Lehigh County Needs Volunteers to Speak for Foster Kids

When a child is removed from their home, the courtroom fills with adults telling their side of the story. But the child's voice often gets lost in the noise.

In Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, specially trained volunteers called Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) serve as the eyes and ears of the judge. They visit children in foster homes, talk to teachers and doctors, and report back to court about what the child really needs.

"The close rapport they create with the child allows the CASA to see the case from the child's point of view, instead of relying on the word of the adults involved," says Lehigh County President Judge Douglas Reichley.

Right now, 28 volunteers serve children across the county. The court needs double that number, and some children have been waiting for an advocate since 2024.

Donnie Schultz almost didn't apply because he worried his long hair and tattoos wouldn't fit the mold. The 36-year-old tech consultant discovered the opposite was true. After experiencing a similar program through his own family's involvement with child welfare in Colorado, he knew he wanted to help others navigate the same journey.

"Being able to have a really deep impact on families and children in the same way the program had for me was my goal," Schultz says. He juggles 60-hour work weeks and upcoming medical school while managing his single case.

That's the commitment: one child or sibling group at a time, spending 10 to 15 hours per month being the consistent presence in a chaotic time.

Tricia Wilson has been a CASA volunteer since 2015. She still remembers her first visit with a 7-year-old girl who ran and hid, thinking Wilson had come to take her away again.

"She didn't know who she could trust, she didn't know what was next for her," Wilson recalls. Building that trust takes time, but the rewards make it worthwhile.

Why This Inspires

In 2025, 443 children needed foster care in Lehigh County, with about a third reuniting with their families. Behind each number is a child navigating one of the most difficult experiences of their life. CASAs give them something irreplaceable: someone who shows up consistently, advocates specifically for them, and helps judges make better decisions about their future.

The program especially needs male volunteers, since many of the children are teenage boys who've never had strong role models. Only four male CASAs currently serve the entire county.

Volunteers must be 21 or older, pass a background check, and complete 40 hours of training. Applications are available through the Lehigh County Court website.

Wilson encourages anyone considering volunteering to take the leap. "When I can see a kid who is succeeding, who is getting ready to graduate, or they're going to prom and they're so excited—all of these pieces of their life that you get to see and celebrate with them make it worth it."

Twenty-eight people are already making a difference, and the next volunteer could be the consistent voice a waiting child desperately needs.