Trudy Strewler Hodges Honored for 21 Years of Service to Children

On May 14, 2010, the Psychological Society of the Pikes Peak Region presented Trudy Strewler Hodges with the Cornelia Sabine Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the well-being of children in El Paso and Teller counties.

Each year, the Cornelia Sabine Award is given to a psychologist or lay person in the Pikes Peak region who, following in the tradition of local psychologist and philanthropist Cornelia Sabine, has contributed greatly to the science of psychology or to the mental health of our community.

Hodges is the director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of the Pikes Peak Region, a volunteer-based nonprofit that advocates for victims of child abuse, neglect, and severe domestic conflict. She was brought on as the first employee in 1989 and has worked tirelessly to build the agency into one of the leading CASA programs in the nation. Now in the organization's 21 year of effective and compassionate advocacy, more than 6,000 children’s lives have been changed for the better.

“The Cornelia Sabine award is extraordinarily meaningful to me because it comes from the Psychological Society and because transforming children's lives and futures has driven my heart commitment for 21 years," said Hodges. "This award most certainly is about more than one individual – it is about the collective efforts of the CASA volunteers, staff and board who are incredible advocates, assuring the child well-being, breaking the cycle of abuse for future generations, allowing children to reach their full potential."

In addition to her work with CASA of the Pikes Peak Region, Hodges is active with many boards and committees serving children and families including: the local Military Colorado Defense Mission Coalition, Joint Initiatives for Youth and Families, Stop Family Violence Coalition (founder), and the 4th Judicial District’s Courts Best Practices Steering Committee.  Previously, she served as a member of State CASA Board of Directors, the National CASA Board of Directors, the Commission for Families and Children for State Courts, the Court Improvement Project for Colorado, and the Juvenile Justice Task Force for Colorado.