Tyler Smay’s child advocacy role at Beginnings Inc. is a behind-the-scenes position, he said, which made it a humbling surprise when he received the Pennsylvania Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids award this year.

Smay, 32, is Beginnings Inc.’s program director for Court Appointed Special Advocates of the Laurel Highlands. A court-appointed special advocate, or CASA, is a volunteer appointed by a judge to advocate for an abused or neglected child’s best interests during court proceedings.

“The CASA volunteers do the real work,” Smay said. “To me, it’s just an honor to be here to support them and help them out.”

He is one of four people from across Pennsylvania to get the Blue Ribbon award from the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance this year. The honor aims to recognize people “who go above and beyond the call” to protect children from neglect and abuse.

Smay was nominated for the award by Beginnings Inc. Executive Director Jessica Phillippi and United Way of the Southern Alleghenies Early Childhood Systems Coordinator Lauren Lazzari, who is a CASA volunteer and 2021 Blue Ribbon award recipient.

Phillippi said of Smay: “His role as director … is unique. He is not only focused on keeping his team of two advocate supervisors apprised of changes, challenges, new resources, contacts, legality, custody and safety updates for the children and families appointed to their volunteers, but he is also the ‘behind-the-scenes’ contact to the courts, children and youth service providers and the community overall.”

She added that Smay has remained in his position for nearly five years and has supported the department for longer. He has worked at Beginnings Inc. for about eight years and was a supervisor before becoming the director.

“His efforts to build trusting relationships as we expand and solidify our commitment to children and families in both Cambria and Somerset counties have been invaluable,” Phillippi said.

Lazzari said Smay’s CASA revitalization efforts in Somerset County have led to the Laurel Highlands branch achieving one of the highest volunteer retention rates in the state network, at 95% for five years.

“As the CASA program grows, so does Tyler’s compassion for serving the most vulnerable children in our community,” Lazzari wrote in her recommendation letter.

“He is a guiding light and steadfast support for the volunteers of the Laurel Highlands CASA program. Since the program’s inception in 1997, which has advocated for over 2,000 children and their families, Tyler has been instrumental in ensuring its continued success.”

Lazzari wrote that although Smay does not seek recognition, without his “tireless efforts” local children would not be able “to live life free from abuse and neglect.” She added that he goes above and beyond without hesitation, taking CASA cases, organizing donation drives and training others.

Smay is a Johnstown native and Greater Johnstown High School graduate who holds a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. He is also the vice chair of the Stackhouse Park board.

Smay’s passion for lending a hand began in high school when he joined Greater Johnstown’s Key Club, which provides service projects to the community.

Participating in the club provided perspective that helped shape his life, he said.

He began working at Beginnings Inc. in 2016 as an AmeriCorps member assisting in a variety of departments, but focusing on marketing and social media. When his AmeriCorps term ended about a year later, he was recommended by staff to work in the CASA field.

Although he was hesitant, he said, he found his passion in the work.

“Our mission is basically to recruit, train and support community volunteers who advocate in the courtroom for children who have experienced abuse or neglect,” Smay said.

He said it’s challenging work, but knowing it makes a difference makes the job worth it. He joked that he doesn’t enjoy being in the spotlight, but is willing to bear it if that means the CASA program will receive more attention.

It can be difficult to get CASA volunteers, he said. Beginnings Inc. has 35 active participants, and 26 have at least one case. And there’s a need for more volunteers due to abuse and neglect reports increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Smay said he hopes that winning the award will raise awareness about child abuse. That perspective is “what makes him a true champion,” Phillippi said.

He and the other award recipients will be honored April 2 at the state Capitol in Harrisburg.

Joshua Byers can be reached at 814-532-5054. Follow him on Twitter @Journo_Josh.

From The Tribune-Democrat, March 12, 2025