Chelsea paterson

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

518.603.0348 (direct line) cpaterson@casanys.org

Chelsea is the former Program Director of CASA of Orange County, a position she held for 7 years before moving to CASA of New York State. Chelsea began her career in the entertainment industry as an Assistant Agent in Los Angeles and then a Casting Director in New York City before moving into film and theatre production. She attended undergraduate studies for Musical Theater at Point Park University, Film Studies at Columbia University, Film Production at the Graduate Film School of New York University, and Theatre Production at Playwrights Horizons. While juggling a successful career as a writer, producer and director for theater, film, television and radio, she always maintained a passion for helping children and regularly volunteered to tutor economically disadvantaged youth at The Manhattan Comprehensive Night and Day High School who were struggling to graduate.

Moving to Orange County to start a family, she switched gears in 2012 and joined CASA of Orange County, a program of the Dispute Resolution Center. As the CASA Program Director, she quadrupled the program's capacity while steadily working as an advocate with her own caseload. She lobbied with CASA of New York State (CASANYS), which resulted in legislation codifying CASA in New York. Chelsea also successfully engaged her local community in various children's book, pajama, toy, backpack and school supply drives as well as 5K Superhero fundraisers to better support children served by CASA. During Chelsea’s tenure, the DRC CASA Program expanded to include Sullivan and Ulster Counties.

Chelsea facilitated and recruited individuals to serve on the CASA Advisory Board. After training with CASANYS and the National CASA/GAL Association for Children, Chelsea became the Lead Trainer of the Pre-Service Curriculum for the Orange, Sullivan and Ulster County CASA Programs. She was also honored to implement the start-up of a new educational advocacy program, SAGE (Special Advocates for a Greater Education) in collaboration with The Children's Rights Society.

Her dedication to CASA and working to promote the best interests of our most vulnerable children has become a passion. Chelsea lives in Warwick with her husband, daughter, two dogs and chinchilla.