Volunteer of the Month May 2026

It is with great pleasure that I introduce Teryn Thornton as our Volunteer of the Month. Teryn completed her CASA training in August 2022 and brings remarkable dedication to her role. She has a passion for traveling and enjoys spending time with her friends and family. Even with her frequent travels, Teryn remains committed and available to support her CASA cases.

Teryn’s first case involved advocating for a sibling group of girls ages 13, 10, and 8. She quickly built strong relationships with them, helping them connect with each other and supporting their search for a family member willing to care for them. Teryn also advocated for educational support services and played a key role in reunification with their mother.

During the girls’ trial placement with their mother, Teryn accepted a new, more challenging case involving an older youth struggling to follow household rules and maintain stability in addition to overcoming the trauma she experienced. Throughout this case, Teryn’s perseverance shone as she encouraged the older youth to discover peace, accept the things that she can control, positively develop independent living skills, and maintain stability. As a result, the youth aged out of care in March 2025 with a plan for independent living.

After taking a well-deserved break to travel, Teryn’s commitment was again evident when the sibling group from her first case reentered foster care in July 2025. Without hesitation, she agreed to take the case, now involving five children (ages 16, 13, 11, 6, and 3) placed in separate homes. Teryn requested to be assigned to all the children, worked collaboratively with their caregivers, and quickly reestablished trust with the older girls, who were excited for her return as their CASA.

Teryn has observed and fostered strong connections between the children and their foster parents. She is advocating for the older girls to transition to their father’s care this summer and has built strong relationships with both their father and foster families. Teryn works diligently to ensure that the siblings maintain their bond through visits and that their mental health and placement needs are met. She continues to be a vital resource for the children, their families, and the CASA team. Thanks, Teryn, for being an amazing CASA.

Proud Supervisor,

Sharon Norwood

*All case names changed for confidentiality reasons*