The National CASA/GAL Association for Children welcomes Atlanta public health leader Kathleen Ruth to board of trustees

NEWS

Contact: Kimberly Willis Green, kimberlywg@nationalcasagal.org, 404.319.7335

Seattle, WA – The National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children recently elected Kathleen Ruth, Ph.D., to its board of trustees.

Ruth has a strong history of building strong collaborative relationships with diverse partners. She is currently the director of program development at CAI Global, a non-profit organization that works in numerous health and social services areas tackling public health and social issues that confront the most vulnerable worldwide. For nearly two decades, Ruth worked as a senior research science officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and served 14 years in the U.S. Public Health Service. She provided key leadership in the evaluation and implementation of strategies to reduce HIV infections in the United States and abroad. Ruth received a Foreign Duty Award for her work in CDC’s Global AIDS Program in Mozambique and Tanzania.

“Dr. Ruth brings tremendous expertise in the public health and social systems that impact children and families,” said National CASA/GAL CEO Tara Lisa Perry. “Her leadership in her professional field and her commitment to serving the wider community will enhance the work of our board of trustees. We are incredibly fortunate to have her joining us at this time.”

In addition, Ruth is an active member of her community. For more than two decades, she has served as a group leader in the women’s class of Bible Study Fellowship International. She also sits on the board of the Women’s Ministry at her church, Mount Paran in Atlanta. In July 2019, Ruth was appointed to the Fulton County (Georgia) Board of Registration and Elections.

“It is truly an honor to be part of the National CASA/GAL Board of Trustees. The CASA/GAL mission to support children who have experienced abuse or neglect and ensure they have a safe, permanent home is an essential goal for every child,” said Kathleen Ruth. “CASA/GAL programs have transformed the lives of so many children and families in the U.S., and I want to be a voice to support and improve the well-being of our most vulnerable.”

Ruth holds a doctorate in child and family studies from the University of Georgia, and she earned a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Belhaven University.

She joins the existing National CASA/GAL Board of Trustees headed by Dr. William Bell, president and CEO of Casey Family Programs.

About the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem Association for Children

The National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children, together with its 948 state and local member programs, supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so that every child who has experienced abuse or neglect in the United States can be safe, have a permanent home and have the opportunity to thrive. National CASA/GAL offers leadership and support to the network of programs and leads its continued growth. CASA/GAL volunteers and staff work every day to help change a child’s story. To learn more, visit nationalcasagal.org or follow National CASA/GAL on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.