At Lincoln South Rotary Club on February 13, 2026, we heard about Advocating for at-risk children – CASA for Lancaster County. Our speaker was Dawn Rockey, Executive Director of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).
Dawn started by presenting the mission of CASA: "CASA for Lancaster County provides a voice for abused and neglected children in the court system so they can thrive in safe, permanent homes."
She stated that Nebraska has 21 local CASA programs serving 55 counties. In 2025:
- - 809 volunteers advocated for 1,876 children
- - 118 CASA for Lancaster County volunteers advocated for 302 abused, neglected, truant and ungovernable children and 97 children reached permanency
Dawn described a CASA volunteer as a person appointed by the court to advocate for children. Those volunteers have been screened and trained through CASA. The volunteers understand a child's right to grow with dignity and to be in a safe environment. They assess the child's best interest and represent them in court.
What is the best interest of a child is to be in a safe permanent home as quickly as possible. A permanent placement may be reunification with a parent or both or legal guardian, adoption, guardianship or independent living.
The volunteers need to be able to give judge a good picture of environment so they learn as much as they can about the child and their family. They meet with the child regularly and then make recommendations in court regarding the child's placement and services.
Dawn explained that the volunteers participate in a 30 hour training program and then get sworn in to serve. They can look over the list of cases on the wait list. They can state preferences such as working with children of certain ages. A CASA staff member supervises the volunteers throughout the process.
She presented these issues that bring families into the system:
- Lack of supervision
- Safety risks to children
- Physical abuse
- Neglect – including medical, educational and emotional
- Domestic/Family Violence
- Substance Use
- Mental illness – parents and children
- Poverty/Lack of resources
There are a number of risk factors that may lead to abuse and neglect such as the age of the children, unwanted children, parent's mental health or substance abuse, cultural child-rearing differences to name a few.
We were presented with some statistics from 2025:
Number of Children Provided with Advocacy Services - 302
Number of CASA Volunteers Assigned - 118
Number of children reaching permanency (case closure) - 97
Type of case closure
Number of CASA Volunteers Assigned - 118
Number of children reaching permanency (case closure) - 97
Type of case closure
Adoption or Guardianship - 58
Reunification with parent—26
Age-Out - 5
Other - 8
New Children Referred to CASA (assigned) - 125
% of minority children; Caucasian children
56% minority
44% Caucasian
Gender of children served
Reunification with parent—26
Age-Out - 5
Other - 8
New Children Referred to CASA (assigned) - 125
% of minority children; Caucasian children
56% minority
44% Caucasian
Gender of children served
49% Male
51% Female
Number of new CASA volunteers sworn-in - 39
Number of active volunteers (assigned or available) - 153
Number of Cross-over or 3b youth served - 12
51% Female
Number of new CASA volunteers sworn-in - 39
Number of active volunteers (assigned or available) - 153
Number of Cross-over or 3b youth served - 12
Dawn stated that there are currently a number of challenges in child welfare. DHHS is ending many of its contracts for training and support services. There are legislative and administrative efforts to eliminate or reduce oversight programs. And, there are general funding cuts to DHHS - the areas of impact are not yet known.
One of the closing comments "CASA Volunteers work to keep cases moving through the system. We make sure children’s voices are heard and their best interests are protected.".
BIO
Dawn Rockey joined CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Lancaster County as Executive Director in December 2006.
Dawn came to CASA with a background in state government and commercial banking. Dawn worked for the State of Nebraska for 12 years, in both the legislative and executive branches, serving as Nebraska State Treasurer from 1991-1995. She spent the next nearly 12 years with First National Bank of Omaha in several commercial banking related positions and as a Second Vice President in Treasury Services working with corporate bank customers on their cash management needs.
Dawn has served as on the following boards: Cause Collective Lincoln (formerly Human Services Federation, 2024 to present), Lincoln Electric System Administrative Board (2005-2011), Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission (1997-2003), the Nebraska CASA Association (2013-2020), the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County Board (2020-2023), Aiding Angels Foundation (2013 to present), the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation Board (2021 to present, current President), and the Community Action Head Start Policy Council (2025 to present).
Dawn is a graduate of UNL, with a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and completed graduate hours in Public Administration and Political Science. She has lived in Lincoln for more than 40 years. Her husband, Brian, is the Director of the Nebraska Lottery and they have a 27-year-old son.
CASA or Court Appointed Special Advocates for Lancaster County is a local non-profit organization that recruits, trains and supports community volunteers who advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children in juvenile court. CASA volunteers get to know their assigned children and gather information. Volunteers then submit reports directly to the judge with their findings and recommendations. The goal is to provide the judge with more information and to move the children more quickly to permanency (a safe, stable, permanent home). CASA volunteers keep cases moving and make sure children and their families are receiving the services they need to correct the problems that brought them into the system. Ultimately, the role of the CASA volunteer is to make recommendations that are in the children’s best interests.