CASA News Articles
CASA volunteers share experiences advocating for abused and neglected children in Eastern and Southern Oregon
Today, nearly a thousand local Court Appointed Special Advocate programs exist in 49 states, including Oregon. CASA volunteers provide the court with regular updates about a child’s particular case and make recommendations about their placement, informed through monthly visits with the child and discussions with their teachers, counselors and others involved in their welfare.
But meeting the growing need for CASAs in Oregon and the rest of the nation is getting tougher. In April, the national CASA organization announced the termination of federal grants totaling millions of dollars which would have been disbursed to state and local CASA programs. That’s in addition to the loss of a $1.7 million federal community project grant earmarked for Oregon’s 19 local CASA programs.
Joining us to share their experiences are Amy Muñoz, who has been serving Jackson County as a CASA volunteer for seven years, and Rachel Robb, who was sworn in as a CASA volunteer serving Malheur County in January.
Note: The following transcript was transcribed digitally and validated for accuracy, readability and formatting by an OPB volunteer.
Dave Miller: From the Gert Boyle Studio at OPB, this is Think Out Loud. I’m Dave Miller. We turn now to the Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA program. It uses trained volunteers who appear in court to speak on behalf of abused or neglected children. In April, we talked to two CASA managers about the loss of federal funding. Today, I’m joined by two CASA volunteers. Amy Muñoz has been doing this work in Jackson County for seven years now. Rachel Robb was sworn in as a CASA volunteer in Malheur County in January. Welcome to you both.
Amy Muñoz: Thank you.
Rachel Robb: Thank you.
Miller: Amy, can you remind us the basics here, what a court-appointed special advocate does?
Muñoz: So when a child is in the foster care system and is made a ward of the court, each biological parent, if applicable, is assigned an attorney, and those attorneys will do whatever the mother or father wants. The child is appointed an attorney as well, who will do whatever the child wants. And a CASA is there to advocate specifically for the child. They are a legal party to the case. We will get the same type of discovery that the attorneys get, medical information, we can interview teachers, relatives, anybody pertinent to the case.
Then a CASA will give a report to the court giving our opinion on what we think is best for the child, which may or may not align with what DHS wants, may or may not align with what the families want, or the child wants. But it’s based on all of the information that we collect and then forming that opinion and giving the report to the court for consideration.
Miller: This is a key point here and one thing that I think has always been a little bit surprising. As you noted, the child has an attorney – it could be a 6-month-old, it could be an 8-year-old. But the idea behind CASA is that there are times when what a 5-year-old says they want and what their attorney is going to argue for, you as a CASA may determine that’s actually not in the child’s best interest, even if that’s what they want their lawyer to ask for.
Muñoz: Exactly, yeah. And whether it’s a little kid or a teenager sometimes, especially with the younger ones, most kids inherently love their parents no matter what. And even if they’ve been a victim of abuse or neglect, a lot of times their instinct is to want to be with their parents. If that’s possible, if there’s a safe way to do that, then we want to see that happen. Sometimes, unfortunately, that’s not the case. Sometimes there’s a parent who, for whatever reason, just may not be capable.
For example, there was a case I had with a medically fragile child, and the parent had kind of diminished mental capacity. As much as he wanted to have that child, it just wasn’t a safe environment for her. He was unhoused and she just needed advanced medical care. A CASA will try to do what’s best for the kiddo. A lot of times that is in alignment with what the child wants, but not every time.
Miller: Rachel, as I noted, you’ve been doing this officially since January, so for about seven months. Why did you decide to become a CASA volunteer?
Robb: I was at the point in my career where I was looking to do some volunteer work. I am a community mental health counselor and turned into a school counselor, so I’ve always worked with children. I’ve always wanted to help children in any way I can. And through that experience, that’s when I first met CASA workers, they would come and talk to me about some of the clients that I was seeing that were in the foster care system. As I was deciding on some volunteer work, CASA came to my mind.
And then to be honest with you, there’s a billboard, only one in my little town, and it was a CASA billboard that kept saying “come join us, we need advocates.” That kind of triggered me to apply and now here we are.
Miller: It was a sign that you should do it.
Robb: [Laughs] The literal sign, yeah.
Miller: So you were sworn in in January. What was that ceremony like?
Robb: It was actually really quite special. I was the only advocate that was sworn in in January. It included me, the CASA supervisors and the judge. And it was really quite special in what the judge says when you’re being sworn in and just how CASA volunteers really do help the process. They actually are really important to the process. And hearing the judge say that and speak highly of CASA volunteers made me know that, wow, I’m really doing something in volunteer work that really might be changing a child’s life.
