Local volunteers are needed in Lake County

CASA program is described

From the Lake County Leader, April 2004

By Paul Fugleberg

POLSON --At the Caring Committee meeting in the Polson Library conference room last Thursday the need for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) was explained.

CASA is a non-profit organization committed to speaking for the best interests of abused or neglected children impacted by the courts of the 20th Judicial District. CASA recruits, trains and supervises volunteers who advocate for this at-risk population.

The program's primary goal is to ensure that each child in the district is permitted to thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.

District Court Judge Kim Christopher told the audience there is need for a CASA program in Lake County.

She said, "the reason I am here today is to encourage your support for the children that have those shattered childhoods and find themselves in the court system. If there is any truly innocent party that appears in the courtroom, it is children. They find themselves there in a variety of ways. They might be a victim in a criminal case; a youth in need of care, or a child whose parents are divorcing.

"Allegations of all sorts have been brought before me ‹ children starved by their parents in the name of discipline; children misused as shields from police breaking down a door in a methamphetamine bust; children misused as pawns because property, or hurting the other spouse, was more important; and children misused in sexual offenses."

Amber's story

She told the story of 11-year-old Amber, a girl not from this area but whose story mirrored many of the situations that are noted here. Amber's parents were using drugs; the father beat the mother; her mother wouldn't send her to school, which was all right with Amber because of gangs hanging around.

Sometimes, Amber would live with another family because her mom was partying; other times she stayed with her grandparents. When she was about seven, she was mad at her grandmother who told Amber her mother was using drugs. At that age, she didn't believe her, but when she visited her mother,she saw her and the mother's friends using drugs.

"That's when I finally believed my grandmother ... and I ran out the door crying. I was afraid that my mother was going to hurt herself with the drugs."

Caught in a police raid

Another time - when Amber was living at home she slept in the living room - but she got up and went into the bedroom where her mom was asleep.

"I was lying on the bed with my mom, when the door burst open and the police came in pointing guns. I was scared. My mom had a needle in her purse and she was arrested. She told me it was a friend's, but it had really been her needle She used to lie to me."

One night when her mom was using drugs, Amber called her grandmother, who picked her up and she lived with her for a long time. "I felt like my grandmother was the one person who was there for me. She took care of me and got me all the things that I needed."

Eventually, the mother came to live with them, got a job, but she was still doing drugs. And one night she left a note saying she'd be back. But they didn't hear from her for six months.

"Then one day she called," Amber said. "She sounded different - happy. She was off the drugs. She told me that she had felt that God would make her die after all the bad things she had done, and she had become very afraid. She decided to get clean and that she wanted to have a better life."

In effect, the grandmother was Amber's ³advocate.

In 2003 in Lake County, Judge Christopher said, there were 27 child abuse/neglect cases in the court's supervised care. A case could involve more than one child.

200 requests for help

She said, The local office of Child Protective Services had more than 200 cases of requests for service/help/direction that are not in the system. Currently the 20th Judicial District in Lake County has one attorney serving as Guardian Ad Litem. His role is to conduct an investigation regarding all of the facts, monitor the child's situation and make recommendations to the court. He has only one volunteer - a support person who has been active in this role for 17 years.

"While the attorney handles the legal process, he depends on his volunteer or a lot of the logistical support, which includes everything but his work in court. She transports children for visitation or treatment, often investigates aspects of the case."

Christopher said, "My role as a judge is to resolve a dispute with finality by determining the rights and obligations of the parties. You depend on me to weigh all of the facts and law and come to a considered decision. But I am not an advocate. I am restricted by law and I am obligated to consider the rights of all of the parties before the court, including the actions by the state and the rights of the parents."

She emphasized that children are often the most innocent people in the courtroom. "Due to their age, maturity and circumstances (children) are the most under-represented and least understood. CASA volunteers can and do make a difference."

Introductory remarks were made by Caring Community board member Francis Davidson, who explained that the organization is an inter-faith outreach community that strives to build caring neighborhoods for all children and their families within the Flathead Reservation and Lake County.

Besides the CASA project, the Caring Community supports the Polson Reads program in which 60 volunteers work with 84 grade school children to help the students improve their reading abilities.

There are that many more students needing help, too. Lee Manning, a board member with 33 years teaching experience, said he is halfway through the intensive 30-hour CASA training course being conducted by the Kalispell CASA group. He also told of the need for a CASA program in Lake County.

Other board members are Adell Hansen, Carolyn Heinz and Deana Knipe. The Rev. David Anson is a special advisor to the board. Churches involved so far are the Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic, Episcopal and New Life Christian. Organizations represented are B-W Analytical Enterprises, Moms in Touch and The Country Store.

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