Herrington developed strong relationships with the youth she mentored over her two years with CASA. Her first case assignment involved a young woman who did not trust Herrington, and initially resisted mentorship. However, Herrington did not give up, and continued to work with the girl until a relationship was formed. That young woman went on to help Herrington create the Life Boxes, and when the she aged out of custody, she requested to stay in contact with Herrington. This was not an isolated incident; later, another youth who found the Life Boxes to be very helpful ended up working with Herrington as well to improve the boxes for others.

Special thanks goes to all those who serve and those who nominated outstanding volunteers. Appreciation also goes to Knoxville lawyer Katrina Atchley Arbogast who chairs the YLD’s Children’s Issues Committee and the members of the award committee who reviewed all of the applications. Watch for photos of the award ceremony in the January issue of E-DICT.