The CASA/GAL of Montana delegation met with newly re-elected Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) in June in Washington, D.C. Pictured are Shirley Folkwein, Yellowstone CASA director; Amy Fry, Front Range director; Front Range volunteer Jennifer Kuster from Keven (Toole County); Denny Rehberg (back); Eastern Montana director Janice Deesten; Yellowstone volunteer Rose Rockwell; State Coordinator Ellen M. Bush; Former Kalispell program director Peggy Caister; volunteer Tera Schultz.
CASA/GAL program directors meet with state and national leaders
Meeting with national and state leaders to educate them about Court Appointed Special Advocates is a primary goal of CASA/GAL of Montana. Local program directors are currently planning an education program with state legislators and other officials for January.
The new state advisory board for CASA/GAL of Montana also has began its work to educate the public and the legislature. The board met in October to consider a non-profit branch of the state office. Directors hope to apply for grants and raise more money statewide with the addition of a non-profit entity that can represent the entire state.
The new executive committee includes Kelly Klem, a CPA and banker in Miles City; newly reelected state legislator Gary Branae (D-Billings); attorney Kayla Clark of Missoula and Alexis Powell, a Helena life planner and fundraising expert.
The new board members began working on a three-year plan to make CASA of Montana better known and better funded. In the quarter ending Sept. 30, some 220 volunteers have advocated for more than 850 children in the state's courts, giving 3,300 hours of time. That time is valued at almost $40,000 based on a volunteer hour estimated at $12. The state's 17 programs operate on less than $500,000 a year. Only 20 percent of that funding comes from the state's court system.
In other news, three members of the Montana delegation recently attended a volunteer retention training in Denver, Colorado. Program directors and state network people from eight states attended the three-day session.
Bozeman co-director Anita Nybo said the session was very helpful to her after leading the Bozeman office for 10 years. "I learned so much and came back with some good ideas," she said. Program director Lisa Goff and State Coordinator Ellen Bush attended the training along with Anita. The three hope to facilitate training on volunteer retention over the next year.
Learn more in a brief history of Montana CASA/GAL.
CASA programs across the state have been actively training new volunteers. Check out the latest volunteer news.