Five years ago, Shelby Pedersen and her husband were foster parents.
“Our kids had a CASA volunteer,” Pedersen said, “and to this day, she’s still the only consistent adult in those boys’ lives. That’s the power of CASA.”
Pedersen is now the executive director of Southeast Nebraska CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), which serves Seward, Saline, Jefferson and Thayer counties. At CASA, volunteers are trained to advocate for abused and neglected children as they navigate the court system and foster care.
A background in criminal justice or social work isn’t necessary for volunteers.
“You just need to care and have a clean background check,” Pedersen said, “That’s it. The impact you can have on a child’s life is something you may never fully realize—but it’s incredibly real.”
Volunteers go through 30 hours of training, typically spread out over five weeks, before they are sworn in by a judge and assigned to a family. After that, the responsibilities of a volunteer include meeting with the child regularly; communicating with school personnel, therapists, doctors, and attorneys involved in the child’s case; and advocating for the child’s wishes throughout the legal process.
“The main responsibility is that you are bringing a voice to the child in the courtroom,” Pedersen said.
Volunteering at CASA can seem like a daunting task, and Pedersen recalled a volunteer who almost quit before finishing training because she didn’t feel qualified. However, she continued with training and is now helping a child here in Seward County.
“She’s doing incredible things—showing up, being consistent, and even speaking up for this child in court,” Pedersen said, “That’s the kind of transformation I get to witness, and it’s one of the most rewarding parts of my job.”
Although being a volunteer can be challenging, “I think if you asked most of our volunteers, they’d tell you they do feel like they’re making a difference,” Pedersen said, “And research actually shows that giving back is good for you, too—it can lower stress, boost your mood, and help you feel more connected and fulfilled. So it’s not just good for the kids—it’s good for the people who step up to help them, too.”
During Seward County Gives 2025, Southeast Nebraska CASA raised $11,000, the second largest amount of money raised during Give Week. The money will go toward recruiting and training volunteers, as well as providing activities for the kids. “I just want to say a huge thank you to Seward County for stepping up and helping us surpass our goal! Your support means the world to us—and more importantly, to the kids we serve,” Pedersen said. So far this year, CASA has served 27 children in southeast Nebraska, with 34 children remaining without a volunteer.
Southeast Nebraska CASA is funded by participating counties and donations, as well as a federal grant at risk of being cut. Recently, the Department of Justice cut three federal grants to National CASA, which Pedersen noted should not affect Nebraska CASA programs.
“We don’t receive any funding from National CASA. That said, it’s gravely concerning, and we are watching closely,” Pedersen said, “We’re deeply worried about the trickle-down effect and the towns and states that do rely on that funding. The loss of those resources could be devastating for kids in care elsewhere.”
To continue supporting Southeast Nebraska CASA, there are a few ways to help. You can apply to be a volunteer, as well as spread the word about what CASA is doing—many volunteers get connected with CASA by word-of-mouth. Monetary donations are always welcome, and are tax-deductible. To volunteer, donate, or simply learn more, visit southeastnebraskacasa.org.
“These children are thrown into a system of complete unknowns,” Pedersen said, “and I try to push people to think about their niece or their grandchild or younger sibling—what if that happened to them? And I think that they would hope they had one consistent adult in their life that could help them navigate the unknown, and that can be CASA, and that can be any average community member in Seward County.”
