Ohio CASA Hosts Record Crowd at 31st Annual Celebrate Kids! Conference
Attendees from across Ohio, nation came together to build and strengthen connections to support children and families
The Ohio CASA/GAL Association welcomed roughly 724 attendees to its 31st Annual Celebrate Kids! Conference: Building and Strengthening Connections, marking another annual attendance record.
CASA volunteers, court and program staff, attorneys, social workers, and other child welfare advocates gathered in Downtown Columbus for three days of training sessions and networking events.
Attendees completed essential trainings on critical child welfare trends and emerging topics, including helping children in domestic violence situations, ethical AI use, and hearing from a panel of young people with lived experience in the foster care system.
This year’s theme was centered on how strong connections between professionals, families, and communities can benefit children, which took center stage during three keynote presentations.
On the first day, Case Western Reserve University professor Dr. Eileen Anderson explored cultural humility, models and competence, challenging attendees to consider how cultural differences can shape their work with children and families.
Later that afternoon, CASA volunteers and other attendees gathered for the CASA Connect Hour — a chance to network, share ideas, and enjoy live music from Columbus City Schools’ Whetstone High School Student Jazz Ensemble.
ABC 6/Fox 28 anchor and managing editor Rodney Dunigan helped kick off the second day of the Celebrate Kids! Conference by welcoming attendees and serving as emcee for award-winning author and CASA volunteer Tristian Smith.
Smith shared his lived experiences in the foster care system as both an inspiration and a teaching tool for child welfare advocates, highlighting how a trusted adult who continues to show up can make a life-changing, positive impact for a child.
“Children do not need perfect people,” Smith told the crowd. “They need adults who make staying believable.”
Advocate and educator Sarah Buffie rounded out the third day with a practical keynote speech that introduced a trauma-responsive approach using breath, rhythm, sound, and play to support nervous system regulation and felt safety.
CASA volunteers, child welfare professionals, and attorneys were honored during Ohio CASA’s annual awards ceremony, highlighting their positive impact in their communities and dedication to the Ohio CASA Network.
The 2026 Award Winners include:
Attorney of the Year: James Ellis, Esq., nominated by CASA of Seneca, Sandusky, and Wyandot Counties
Child Welfare Professional of the Year: Morgan Rice, nominated by CASA/GAL of Miami County
Rising Star Volunteer of the Year: Joanna Swartzentruber, nominated by Wayne County Volunteer GAL Program
Pro Star Volunteer of the Year: Ana Warnick, nominated by CASA for Clermont Kids
Child Advocate of the Year: Dr. Richard Smith, nominated by Montgomery County Juvenile Court CASA Program
CASA programs across Ohio train and support volunteers to advocate for children experiencing abuse and neglect. Ohio CASA’s Celebrate Kids! Conference is a vital part of this required annual training.
CASA volunteers are community members from all walks of life who advocate in court for the best interest of Ohio children experiencing abuse and neglect. After undergoing thorough training, CASA volunteers speak with the child and the important adults in their life, staying with the child throughout the duration of the case. They are often the only consistent adult in the child’s life.
CASA volunteers served 9,177 children and teens statewide in 2025. Many are among the 14,000 in foster care at any given time.
Next year’s Celebrate Kids! Conference will be held Wednesday, September 22 to Friday, September 24, 2027.
