Advocating for kids

CASA volunteers help children navigate court system

AT A GLANCE

CASA of Northwest Arkansas

Mission: To speak for the best interests of abused

and neglected children in court. The nonprofit or

ganization promotes and supports quality volunteer

representation with the goal of providing each child

a safe, permanent and nurturing home.

Information: nwacasa.org or 725-2213 CASA 101

What: An informative group meeting with CASA

staff, can stand alone or as prerequisite for volun

teer training.

When: 2012 classes are slated for 6 p.m. Dec. 11

and 8 a.m. Dec. 12. Beginning in January, CASA

101 will be offered on the third Thursday of each

month, with two times to choose from, 10 a.m. and

6 p.m.

Where: CASA office at 5322 Bleaux Ave., Suite A,

in Springdale

Information: nwacasa.org or 725-2213 Source: Staff ReportJim and Jerre Carter met the four siblings at the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter, where they were staying after being taken from their home.

The 12-year-old was the leader, Jerre quickly saw. She fixed the visiting couple with a long, hard stare. Whom did they work for, she wanted to know. Jerre explained again they were Court Appointed Special Advocates, assigned to accompany children in foster care through the court system.

Yes, she knew that, the girl said impatiently. What she wanted to know was, who paid their salary? When Jerre told her they didn’t receive a salary, that their work was strictly voluntary, the girl was incredulous.

Yet the answer shifted something. She looked around at her siblings with an unspoken signal, and they all began to talk.

“From then on, they’ve been like grandkids,” Jerre said.

The Springdale couple became CASA volunteers two years ago, spurred by a love for children and a desire to lessen the plight of those removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. Advocates walk through every step of the court process with the children, getting to knowthem in a way lawyers and case workers don’t have time to do.

“We interact, interview parents, doctors, teachers and staff to find out about the kids and what they are going through,” Jim explained. Their aim is to form a completepicture of children’s lives and recommend action to the judge.

The Carters worked with the four siblings for 18 months. Last April, the children were placed in permanent custody with a family friend who plans to adopt them. The Carters are officially off the case, but they continue to stay involved. They recently delivered brownies for a birthday treat, Jerre said.

The children who had been so scared when they first met have been transformed, Jim said.

“You could see they felt safe, they were happy, without a care in the world. To see the difference - it’s enough to bring tears to your eyes. It made it all worthwhile.”

VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE PERSONAL TOUCH

The CASA movement began in 1977, when a Seattle judge began using community volunteers to speak for the best interests of children in court. The concept was so successful it quickly spread across the country, according to casaforchildren.

org.

In 1990, the Victims of Child Abuse Act was passed, creating funding for the volunteer program. CASA of Northwest Arkansas also receives funds through corporategrants and events such as the Light of Hope breakfasts, slated for Nov. 28 and 29.

There are more than 70,000 CASA volunteers in 1,000 programs across the U.S. CASA of Northwest Arkansas served more than 400 children in 214 cases in Benton, Washington, Madison and Carroll counties last year, said Arbor Buchanan, an advocate supervisor for the program. Yet they were asked to serve on more than 700 cases.

“People don’t even realize how much abuse is out there - how many children are abused and the severity of it,” Buchanan said. “They don’t read it in the paper unless a child dies.”

Children also are removed from their homes because of neglect or because of parents’ arrest on drug charges, she said.

“(All) those children need advocates to visit the parents and keep them on track, visit the children and find out what their needs are,” Buchanan said. Case workers with the Arkansas Department of Human Services are responsible for 40 cases at a time, she noted.

“They can’t always keep track of all of the needs of all of the children.”

Jim’s intervention helped reinstate the ARKids insurance that had been inadvertently dropped for one of the children, for example.

Repeated phone calls hadn’t gotten results, so he went and stood on the case worker’s doorstep, he said.

“We’re after the same thing. We want what’s best for the kids,” he said.

The court’s goal for achild at the start of a case is always reunification with a parent, Buchanan said.

Myriad factors help determine if that’s possible. The case is closed when a child has been returned to his parents or placed with adoptive parents or extended family members.

‘WHAT’S BEST FOR THESE KIDS ?’

Volunteer advocates work with one question in mind: “What’s best for these kids?” Jerre Carter said.

They face some hard decisions, such as when they recommended keeping the four siblings together rather than placing two with a biological father the kids barely remembered.

“It’s ultimately what’s best for that child, as you see it - and you try to see it from every angle,” Jim said.

The Carters estimate they spend 15 to 20 hours a month on their cases. That includes weekly visits with children and foster parents and monthly check-ins withteachers, doctors, therapists and other adults. Advocates write a report for the judge before each court appearance, typically every three months.

“We’re representing the kids, offering assistance, resources to them,” Jim said. “We want to know that any problem they have is being addressed.”

The typical time commitment for volunteers is 10 to 12 hours a month, Buchanan said. Advocates are asked to meet with children once a month and foster parents twice a month and visit the parents before each hearing, she said.

Diane Warren, an attorney ad litem for the Washington County court, has worked on cases with CASA volunteers since 2000. They can make a significant difference, she said.

“The volunteers have time to focus on just one case at a time. They’re able to develop closer relationships and more detailed information than some ofthe other parties,” she said.

“It’s a great way to increase the depth of information the court has to make decisions upon.”

CASA volunteers comprise a wide range of backgrounds. There are teachers, nurses, business people, students, stay-at-home moms and retirees, Buchanan said. The largest age group is the 31- to 40-yearold bracket.

A detailed application process and a 30-hour training prepare volunteers for the work, Buchanan said. The training is offered at different times of day to meet a variety of needs. A flex learningprogram will start in February. This will incorporate 15 hours of online learning with 15 hours of class time.

An hourlong CASA 101 class provides an overview with no commitment needed.

People often ask the Carters if the work is depressing, Jerre said. On the contrary, it allows her to be part of the solution, she answers.

“It thrills us to find a healthy solution for these kids. ... (And) it gives us something really important to think about. Those little everyday problems you have? These kids have real problems.”GO & DO Light Of Hope WASHINGTON COUNTY BREAKFAST Date: 7:30 a.m. Nov. 28; registration and networking begin at 7 a.m.

Venue: Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale Keynote speaker: Donnie Smith, CEO of Tyson Foods Purpose: To raise money and awareness of the work CASA of

Northwest Arkansas does No cost. Reservations required. Contact Julie Lolley at julie@nwacasa.

org or 725-2213.

Benton County Breakfast Date: 7:30 a.m. Nov. 29; registration and networking begin at 7 a.m.

Venue: John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers Keynote speaker: Mike Duke, CEO of Walmart Stores Purpose: To raise money and awareness of the work CASA of

Northwest Arkansas does.

No cost. Reservations required. Contact Julie Lolley at julie@nwacasa.

org or 725-2213.

Source: Staff Report

Style, Pages 27 on 11/15/2012

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