About CASA Heroes
Selecting CASA Heroes is always a difficult task. Every CASA volunteer is a hero to an abused and neglected child. All Payne County CASA volunteers do so much just by opening their hearts and donating their time to advocate for children in Payne County.CASA Heroes - Fourth Quarter 2007
CASA Hero of the Quarter
CASA Honors Volunteer Kristal Kuehl
You might have seen her on Fox 25 News talking about Pinwheels for Prevention in honor of April, Child Abuse Prevention Month. You might have seen her at the state capital at Title 10 Reform or DHS Commissioner Meetings. Maybe you have seen her at the Payne County courthouse. Maybe you have seen her in front of your local Wal-Mart working a
Kelsey’s Purpose booth handing out information on child abuse. Kristal Kuehl is virtually everywhere there’s an opportunity to help abused children. Of her many child advocacy roles her role as a CASA Volunteer has earned her the honor of CASA Hero of the Quarter.
CASA volunteers are just regular people from the community that want to make a difference in a child’s life. CASA volunteers are trained, sworn in by a judge, and certified to advocate for abused and neglected children in DHS custody. Volunteers do independent fact finding on a child’s circumstances and based on the information they gather they make recommendations to the court as to what they believe is in the best interest of the child.
“There was no better person for the job of CASA volunteer than Kristal Kuehl. You’ll never find anyone more child focused than Kristal,” said Carmen Miller, CASA Program Director. “Kristal has made it her full time job to change the lives of abused and neglected children.” Kristal has been volunteering with CASA for a little over a year and is on her third case and has advocated for a total of seven children. Kristal has three girls of her own Madesyn age 5, Shelbi age 11, and Trinity age 3. Kristal’s husband Tony is very supportive of Kristal’s many child advocacy activities. Kristal is being recognized for her diligence, thoroughness and persistence in advocating for the best interest of abused and neglected children through the CASA program. CASA Heroes are chosen for exemplifying a high level of ethics, high level of commitment, and overall respect for their role as a child’s advocate.
“Kristal is very patient, takes her job as a CASA very seriously, and can communicate effectively with everyone on her cases from the parents to the attorneys. Kristal is especially gifted when working with the children on her cases, she puts them at ease and they trust her,” said Miller. Kristal has already seen one of the families she worked with to a happy ending where all the children were reunified with a parent. “While most cases that make it to the juvenile deprived court system are a challenge this only means that happy endings are even more rewarding for volunteers like Kristal who spend time working with families to achieve this success,” said Miller.
Above all Kristal truly wants what is best for the children no matter the cost. Over the last few months Kristal has feverishly worked with relatives from another state to set up a visitation with the children on one of her cases. Kristal arranged background checks, disseminated pictures of the relative’s home to all the parties, and arranged a half way point to meet the relatives to deliver the children for this visit. Kristal volunteered her services to drive the children a whopping 450 miles one way so this visit can take place. The children have to return to Stillwater and therefore one week later Kristal will be driving the same trip again to pick them up! A round trip totaling 1,800 miles to ensure these kids can visit with their relatives is what Kristal believes is best for the children so she literally did everything within her power to make it happen. Kristal says the most rewarding experience she has had as a CASA thus far has been locating these long lost relatives and reuniting them with the children.
When Kristal was asked to tell something about herself most people would not know she said, “The home I grew up in. My entire life I was told how I was never wanted. My parents separated when I was 12 and by the time I was 16 my mother explained to me that it was her turn to have a life and she was tired of being a mother. She left me to finish raising myself. I am from a small town and word traveled fast so the school counselor took me to her office one day and told me something I will never forget,” explained Kuehl. “When you grow up I want you to say, “In spite of what my parents did,” instead of, “Because of what my parents did.” “That saying stuck with me and I am proud to say that I beat the statistics that said I shouldn’t be the person I am now,” said Kuehl. Kristal says she loves being a CASA for a few different reasons. “The first and the biggest reason is because I love the children,” said Kuehl. “I love helping the children get their life back. I love watching them heal emotionally and I love watching all the progress they make. I love being their friend. I love watching the parents learn from their mistakes and become the parents their children need them to be.”
Kristal is a CASA supporter through and through. On top of her child advocacy role as a CASA Kristal also volunteers to help with other CASA events, attends trainings and fundraisers, and is Payne County CASA’s top volunteer recruiter. As a volunteer, Kristal has recruited more volunteers for the program than anyone else. When asked how she is able to volunteer for CASA with her busy schedule she said, “I prioritize. God is always first, then my husband and children, then my granny and grandpa. After that comes my child advocacy. I do most of my work during school hours or after everyone else has gone to sleep.”
When asked if there was anything she would like to add Kristal said, “I just want to say, “Thank You,” to Payne County DHS for cooperating with Payne County CASA. I have friends that are CASAs in other counties and there is always an animosity between DHS and CASA. We don’t have that here. We may not always agree and we might question each other but the lines of communication are always open and I really appreciate that.”
When asked what she would say to others about being a volunteer for the CASA program Kristal said, “You will get the amazing opportunity to look into the eyes of a hurting child and know you can help them. The CASA program is very vital to the system. CASAs are not DHS workers, lawyers, judges, or any other state employee. CASAs can recommend whatever we think is best for the child. Our hands are not tied by policies or laws and we are able to really benefit the children because of that.”
“Kristal is an asset to the Payne County CASA program but more importantly Kristal is a hero and not just to her CASA kids. Kristal is a voice for abused and neglected children across the state of Oklahoma and nationwide,” said Miller. “Her work for these children reaches far beyond Stillwater and Payne County. We’re very fortunate to have her on our team.”
Kristal will receive a portrait courtesy of MK’s Photography, the official photographer for Payne County CASA. Kristal’s photo will also be hung on Payne County CASA’s Hall of Heroes and Kristal will be presented her CASA Hero Award by the CASA Board of Directors at the June board meeting. If you would like to join Kristal in her work to advocate for abused and neglected children in Payne County or to find out more about CASA contact the CASA office at info@casaforkids.com, 405-624-2242 or visit www.casaforkids.com
