CASA Volunteers Sworn To Service
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
The voices of several children could be heard during a swearing-in ceremony Tuesday in Kosciusko Superior Court I, and it was no surprise that the newest group of Court Appointed Special Advocates were these children's mothers and grandmothers.
Kosciusko Superior Court I Judge Duane Huffer told the six women being sworn in as officers of the court in Kosciusko County, as well as seven Marshall County CASA volunteers, "You will be the eyes and the ears of the court and you will be the voice of the children."
"The future of the program rests on the shoulders of people like you," state CASA director Nancy Gettinger told the 13 women. "Courtrooms across the state appreciate the voice CASA volunteers give children. ... Without volunteers, we simply will not be able to accomplish our goals."
CASA volunteers receive 30 hours of training during a six-week course and are appointed by the judge to represent the best interests of a child who is in the court system due to abuse or neglect, or to assist in custody matters. An attorney, parent or other party can request a CASA, but only the judge can appoint one in a court matter. CASAs don't get involved until the case is actually in the court system.
Sally Mahnken, director of CASA of Kosciusko County Inc., said the advocates "talk to anybody and everybody who has anything to do with these children."
Upon completion of their investigation, the volunteer is required to submit a written report to the court detailing what was learned about the child's circumstances and making a recommendation as to what the court should do with the child. The final decision is made by the judge, but the information provided by the CASA is taken into consideration.
Mahnken said the volunteers work on only one case at a time, as compared with Division of Family and Children caseworkers, who could have 40 to 50 cases open during a given period.
Children in Need of Services cases can take one to three years or longer before a final decision is made, Mahnken said. The objective in CHINS cases is to find a safe and permanent home as quickly as possible. So far this year, Mahnken said, seven CHINS cases have resulted in the child being adopted. There have been 16 CHINS cases filed this year.
"Children don't necessarily have time to wait on the parents to get it together," Mahnken said, citing an example of a child in a CHINS matter who was in foster care for more than two years. "There's a big difference between two years for a child versus an adult." She offered a quote from a 5-year-old girl in foster care who once asked her, "Am I going to get a family to keep me forever?"
About half of the CASA program caseload are custody matters and those cases are usually resolved faster, often taking about a year.
CASA volunteers do not work with juvenile delinquent cases.
"Our focus is always on the children," Mahnken said. "Parents have attorneys, the DFC has attorneys. The child is represented by CASA."
Being involved with the CASA program is an emotional experience. "Some people can do it, some cannot," Mahnken said.
Judge David Soukup of Seattle, Wash., founded CASA in 1977. In a CASA brochure, Soukup said: "As a judge, I had to make tough decisions. I had to decide whether to take a child from the only home he's ever known, or leave him someplace where he might possibly be abused. I needed someone who could tell me what was best for that child - from the child's viewpoint. That's what CASA does."
CASA began in Kosciusko County in 1992, and "our courts really do like what we do," Mahnken said.
"Words cannot express how much I appreciate CASA volunteers," Huffer said. "Our children are our future and they are an important asset that must be protected, and that is your job."
There are 33 active volunteers for CASA at this time. The newest volunteers are Patricia Evans, Melodie Koher, Thania Harris, Donna Hahn, Martha Rose and Georgia Tenney.
Judge Michael Cook of Marshall County swore in his inaugural group of volunteers, telling them: "I am absolutely thrilled to have you step forward ... and I look forward to handing you cases in court."
Cook was instrumental in bringing the program to Marshall County and Mahnken agreed to train the first group in conjunction with the local training. Jean Birchmeier is the director of CASA of Marshall County. Their CASAs are Joyce Umbaugh, Jane Harris, Sandy Ankey, Lisa Robbins, Cindi Andrews, Peggy Hill and Deborha Young.
"We have been very successful in the last couple years in getting hard-working, dedicated people wanting to make a difference in a child's life," Mahnken said.
Volunteers must be at least 21 years old. There are no educational requirements other than having an interest in the well-being of children. Training sessions take place twice each year.
CASA of Kosciusko County is funded by a $5,000 line item from the county, United Way funds, grants and donations. It is a nonprofit agency administered by a board of directors.
