Volunteer of the Month August 2026

It is with great honor that I have chosen Peggy McKinley as the August 2026 Volunteer of the Month. Ms. Peggy has been a CASA since August 2023, and I have had the privilege of working with her for the past year as she advocated for her assigned case.

Ms. Peggy was previously under the guidance of another advocate supervisor before that supervisor departed from CASA. I stepped in to fill the gap. Ms. Peggy was assigned a case with two siblings, Monica, aged 18 (who aged out of foster care in August 2025), and Monique, aged 17. The girls entered foster care due to physical abuse. They experienced significant trauma before entering foster care and will need long-term care because of their special needs.

During our initial visit, Ms. Peggy brought me up to speed on the case by outlining the areas of concern for each youth. We brainstormed ideas together, and she consistently followed through on tasks assigned. Ms. Peggy established a professional relationship with the foster parent and the foster parent’s daughter to ensure the girls' needs were met. She was also invited to accompany the foster parent to the doctor’s appointments and any additional meetings regarding the girls.

Advocating through systems for individuals with disabilities can be challenging. Yet, Ms. Peggy advocated for resources through the Louisiana Rehabilitation Services and shared a timeline for when each girl would begin receiving services. She was also instrumental in ensuring they received OCDD services. They are now set to have resources throughout their lives.

Monica experienced an unfortunate situation that led to her incarceration. Ms. Peggy did not hesitate to visit her, especially since Monica had no one else to do so. This decision was strictly Ms. Peggy’s decision, as Monica had aged out of the system. She made sure Monica had access to resources while being incarcerated and advocated for her release to an appropriate setting because she did not belong in jail. Shortly thereafter, Monica was released and placed in a suitable group home in an adjacent parish. Again, Ms. Peggy continued to advocate for Monica as if she remained in foster care. She scheduled a meeting to visit the staff and tour the facility. She was comfortable knowing that Monica’s overall needs and wants would be met.

Additionally, Ms. Peggy ensured Monica and Monique were able to visit in person after being separated and created opportunities for them to socialize in public. I am sure seeing the girls' smiles made her heart smile. It is memories that they will never forget. Now that Monique has turned 18, Ms. Peggy is pleased with her stable environment and is sure that the girls will continue their connection.

Thank you, Ms. Peggy, for being a CASA, and we thank you for being such a blessing to the girls and all those you have helped while working on this case. You are an advocate at heart, and we appreciate you! So, relax, relate, and release. I will call you soon about another case.

Proud Advocate Supervisor,

Sharon Norwood