Douglas County District Court Judge Peggy Kittel, left, swears in four new CASA volunteers Friday. From left, Mark Lange, Susie Nightingale, Sue Richardson and Ray Beaumont are sworn in.

For more than five years, Kansas University law student Clarissa Howley has advocated for the rights of abused and neglected children as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, volunteer.

Howley, 23, who started as a CASA volunteer in Manhattan and now volunteers with the program in Douglas County, has helped guide five children through the complex childcare courts system. Despite making a difference in multiple lives, Howley said she probably gets more out of the experience than those she helps.

“Being a CASA volunteer has changed my life for the better,” said Howley, explaining that the volunteering led her to law school, with hopes of specializing in family law.

Howley is one example of the dedicated corps of volunteers that have been standing up for the rights of area children for 20 years, said Diana Frederick, CASA director.

At any given time in Douglas County, CASA has about 50 active cases in which children have been removed from their home because of abuse or neglect, which are referred to as Child in Need of Care cases. The CASA volunteers, after an extensive training and background check, are assigned to follow a case through the court system, making placement recommendations and filing court documents.

Their task, Frederick said, is to help the court decide what’s in the best interest of the children on the case load.

“They really look at all the pieces of the puzzle,” she said.

Douglas County District Court Judge Peggy Kittel said the CASA volunteers provide a fresh perspective to cases and “an objective overall view.”

Kittel said the courts value the work of CASA volunteers, who are “keeping watch over how we treat some of our most vulnerable citizens.”

Volunteers range from college students such as Howley, to working professionals, to retirees like Sue Richardson, who started as a CASA volunteer four years ago when she retired from a 40-year career working in the public schools.

Richardson’s worked on four cases so far, and said the key to the work is earning the trust of children who are going through traumatic times.

“Everyone’s asking them questions, and they’re scared to death,” Richardson said.

Richardson said she takes on the role of pseudo-grandparent, but tries to connect with the kids through — what else — video games. Richardson can be found at the CASA offices in the play room with an Xbox or Wii.

While CASA volunteers are exposed to some difficult situations, Richardson said it doesn’t necessarily take being a social worker or having extensive experience with children to be a good CASA volunteer.

“People with good hearts and who don’t mind asking questions,” said Richardson about the qualities needed in CASA volunteers.

Volunteers work one case at a time until it’s “closed,” which means the child finds a permanent placement. Cases can last anywhere from six months to several years.

Richardson, like many of the CASA volunteers, keeps in touch with the children from her case load even after the cases are closed. Hearing from former children on her case load reminds Richardson of the strong impact she’s made in their lives, she said.

Recently, Richardson was texting the first child she had in the program, who’s now in her teens. When Richardson first met the girl, she asked her what the girl wanted to be when she grew up. The girl responded that she wanted to work in a fast-food restaurant.

A few years later, that same girl is planning on going to Kansas State to become a veterinarian, Richardson said.