Volunteers needed for child advocacy

CASA of Midwest Kentucky is expanding to include Muhlenberg County. The nationwide organization is seeking volunteers to help with their mission here in the county.

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate, and volunteers help steer children through difficult times. Upon completing screening and training, a CASA volunteer is an advocate for a child as they move through the court system, keeping their best interest in mind.

In Muhlenberg County, cases of child abuse and neglect go through the district court, said CASA of Midwest Kentucky executive director, Daphyne Maddox. “A case would be brought through social services, on referral that an abuse or neglect has occurred, and social services would bring that case before the court,” Maddox explained.

Once the case is in district court, the judge can appoint a CASA volunteer and assign them to the child, or group of siblings. The job of the CASA volunteer is then to learn everything about the case. “Everybody involved in the court procedures and in social services are there because it’s their job. The social worker, attorney, judge, they all have a specific job in mind,” Maddox said. The CASA volunteer is there to see what’s best for the child.

CASA volunteers make sure the children have what they need as they navigate a difficult period in their lives. They are often living in a new home, either with relatives or in foster care, and might be going to a new school. “They’ve had some disruption, on top of being abused or neglected, they also have the trauma of moving, so there’s a lot of changes that go along with this,” Maddox said.

The CASA volunteer can be a constant for these children. From the beginning of the case, until it’s closed, the CASA volunteer stays with the child until a safe, permanent home is found. Social workers may change, and the child may have changes in their placement, but the CASA volunteer is a consistent person, there to advocate for the child.

A typical case for a volunteer would include checking in with the child, making sure their needs are being met, and making sure they have the resources they need. Maddox said checking in with the child’s school is part of the program, and meeting with the parents to make sure they are working on their requirements as well.

“We can’t make anybody do anything,” Maddox said, “but we want the parents to have every opportunity to be successful and to have their child returned home.”

After completing interviews, the CASA volunteer then writes a report to the court. While this sounds like a daunting task, Maddox said it’s more of a common sense approach. “We’re not attorneys, we’re not social workers, but we are writing to the judge and telling them what we have seen, what we have heard, and what we think is in the best interest of the child.”

While case workers have what Maddox calls an “undoable job”, often buried in a huge case-load, the CASA volunteer has only one child, or group of siblings, to spend their time on. “The goal of CASA is that those children get that safe, permanent home as soon as possible.

The way CASA closes a case is if the child is returning home safely, or is permanently placed with a relative, or are adopted.”

Maddox said there is a great need for this work in the community. In 2019, Muhlenberg County had 128 cases of child abuse or neglect go through the district court.

These kids have complicated issues, Maddox said. They may have mental health issues, or academic issues. CASA volunteers can help to make sure resources are available to address these issues.

To become a volunteer, a candidate must be 21 or older, and must undergo a series of background checks. After submitting an application and providing references, there is an interview process followed by 30 hours of training.

A volunteer can expect to spend about five to 10 hours each month working on a case.

The CASA volunteer is present when the case goes to court. They are there to represent the information they have gathered, Maddox said.

Having a CASA volunteer to assist a child moving through the court system has a positive effect on the outcome, Maddox said. There was a longitudinal study done in Texas. There was a control group, who had no volunteer, and a group that had a CASA volunteer. The children were followed for 20 years, into adulthood.

Between that study and anecdotal evidence from working with CASA, Maddox said the results show children with a CASA volunteer have fewer placements. The children with a CASA volunteer also have more resources and recommendations made for their safety and wellbeing.

“A CASA is advocating for them to get tutoring at school, or maybe therapy that is needed, or sometimes we’re the only person bringing up some of these specific issues in court,” Maddox said.

“We feel like they have a better chance of overcoming what’s going on, they’re less likely to re-enter the child welfare system.”

CASA of Midwest Kentucky will begin a training session at the end of April. They are looking for volunteers in Muhlenberg County to be an advocate for an abused or neglected child who is moving through the court system. For more information, contact Daphyne Maddox at CASA of Midwest Kentucky at 270-245-5112. To begin the application process, go to www.midwestcasa.org and navigate to the volunteer tab.