4 Members Of The Same Family Have Volunteered With CASA
July 28, 2023 at 5:59 p.m.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Kosciusko County recruits, trains and supports volunteers to serve at-risk children in the family court system.
Four members of one local family have served as CASAs or on the board of directors for a number of years.
Marna Riedel was a school teacher for 35 years, according to her daughter, Paula Spolski. While she didn’t know what year her mother became a CASA, Spolski said Marna was a CASA until she died in 2011. Marna’s husband, Richard “Dick” Riedel, served on the CASA Board of Directors until he passed away in 2014.
Richard Goshert, Marna’s brother, has been a CASA for the past eight years, with Spolski in her fifth year of volunteering for the nonprofit organization.
Spolski said her parents were an influence for her becoming a CASA, though she didn’t become a volunteer until they both had passed.
“But I just think, our entire family is for helping the needs of the kids and doing what’s right for them. Giving back to the community,” she said.
Her parents, for years, had told Spolski that she would be good at being a CASA and it was something that she should experience.
“Once my kids were out of the house and through college, then I was ready to give back to the community,” Spolski stated.
Goshert said Marna had talked to him about CASA for quite a bit. “She would never reveal any details, which is exactly what we’re supposed to do, however, she would go into generalities enough that I knew what it was all about, and it just seemed to me like something that fit and something that I ought to be doing,” he said.
The need for CASA and CASA volunteers just keeps getting bigger, Goshert said.
CASA of Kosciusko County Executive Director Erin Rowland Jones said, “We are in need of more CASA volunteers. We are serving 20 more abused and neglected children than we were at this time last year. We aren't able to serve a majority the family law cases the judges would like our help on as we do not have the number of volunteers. We are assigned to every child in foster care and those abused and neglected children cases are our top priority. You can work cases as a team. We currently have a husband and wife team and have had a father/daughter team in the past.”
Aimee Kintzel, advocacy specialist who supports and supervises CASA volunteers, told Spolski that, “Without your involvement, I don’t know that it would have gone the way it did, and those kids were all adopted. Those three children all wound up being adopted, and there were a lot of twists and turns that I think Paula kept the case moving in the right direction by being involved.”
Kintzel said when she sees something come to fruition, that’s what inspires her to continue with CASA.
“You know, it gets difficult sometimes because there’s so many wants and actual needs coming from so many different directions, but you have to keep focused on the needs of the children,” Goshert said.
Marna Riedel (R) and her husband, Richard “Dick” Riedel (L), were CASA volunteers and Dick also served on the board of directors. Their daughter, Paula Spolski, and Marna’s brother, Richard Goshert, are current CASA volunteers. Photo Provided.
In her five years as a CASA, Spolski said she’s had two cases benefitting six children.
The average length of cases is about 18 months, which is how long CASAs are asked to commit to, Kintzel said. While one of Spolski’s cases is now closed, it went on for about three years with her current second case going on three years.
“In my first case, the children were adopted and ... it was during COVID, so it was online, but the DCS (Department of Child Services) caseworker and myself were able to connect in virtually and be involved in the actual adoption. So I was invited to participate in that joyous day for them,” Spolski said. “And then just seeing the children happy, where they are, and thriving in their current placements. You can tell from the beginning to later on in the case the change in the child if they’re in a better place.”
Goshert’s “specialty” are custody cases - family law cases where there’s a parenting dispute - which tend to be a little shorter.
A CHINS (Child In Need of Services) case involves abuse or neglect and the Department of Child Services. Those are the type of cases Kintzel has handled.
Spolski said that by volunteering with CASA, she’s honoring her parents.
“Absolutely. It’s justifying good,” she said.
Goshert said volunteering with CASA “absolutely” was a way for him to honor his sister and brother-in-law, too.
To encourage other people to become a CASA, Spolski said, “I think it would be important to stress that, even if you have a full-time job, or a job, that the CASA office is always there to help. I have a full-time job and I do this, and when I need help, the CASA office is always there. They’re always ready, willing and able to help. It can be a tough job, it can be a very rewarding position, but I would want people to know they’re not doing it alone.”
In information Goshert provided, he said CASAs need to be ambassadors to help keep the ranks full and trained. When on a case, CASAs need to be both tough and loving. They must understand when each needs to be expressed while advocating for a child. CASAs must maintain patience in pursuit of the facts. CASAs must know and understand the worth of their work our their advocacy so they are able to remain focused on the work for the children. CASAs should express that worth to others in the community. “This is needed so there will be many speaking for the children who are unable to speak for themselves,” he wrote.
Turning 84 this year, Goshert said he doesn’t foresee retiring from being a CASA.
“Kosciusko County has a wealth of folks who feel they are retired or are empty nesters who could serve the children in our community,” he wrote. “A CASA’s work will be remembered and appreciated after any golf score or other pastime is long forgotten.”
Another round of new CASA training starts Aug. 22. If you have ever thought about becoming a CASA, fill out an application at www.casachildren.com/volunteer and CASA will reach out to you to discuss training more or just call the office to learn more about what it entails at 574-372-2401.
In 2023, CASA has served over 113 abused and neglected children from Kosciusko County and 18 children in tumultuous family law cases and have 53 active volunteers, according to information provided by Jones. “I would love for us to eventually have 75 volunteers. Our volunteers have donated over 2,000 hours of their time in 2023 so far,” she said.
Studies have shown that a child with a CASA, compared to those in similar cases without a CASA, do better educationally; get more services (so get their needs met in terms of medical, mental and educational services); spend less time in foster care; find a safe, permanent home more quickly; and have more hope, according to Jones.
