On Tuesday morning, November 10th, 2026, at the Bastrop County Courthouse, The Honorable Judge Benson Eskew officially swore in three new CASA volunteers. Also known as Court Appointed Special Advocates, these amazing volunteers will work with CASA of Bastrop, Fayette & Lee Counties to advocate for children and families involved in the foster care system.

CASA of Bastrop, Fayette & Lee Counties is pleased to announce the recent appointment of three new volunteers as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)! From left to right, we have Christine Weyand (Elgin), Michelle Cordoba (Elgin), and Lesley Guthrie (Cedar Creek) to congratulate and show our gratitude for their commitment to the CASA cause. 👏 💙

This new class of CASA volunteers will be assigned to a child or sibling group who they will commit to advocating for until the closure of their case. As a part of their advocacy, they will get to know important adults in the life of the child they represent, such as parents, foster parents, teachers, doctors, therapists and more.

“It is a long-term commitment and requires a lot of heart, but there just isn’t another volunteer experience that matches what you’ll get with CASA,” said Kristi Bauer, Executive Director of CASA of Bastrop, Fayette & Lee Counties. “Our volunteers are dedicated to doing their very best on behalf of the children and families they serve.”

CASA volunteers go through 32 hours of in-depth, pre-service training before they are appointed by a judge to their case. They advocate for the child they represent in every facet of their life and make recommendations to the court about their best interest. Volunteers advocate for reunification as their primary goal whenever it is safe and possible to do so. When reunification is not an option, they may advocate for the child to live with another relative or family friend. They can also advocate for the child to be placed in an adoptive home. In all cases, CASA volunteers are steadfast, consistent presences for the children they serve, making sure they are safe and have the resources and connections they need to grow and thrive. They work with families to build life-long support systems for both the child and parents that will continue after the case is closed.

“We’re so excited to have this new class join our team of three volunteers at CASA of Bastrop, Fayette & Lee Counties,” said Bauer. “I know that they will do amazing work that will positively impact the children and families in the foster care system right here in our community.”

If you are interested in becoming a CASA volunteer at CASA of Bastrop, Fayette & Lee Counties, you contact Rita Coduto, our Recruiter/Trainer at (512) 409-0771 or visit their website at casabfl.org for more information.