For more information or to become a volunteer, call 372-2401. [[In-content Ad]]
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The voices of several children could be heard during a swearing-in ceremony Tuesday in Kosciusko Superior Court I, and it was no surprise that the newest group of Court Appointed Special Advocates were these children's mothers and grandmothers.
Kosciusko Superior Court I Judge Duane Huffer told the six women being sworn in as officers of the court in Kosciusko County, as well as seven Marshall County CASA volunteers, "You will be the eyes and the ears of the court and you will be the voice of the children."
"The future of the program rests on the shoulders of people like you," state CASA director Nancy Gettinger told the 13 women. "Courtrooms across the state appreciate the voice CASA volunteers give children. ... Without volunteers, we simply will not be able to accomplish our goals."
CASA volunteers receive 30 hours of training during a six-week course and are appointed by the judge to represent the best interests of a child who is in the court system due to abuse or neglect, or to assist in custody matters. An attorney, parent or other party can request a CASA, but only the judge can appoint one in a court matter. CASAs don't get involved until the case is actually in the court system.
Sally Mahnken, director of CASA of Kosciusko County Inc., said the advocates "talk to anybody and everybody who has anything to do with these children."
Upon completion of their investigation, the volunteer is required to submit a written report to the court detailing what was learned about the child's circumstances and making a recommendation as to what the court should do with the child. The final decision is made by the judge, but the information provided by the CASA is taken into consideration.
Mahnken said the volunteers work on only one case at a time, as compared with Division of Family and Children caseworkers, who could have 40 to 50 cases open during a given period.
Children in Need of Services cases can take one to three years or longer before a final decision is made, Mahnken said. The objective in CHINS cases is to find a safe and permanent home as quickly as possible. So far this year, Mahnken said, seven CHINS cases have resulted in the child being adopted. There have been 16 CHINS cases filed this year.
"Children don't necessarily have time to wait on the parents to get it together," Mahnken said, citing an example of a child in a CHINS matter who was in foster care for more than two years. "There's a big difference between two years for a child versus an adult." She offered a quote from a 5-year-old girl in foster care who once asked her, "Am I going to get a family to keep me forever?"
About half of the CASA program caseload are custody matters and those cases are usually resolved faster, often taking about a year.
CASA volunteers do not work with juvenile delinquent cases.
"Our focus is always on the children," Mahnken said. "Parents have attorneys, the DFC has attorneys. The child is represented by CASA."
Being involved with the CASA program is an emotional experience. "Some people can do it, some cannot," Mahnken said.
Judge David Soukup of Seattle, Wash., founded CASA in 1977. In a CASA brochure, Soukup said: "As a judge, I had to make tough decisions. I had to decide whether to take a child from the only home he's ever known, or leave him someplace where he might possibly be abused. I needed someone who could tell me what was best for that child - from the child's viewpoint. That's what CASA does."
CASA began in Kosciusko County in 1992, and "our courts really do like what we do," Mahnken said.
"Words cannot express how much I appreciate CASA volunteers," Huffer said. "Our children are our future and they are an important asset that must be protected, and that is your job."
There are 33 active volunteers for CASA at this time. The newest volunteers are Patricia Evans, Melodie Koher, Thania Harris, Donna Hahn, Martha Rose and Georgia Tenney.
Judge Michael Cook of Marshall County swore in his inaugural group of volunteers, telling them: "I am absolutely thrilled to have you step forward ... and I look forward to handing you cases in court."
Cook was instrumental in bringing the program to Marshall County and Mahnken agreed to train the first group in conjunction with the local training. Jean Birchmeier is the director of CASA of Marshall County. Their CASAs are Joyce Umbaugh, Jane Harris, Sandy Ankey, Lisa Robbins, Cindi Andrews, Peggy Hill and Deborha Young.
"We have been very successful in the last couple years in getting hard-working, dedicated people wanting to make a difference in a child's life," Mahnken said.
Volunteers must be at least 21 years old. There are no educational requirements other than having an interest in the well-being of children. Training sessions take place twice each year.
CASA of Kosciusko County is funded by a $5,000 line item from the county, United Way funds, grants and donations. It is a nonprofit agency administered by a board of directors.
For more information or to become a volunteer, call 372-2401. [[In-content Ad]]