As a former district attorney and domestic relations lawyer, Alison Toller had many opportunities to help people. Now, as a juvenile court judge, she is able to serve families and children on a daily basis. And it is in that role where she finds great value in the court’s partnership with the local CASA program.
“Being a CASA volunteer is probably one of the most rewarding and demanding volunteer positions,” she says. “It’s not just serving on a board, raising money or doing a service project. A CASA volunteer commits to a child and a family for the life of the case, and some CASA volunteers continue to have relationships with these children or families long after the dependency case is closed.”
Alison also finds great value in Kappa Alpha Theta’s commitment to philanthropy, believing that collegians who dedicate time to service gain connections to members of the community they may not otherwise meet, plus invaluable leadership opportunities.
If there was one thing she could tell every Theta about CASA volunteers, Alison—an alumna of the Delta Zeta Chapter at Emory University—would describe them as “the warm friendly face who helps a child navigate the child welfare system. A CASA volunteer makes sure they have everything they need if they have to change placement. A CASA volunteer is a cheerleader to a parent who is working hard to remedy the circumstances that led to the child being removed from the home. A CASA volunteer is the champion for the child, telling the court what the child needs.”
“There are few volunteer opportunities that are able to impact lives as much as a CASA volunteer. Volunteer advocates truly do change lives.”