Rex McFarren

Rex McFarren, founding director of Allen County CASA, passed away on November 14, 2025.

While serving in the United States Army, Rex became passionate about helping people. He returned from service with a new purpose – helping children as a social worker.  He eventually earned a master’s degree in social work and administration from IPFW.

In 1985, Rex accepted a position newly created by Allen Superior Court, Family Relations Division - Director of Allen County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). Over the next 29 years, Rex built an extraordinary program and guided the program into a model of what CASA could be in Indiana, recruiting and training hundreds of volunteers for the express purpose of protecting and advocating for the most vulnerable members of our community, abused and neglected children.

The Rex McFarren Memorial Scholarship Fund

Throughout his career, Rex worked to ensure volunteers had all the necessary training and support to be successful advocates.  Your donation to the Rex McFarren Memorial Scholarship Fund provides scholarships for CASA volunteers to attend the Indiana State GAL/CASA Conference, the Great KIDS Annual Conference on Youth, and other conferences and workshops to learn about current issues impacting the children and families we serve and the best practices for child advocacy.