By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Before Caitlyn Eakin took over the executive director position at the Central
Kansas CASA location in Great Bend in 2015, she did not know much about the
non-profit organization established to advocate for abused and neglected
children. Eakin took an accounting route based on her love for numbers.
“I was a manager at the time dealing with accounting,” said Eakin. “I hated
being in a corner office all day, not talking with anyone and playing with
numbers. It did not give me that since of giving back that I wanted.”
A coworker suggested Eakin apply for the CASA position. Following her research, CASA provided everything that Eakin was looking for.
Central Kansas CASA covers the 20th Judicial District of Barton,
Russell, Ellsworth, Rice and Stafford counties. Court Appointed Special
Advocates (CASA) looks out for the best interest of children who have
experienced abuse or neglect by making recommendations to courts for the child’s
placement and needed services.
“I would say the average case worker around Great Bend through the Department
for Children and Families (DCF) handles 30 to 60 cases,” said Eakin. “Those
contracted social workers are great but have a hard job. They can’t give that
one-on-one experience that the child needs.”
CASA enters the picture by getting to know the child in need of services
through a one-on-one relationship.
“We get to know the child’s family, their current living conditions and what
they want,” said Eakin. “We have access to doctors, therapy and parents. We
investigate what is in the child’s best interest. We then write a court report
to the judge about everything he/she should know.”
During Eakin’s six years with Central Kansas CASA, she assisted with
doubling the amount of volunteers and tripling the number of children served.
Eakin’s efforts did not go unnoticed as she was named the State Director for
the entire Kansas CASA network. Eakin officially started the new position April
26 and is now overseeing the 22 local CASA programs in Kansas.
“I want to see CASA grow,” said Eakin. “CASA is everywhere. I see the growth
CASA has in other states and I want to bring that to Kansas. I also know the
struggles that the local programs have and the things I learned through
longevity. Turnover is pretty high for local program directors so I want to
provide more support to local directors.”
While the Kansas CASA is based in Topeka, Eakin will still be able to work from
home in Great Bend while traveling to Topeka and the 22 local agencies throughout
the state.
In 2020, Kansas CASA had 753 volunteers that served 1,848 children. Central
Kansas CASA served 48 children with 22 volunteers.
Central Kansas CASA is currently looking for their next Executive Director to
replace Eakin. The job posting is at centralkansasjobs.com.
“One thing I have learned about child welfare is that it needs more
business-minded people,” said Eakin. “Management and funding play such a key
role in what CASA does every day. There is no mission without funding or
good management.”