After 29 Years of Service, Maryland CASA Says Goodbye to its State Director, Ed Kilcullen

It is with bittersweet emotion Maryland CASA announces the retirement of its State Director, Edward T. Kilcullen. Ed has been an integral part of the CASA organization for more than 29 years. He served five years as Executive Director of Montgomery County’s CASA program and more than 24 years with Maryland CASA Association as State Director. Ed’s last day with the organization will be November 10, 2022, and he will continue to serve as a consultant for several weeks to help with the transition to CASA’s new State Director.As word about Ed’s retirement circulated in our CASA and child welfare community, many folks reached out to reflect on his contributions. 

“It has been a pleasure partnering with Ed Kilcullen and the Maryland Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association. Although he will be missed, his legacy will be the lasting positive impact his programs will have on the children in foster care in Maryland. Through his leadership, our circuit courts now have CASA volunteers advocating for the best interest of children in 22 counties and Baltimore City of the 24 (23 counties and Baltimore City) in Maryland. Ed made diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging a priority as he provided technical assistance to programs across the state. Through Ed’s efforts and our shared goal of ensuring that the courts are always acting in the best interest of the children in Maryland’s foster system, the Maryland Judiciary and Maryland CASA have established a true partnership that will endure after his departure.”

–Kelly Franks, Senior Program Manager, Administrative Office of the Courts

“Ed has been the face of the Maryland CASA program for nearly 25 years. He brought this program from its infancy to become a robust external support for the child welfare system in all but one jurisdiction in the state.  His contributions to children and families in Maryland have been invaluable.”

-Honorable Kathleen Cox, Third Judicial Circuit Court for Baltimore County

"Ed's 30-year commitment to advocating for the best interests of children in foster care has made a difference in the lives of countless children and families." 

-Francha Davis, Executive Director, Voices for Children-Montgomery County, MD

“The Towson Chamber of Commerce is truly grateful for Ed Kilcullen’s tireless advocacy over the last 29 years for the victims of child abuse and neglect in Maryland. We are also grateful for his years of service to the citizens of  Towson by volunteering his time to make our community a better place to live, work and play. We wish him good health and much happiness for many decades to come.”

–Nancy Hafford, Executive Director, Towson Chamber of Commerce

“Working with Ed over the past 20 years has included laughter, collaboration, camaraderie, support, and yes, frustration with bureaucracies. Throughout this time, a shared belief in the value of Court Appointed Special Advocates’ service to vulnerable children has served as a steady beat to propel us forward. I applaud Ed’s commitment and dedication to CASA’s success throughout the State of Maryland.” 

–Robin Davenport, Executive Director, CASA of the Mid-Shore

As Ed’s last days serving as Maryland CASA’s State Director draws near, we asked him to reflect on his time and service with Maryland CASA Association. 

Why did you apply for the State Director position with Maryland CASA 24 years ago?I had worked for a local CASA program for five years and had partnered with other CASA directors in the state to create Maryland CASA Association, so I was invested in what we were hoping to achieve by starting a state CASA organization.What Accomplishments are you most proud of as State Director of Maryland CASA?I am most proud of the fact that we have helped to expand CASA from 8 counties when I started in this role to 23 of the 24 counties in the state, and efforts to reach the 24th county are underway. I am also proud of the work we have done in the past two years to incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging in the work that we do on behalf of children who are over-represented in the child welfare system.What are a few of the tasks and duties you’ve enjoyed and the ones not so much?I loved the diversity of duties and the ability to develop new programs and services to address changing needs. What I liked least was the constant worry about funding and the need to raise more funds to support our work. As a state organization that does not provide direct service to children, fundraising is particularly challenging.As you depart Maryland CASA, what changes or efforts do you believe could benefit this organization?I think Maryland CASA is in a good position to build upon the organization's strengths and generate revenue to support the mission. For example, the training program could be expanded to reach more child welfare professionals in need of continuing education, and our DEIAB programming could be marketed to businesses and professional organizations. What have been the most significant changes in work culture since you started in 1998?COVID-19 changed everything about our work culture. I was not a fan of remote work but the pandemic forced me out of my comfort zone. Now it has become the norm and a standard expectation of job-seekers. How has this role helped you to learn and grow as a person?I've learned so much during my time with Maryland CASA, and am constantly learning. The ways in which the child welfare and court systems address child safety and permanence have changed dramatically over the years and CASA has had to adapt to these changes. I think we are doing a much better job of recognizing the importance of family, culture, etc., and I hope we will see the fruits of this shift in approach in the coming years.What aspects of your job did you enjoy most while serving CASA?I have loved hearing the CASA success stories - for example, children reunited with their parents who have successfully beaten addiction, siblings who were separated in foster care being reunited in a loving home, or a young person who leaves foster care and successfully secures employment and housing or heads off to college. These stories remind me of why we do this work and they serve as motivation to keep at it. What advice would you want to share with incoming State Director, Camille Davis?I think this transition provides a great opportunity for Camille to assess where we have been as an organization and where we are heading. I've been in this position since we opened our doors in 1998 so it will be helpful to have a fresh set of eyes to look at Maryland CASA's current priorities and develop new strategies to address them.What are you looking forward to in your retirement? A recently-retired friend told me "Every day is a Saturday." That's what I'm looking forward to the most. ***Ed’s contributions are countless and will always be valued and remembered. Ed’s hard work, commitment, and dedication to child welfare in our state, country, and world are worthy of admiration and he will be greatly missed. On behalf of everyone at Maryland CASA and the CASA Community, we would like to wish him the best of luck in his retirement! Cheers to you, Ed!