In 1977, a judge in Seattle became concerned about making decisions regarding the future of abused and neglected children whose cases came before him.
The judge felt the best interest of too many of the kids was being lost in an overburdened judicial system, and he came up with the idea of using volunteers to assist the court. As a result, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) was born, with the goal that volunteer workers would alert the court to children’s needs, and track their progress on the road to finding a permanent home.
Headquartered in the Phelps County courthouse, CASA of South-Central Missouri (CASASCMO) has provided services there since its inception in 2005, and in Pulaski County since last year. As well as beginning a program this fall in Texas County, the organization plans to soon begin operation in Maries County.
Associate circuit judge Doug Gaston was instrumental in bringing the program to Texas County.
“Without getting appointed by a judge, we don’t become part of a child’s case,” CASASCMO volunteer coordinator Haydee Allen said.
“Nothing is more important than protecting our children,” Gaston said. “They are our greatest treasure, and I am very grateful to have Texas County CASA volunteers to help make sure we do all we can to keep them safe and cared for.”
CASA volunteers must be 21 or older, pass a screening process, and then complete a comprehensive, 30-hour training program that covers subjects including child abuse and neglect, child development, cultural diversity, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health, and the court system. They aren’t involved in legal representation in the courtroom, but provide research-based details about a child to judges that help reach decisions in the child’s best interest, such as whether they should live with parents or guardians, in a foster care environment, or be recommended for permanent placement adoption.
To gather those details, volunteers talk to children, parents, family members, social workers, school officials, health providers, and others with knowledge about the child’s history, and review all records pertaining to the child, including school, medical, and caseworker reports. While social workers might deal with 60 or more cases at once, CASA volunteers average one or two and are therefore able to devote more time to each one. More than 70,000 people from all walks of life volunteer for CASA in the United States, and 64-percent also have either full or part time jobs.
Based in Seattle, CASA has been endorsed by the American Bar Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. While local CASA offices operate as separate entities, they follow guidelines and curriculum provided by the head office.
In 2011, more than 40 volunteers advocated for 66 children in the Phelps County juvenile court system, logging more than 1,950 hours of volunteer work, driving more than 11,000 miles to visit children in various placements throughout Missouri (due to the lack of foster care facilities), and making 2,154 contacts while conducting independent investigations to help expedite the movement of kids’ cases through the court system. They also spent close to 500 hours in direct contact with children involved.
CASASCMO is funded through grants and contributions from national and state CASA organizations, and by donations from numerous businesses, individuals and charitable organizations. It has three staff members, four primary support volunteers, and an 11-member board of directors.
CASASCMO has already accepted seven cases in Texas County. Allen said volunteers are needed here.
“We’re in need of committed individuals to see through cases and support the best interest of our kids,” she said. “These kids have been through a traumatic situation and we want to be there to support them through this transition.
“Volunteers stay on top of all the details of a case from when a child first comes into the care of the court to when they exit care. We ask for an 18-month commitment, but some cases last less than a year and others last four or five years. We understand that after a year or two goes by, there might be other priorities, but we really express that the purpose is of this is to have one dedicated individual who is a constant presence in a child’s life. They have turnover of caseworkers, different therapists and foster homes, and we want to prevent that and move them toward permanency as soon as possible. The goal is to not let them fall between the cracks of an overburdened system.”
Training for Texas County’s pioneering CASA volunteers is set to begin in early November.
“Together we can make a difference in the lives of children who have been abused and neglected,” CASASCMO executive director Judy Waters said. “We are for the children.”
CASA of South-Central Missouri
Web address: www.casascmo.org
Email: CSCMO@fidmail.com
Phone: 573-458-6240
Nothing is more important than protecting our children. They are our greatest treasure, and I am very grateful to have Texas County CASA volunteers to help make sure we do all we can to keep them safe and cared for.”