together we will
The mission of CASA of the River Region is to be the voice for children who have been victims of abuse and/or neglect. Our Vision is to serve every child in the River Region by providing them with a caring and competent trained volunteer.
CASA of the River Region
Court Appointed Special Advocates of the River Region will provide abused, neglected or abandoned children with a highly trained volunteer to advocate for the child’s best interest before family courts in the River Region, Alabama. Our volunteers will be recruited, screened and trained by paid staff. Our staff and volunteers will then work in conjunction with the judges, lawyers, and social workers to help ensure children receive appropriate care and support while navigating the court, child welfare, and foster care systems.
Volunteer training and
continuing education
continuing education
Public awareness
efforts
efforts
Legislative and
governmental advocacy
governmental advocacy
CASA of the River Region is 1 of 23 counties in the state of Alabama that serve abused and neglected children in their communities.
You can help Change A Child’s Story with CASA of the River Region.
History
1977
1977
In 1977, Judge David Soukup, a Seattle juvenile court judge, was concerned that there was too little information available to base life-changing decisions about the safety, permanency and well-being of children. To address this problem, he conceived the idea of citizen volunteers speaking up for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courtroom. A CASA pilot program was formed to recruit and train community volunteers based on Judge Soukup’s idea.
1982
1982
In 1982, the national CASA Association was established to direct CASA’s emerging national presence. From that first program has grown a network of nearly 1,000 CASA and guardian ad litem programs that are recruiting, training and supporting volunteers in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Read more about the history of the CASA movement.
1993–1997
1993–1997
On September 24, 1993, representatives from the then three local CASA programs (Jefferson, Madison, and Shelby) met and voted to establish a formal Alabama State CASA Network. As a result, the Alabama CASA Network, Inc. was incorporated in 1997.
2020
2020
CASA of Montgomery County was founded in 2020.
2022
2022
Expanded service to Elmore County and renamed CASA of the River Region in 2022.
Today
Today
Expanded service to Autauga and Chilton County in 2026.
Leadership
Board of Directors
President
Ryan Beesley
Vice President
Terri Reynolds
Board Member
Dalton Dismukes
Board Member
Aundrey Ruffin
Board Member
Katie Beth McCarthy
Board Member
Britt Barley
Board Member
Kashera Guy-Robinson
Board Member
Kristi Fuller
Board Member
Mary Jeter
Board Member
Lauran Harrison
2025 IMPACT REPORT
Testimonials
Staff
Executive Director
Charity Alpert
Charity Alpert serves as the Executive Director of CASA of the River Region. She has been with the program since its infancy, attending the first training class of volunteer advocates. She completed her first case in August of 2020. In her role as director, Charity leads a team of trained community volunteers who serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates in the Juvenile Court system, where they advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children.
Charity has a Bachelors Degree in Business Management. She was born and raised in Montgomery, AL and has had a deep passion for the welfare of children for over 25 years. Since 2011, Charity has served in the nonprofit sector, in various capacities. It was her work with an orphanage that ignited her passion for meeting the needs of abused and neglected children. She began orphan advocacy training with CAFO (Christian Alliance For Orphans) and ultimately began the process of adopting a child into her own family.
Charity’s background in business, nonprofit sector work, and childhood advocacy brings the perfect balance to this program.
To contact her, please email calpert@casaoftheriverregion.org or 334-329-8584.
Advocate Coordinator
Ariel Donovan
Advocate Coordinator
Jernita Martin
Contact Us
CASA of the River Region
1111 Air Base Blvd
Montgomery, AL 36108
Email: calpert@casaoftheriverregion.org
Phone: 334-329-8584
together we will
SPEAKING UP FOR ALABAMA’S CHILDREN
1,190
CASA of the River Region-AL
We advocate for abused and/or neglected children in the River Region of Alabama.
Register for the Superhero 5K and Fun Run!🏃🏼♀️🏃🏽♂️⬇️
https://runsignup.com/Race/AL/Montgomery/CASASuperhero5KFR
links⬇️
https://linktr.ee/casaoftheriverregion
Another advocate ready to make a difference! 💙![]()
We’re excited to celebrate our newest CASA volunteer, officially sworn in to serve children and families in Autauga County!![]()
Becoming a CASA means stepping up to be a consistent voice, a trusted advocate, and a source of hope for a child navigating foster care. We’re so grateful for volunteers who say “yes” to showing up when it matters most.
September is National Kinship Care Month 💙![]()
Kinship caregivers—grandparents, relatives, and other trusted adults—step in to provide stability, connection, and care when children need it most.![]()
This month, we honor the families who open their homes and hearts to ensure children can remain connected to the people, relationships, and communities they know and love. ❤️
🎉 Meet our new Social Work Intern, Charli Holmes!![]()
We’re excited to welcome Charli Holmes, a Social Work student from Alabama State University, to the CASA of the River Region team! 💙![]()
We’re grateful to have Charli learning, serving, and supporting our mission of advocating for children in our community. Please help us give her a warm CASA welcome! 👏
You don’t have to change a child’s whole world to make a difference in it. 💙![]()
As a CASA volunteer, you can be a consistent presence, a trusted advocate, and a voice for a child navigating an uncertain season.![]()
Your time. Your voice. Your willingness to show up. It matters.![]()
Ready to make a difference? Learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer today at the link in our bio!
Lace up for a cause that matters. 🏃♂️![]()
Join us for the CASA of the River Region Superhero 5k and Fun Run and help CASA of the River Region continue advocating for children who need a consistent voice in their corner.![]()
Run it. Walk it. Bring your family. Bring your friends. Every step helps us move the mission forward.![]()
📅 November 7th, 2026![]()
📍 Montgomery Whitewater![]()
Register today at the link in our bio or at runsignup.com/Race/AL/Montgomery/CASASuperhero5KFR