CASA starting up in Sanders
SANDERS COUNTY - Sanders County is hoping to start a Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program and is looking for volunteers.
Have you ever wondered how the District Court System provides for the representation of children? Who speaks to the court on behalf of the children…who has the children’s best interest in mind when they walk into the courtroom?
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) are trained volunteers, appointed by the court to represent the best interests of children who have been removed from the care of their parents or caregivers due to abuse and neglect.
CASA is a national, non-profit organization providing services on a local and county level. Many judges refer to CASA advocates as “their eyes” in the case. The primary duties of a CASA advocate include: to investigate the details of the case, to interview all parties involved in the care of the child, to work as an integral member of the parents’ treatment team, to write reports to the judge (updating them on the status of the case), and to work together with CPS (Department of Human Services, Department of Family Services) to hopefully reunify the children with their families.
Treatment team members consist of CPS caseworkers, public health nurses, parenting coaches, visitation supervisors, chemical dependency counselors, attorneys for the state, the parents and the child, any law enforcement currently involved, school and/or private counselors and CASA advocates.
The treatment team works together to assist the parents by ensuring that 1) they are complying with their court-ordered treatment plan, and 2) they have the necessary support to parent safely and effectively. CASA advocates are not guided by the interests of any other party to the case. They are devoted solely to the best interests of the child. CASA volunteers spend time with all participants of this process including a significant amount with the child/children themselves. The CASA advocates have access to all the information about the case; they get to know the child, the family members, the good, the bad and everything in-between. With this cache of knowledge the CASA advocate can represent the child in court, ensuring the needs of the child get serious consideration. The child/children have a fair and audible voice within the court system.
Sanders County does not currently have a CASA program. A steering committee has been formed to drive the development of CASA of Sanders County, but we need your help. We are asking for people with enthusiasm, integrity, and a heart for the children of Sanders County. We are seeking individuals interested in serving on the Board of Directors for CASA of Sanders County. These individuals will be called up on to develop the guidelines of the program based on the national CASA guidelines, develop the mission, hire the program director, and help raise funds for the training of volunteers and program support. Funding is primarily obtained through philanthropic gifts, county and state grants and local fundraisers.
If you are interested in a position on the Board of Directors for CASA of Sanders County, please contact Polly Cavill at 546-1589, or Betty Boehler at 826-3444. These children of abuse and neglect need a strong voice, a strong advocate on their side. They need you. Please help to get this much needed program up and running in Sanders County. Thank you.