CASA of Johnson County gives abused, neglected children a voice

By Gary Hennerberg

Special to Burleson-Crowley-Cleburne UpClose

In 2009 alone, 105 abused and neglected children in Johnson County have had Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers speak out for them.

CASA of Johnson Country has been placing children in a safe and nurturing environment since 2003. During the past six years, there have been 315 children from the age of one-day-old to age 18 moved to a more stable situation according to Cheryl Price, executive director of CASA of Johnson.

There are 98 CASA of Johnson County volunteers – each trained to be an advocate for children who have been abused and neglected and are under protection of the court. Volunteers meet regularly with the child, review court records and talk to family members and professionals involved in the child’s case. As the end of the year approaches, and there is more stress within families, the number of cases typically swells.

"As the holidays approach, we usually see an increase in cases," said Price. "We are always in need of additional volunteers.

Children who are the victims of abuse and neglect, and who have becomes wards of the state, are assigned CASA volunteers. A CASA may be requested by any party in the case, and a judge will assign CASA to the case.

The CASA volunteer movement began more than 25 years ago when a judge in Seattle believed that he needed to know more about the children whose lives were in his hands. With community volunteers, these children now had a voice in court. The advocate for the child could provide the judge with detailed information he needed to safeguard the children’s best interests and ensure they were placed in a safe, permanent home.

In 2003, Judge John Neill founded CASA of Johnson County when he saw the need for a volunteer advocate to help him place children in the best possible environment.

"As a judge, I had to make crucial decisions. I had to decide whether to take a child from the only home he’s ever known, or leave him somewhere with the possibility of being abused," said Neill. "I needed someone who could tell me what was best for that child from the child’s viewpoint. CASA volunteers have truly become champions for these children."

The 98 trained volunteers from Johnson County, along with two office staff, provide a powerful voice for abused and neglected children. Children who are assigned a CASA advocate volunteer spend less time in court and less time in foster care than children who don’t have a CASA. Children who have had a CASA advocate also find safe, permanent homes more quickly.

CASA volunteers complete a total of 30 hours pre-service training which consists of 16 hours of class time, and 14 hours of homework and independent study. Preliminary training covers a wide variety of topics such as cultural diversity, working with children and families, interviewing and writing court reports.

After training is completed, a new volunteer will be assigned a mentor for their first case. Each year, CASA volunteers complete an additional 12 hours of continuing education.

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