Court Appointed Special Advocates

Jennifer Sunstrom, Board member, discussed how in 2010 Outagamie County had over 200 victims of abuse and neglect which is one of the highest rates in the State of Wisconsin.  CASA is a national organization with 7 chapters in Wisconsin the closet currently being in Brown County and soon to be in the Fox Cities. The mission of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association, together with its state and local members, is to support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy so that every abused or neglected child can be safe, establish permanence and have the opportunity to thrive.  Local CASA programs recruit, train and support volunteers in their work with abused and neglected children.  Volunteers come from all walks of life.  CASA is simply looking for people who care about children.  Volunteers go through 30 hours of training and are supported by professional staff.  CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to advocate for abused and neglected children to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social system or are kept in inappropriate group or foster homes.  Volunteers remain with the child until he/she is in a safe, permanent home.  Many times, the CASA volunteer is the only constant adult in the child’s life.  Volunteers proactively reach out to the child’s parents, teachers, counselors, foster parents, social workers, etc. to get to know the child and gather as much information about them as possible.  This information is used to write a report to inform judges of the child’s need, wishes, concerns for the future and what the best permanent home is for them.  Children who work with a CASA volunteer tend to spend less time in foster care, are less likely to reenter care, experience less trauma when removed from the home and are more likely to receive services.  CASA helps judges make better decisions on behalf of the child and provides the child with some continuity.  CASA of the Fox Cities is fundraising in order to hire an executive director and obtain an operating budget. They are also looking for board and committee members as well as volunteers.  If you would like to volunteer, please contact Robyn Gruner, President of CASA Fox Cities at rt7258@att.com or 749-8339.