Governor Selects Jacqueline Aaron as Commissioner Representing Statewide Court-Appointed Special Advocate Associations
By Robert Agnew, OCCY Public Information Officer
Oklahoma City, OK (October 19, 2020) – Effective immediately, Governor Kevin Stitt has selected Jacqueline Aaron from Weatherford, Oklahoma to serve as the Commissioner who represents a statewide court-appointed special advocate association at the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth (OCCY).
“Commissioner Aaron will offer an exciting new perspective to the commission,” said Annette Wisk Jacobi, executive director of OCCY. “She is a professional who has valuable experience that will undoubtedly mesh well with the goals and mission of the commission.”
Aaron has nearly 17 years of experience with CASA (which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate) – an organization comprised of volunteers who represent the interests of abused and neglected children while they are wards of the juvenile court. She began her journey with CASA serving as the organization’s Child Protection Team Coordinator for Custer/Washita counties and held the position for more than 13 years.
In 2017, Aaron was selected to serve as the executive director of CASA of Western Oklahoma. In this position, she oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization as well as the recruiting and training of community volunteers. As executive director, she has taken the program from being underneath an umbrella agency to being classified as a standalone non-profit. This has allowed historic growth within the organization that serves Custer, Washita, Beckham, Roger Mills, and Dewey counties.
“I have always had a passion for serving my community and helping kids in need,” said Aaron. “Being appointed by the governor to serve as a commissioner for OCCY is not only an honor, but it allows me to continue to help kids have healthier and happier lives.”
In 1994 Commissioner Aaron obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. In 2000, she became a founding member of the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma.