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2009 National
CASA Awards of Excellence
Extraordinary people in the CASA and GAL network provide hope to abused and neglected children in communities across the country. The Awards of Excellence, presented each year at the National CASA Association Annual Conference, recognize the exceptional contributions and dedication of these individuals and programs.
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G.F. Bettineski Child Advocate of the Year celebrates the dedication and passion of a CASA or GAL volunteer.
Frankye C. Hull, Kershaw County Guardian ad Litem, Camden, SC
A retired public school teacher, Frankye C. Hull has a long history of working for the best interests of children in a variety of roles, including as a volunteer guardian ad litem since 1998. When faced with a major health crisis in 2000, she was forced to give up some volunteer work—but not her work with abused and neglected children. Frankye believed that she had been allowed to live in order to continue serving children. In addition to providing what one observer called “fierce advocacy,” Frankye recruits volunteers and regularly leads cultural diversity sessions for GAL trainees. |
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Kappa Alpha Theta CASA/GAL Program Director of the Year acknowledges the noteworthy achievements of an outstanding director.
Simone Jones, CASA of Adams and Broomfield Counties, Brighton, CO
Simone Jones led the effort to found CASA of Adams and Broomfield Counties in 1999, after learning about the work of CASA programs and realizing that there was not a program serving her community. Since that time, she has been continuously involved through a variety of roles, including development director, board member and now executive director. Simone’s passion and management skills have strengthened the program in many ways. Under her leadership, the number of children the program serves more than tripled between 2001 and 2007, and volunteer retention rates increased. Simone has been instrumental in developing solid relationships with community organizations, service providers and the courts that have strengthened the CASA program and resulted in the creation of innovative programs and additional revenue sources. |
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National CASA Association Board Member of the Year notes the significant contributions of an outstanding board member.
Cathy Pinto, Essex County CASA, Newark, NJ
Cathy Pinto first joined Essex County CASA’s board in 1998. Since then, she has exhibited her organizational leadership in many roles: as an interim executive director, a dynamic fundraiser, a liaison to the state CASA organization, a board president, a powerful spokesperson and a dedicated CASA volunteer. She currently serves as senior vice president of the board. Under her guidance and leadership, the CASA program has more than doubled in size, expanded an endowment and earned the respect of leaders within the judicial and child welfare systems. |
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National CASA Association Judge of the Year that salutes the commitment and impact of a judge.
Master William Hitchcock, Children’s Court of Anchorage, AK
Master William Hitchcock’s involvement with CASA dates back to the Alaska CASA program’s founding in 1987, when he served on the organizing committee. In the intervening years, he has been Alaska CASA’s most ardent supporter within the Alaska judiciary. In court, he values the input of CASA volunteers in their individual cases. Master Hitchcock identifies necessary improvements in the child welfare system in a way that encourages everyone to work together to build a better system. His efforts have frequently resulted in the introduction of new and innovative approaches to child welfare practice. Recently, he has been involved with Alaska CASA’s Native Outreach Initiative to recruit and train more Native CASA volunteers. |
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National CASA Association Inclusion Award honors a program for pursuing diversity initiatives throughout the organization.
11th Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program, Miami, FL
The 11th Circuit GAL Program has risen to the challenge of serving one of the most diverse regions in the country by implementing initiatives that enhance diversity and inclusion among staff and volunteers. The program’s momentum is guided by a detailed plan that is based on the demographics of the children served, includes measurable objectives, and defines diversity in the broadest terms: race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender. As a result, the program has increased the diversity of its staff members, volunteers and board members and, ultimately, has improved the quality and cultural competency of the services it provides to abused and neglected children. |
Promising Practices Spotlight
In 2009, National CASA introduced the Promising Practices Spotlight to highlight original activities, projects or events that enhance the CASA/GAL program’s ability to deliver on the mission of providing court-appointed volunteer advocacy to abused and neglected children. In 2009, two programs received this designation.
The CASA Jefferson program in Harvey, LA, has grown and thrived by turning a challenging relationship with the local child welfare agency into a fruitful and replicable collaboration.
CASA of Lea County in Hobbs, NM, increased CASA program visibility in the schools, recruited teachers as CASA volunteers, and increased the standard of advocacy for all children served by the program through its successful CASA-Schools Partnership Program.
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