By Jennifer Mylenek, Executive Director
CASA of Jackson County and CASA of Josephine County
At CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Jackson County, our mission is clear: to ensure every child who has experienced abuse or neglect has a dedicated advocate by their side. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we train and support community volunteers to be the voice of these children in court, advocating for their best interests and helping to secure a safe, loving, and permanent home.
In 2024 alone, over 250 CASA volunteers provided advocacy for more than 600 children. These successes don’t happen by chance—they are the result of careful strategic planning.
Strategic planning at CASA is more than a roadmap; it’s a commitment to expanding our reach and ensuring that every child in Jackson and Josephine Counties who needs an advocate receives one.
Our CASAs undergo high-quality training and receive ongoing support, equipping them to navigate the complexities of the child welfare system. They serve as a child’s consistent ally—offering stability, advocating for their needs in court, and ensuring the judge understands what is truly in that child’s best interests.
Children never forget their CASAs. In a system where adults often come and go, a CASA volunteer is the one unpaid, unwavering presence in a child’s life. An investment of just 10 hours a month as a CASA can make a profound difference—not only for the child but sometimes even for their parents. The impact of this work is best seen through real experiences, like the one shared below by a CASA staff member.
A CASA staff member was ordering food at a local restaurant, her CASA name badge clipped to her shirt. The person taking her order noticed and began to share a piece of her past—a story nearly two decades in the making. She told our staff member that she had a CASA. Well, actually, her daughter had a CASA. But as is often the case, it felt like the CASA was hers, too.
Back then, she was a young mother fighting for a better life and recovery from addiction. Every morning, she walked more than two miles to take her daughter to daycare, then two miles back to catch the bus to her new job. At the end of the day, she made the same long trek back—picking up her daughter, returning to her sober housing, and doing it all over again the next day.
Through it all, the CASA stood beside this family—offering support, encouragement, and an unwavering belief in their future. The CASA also gave voice to both the child and Mom in court, ensuring the judge knew how well they were doing and how hard Mom was working in recovery. Today, all these years later, she still has that job. She still keeps in touch with her CASA. And her daughter? She is attending SOU.
Today over 120 children are still waiting for CASAs in our counties. Volunteers are always needed to fill this role in a child’s life. If you think you’d like to find out more, you can reach us at casa@jacksoncountycasa.org and schedule to attend a virtual information session. Or, you can call us at 541-734-2272 with any questions.
Jennifer Mylenek
Executive Director
CASA of Jackson County
Joe, a CASA, shares his love of reading with his CASA kids while advocating on their behalf.