Miller: Can you give us a sense for the level of need for this work that you see in Malheur County right now?
Robb: Yes. I cannot remember our exact numbers, but I will say that Malheur County is the largest county in Oregon. It’s not the most populated, but it is the largest, most rural county. And we definitely have more foster children in the system than we have advocates. It is getting, I think, a less far ratio. However, there is still quite a large need for CASA volunteers in this area.
Miller: Without giving identifying information, could you give us a sense for cases that you’re currently managing?
Robb: As the other CASA volunteers spoke about, there’s a variety of ways you can end up in the foster care system. Some common ways around here are abuse, physical abuse or sexual abuse, or neglect. I will say in certain circumstances you will get a family, but the family might have different parents involved. So you might have a family of four children, where there’s three that have the same mom and dad and maybe one has a different father, so the dynamics do kind of switch there. And then reunification or whatever the advocacy looks like might look different. Then it also kind of depends on, if there is physical abuse, it might not have happened to all of the children, so that level of safety might look different for each child.
Miller: Amy, what’s your case load like right now?
Muñoz: Right now, I have two cases. One is a baby girl under the age of 1, and the other is a little girl who’s 2 1/2. Cases usually run around a year, sometimes they go longer. So both of these kiddos I’ve had for … well, the baby since she was born and the other one for about just over a year. Both instances that I have right now were babies who were born drug addicted. One of them had an initial case in a different county and then was with parents. Unfortunately, her mother passed away, the father got caught up in something else.
So in both of my cases, parents were ordered for addiction services, mental health services. Both of the kids are placed with their parents. They each spent a little bit of time in foster care but are now with the parents. That’s done when the court determines that it’s safe, either the parents have completed or in the midst of doing the remedial things that they’ve been ordered to do, or there’s a safety person in the home that can be there to monitor and make sure that the children are safe.
So both families that I’m working with right now, the single dad as well as the parents of the baby, are doing great. They’ve done addiction recovery, they’ve done parenting classes. They get additional skill training like financial education, budgeting, job referrals, how to complete a resume, how to do a job interview. They’re learning things that they didn’t know before, which ironically makes them better parents than if they hadn’t been in the system. And so both of the ones that I have right now are doing really well and their cases are both probably going to close within the next few months. They’re both on track to end with really good outcomes.
Miller: Why did you want to do this work?
Muñoz: A lot of the people go into it if they’ve had personal experiences in the system in one way or another. I was really fortunate to have a stable family background. But I do have quite a few family and friends with various mental health struggles, either currently or when they were younger. And I’ve seen what it was like to have to manage that. I also think it’s a big root cause of a lot of the problems that lead to child abuse and neglect. Kids are especially vulnerable, and they need adults who can advocate for them. So I just wanted to be able to provide that type of support for families and increase the odds for better outcomes.
Miller: Did you have preconceptions about the child welfare system before you started doing this work that have been challenged or changed?
Muñoz: I think most people think that kids in the DHS system are automatically in foster care. I didn’t realize that a lot of them are still placed in the home. I didn’t know what a CASA was, I had just heard about it and learned about it, so I didn’t know that existed.
I believe that if people want to change and they are motivated within themselves, that they can. So I was really pleased to see that there are a lot of support systems available. I’m in Jackson County, so I don’t know if it’s exactly the same in more rural counties, but here we have a lot of resources available to help people. Those that want the help, there are other services available to them. Because when it’s safe and appropriate, the goal is reunification. When it’s not, then we turn to adoption or guardianship, other types of placements. But there is a lot of support for parents whose kids are in the system where those parents want to be able to do better, learn the things they need to do, be sober, safe and all of those things.
So yeah, it was pleasantly surprising to me that the goal is to get those kids with their parents.
Miller: What do you think it takes to be a good CASA?
Muñoz: Definitely good communication skills and open mindedness. Your own background or how you parented your children may not be the same way other people do it, but that’s not really what we’re here for. Good writing skills, because we are reporting to the court and the judge is reading that, so we have to be able to write well, explain what’s going on in a case and give a history in a very specific format. Having a level of compassion for the situation.
It isn’t always a happy ending. Even when there’s a happy ending, there can be people who are sad. If you have a case where there’s multiple people who want this kiddo in their home, whether it’s family or foster family, they’re ultimately going to land in one place. So understanding that even in the case of reunification, if you have a foster family that was really hoping to adopt this kid, it may be very sad for them. Even though it’s a win for the child, there’s just a lot of different facets to it. So you have to be able to have that compassion and empathy for all of the parties involved.
