By: Erin Sullivan, Vice President of Community and Donor Relations

Amy Guachione, Volunteer and CASA Coordinator, started her journey with 18 Degrees as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Volunteer.  In that role, she fostered positive relationships with other volunteers, the judges, the attorneys, court personnel, and the Department of Children and Families.  She became the clear choice for the Volunteer and CASA Coordinator when that position became open in 2019.  Since then, Amy has grown our volunteer team to over 100 volunteers each year – even throughout COVID.  Her positive disposition and love for the work she does attracts and encourages volunteers to join 18 Degrees.

Amy trains and coaches CASA volunteers and helps them navigate the complex child welfare system and the courts and reads and edits their reports.  She meets monthly with state and national CASA leaders to stay up-to-date on the issues that affect families in child welfare cases – keeping an eye out for ways to improve.

She is always looking for new opportunities for volunteers to support all the work we do at 18 Degrees.  This year she initiated a tutoring program to help young people with remote learning.  She also started Healing Homes Helpers, in which volunteers partner with foster families to give them a needed break or support.

Amy is kind, courageous, trustworthy, and flexible – always looking for solutions when faced with challenges.  She sets the stage for people to do more than they thought possible. She is a true servant leader – serving first and leading our volunteers to new beginnings.