About Us

Home | About Us

Vision

The vision for CASA of the 2nd Judicial District is to change a child’s story. Our goal is to ensure every abused and neglected child has a voice in court, a friend by their side, and give them the opportunity to thrive in a safe and loving home.

Mission

Our mission is to recruit, train, and support volunteers who serve as advocates for children that have been placed in foster care, due to abuse or neglect. Our volunteers will continue advocating for these children until they have reached safe and permanent homes.

CASA-Girl

History

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. CASA of the 2nd Judicial District is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves abused and neglected children in Craighead, Greene, Clay, Poinsett, and Mississippi counties. 

CASA of the 2nd Judicial District was founded in 1995. We are governed by a diverse board of directors made of up of professionals from all across Northeast Arkansas. The organization is a member in good standing of the National CASA Association. Our goal is to provide quality advocacy services that make a positive, long-term impact on the lives of every child in foster care in Northeast Arkansas. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, please call us TODAY at 870-215-2926. We Need More Volunteers Just Like You!!!!

There are currently over 930 CASA programs nationwide. CASA programs across the country are known by several different names, including Guardian ad Litem, Child Advocates and Voices for Children. Since the inception of CASA advocacy, volunteers have helped well over 1,000,000 children find safe, permanent homes in which they can thrive. Just last year, 93,300 advocates provided a voice to more than 271,000 children in foster care.

abt_gallery1.jpgabt_gallery2.jpg
abt_gallery4.jpgabt_gallery5.jpg
2371
Volunteer hours this year
112
CASA Volunteers
301
Children served by CASA Volunteers
25
Volunteers needed to serve every child

Staff

Angie Tate

Executive Director

Tap to View Bio

Angie Tate

Executive Director


As Executive Director, my goals for our CASA program are to enhance fundraising strategies, grow program effectiveness by strengthening relationships with community partners and to bring greater awareness to child abuse and neglect in our local communities. By strengthening community partners CASA will be better able to serve children and families involved in the child welfare system using a team concept and providing diverse resources essential to healing families in crisis.

Tami Dodd

Advocate Coordinator and Trainer for Craighead Coordinator

Tap to View Bio

Tami Dodd

Advocate Coordinator and Trainer for Craighead Coordinator


I’m Tami Dodd, an advocate coordinator with a long background in the juvenile justice system, spanning more than 15 years. Armed with a BA in Criminal Justice and a minor in Criminology, I am committed to continuous learning and self-improvement. My life outside work is filled with the joy of exploring the great outdoors and cherishing moments with my family, finding balance through my love for hiking and camping. My guiding principle is to always aim for excellence and embrace every opportunity for personal growth.

Donna Bell

Advocate Coordinator for Poinsett and Greene County

Tap to View Bio

Donna Bell

Advocate Coordinator for Poinsett and Greene County


I am from Jonesboro, Arkansas, and hold a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Juvenile Justice, an Associate of Science, and a Certificate of General Studies.

Professionally, I aspire to broaden my knowledge in advocacy and child welfare, develop my leadership and mentoring abilities, strengthen my professional relationships, and enhance my communication skills. Personally, I am committed to lifelong learning, creating new family traditions with my children and grandchildren, traveling more, and continuing to mentor those around me.

As a woman embarking on a new career, I am dedicated to empowering my community through service, advocacy, and compassion. I believe in the power of giving—whether through a kind gesture, a listening ear, or a thoughtful gift—to create positive change. I strive to promote justice, fairness, and equality while drawing strength from my love of sports, which has taught me the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and discipline. In all that I do, I honor my roots, cherish my family, and commit to making the world a better place, one person at a time.

Alex West

Advocate Coordinator and Recruitment for Greene County

Tap to View Bio

Alex West

Advocate Coordinator and Recruitment for Greene County


I’m Alex West, originally from Paragould, AR, and I currently serve as the Advocate Coordinator. I graduated from GCT and continued my education at Williams Baptist University and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Over the past nine years, I’ve worked in student ministry across Northeast Arkansas, which has given me the opportunity to grow as a leader, develop new skills, and find deep purpose in helping others discover their own passions. Personally, I strive for spiritual growth, stronger relationships, more time with family, and a healthy, balanced life.

Throughout my time in ministry, I’ve witnessed the universal desire for connection among youth—from those in strong homes to those with none. That understanding has driven me to find and equip mentors who are passionate about building meaningful, lasting relationships with students. My work has included creating mission and vision statements, organizing retreats, camps, fundraisers, and outreach events—all with the goal of fostering authentic connections. In my downtime, you can usually find me reading, gaming, golfing, skateboarding, or enjoying the outdoors.

BOARD MEMBERS

    • Thomas Haynes, President, City of Jonesboro, Assistant City Prosecuter
    • Brad Crawley, Vice-President, Central Baptist Church, Director of Media and Technology
    • Alexandra Bowen, Treasurer, Simmons Bank, Senior VP Trust Officer
    • Meredith Cook, Secretary, Sure Ascension Healthcare, Talent Market Campaign Specialist
    • Paige Pickering, Life Strategies Counseling Inc, Director of Marketing
    • Selena Barber, Arvest Bank, Marketing Specialist
    • Evette Allen, ELA Education Services, LLC, Founder
    • Lindsey Wingo, Glen Sain
    • Felicia Ross, St. Bernard's Urology, Office Manager
    • Lisette Brown, St. Bernard's Healthcare, Talent Acquisition Manager
    • Allison McDaniel, Signature Bank, VP, Business Development
    • Abby Husband, Clayton Properties, President