Superior Court I Judge Karin McGrath, left with sign, and Sara Cole of the Department of Child Services, lead a march around the Kosciusko County Courthouse Thursday, April 21, as part of a pinwheel planting event. Prevent Child Abuse America introduced the blue pinwheel as the national symbol for child abuse prevention. More than 70 people turned out for the march and to plant the pinwheel garden.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. This year is also the 30th anniversary of CASA of Kosciusko County. The first 18 court appointed special advocates graduated in 1990.

Indiana code requires any child considered a child in need of services to have a court appointed special advocate appointed and stay on the case until their case is closed. CASA’s advocates may also be assigned to a child in family court where there are concerns about the child’s safety.

Erin Rowland Jones, executive director of CASA of Kosciusko County, explained CASA serves as the eyes and the ears of the court. They meet with the child they are assigned to on a regular basis,  as well as gather information from other agencies involved in the child’s case, and provide a written and sometimes verbal report to the court.

A CASA’s main focus is what is in the best interest of the child. CASA was started in 1977 by a family court judge in Washington State. “He wanted someone to be the voice of these kids and speak for them,” explained Rowland Jones. “We (CASA) become that one constant. We stay with them (the child) and meet with them.”

The goal of CASA is to safely reunify the child with his or her family. “There are times you can’t,” said Rowland Jones. “Then you have to make recommendations.

“We would love to work ourselves out of a job, “ she said. “We’re not counselors, we don’t supervise visits. We can help facilitate or negotiate some other services (for the child).”

The biggest part of a CASA’s job is establishing a relationship with the child. CASA provides each volunteer with a backpack and has a closet full of games and activities volunteers can take to do with their child. “It’s necessary. It’s needed. They (CASA volunteers) try hard to find activities the child likes.”

CASA volunteers must meet with their child at least once every 30 days, but usually meet more often. CASA and their child meet at school, the public library or in the child’s home. Rowland Jones said meeting at the Justice Building is done as little as possible since it can be intimidating to the child. CASA volunteers are not allowed to transport the children they work with.

Currently there are 61 CASA volunteers with 48 open cases. Last year 65 CASAs volunteered over 4,200 hours for 198 children; 164 were children in need of services and the rest were safety issues raised in family court, such as in divorce proceedings.

Rowland Jones said approximately 60% of the cases CASA handled last year ended in the child being reunified with his or her family. She said reunification was possible largely to parents who were able to gain some parenting skills and some needed support.

More volunteers are always needed. Rowland Jones said she would love to have 20 or more new CASAs every year. With more volunteers, CASA of Kosciusko County could take on more family court cases.

CASA wants diversity of age, gender, culture and ethnicity when it comes to volunteers. Rowland Jones said there is always a need for more men to volunteer.

To become a CASA volunteer, an individual needs to fill out an application by visiting casachildren.com/volunteer. Volunteers must be 21 and be able to pass background checks. Volunteers are then required to go through 33 hours of training. The next training session will be held 9 a.m. to noon three days a week for three weeks starting June 7. Another training session will be held sometime in September and will meet from 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“We encourage those who volunteer to commit at least 18 months; most stay longer than that,” Rowland Jones said.