Welcome to CASA of Montana

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Montana is a nonprofit organization that partners with 15 local nonprofit programs in Montana. The combined local programs speak up for nearly 1,200 neglected and abused children, who are caught up in the state’s legal system through no fault of their own.

 

CASA of Montana Seeking AmeriCorps VISTA Applicants

We are currently seeking applicants for a year of service starting in July. AmeriCorps VISTA members work to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations working to combat poverty. Applicants must have college degree in any discipline, and a commitment to the CASA cause. VISTA members receive living allowance, and an education award upon completion of service. For more information see our position description on the AmeriCorps website.

 

Helena Director Bill Collins Honored as National CASA's Program Director of the Year

National CASA recently announced the 2011 Awards of Excellence winners. Bill Collins, recently retired director of the Helena CASA program, has been chosen to receive the prestigious Kappa Alpha Theta CASA/GAL Program Director of the Year award at the NCASA Conference in Washington, D.C. this June. Bill devoted the last thirteen years of his career to the CASA program in Helena, and touched the lives of countless children, parents, and others involved in the child welfare system. Moreover, Bill is the first male recipient in the history of the award. Read more about Bill's invaluable contribution to the Helena community here.

 

Annual CASA Awards Presented at CAN Conference

CASA of Montana recently recognized the people who work for abused and neglected children in district courts around the state. At the annual Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect Conference in Helena, Supreme Court Justice Jim Rice presented awards to the CASA Judge, Director, Volunteer Advocate of the Year, and Child Protection Services Worker for 2012. 

Judge Stewart Stadler of the 11th Judicial District was named as the CASA Judge of the Year for service on behalf of children, volunteers and the Flathead CASA programs. Judges appoint CASA volunteers to advocate for the best interest of the child, often as a Guardian ad Litem. Nominated by CASA volunteer and past board president Joyce Funda, Judge Stadler started the Accountability Court in the Flathead. He had a vision of creating an option within the traditional adversarial system for families in crisis. No money has been allocated for this court and it continues to operate as an integral part of the dependent/neglect case process with no additional funding. Families are often reunified sooner or parents come to realize that relinquishment is best for the child. Ms. Funda notes that Judge Stadler has been directly responsible for changing the institutional culture to reflect the critical importance of the welfare of the children.

CASA of Missoula Executive Director LaNette Diaz with CASA of Montana Board President Schylar Canfield and Executive Director Ellen Bush

Justice Rice honored Executive Director LaNette Diaz of the Missoula CASA Program in as the CASA Director of the Year. LaNette has served three years as executive director of CASA of Missoula. Volunteer numbers have increased from 27 to 70 active volunteers. She hired an outside consultant to complete an organizational assessment of how to improve CASA. She also began a fundraiser called Mad Mudder that raised about $13,000 last year. LaNette's team-building skills, her extraordinary intellect, and her “can do” attitude were noted by her employees and colleagues. Judge John Larson wrote, “Lanette has demonstrated a commitment to consistent, fair, and focused decisions to help our local CASA program. Her positive attitude and collegial manner of approaching difficult issues is one that I wish could be easily replicated.”

Volunteer of the Year Gloria Trevizo of Yellowstone CASA with CASA of Montana Board President Schylar Canfield and Executive Director Ellen Bush

The next  CASA award was given to Volunteer of the Year Gloria Trevizo of Yellowstone CASA. Gloria has advocated for 15 children in the last 3½ years in Yellowstone county. She goes above and beyond and approaches everything in her life with the same dedication and determination. Program coordinator Melissa La Roque writes that Gloria has helped train her in the CASA system. She was a great mentor to some of the new class members and a model volunteer. She made sure that the children in her case were safe and in the same foster home, plus she helped to get services for the foster children. She encouraged their involvement in extracurricular activities and never gave up on the mother in the case. She met with the teen and encouraged her to the right things. Gloria's award was also featured in the Billings Gazette.

Child Protection Specialist of the Year Jacqui Poe with CASA of Montana Board President Schylar Canfield and Executive Director Ellen Bush

Finally, we have a new award this year. Child Protection Specialist of the Year Jacqui Poe was nominated by CASA director Ann Schilling of 6th Judicial District CASA in Livingston. Ann said of Jacqui, "She is the most dedicated, organized, compassionate, and straightforward CPS worker. You always know exactly where she stands on an issue while at the same time she is very willing to explore different ideas on how to be best serve a child’s needs." Jacqui has worked for eight years in Livingston with many CASA volunteers that are all impressed by how she handles her cases.

 

Intermountain Offers Online University Course This Fall

Relational Development: PSYX 391, COUN 395 and SW 495. Accredited by The University of Montana for 3 academic credits. Emphasis is on significant discoveries in the fields of neuroscience, childhood trauma, grief and loss, child development, and family systems that have fueled the evolution of the attachment treatment philosophy to a broader method of caring for emotionally distressed children, the Relational Development treatment approach. Created by Intermountain and the UM’s Extended Learning Services. The course is fully online. The cost is $99 for those who wish to take it for non-credit and $649 for credit.  Start date is August 27th for UM’s Fall semester.

To register: www.intermountain.org/trainings.
For more information: Kate Cremer-Vogel at 406.582.5480 or kkcvmt@gmail.com.  

 

CASA Programs Raise Funds Across the State

The Fifth Judicial District Voice for Children held their annual CASA for Kids Ski Day Sunday, March 11 at Maverick Mountain, in Polaris Montana. Ten skiers raised over $1,300 to continue the program's work in the community.

Brock Hansen, Clay Alison, Brice Alison, Program Director Kate Juran, and Savannah Hansen assist with fundraising at the Ski Day.

On March 16, Helena’s CASA—Advocates for Kids program held its first-ever Light of Hope Banquet at the downtown Holiday Inn in Helena. More than 100 community members were in attendance, including district judges, the deputy county attorney, and Helena social workers. The event raised more than $11,000 to continue the work of this growing program, currently serving more than 130 children with 64 volunteers.

Steve Mandeville auctions off a garden package at the Light of Hope Banquet in Helena.

CASA of Missoula held their 12th annual Light of Hope Banquet in February. The banquet was once again a huge success, raising more than $31,000 for the program and boasting over 160 attendees.

 

CASA of Montana Chooses a License Plate Design

CASA of Montana invited graphic artists from around the state to submit a design for the license plates. Nine designs were submitted. Eve Dixon from Kalispell submitted the winning design. A committee of six local CASA program directors reviewed all the designs and chose their favorite. Ms. Dixon worked diligently with the committee on the final touches for the plate. This plate is one that we can all be proud to put on our cars.

CASA of Montana is happy to announce that the license plate design has met the requirements of the first round of Montana Motor Vehicle requirements. It is now on to the final level.  

Pacific Steel and Recycling funded a grant to pay the cost of the approval by the state.  Our special thanks to Pacific! We appreciate their community mindedness.  

The plates will be available in July 2012 for sale in Montana. This specialty plate costs $25 more than a regular license plate. However, the CASA program that operates in the area where that plate is purchased receives 90% of that $25. CASA of Montana will retain the other 10%.  

 

Be on the Lookout for CASA of Montana Advertisements

 

 

 

Spring Newsletter Available

For more news and information around the state, please check out CASA of Montana's Spring 2012 Newsletter.

© 2011 CASA of Montana