East-Central CASA is in Search of Additional Volunteers
East-Central CASA is in
Search of Additional Volunteers
East-Central CASA has been advocating for children in the foster care system for 20 years and has served hundreds of children and youth struggling through a horrible time in their life. On any given day, there are close to 1,624 children in the South Dakota foster care system. Children who have been removed from their homes and placed in foster care. “These children deserve a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer to stand by their side and advocate for them. Now, more than ever, East-Central CASA needs help to ensure that every child who has been the victim of abuse or neglect has a voice in the juvenile court process,” said Julie Wermers, executive director of the East-Center CASA.
To find out more about becoming a CASA volunteer or other ways to get involved visit https://eastcentralcasa.com/volunteer/. The next opportunity to attend an in person information session is a lunch and learn on Thursday, March 24, at noon at the CASA office in Watertown at 26th S. Broadway and in Brookings at Banner Associates, 409 22nd Avenue.
CASA advocates are everyday members of the community who are recruited, screened and trained to advocate for a child or sibling group in foster care. They get to know the child on an individual level so that they can make sure their physical, emotional and educational needs are met. Volunteers also get to know the child’s parents, family, foster parents and other important people in their life, with the goal of working towards reunifying the child with their parents whenever safe and possible. They help make sure children have a support system of family and other reliable, committed adults who can help them both during and after their time in foster care.
“Children in foster care are often separated from their families, siblings, friends and other loved ones, and placed in an unfamiliar setting away from everything they know,” said Wermers. “CASA volunteer advocates stand alongside children during this uncertain time, providing a consistent presence and speaking up for their best interest in court, school and other settings throughout the community.”
East-Central CASA provides advocacy in 10 counties (Brookings, Clark, Codington, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Kingsbury, Lake, Miner and Moody counties) throughout the Third Judicial Circuit. During the 2021 calendar year EC-CASA CASA served 116 children in foster care, 97 children had a dedicated volunteer advocate by their side. Unfortunately, 19 children in the foster care system did not have an advocate, 12 of the 19 children were five-years old and younger.
As the number of abuse and neglect cases increase, so does the need for additional volunteers. East-Central CASA is calling for community members to step up and advocate for children and families involved in the child welfare system in our communities. “Volunteering with CASA is an opportunity unlike any other,” said Wermers. “It is a unique opportunity to make a positive difference for a child and their family. We need more members of the community to join the CASA movement.”
According to a youth in foster care “without my volunteer I would be afraid, you have made sure I got to see my mom, even though it scares and hurts me to see her like that, it makes me feel better knowing she is alive, I can hug her and tell her to get better.”
To make a report of suspected child abuse or neglect, call 877-244- 0864. For all emergency situations, calls should be made to local law enforcement.
