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Volunteer urges commission to prioritize child-abuse response, seeks CASA volunteers for White County
Summary
Steve Phillips told the commission White County ranks in the top quintile statewide for several child-abuse indicators and urged recruiting volunteers for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA); he said eight volunteers currently serve more than 88 foster children and cited a 2025 state and University of Tennessee study.
Steve Phillips, a Sparta resident and volunteer trainee for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), urged the commission to prioritize child-welfare issues and recruit volunteers to serve local foster children.
"White County scores number 1 in the number of 1st time child abuse cases in the state of Tennessee...This is not fake data. This is not AI data. This is from the economic cost of child abuse and neglect, which was a study done in 2025 by the state of Tennessee and the University of Tennessee," Phillips said, warning commissioners against focusing solely on tax reductions while children face serious problems. He said CASA in White and Van Buren counties currently has eight volunteers handling more than 88 foster children and requested help recruiting more volunteers; he noted a September training date for a grant-related start.
Phillips asked the commission and community members to consider child-welfare priorities when setting policy and budgets and to help recruit volunteers for the CASA program.
