Kids with needs need special adults

When you hear or read about a child who is alone and in need — one who is hungry and without basic necessities or a child suffering the torture of physical, mental or emotion abuse — where does your mind’s eye take you? Do you see a child living in a third world country? How about the slums or ghettos of a large metropolitan area? Or do you see the possibility that child lives right here in southern Oklahoma?

Here at home when the plight of such children becomes known they are removed from their situation and become wards of the court. They are safe, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t scared. It doesn’t mean they don’t feel hopeless. It doesn’t mean they believe there is no one who truly cares about them and will speak up for them.

Would it surprise you to know right now there are more than 20 children, out of harm’s way, but without someone in their life they can rely on?

Would you be shocked to know that with a minimum amount of effort you could be hope for one of these children? Could you be the one that assures them that today and all their tomorrows truly can be better than their yesterdays?

How can you help?

By becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate.

“Our goal is to be the eyes and ears for the judges and the voice for children in Carter, Johnston, Love, Marshall and Murray counties,” said CASA Executive Director Lynn Riley, adding a CASA volunteer is the independent voice of a child in court.

“As Judge (Tom) Walker has said, a CASA has few limitations in their investigating and can speak openly and objectively about what is in the best interest of a child because we are not tied to government,” Riley said.

“The whole point is that the system fails because the system cannot save children. Adults save children.  A community saves children. The judges recognize the bureaucracy and that is precisely why they rely on their volunteer advocates to remain on a case and report all facts pertaining to the best interest of a child.” 

All children deserve a safe and permanent home with people who will love and nurture them. Sometimes that means returning the child to his or her parents. Sometimes it means helping a child find a new home.

Judges make their decisions based on what is best for each child only after listening to the district attorney, the  Department of Human Services caseworker, the child’s attorney and the CASA.

How does a CASA volunteer accomplish their mission?

Riley said CASAs are required to have just “two contacts” with their CASA child each month. They are the child’s special friend, the person the child can really talk to. In addition, CASAs check to see if the child’s parents are doing what the court has ordered in order for them to be reunited with their child. And when it’s time for the judge to decide what really is in the best interest of the child, the CASA speaks.

“The CASA volunteer provides the judge with as much information as possible to assist him or her in determining what is in the best interest of the child,” Riley said.

CASA volunteers are men and women. They come in all shapes and sizes. They are all ages and from all kinds of backgrounds. The only thing CASA volunteers have in common with each other is compassion and the desire to help a desperate child.

“One merely needs to have compassion, be willing to have a background check, attend the six nights of training and do a morning or afternoon of courtroom observation,” Riley said.

What are the steps in becoming the hope a desperate child needs?

Fill out an application; supply three references and complete an interview at the CASA office, located on the fourth floor of the Carter County Courthouse; pass a criminal background check and complete training.

But the time to act is now because training starts Sept. 20.  

“You might be saying I don’t know if I can do that — it must be so depressing. The answer is, you can lay your head down at night and know that you are doing something to help a child, that through no fault of his or her own is without a place to call home and needs an outsider to step up to the plate.

An advocate once said to me, being a CASA is priceless,” Riley said.

To ask questions call CASA at (580) 226-0009 or obtain an application at the CASA office, located on the fourth floor of the Carter County Courthouse.