Governor Mike DeWine appoints Ohio CASA’S Megan Heydlauff, Esq. to Children’s Trust Fund Board

03.12.2025 Ohio CASA News Press Release

Governor Mike DeWine appoints Ohio CASA’S Megan Heydlauff, Esq. to Children’s Trust Fund Board

Heydlauff will provide guidance, share CASA expertise on board that focuses on preventing child abuse and neglect

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has appointed The Ohio CASA/GAL Association’s Director of Attorney Services Megan McCombs Heydlauff, Esq. to the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund Board of Directors.

Heydlauff will serve an initial term through 2027, alongside lawmakers, agency leaders, and doctors.

“It is an honor to serve on this board and get the opportunity to further serve Ohio’s children in this way,” said Heydlauff. “The mission of the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund, working to prevent child abuse and neglect, is what I have focused on throughout my career.”

The Ohio Children’s Trust Fund is Ohio’s sole, dedicated public funding source for abused and neglected children, investing in “strong communities, healthy families and safe children.”

Heydlauff joined Ohio CASA in 2020. She focuses on the management of the Advanced GAL: Excellence in Child Custody program, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence against women.

The program provides advanced training for attorney guardians ad litem working with families experiencing violence in low-income, contested custody cases across Ohio. Since its inception in 2020, the program has served 354 children in 220 cases.

Heydlauff often leads trainings for CASA volunteers, plans legislative events, and connects with Ohio’s legal community.

Megan Heydlauff, Esq. visits law schools. — Heydlauff frequently speaks at law schools across Ohio about the work of CASA volunteers and local programs.

She also connects with the larger legal community, sharing the word about CASA programs and volunteers. In addition, she has extensive legal experience in child welfare and family law, serving previously as the senior attorney at the Family and Youth Law Center at Capital University Law School and working in private practice.

“Megan has great knowledge to share via this board. It is an honor for an Ohio CASA staff member to be appointed by the Governor and serve the State of Ohio and Ohio’s children in this way,” said Ohio CASA Executive Director Doug Stephens.

The Ohio Children’s Trust Fund is responsible for providing grants, resources, training, and education to various agencies, caregivers, professionals, and other Ohioans.

Click here to learn more about CASA programs in Ohio.