Our speaker for March 1 - Peggy Grunert
Today’s program was from CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children. Our speakers were Andrea Vigil, a volunteer for 3 years, Peggy Grunert, a volunteer for 4 years (and Rotary President-Elect for Simi Sunset-Morning Edition), and Joyce Simon, a volunteer for one year.
Peggy began by explaining CASA is not the same as Casa Pacifica. The CASA program was part of Interface, but now is a separate nonprofit organization. Peggy then gave us an exercise, to think of a wonderful experience with our family when we were a young child.She then set a new scenario: A drug bust in a residence, with 8 adults under the influence. All are arrested and taken to jail. But there are three children, 3, 5, and 8 years of age. Social Services picks up the young children. They contact relatives to care for them, but sometimes that is not an option. Peggy then passed out three Raggedy Ann dolls to different members of the club, and asked them to pass on the dolls after about 5 minutes. This represents what happens to the children in the course of a year. Sometimes a child is moved five times in a year. Frequently siblings are separated.
Andrea Vigil gave us more information. About 8,000 calls come in per year about possible abusive situations involving children. About 1,000 children are in Foster Care now and there are only about 200 Foster Care homes available. The most at-risk will be moved about five times in one year, meaning a new school, new family, new homes, and trying to find new friends.The CASA volunteers are screened and go through about 40 hours of training. They are asked for a 1 ½ year commitment at the minimum. Typically they spend a couple hours per week with the child. They have full access to the child’s confidential records. The kids never come to the CASA’s personal residence or meet their family. The CASA will sometimes intervene when a Foster Care family is having problems with the child.
A child is often in Foster Care for three years. They have 90 children on their wait list. But there are not enough volunteers or finances. CASA has about 125 volunteers currently, and especially need more male volunteers. Kids are very receptive to the CASA program. Every six months, the CASA volunteer goes to court with the child to provide input on what the child needs and how they’re doing. Generally, the CASA is advised to only care for one child at a time.Some final comments: about 70-80% of the people on the street were once in Foster Care. The CASA goal is positive placement for the children. But with these services comes a cost: about $1,200 is needed to support one child for a year.
Thanks to our speakers today, and all the great CASA volunteers. One child expressed their care so well: “I’ll never go to bed wondering if someone loves me!”Rocky Ludes
Download the website sponsorship guide