Miller: Rachel, how do you deal with the emotional toll of all of this?
Robb: Like what Amy was saying, it’s really helpful to be in a good place yourself mentally, having good coping skills, being able to set good boundaries with people and with your role as a volunteer, not letting that seep into other areas of your life. So compartmentalizing is also a good skill to have. But this is kind of also part of my career, right? Definitely advocating for kids can be very difficult and hard because it doesn’t always end how you might want it to or in the best way possible, that we think would be the best way. So you have to be able to know how to cope with that and deal with that, and how are you going to not let that discourage you but continue to find that drive to continue to advocate for other children.
Miller: Amy, I mentioned that we had two CASA directors on back in April to talk about the loss of federal funding. Have you seen the impacts of federal cuts in your own work as a CASA volunteer?
Muñoz: Yeah, definitely. I mean, I think it’s more to come, unfortunately. There’s been so many budget cuts to a variety of social services, both here in Oregon and just federally – huge, huge budget cuts. All of these organizations, including CASA, are gonna have to rely even more on volunteers to fill the gaps across the board.
Oregon in particular already has a shortage of social workers and family court attorneys, so with reducing funds for CASA, who’s watching out for these kids? We see in our program, typically, the kids and families that have these extreme needs. And honestly, instead of cutting services, we really should be funding more programs to prevent ongoing cycles of abuse and trauma. It’s going to be, unfortunately, I think even worse down the road as we’re seeing more and more budget cuts.
Miller: Amy and Rachel, thanks very much.
Muñoz: Thanks for having us.
Robb: Yeah, thanks for having us.
Miller: Amy Muñoz has been a Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, in Jackson County for seven years. Rachel Robb has been doing this work in Malheur County since January.
Guest Column: CASAs change young lives, but that requires funding
Volunteer kept helping even after her home burned
Katy Fox kept volunteering to help abused and neglected kids even after her Talent neighborhood was leveled by fire.
“All the houses burned to the ground. The only thing standing is the pool and the mailboxes,” she said.
Fox lost her home and personal belongings to the Almeda fire in September 2020. But she still volunteers for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Jackson County.
In honor of her service, Jackson County commissioners named Fox the recipient of the county’s community service award for April.
“I was deeply honored that CASA nominated me and the commissioners selected me. I was surprised and stunned. I was blown over. I never expected it,” she said. “There are a lot of people doing wonderful things in the valley.”
CASAs go through training, then get to know kids who’ve suffered abuse and neglect, plus the people in those kids’ lives. They advocate for the best interests of children and make recommendations to judges about their futures. The youngsters can range in age from babies to 21.
Fox has been a CASA volunteer since 2015. She usually handles the cases of four to six kids at a time. Her one concession to the impacts of the fire was to taper down to one child while she works to put her own life back together.
She’s currently living in Ashland.
“In my mind, children are among the most vulnerable and are particularly dependent on adults to nurture and care for them. Seeing a child that is neglected or abused hurts my heart,” Fox said.
CASA volunteers are supported by a staff of CASA workers. Staff members said Fox is always one of the first to step forward on a difficult case, and she serves as a mentor for new CASA volunteers.
Fox said people who want to become CASAs don’t have to have backgrounds in child-oriented careers like teaching. Before she retired, Fox worked in the business world on tasks like team development, leadership development and conflict resolution.
“You just have to have a passion for children and really care about children,” she said. “It’s not always easy work. You have to care about and advocate actively for the child or children you’re a CASA to. It’s a wonderfully rewarding job when you see children reunite with their family or get guardianship with an aunt or a grandparent or someone else until the parents can safely parent their children.”
CASAs not only research the needs of kids, they find out what help and services would help the whole family. Children with a CASA spend an average of 10 months less time in foster care, according to CASA of Jackson County.
According to estimates, more than 800 children in Jackson County are abused and/or neglected each year.
“I need to make a difference, and this is how I’ve decided to do it,” Fox said.
For more information, call 541-734-2271 or visit jacksoncountycasa.org.
Reach Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or valdous@rosebudmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous.
Average people help abused and neglected kids
“I’ve always been passionate about working with kids, but my job was not related to kids at all,” said Ting, who worked in human resources.
“It’s actually been more rewarding than I expected,” Ting said. “I went in wanting a volunteer experience and my career changed.”
