New to White County, but not the region, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) began in Franklin County back in 1998. The program has grown by merging and now serves 11 counties in the region including Clay, Clinton, Effingham, Edwards, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Jasper, Marion, and White. White County was just added this spring and held a ribbon cutting through the Carmi Chamber last month.
Read/hear more at Open Line ON DEMAND – CASA Comes to White County – WRUL-FM
Read more at Carmi Chamber Welcomes CASA to White County with Ribbon Cutting – WRUL-FM
Mariah Hayes, Executive Director and Hamilton and White County Program Director Amanda Weber joined Carmi Kiwanis Thursday to share more on the organization’s efforts. Hayes says 95% of the cases in White County are neglect based and while there are attorneys and judges in juvenile court that are looking out for the child, CASA’s role is to put someone with that child who can hopefully provide some normalcy during an otherwise tumultuous experience.
If you have one person who can actually be that one person for that child to get to know them…what they like whether it’s swimming or drawing…but just trying to bring anything that can bring some normalcy while these children are going through this court process. Helping and guiding and getting to know their individual wants, needs, and wishes while the chaos is kind of surrounding them.
The goal with CASA is for the child to have a mediary that ensures they’re heard.
One of the children told [Amanda] the other day…ya know, she asked them do you want me to tell the judge anything and the child said yes, and then he told her two things and we were like wow, this is awesome that this child said I really do want you to tell the judge here’s some things going on and I want them to know I do want to go back to mom when things are well.
The numbers show in June there were 46 White County children in DCFS care. CASA appointed staff or volunteers are currently working with and for 29 of those youngsters. Most of the children being served in White County are age 0 – 11.
Learn more about the program and how you can volunteer at http://www.casa4change.org.
In club business, President Amanda Nelson says Kiwanis has made a few recent donations including $100 towards band camp, $100 to the upcoming Spina Bifida golf tournament, and $300 to the Guardian Center’s Gala for Hope coming up September 12th.