Nursery Association endorses plant stake campaign for growing a happy child

Bob Hitzeroth puts a plant stake in a display at his retail flower outlet

Bob Hitzeroth, owner of High County Growers, puts a CASA plant stake in a display at his new retail outlet located on Highway 12 West in Helena (fomerly State Nursery). High Country Growers ship flowers to COSTCO, Albertsons and other retailers around the state. CASA/GAL of Montana has provided nearly 20,000 plant stakes to nurseries and growers.

Growing a child is a lot like growing a plant. That child needs love, attention and a stable home, just like a plant needs food, water and sunshine.

The Montana Nursery and Landscape Association board of directors has endorsed a new statewide promotion campaign for CASA/GAL of Montana featuring plant stakes. Nearly 20,000 plant stakes with the photo of a child and information on CASA have gone out to local nurseries, florists and growers. The campaign will help improve CASA name recognition and assist local programs to recruit volunteers and raise funds.

Past MNLA President Michael Hiel supports the CASA program. "I had never heard of the program before," Hiel said. "I contacted some judges and they told me how reports from the CASA volunteers help them to make good decisions. The plant stake promotion is just a small thing we can do to help out those kids - and maybe we can do more."

Nearly 20,000 plant stakes
have been sent out by CASA.

The CASA/GAL network provides specially trained volunteers as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) to represent children and serve as Guardians ad Litem (GAL) in more than 20 communities in Montana.

"Happy Child," reads the plant stake under the photo of a child. " A beautiful and resilient perennial with vigorous growth and spectacular bloom. Needs safe, permanent home with lots of love and nurturing."

The 18 CASA programs and two satellite offices operate on a combined budget of under $500,000, serving more than 700 children statewide. "CASA is a very cost effective program," CASA/GAL of Montana Coordinator Ellen M. Bush said. "Volunteers are the heart and soul of the program. More than 200 volunteers gave more than 12,000 hours statewide last year."

State statutes require the appointment of a Guardian ad Litem in abuse and neglect proceedings. CASA volunteers go through an intensive 30-hour training program before a volunteer is appointed by a district court judges to represent a child in an abuse and neglect proceeding.

Finding the funding to run a CASA/GAL program is often a challenge. Many rural programs operate with a part-time director or a volunteer director, often out of a home office. Local fundraising, United Way funds and other small private grants and donations provide help.

For more information or for a local program contract, call Ellen Bush at 1-866-863-CASA (2272) or e-mail her at info@casagal.org.

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