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Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Kosciusko County recruits, trains and supports volunteers to serve at-risk children in the family court system.
Four members of one local family have served as CASAs or on the board of directors for a number of years.
Marna Riedel was a school teacher for 35 years, according to her daughter, Paula Spolski. While she didn’t know what year her mother became a CASA, Spolski said Marna was a CASA until she died in 2011. Marna’s husband, Richard “Dick” Riedel, served on the CASA Board of Directors until he passed away in 2014.
Richard Goshert, Marna’s brother, has been a CASA for the past eight years, with Spolski in her fifth year of volunteering for the nonprofit organization.
Spolski said her parents were an influence for her becoming a CASA, though she didn’t become a volunteer until they both had passed.
“But I just think, our entire family is for helping the needs of the kids and doing what’s right for them. Giving back to the community,” she said.
Her parents, for years, had told Spolski that she would be good at being a CASA and it was something that she should experience.
“Once my kids were out of the house and through college, then I was ready to give back to the community,” Spolski stated.
Goshert said Marna had talked to him about CASA for quite a bit. “She would never reveal any details, which is exactly what we’re supposed to do, however, she would go into generalities enough that I knew what it was all about, and it just seemed to me like something that fit and something that I ought to be doing,” he said.
The need for CASA and CASA volunteers just keeps getting bigger, Goshert said.
CASA of Kosciusko County Executive Director Erin Rowland Jones said, “We are in need of more CASA volunteers. We are serving 20 more abused and neglected children than we were at this time last year. We aren't able to serve a majority the family law cases the judges would like our help on as we do not have the number of volunteers. We are assigned to every child in foster care and those abused and neglected children cases are our top priority. You can work cases as a team. We currently have a husband and wife team and have had a father/daughter team in the past.”
Aimee Kintzel, advocacy specialist who supports and supervises CASA volunteers, told Spolski that, “Without your involvement, I don’t know that it would have gone the way it did, and those kids were all adopted. Those three children all wound up being adopted, and there were a lot of twists and turns that I think Paula kept the case moving in the right direction by being involved.”
Kintzel said when she sees something come to fruition, that’s what inspires her to continue with CASA.
“You know, it gets difficult sometimes because there’s so many wants and actual needs coming from so many different directions, but you have to keep focused on the needs of the children,” Goshert said.
Marna Riedel (R) and her husband, Richard “Dick” Riedel (L), were CASA volunteers and Dick also served on the board of directors. Their daughter, Paula Spolski, and Marna’s brother, Richard Goshert, are current CASA volunteers. Photo Provided.
In her five years as a CASA, Spolski said she’s had two cases benefitting six children.
The average length of cases is about 18 months, which is how long CASAs are asked to commit to, Kintzel said. While one of Spolski’s cases is now closed, it went on for about three years with her current second case going on three years.
“In my first case, the children were adopted and ... it was during COVID, so it was online, but the DCS (Department of Child Services) caseworker and myself were able to connect in virtually and be involved in the actual adoption. So I was invited to participate in that joyous day for them,” Spolski said. “And then just seeing the children happy, where they are, and thriving in their current placements. You can tell from the beginning to later on in the case the change in the child if they’re in a better place.”
Goshert’s “specialty” are custody cases - family law cases where there’s a parenting dispute - which tend to be a little shorter.
A CHINS (Child In Need of Services) case involves abuse or neglect and the Department of Child Services. Those are the type of cases Kintzel has handled.
Spolski said that by volunteering with CASA, she’s honoring her parents.
“Absolutely. It’s justifying good,” she said.
Goshert said volunteering with CASA “absolutely” was a way for him to honor his sister and brother-in-law, too.
To encourage other people to become a CASA, Spolski said, “I think it would be important to stress that, even if you have a full-time job, or a job, that the CASA office is always there to help. I have a full-time job and I do this, and when I need help, the CASA office is always there. They’re always ready, willing and able to help. It can be a tough job, it can be a very rewarding position, but I would want people to know they’re not doing it alone.”
In information Goshert provided, he said CASAs need to be ambassadors to help keep the ranks full and trained. When on a case, CASAs need to be both tough and loving. They must understand when each needs to be expressed while advocating for a child. CASAs must maintain patience in pursuit of the facts. CASAs must know and understand the worth of their work our their advocacy so they are able to remain focused on the work for the children. CASAs should express that worth to others in the community. “This is needed so there will be many speaking for the children who are unable to speak for themselves,” he wrote.
Turning 84 this year, Goshert said he doesn’t foresee retiring from being a CASA.
“Kosciusko County has a wealth of folks who feel they are retired or are empty nesters who could serve the children in our community,” he wrote. “A CASA’s work will be remembered and appreciated after any golf score or other pastime is long forgotten.”
Another round of new CASA training starts Aug. 22. If you have ever thought about becoming a CASA, fill out an application at www.casachildren.com/volunteer and CASA will reach out to you to discuss training more or just call the office to learn more about what it entails at 574-372-2401.
In 2023, CASA has served over 113 abused and neglected children from Kosciusko County and 18 children in tumultuous family law cases and have 53 active volunteers, according to information provided by Jones. “I would love for us to eventually have 75 volunteers. Our volunteers have donated over 2,000 hours of their time in 2023 so far,” she said.
Studies have shown that a child with a CASA, compared to those in similar cases without a CASA, do better educationally; get more services (so get their needs met in terms of medical, mental and educational services); spend less time in foster care; find a safe, permanent home more quickly; and have more hope, according to Jones.