WVVA Hometown Hero: Hunnicutt gives voice to kids in crisis as a CASA

PRINCETON, W.Va. (WVVA) - The latest nominee for WVVA Hometown Hero is a woman who has spent nearly two decades giving a voice to kids in crisis.

WVVA met with Leticia Hunnicutt at her day job with Centerwell Health in Princeton.

Hunnicutt, a 1988 Meadow Bridge High School graduate, has spent 17 year of her life donating countless hours as a CASA. It’s an acronym for Court Appointed Special Advocate.

Hunnicutt says she first became involved 17 years ago while living in Pennsylvania, continuing to work with the court system on behalf of the kids when she moved back to the Mountain State.

Her nominator writes of Hunnicutt’s dedication to CASA’s core mission.

“It is a very strong passion of mine to make sure that we extend our program and that we have every child that is in care, or are abused and neglected, have a voice. And that we stand up for them and speak loud for what they want,” Hunnicut said.

The 54-year-old says she currently serves as the Vice President of the West Virginia CASA Board of Directors.

Hunnicutt says the headlines are true: West Virginia’s foster care system is in crisis, “I read the news on how children are abused and neglected and even, it, it comes to where even some of them pass away. And that is, it just stabs my heart. It’s just unbelievable and there is a crisis,” Hunnicutt said.

She adds CASA volunteers help pave the road to a brighter future for kids in crisis and here, they’re placed into a system in crisis.

Hunnicutt says the numbers tell the story that more volunteers are needed, “We are serving over 4000 children right now and we only have around 450 volunteers,” said Hunnicutt.

CASA reports there are 32 counties in the Mountain State with a CASA presence in their court system. Raleigh County is the latest county to formally add CASA volunteers to the toolbelt to help kids in crisis.

Hunnicutt says their volunteers are the eyes and ears of the judge in each case with a court appointed special advocate, adding, without them, there’s no one speaking about what the child wants.

“They go through the system, and you know, whatever children and Youth CPS says and the judges there says, goes. So, we need programs like the CASA in every County for every child,” Hunnicutt said.

It’s her continuing push to bring a voice for every child in the foster care system, into the courtrooms where the futures of those children are decided, that makes Leticia Hunnicutt a WVVA Hometown Hero.

Copyright 2024 WVVA. All rights reserved.