When parents make bad decisions, often times their kids are the ones who get caught in the system. When that happens, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers step in to help out. They become the voice of the child in an overwhelmed system, one where there are more children in need than there are voices to speak for them.
"At last count we had 156 children who are abused or neglected in Callaway County," Suzanne Guerrant, Volunteer Supervisor for Heart of Missouri CASA, said of the caseload. Unfortunately, there are only around 20 CASA volunteers to help those kids.
CASA advocates are trained to speak and act as advocates when children are placed into the custody of the state either through foster homes, placement with relatives, friends or teachers, or Girls' Town located in Kingdom City. They receive instruction in several subjects they may have to deal with while working within the system including-but not limited to-domestic violence, signs of drug use, brain trauma, cultural diversity and law.
When training is complete, volunteers are sworn in by Family Court Judge Sue Crane and added to a list of volunteers who can then be appointed by the Court when a child or family of children is in need.
"We are there for the kids, but parents need help too," said Guerrant. "I often begin by asking parents what they need."
As Guerrant explains, many issues the families face are cyclical issues such as drug abuse or domestic violence. A "band-aid" isn't going to help, so it's necessary to find the real problem and stop the cycle so it will not be perpetuated. If parents can break a cycle and not pass behaviors to their children, then the children will hopefully not in turn pass those behaviors on to their own families.
"But ultimately, we talk to all the players: teachers, grandparents, aunts, uncles. We try to make sure the child's needs are met whether that includes their education or their medical needs," she said.
"So many kids need an adult in their lives," new volunteer Minnie Via said. "Especially the little ones who aren't able to go before the judge and express their wishes. We gather information from all sources and the child when we are appointed to a case."
Being a CASA, however, is a real commitment as many of the cases can last up to two years, which means the CASA needs to be dedicated to the program for the long haul. To qualify volunteers must be 21 years of age; able to commit for two years or until a case is resolved; able to devote 8 to 10 hours per month to the case, including attending court hearings and pass criminal background checks. Other interpersonal skills needed are to be able to communicate effectively and to be objective and non-judgmental.
"It is difficult, but I look forward to being part of the program," said Jerrie Bell, another CASA volunteer who feels having a CASA program is a great step forward for our community.
"I usually spend a lot of time building a relationship with the child before we get to the nuts and the bolts of the thing," said Guerrant. "Mostly these kids are hurting. They just need someone to talk to."
Anyone interested in giving their time to be a CASA volunteer should call 573-442-4670 or email [email protected].