Family Resource Center Director Esther Thomas was one of two individuals elected to the National CASA Board of Trustees. CASA, the acronym for Court Appointed Special Advocate, provides Juvenile Court’s across the nation with trained volunteers who represent children involved in the court process and make recommendations to the Court that are in the best interests of the child.

Ms. Thomas, who began her tenure at the Court as the CASA/GAL Program’s Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator, was one of eight people vying for the two open spots. Nominated by Crystal Burnett, a local attorney, Ms. Thomas went through a thorough nominating process, including interviews with personnel from the national CASA office and the chairman of the CASA Board of Governors.

The names of the candidates were then placed on ballots where the 59,000 CASA volunteers nationwide had the opportunity to vote. Ms. Thomas emerged as one of the two top vote-getters. She was notified of her election on May 13^th.

Her two year term on the Board of Trustees begins in October. The non-compensated position calls for her to provide oversight and direction for the national CASA office. She will be required to attend quarterly meetings and serve on committees.

"I really hope to be appointed to the Government Committee,” she said. “I want to take an aggressive position on legislation that can impact the CASA Programs in Ohio and across the country.”

Ms. Thomas believes her election could have an impact locally.

“I think it underscores the importance of the state of Ohio and Summit County specifically to issues of dependency, neglect and abuse,” she said. “The Summit County CASA organization is the largest program in the state and among the top programs in the country in terms of number of children served and overall program longevity. In that view, Summit County Juvenile Court is a leading innovator for serving children. I relish the opportunity to continue to advocate for children and Summit County at the highest level of the CASA organization.”

Ms. Thomas became involved in the CASA program in 2002 and she first showed up on the national CASA radar in 2005 when she was just one of 25 people nationwide to be selected to attend CASA’s National Leadership Conference.

Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio avidly approved of Ms. Thomas’ pursuit of the CASA position.

“I think it blends very well with Esther’s current duties with the Family Resource Center,” said Judge Teodosio. “I couldn’t be happier for her. I’m certain that she’ll bring the same energy, intelligence and enthusiasm to her duties as Trustee that she brings to her job everyday at the Court.”