Heglund named to lead CASA of Trinity Valley

Emily Heglund
Emily Heglund

Press release

CASA of Trinity Valley announced that resource development officer Emily Heglund will replace Lee Ann Millender as the organization’s executive director.
Millender, who has served as director since 1998, is stepping down to take a position with Texas CASA, the statewide group that oversees more than 70 local CASA programs. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates.

“Lee Ann has built CASA of Trinity Valley into what it is today – a respected program that mentors volunteers who are dedicated to speaking up for abused and neglected children,” Heglund said. “She definitely leaves big shoes to fill.”

In 2015, CASA of Trinity Valley volunteers advocated for more than 720 children in the nonprofit’s service area: Anderson, Cherokee and Henderson counties.

“Our volunteers are the backbone of this organization,” Heglund said. “That includes those who advocate for children, our board of directors, and the volunteers who help us at our events. We couldn’t provide a voice for children in foster care without them.”

CASA recruits, screens, trains and supervises volunteers who advocate in court for the best interests of children who, through no fault of their own, come into the foster care system due to abuse or neglect. The volunteers get to know the children and those involved in their cases, then report back to judges on the children’s welfare so that no child falls through the cracks while in state care.

For more information on CASA of Trinity Valley, visit www.casaoftv.org or call 903-675-7070. To become a volunteer, visit the website and click on Volunteers, then Volunteer Application.