How does CASA help abused and neglected children?

Most young people have at least one adult they can rely on, someone who’s always there to listen to them, to watch them, to help them successfully navigate the world. For most kids, parents do that. For others, it’s a grandparent, a special aunt, a favorite uncle. A reliable adult who looks out for their best interest–that’s something every child deserves. For many kids living in foster care, this is the very thing that’s missing. Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are adults from every walk of life who step up to fill this role. Appointed by a judge to be the independent eyes and ears of the court, a CASA volunteer watches over and advocates for a child until the child is placed in a safe, permanent home.

 

CASA of Jackson County supports volunteers who help abused and neglected foster children in court and the community. A CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocate, is a trained and supervised volunteer, appointed by a judge to advocate for a foster child – a child who is under the court’s protection because of abuse or neglect. A CASA volunteer provides an independent investigation of the child’s circumstances for the judge. The CASA gathers information, writes reports, and makes recommendations to the judge in the child’s best interests. CASA volunteers advocate for what they believe to be in the child’s best interests and are responsible for:

• Investigating and reporting the circumstances of the child to the court
• Facilitating the delivery of services ordered by the court for the child
• Monitoring compliance with other orders of the court
• Advocating in court and the community for the best interests of the child

CASA volunteers maintain regular visits with the children they serve, getting to know the child as an individual, not just a case. CASA volunteers make a difference in the lives of foster children, one child at a time, by ensuring they receive the support and help they deserve. Studies have shown that children with CASAs receive more assistance and support than children without. When a foster child has a CASA, that child has a consistent adult guaranteeing that the child’s needs are heard and addressed in court. The CASA volunteer is often the most stable presence in a foster child’s life and for many foster children, the CASA volunteer is the only person who is not paid to care for them. CASA volunteers bring the voice of the community into a child welfare system that is often overly bureaucratic and legalistic.

CASA of Jackson County Board of Directors

J. Adam Peterson, President & Secretary Deputy District Attorney, Jackson County District Attorney's Office	Marsha Billeci, Treasurer PremierWest Bank, Vice President	Christina Lassman, Past President Lassman's Fine Eyewear, Owner
Pam Bergreen DHS-Child Welfare Manager, Jackson County	Tom Basgen Medford Builder’s Exchange	Robert Gervais Re/Max Ideal Brokers, Principal Broker
Dann Hauser AIRA, Marketing Director	Linda Matthews Retired	Jennifer Mylenek, CASA Executive Director Corporate Officer, non-voting member
Ben Smith Fire Mountain Gems, CFO	Gail Jones Retired	Suzanne Zapf E-Business Marketer
Michael Hansen Independent Financial Consultant	Shirley Johnson Retired

 

 

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© 2011 CASA of Jackson County, a non-profit entity for abused and neglected children. All rights reserved.
CASA of Jackson County makes all financial records and 501 C3 registrations available to the public.
For more information email casa@jacksoncountycasa.org.