Ting is part of a cadre of 224 CASAs who helped 724 local children last year.
CASA of Jackson County is gaining ground on the number of volunteers it has and the kids it helps. But 235 children are currently waiting for a CASA, according to Wenonoa Spivak, deputy director of the nonprofit organization.
The youngsters range in age from babies up to 21-year-olds. Most are younger than 12.
But anyone can drop in for short information sessions that take place from noon to 1 p.m. every Thursday at CASA of Jackson County, 409 N. Front St., Medford.
Ting, Eric Stahlman of Ashland and Lilia Caballero of Medford are just a few CASAs who are spreading the word about the need for more volunteers.
“I tell all my friends about it,” said Stahlman, a school administrator and father. “Being a CASA makes me much more hopeful. There’s a chance we could make the world a better place. This is a way to actually do it — versus just hoping. It has an impact and you see it.”
Until he became a CASA, Stahlman said he didn’t realize his heart needed to grow. He now has more compassion and understanding for kids and parents struggling in the community.
Caballero works full-time as a cultural outreach liaison for the Medford Police Department and also serves on the Medford School Board. Born in Mexico, she speaks both Spanish and English.
“The idea of becoming a CASA was always in the back of my mind because of the need,” she said.
But it wasn’t until a CASA volunteer started attending the monthly meetings of the local Latinx Interagency Network Committee that Caballero decided to take the plunge. She learned CASA of Jackson County is trying to recruit a broad cross-section of volunteers to better reflect the community.
Caballero makes regular pitches at the Latino group’s meetings for more people to become CASAs. At least two so far have followed her lead.
“At meetings I say, ‘I know I sound like a broken record. But think of how lucky we are to live in this beautiful community. It’s time for us to give back. We all can volunteer,’” she said.
CASA of Jackson County allows married couples and pairs of friends to be co-CASAs for a child.
Learning to listen
Caballero, Ting and Stahlman said the most challenging hurdle to becoming a CASA is the initial 30 hours of training all new volunteers receive. But putting in the time prepares CASAs for the task ahead.
For this winter’s training period, eight sessions are spread out from Feb. 4-21, with most sessions lasting three hours.
“Immersion works well for lots of people, and that’s what it is — especially if you’re not familiar with social work, which I’m not. This is new to me,” said Stahlman, who started as a CASA in September 2019.
Ting said volunteers don’t have to remember every single thing they learn in training. In fact, asking questions and knowing when to get help make people better CASAs. Staff members and other volunteers are there to offer guidance.
After training, the time commitment drops off. It can vary from a few hours per month for a child in a stable living situation to 10 hours or more.
Being a good listener is an important attribute for CASAs.
“You’re interviewing kids in a very gentle way,” Stahlman said. “You’re talking and playing and drawing. You’re hanging out with them to find out how they’re doing, then advocating for them.”
Volunteers talk with the biological family, foster parents, teachers, doctors, social workers and others who can shed light on a child’s needs and situation.
Ting said CASAs learn to put their own biases and preconceived notions aside, especially when dealing with parents who’ve abused and neglected their kids. CASAs are trained to look for parents’ strengths, not just notice their faults. Many struggle with addiction, mental illness and criminal records.
Ting said she’s seen many parents suffering from addiction who still are loving toward their kids.
“In spite of challenges, they still manage to navigate the system. They go to addiction treatment and take parenting classes,” Ting said. “To have your child taken away and a horde of strangers asking different things of you is not easy. A lot of these parents do it because they love their kids.”
Most kids served by CASA are eventually reunited with their parents, while others are adopted or find legal guardians.
Children with a CASA spend an average of 10 fewer months in foster care compared to kids without an advocate. They are more likely to be placed in a safe, nurturing and permanent home, according to CASA of Jackson County.
Overcoming fears
Some people who consider volunteering hesitate because they fear something could go terribly wrong for a child. What if they miss something, or make a placement recommendation and a child is harmed?
Ting said CASAs are trained to thoroughly research a child’s situation — but also to realize no one can know or predict everything.
“That’s something we talk a lot about in training. It’s about using the information we have to make the best recommendation we can. Our information will never be perfect,” she said.
Stahlman said the system of checks and balances that includes child welfare workers, attorneys and judges means all the weight of a case is not on a CASA’s shoulders.
Another intimidating thought for incoming CASAs is the idea of presenting their findings about a child’s situation to a judge in a courtroom.
