Meet CASA Volunteer, Jennifer!

Jennifer Russell wears many hats in our CASA community—and wears them all with heart. She serves as a CASA Advocate, CASA Ambassador, and CASA Board Member, bringing her voice, leadership, and dedication to every level of our mission.

At home, Jennifer’s life is full and joyful. She and her husband became licensed foster parents in May and welcomed two young children into their home in July. Add in four cats and two corgis, and it’s safe to say their house is always lively and full of love.

Professionally, Jennifer is the Communications Manager at Great Southern Bank, where she oversees internal and external communications across a 12-state footprint. She’s been with Great Southern since 2016 and holds both a master’s degree in Communication and a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication and Development from Drury University. Her communication skills clearly carry over into her advocacy work—especially when it comes to speaking up for children who need it most.

Jennifer first learned about CASA while serving on the United Way Community Investment Panel. During a presentation by Laura Farmer, she felt deeply moved by CASA’s mission. At the same time, she was witnessing a family member fight for custody of a younger sibling in an unsafe situation. The parallels were impossible to ignore. Jennifer saw firsthand how life-changing it can be when a child has a consistent adult willing to fight for them—and she knew she wanted to be that person for kids in foster care.

Now in her third case as a CASA, Jennifer says she’s made the biggest difference by being what she jokingly calls a “squeaky wheel.” In truth, her persistence and refusal to give up on what she believes is best for her youth has led to powerful outcomes, including reunification in one case and continued protection and support in another.

When asked what advice she would give to someone considering becoming a CASA, Jennifer keeps it simple: just do it. She speaks highly of the support from CASA staff and fellow volunteers and shares that she’s never felt more appreciated in any volunteer role. One reminder of why the work matters stands out most to her: hearing a youth say, “You’re the best part of being in foster care.”

Thank you, Jennifer, for your unwavering advocacy, leadership, and heart for children. We are so grateful to have you as part of the CASA family.