July with Kansas CASA – Avery Johnson Lends His Voice

Updates, events, and ways to support CASA.

Welcome to CASA on the Range, your source for updates, insights, and stories from Kansas CASA Association, Inc. that drive our mission forward. Stay informed, stay inspired, and join us in making a difference.

Each July, during National Make a Difference to Children Month, we are reminded that even small acts of care and advocacy can have a lasting impact on a child’s life. This national observance began in 2006 as a grassroots effort led by child advocate Kim Ratz, who believed that the real challenge isn’t how many children need help—it’s how many people will step forward to help just one.

At Kansas CASA Association, Inc., this belief is at the heart of everything we do. Every day, CASA volunteers across Kansas are making a difference—offering stability, compassion, and a strong voice in court for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

According to the Kansas Department for Children and Families, there were nearly 5,700 children in out-of-home placements across the state at the end of June 2025. Each one of these children was removed from their home, and each one deserves a consistent, caring adult who will advocate for their best interests in court and in life.

We are proud to support 20 local CASA programs serving children in 63 of Kansas’s 105 counties. And yet, we know there are more children who still need someone by their side. National Make a Difference to Children Month invites each of us to ask: How can I be part of the solution?

Whether you choose to volunteer, make a donation, spread awareness, or help us connect with communities not yet served by a CASA program—you can make a difference. Even one child’s life changed for the better creates a ripple of hope across families, schools, and communities.

Thank you for standing with us—and with the children who need us most.

Deena Gage
State Director| Kansas CASA Association, Inc.

We are beyond excited to share a special video message from Kansas State University Quarterback Avery Johnson, created in collaboration with Kansas CASA Association, Inc.

In this inspiring short video, Avery reminds us that every child deserves to live their best life. He encourages Kansans to step up and become that one constant a child in foster care can count on.

CASA volunteers are often the only consistent adult in a child’s life during a time of great instability—and now, with Avery’s help, we’re bringing this message to more people across the state.

Ready to make a real impact? Avery Johnson’s got a message just for you.

Avery’s right—every child deserves to live their best life. You can help make that happen.

Filming day smiles with Avery Johnson and our Kansas CASA crew. From left to right: Charlie Claar, Board President; Deena Gage, State Director; Avery Johnson, K-State Quarterback; Samantha Nickelson, Marketing & Program Support Specialist.

Hear from Erick Vaughn, Executive Director of Douglas County CASA, in this Kansas Public Radio interview about how CASA's help ensure children’s needs are seen, heard, and met. Click on the image to hear the interview.

We’re excited to share that Kansas CASA will have an exhibit table at the Kansas State Fair, taking place September 5–14 in Hutchinson! This is a great opportunity to connect with fairgoers from across the state, raise awareness about the CASA mission, and share how community members can get involved in advocating for children in foster care.

More details to come on our exact location at the fair—stay tuned! In the meantime, mark your calendars and plan to stop by and say hello!

Becoming a CASA Circle of Champions sponsor means more than writing a check—it means stepping up for children in foster care who need someone in their corner.

Kansas CASA Association, Inc. invites businesses and community leaders to invest in a cause that truly changes lives. With sponsorships starting at just $500, your support helps power the services we provide to 20 local CASA programs across Kansas—services like training, technical assistance, data tools, and statewide awareness efforts that help CASA volunteers be the steady voice children need in court.

If you're looking for a meaningful way to give back—one that strengthens communities from rural towns to busy cities—this is it. Partner with us. Be a Champion. And help create a brighter future for Kansas kids.

👉 To learn more about becoming a CASA Circle of Champions sponsor, click HERE.

Our Board of Directors plays a vital role in guiding the Kansas CASA Association’s mission. These dedicated individuals help shape our future, ensuring that we continue to provide meaningful support to CASA programs across the state. Click below to learn more about our board members and their commitment to children in need.

Have you checked out the Kansas CASA Shop lately?

Every item you purchase helps raise awareness and supports the vital work happening in CASA programs across 63 Kansas counties. Whether you choose direct shipping or local pickup in Baldwin City, it’s easy to shop and make a difference.

🛍️ Visit the Kansas CASA Shop https://www.kansascasa.org/give-shop/, place your order, and help spread the word!

📸 Don’t forget to snap a pic in your gear and tag us on social media—we love seeing our supporters represent CASA across the state!

Be the Difference in a Child’s Life

Every child navigating the foster care system deserves someone who won’t give up on them. Your gift today helps make that possible.

By donating to Kansas CASA Association, Inc., you support the training and tools the local CASA programs in Kansas need to equip CASA volunteers—those caring adults who stand by a child’s side when everything else feels uncertain.

Your support doesn’t just fund a service. It fuels hope. It builds stability. It helps ensure that every child has the chance to feel heard, safe, and supported.

Give today—and help change a child’s story.