“I never thought I could speak in a court setting. It’s daunting for sure,” Ting said. “It can be intimidating if you don’t have experience with a legal setting or public speaking. But when it comes to the CASA’s role, there’s so much behind-the-scenes work. By the time you’re at a hearing, you’ve done your homework.”
She said judges are always respectful and encouraging toward CASAs.
“When a judge asks you to speak, you know a lot about the case. That prepares you to speak about something you’re familiar with. Judges really, really do care about what CASAs have to say,” Ting said.
Stahlman said he has been impressed by the professionalism and teamwork of those in the system, from lawyers and judges to child welfare workers to the CASA organization.
As for how the kids themselves react to getting a CASA, Ting said that varies. Some instantly open up to their CASAs, while others — especially teens from troubled homes who’ve been through multiple foster placements — are justifiably wary of adults. Sometimes a CASA becomes the most consistent adult in a child’s life.
“I’ve definitely had a range of reactions, but I’ve never had a kid who didn’t eventually warm up,” Ting said.
Stahlman said being a CASA has made his life richer and more rewarding.
“Before I became a CASA, I was given advice that if you need a change in direction in your life, finding something to volunteer for can shift it,” he said. “I needed a little something different to change in my world and make it better.”
Learning how to help the most vulnerable kids in society has been intriguing, exciting and fulfilling. The biggest surprise has been the level of caring CASA volunteers and staff members bring to the task, Stahlman said.
“I’m involving myself in a caring community that I didn’t even know was there. I’m involved with people who are making the world a better place. It’s been a great experience,” he said.
For more information about becoming a CASA, call 541-734-2272 or visit jacksoncountycasa.org.
Reach Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or valdous@rosebudmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous.
Medford police give Santa a helping hand
Police and Lithia Motors workers carried armloads of donated presents Monday out of the company’s headquarters in downtown Medford.
They stuffed a line of patrol SUVs and a police car with new toys, clothing and gifts cards. The convoy of vehicles delivered the presents to Court Appointed Special Advocates of Jackson County, a nonprofit group that uses a cadre of volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected kids in court.
CASA will give the gifts to kids living in foster care or with relatives, and to those newly reunited with one or both parents.
Lithia Motors workers have been buying presents for the CASA Giving Tree campaign for seven years, said Meghann Erickson, Lithia Community Relations Coordinator.
This year, almost 100 locations in the Rogue Valley have trees with tags listing presents that would make a child’s life brighter this Christmas season.
Erickson said Lithia employees are so eager to take part many start asking about the tags in October.
The Lithia headquarters building is one of the top locations when it comes to how many gifts workers stockpile for kids, said CASA Executive Director Jennifer Mylenek.
“Lithia employees are very generous,” she said.
With so much need across the Rogue Valley, Mylenek said the Giving Tree Program got off to a slow start this year.
Additionally, there are only 26 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year — six days fewer than in 2018.
Even with the shorter shopping season, Lithia workers crammed a Mini Cooper to overflowing with presents. The car is stationed in the building lobby near a towering Christmas tree.
“It is always incredible. I think every year we come down kind of surprised by how many gifts there are,” Mylenek said.
Medford police not only ferried presents for the Giving Tree Program, they’re among the many community members who pitched in to buy gifts.
“The kids are our future. And some of the situations that they have no control over actually deeply affect them for a long period of time in their lives. And sometimes they never get over it,” Cromwell said. “And CASA and Lithia coming together with us, it’s a great way for us to make sure that we’re caring for people who can’t take care of themselves — and bringing maybe a little bit of holiday spirit for them.”
He encouraged everyone to look around the community and consider making a donation to a worthy cause.
“Whether it’s a package for a kid or money for a charity, just remember, there’s a lot of people in our community that are less fortunate than us. Medford PD, as much as anybody, recognizes and sees that on a daily basis. So I would encourage anybody that has an extra little something to give during the holiday season to please do so,” he said.
Local residents can also give the gift of time.
CASA of Jackson County volunteers expect to help about 768 abused and neglected kids navigate the court system this year. But about 200 children are on the group’s waiting list, Mylenek said.
“We need more volunteers. That’s what makes our work happen is these amazing people in the community,” she said.
CASA volunteers gather information about children’s cases and advocate for their best interests in court. They help kids move as quickly and effectively through the system as possible and into a safe, permanent home.
For more information about becoming a CASA volunteer or Giving Tree locations, call 541-734-2272 or visit jacksoncountycasa.org.
Giving Trees can be found in Medford, Phoenix, Talent, Ashland, Central Point, White City, Shady Cove, Jacksonville, Eagle Point, White City and Grants Pass.
Reach Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or valdous@rosebudmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous.
Needed: A heart for kids
“The need just continues to grow. We know that kids who have CASAs are more likely to get needed services happening quickly and more often. Kids with CASAs have an advocate, someone in their corner.”
Orientation sessions for potential new CASAs are held from noon to 1 p.m. every Thursday, and the next CASA training session for recruits is scheduled for January. Spivak said she has 20 registrations confirmed for her January training and hopes to add another 10 people. The training sessions, which last about three weeks, provide 30 hours of necessary learning to prepare CASAs to advocate for kids in need.
Spivak said the 28-year-old agency is in awe of the dedication of CASAs who serve so many children.
Being there for children in need was what prompted Ashland resident Susan Miller to become a CASA two years ago. Miller said her work as a CASA has given her a glimpse into the struggles children face when they’re in “the system.”
Miller, who serves as a CASA for six children from four different families, said the most rewarding part of being a CASA is connecting with the children and knowing they have an adult who will offer consistency.
Spivak and Miller said CASAs can come from all walks of life. Duties can involve visiting a child to determine any ongoing issues, advocating for care, interviewing people involved in the child’s life or just spending time talking to the child. Miller said her CASA duties can include advocating for medical care or classes in school or simply taking walks or working on puzzles.
“Someone can work full-time and still make a tremendous difference in a child’s life,” Miller said. “One child, I visit on weekends. Some I have visited while they’re in school. Flexibility is amazing with this kind of position. Sometimes what’s needed is just to call or text teachers or family or anybody else in their lives to keep up with what’s going on in their lives.”
Harry Howard, the agency’s longest-serving CASA, said he had plenty of reservations when he signed on as the new agency formed some 28 years ago. Nowadays, he can’t imagine not serving as a CASA.
In his 70s and an avid horse and motorcycle rider, Howard said there is no “typical” description of who best should serve as a CASA.
“When I joined, I was thinking about doing some kind of volunteer work. I had some court experience with my company. I liked children… but they were asking for a two-year commitment. I thought, ‘Do I really want to sign up for two years?’ ”
Now, Howard said, he more frequently asks himself, “How does someone stop?”
“You have to be a person who is very nonjudgmental and who can be flexible,” Spivak said. “Other than that, there is not one typical CASA ‘type.’ I have CASAs from 21 to 91. Some have college, some have no college. Some have a Ph.D. There are mechanics, homemakers, firemen… CASAs come from all walks of life.
“The bottom line is that a CASA is anybody who has a heart for kids and wants to make a positive difference. CASAs can literally change a child’s life path.”
For information about becoming a CASA, see www.jacksoncountycasa.org or call 541-734-2272.
— Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. Email her at buffyp76@yahoo.com.
Harry was always there
Hummel said Howard always remembers all the people involved in a child’s case and how they are interconnected. He will do everything from call a pediatrician to visit a birth parent in jail. “The level of caring and attention he gives to all the details and people is just mind-blowing,” she said. “He’s done this almost for my whole lifetime. I don’t know anybody else with that kind of dedication and commitment.”
Hummel said Howard and the other people who work and volunteer for CASA know how hard it is to be a foster kid. She remembers how every time she would move to a new home, her clothes and belongings would be thrown in a large plastic garbage bag. “When everything you own is being tossed in a trash bag, it sends the message that you and your stuff are trash. My clothing would smell like trash bags,” Hummel said. “CASA held a fundraiser to get luggage, duffel bags and backpacks for kids. It seems small, but it’s not.”
CASA Executive Director Jennifer Mylenek said Howard is always calm and balanced as he looks out for the best interests of children as well as their families. She called him an anchor of the CASA program in Jackson County, which was founded in 1990. “I don’t know of another CASA program in the state of Oregon that’s had a volunteer as long as we’ve been blessed with Harry,” she said. “He’s been here 27 years — for as long as the program’s actually been in place in Jackson County.”
Mylenek said CASA of Jackson County is a nonprofit organization with about 175-180 volunteers. “We need at least 100 more volunteers,” she said. “There are a lot of kids waiting for somebody like Harry or any one of our other volunteers. There are about 500 children on our waiting list.”
Volunteers, who have varied educational backgrounds and life experiences, research the background of each assigned case and make recommendations in court about the child’s best interests. They also make sure kids get needed services, such as health care, therapy or special education.