iCare: CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children - Announcing New Virtual Classes

Announcing New Virtual Training

by Cassie Johnson

The months of quarantine have brought many families closer and they have mostly enjoyed spending more time together. However, that extra time with parents and siblings has not been such a blessing for all children. While many enjoy more time with mom and dad, others have suffered because of it. Children in neglectful or abusive living situations need help now more than ever.

“CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) is a volunteer-based program that works in partnership with National CASA, Kentucky CASA Network, and our local judges,” explained Stephanie Moss, CASA Program Director at CASA of West Kentucky. CASA staff are essential workers and have not let COVID-19 slow them down in serving abused or neglected children in our community.

What is CASA? A CASA volunteer is an advocate for children. After a child is removed from their home and placed with a relative or foster family, their voices may not be heard. A CASA is appointed by a judge in many cases to look out for the interests of the child during court and custody proceedings. Each advocate has an imperative role: to speak

on behalf of the child. Children do not typically attend court hearings. The CASA volunteer visits the child regularly to ensure all their needs are being met. Advocates write a report to help the court make informed decisions on behalf of that child. This way, the wellbeing of each child is not overlooked.

“In most cases, the goal is to return children to their parents, and we are all working towards that end,” said Moss. “Every case is different, and unfortunately not all children return home. It is the role of the CASA volunteer to get to know their child in his/her case, and voice to the court whatever might be in the best interest of the child at the time of each hearing.”

Could you be a CASA? CASA volunteers are essential and Moss is committed to continuing to train new ones. Training has been ramped up following the new CDC guidelines and is now virtual - easier than ever. It can be finished in just six weeks with the new self-paced, guided learning format. You still get the benefit of regular contact with your trainer and group discussions through virtual meetings. Normally, training for the CASA program is eight class sessions to equal thirty hours of training. Volunteers would have to work this into their already busy schedules.

“Realistically, it comes down to about six hours per week for six weeks,” explained Moss. “That includes about three hours of homework, about two hours in a group session, and at most one hour of communication with others in your group or facilitator. Online sessions have proven to be very user friendly, more flexible, convenient, and overall much easier.”

YOU Can Make a Difference! To qualify as a volunteer, you must be over 21 and love children. A background check, screening with your application, interview, and reference checks are required. The CASA program searches for a very

diverse population. Stay-at-home parents, retirees, firemen, teachers, chefs… whatever you may be, YOU could be a good fit for a child who desperately needs safety.

To follow CDC guidelines, court sessions are currently held via Skype and visits with children are completed over FaceTime or outdoors, with the volunteer wearing a mask. At no point will volunteers or children be exposed to an unsafe environment.

To begin your journey toward becoming a CASA volunteer, call Child Watch Counseling and Advocacy Center at 270.443.1440. All it takes is two or three individuals enrolled for classes to begin. Classes and background checks are always offered at no cost to volunteers. Now is the time to help the children in our community who need a voice.

Child Watch Child Watch Counseling & Advocacy Center is located at 1118 Jefferson Street in Paducah and has satellite offices in Ballard and Marshall Counties. They provide children and families in western Kentucky with education, advocacy, and treatment to prevent child abuse. Encouraging family stability, promoting healthy parent/child relationships, improving the well-being of each child, and striving to help families be safer and more nurturing is their goal. They also offer professional mental health counseling to children and teenager victims of abuse ranging from physical abuse, neglect, or witness to domestic violence. Child Watch is dedicated to helping children heal, advance awareness, and strengthen families.

If you suspect abuse or neglect call the Child Protection Hot Line at 1.877.KYSAFE1 (1.877.597.2331). If a child is in immediate danger, please call 911. For additional information, contact Child Watch at 270.443.1440 or their website childwatchcac.org. *

United Way Needs YOU to Virtually Stuff the Bus

The United Way of Paducah-McCracken County’s annual Stuff the Bus school supply drive rolls on digitally, despite the pandemic, with three safe ways to give!

Donors can help prepare local students for a successful year ahead - no matter what it may look like - by giving a gift of any amount through text or online.

Shoppers who prefer to buy needed supplies can still do so by using the United Way’s Stuff the Bus Amazon Wish List.

These platforms will be live through August. Donors may: • Text GIVE to 77513 • Go online at unitedwaypaducah.org/give • Shop the Amazon Wish List at https://a.co/9TzpcS9

With manufacturing and shipping delays due to the pandemic, coupled with the need to distance people, the United Way of PaducahMcCracken County is unable to host its traditional a one-day school supply drive at your local Walmart and Sam’s Club. As a result, the

organization has pivoted to raise needed materials through online, through contactless means. It is a first for the Stuff the Bus event, which is now in its eleventh year. More than 20 Amazon packages have arrived and about $1,800 has been raised so far. All donations are divided equally among 18 family resource and youth service centers which serve 21 public and private schools in the city and county.

United Way of Paducah-McCracken County Executive Director Betsy Burkeen says, “In the midst of such challenging times for our schools and kids, it’s been so encouraging to see school supply and monetary donations come in to support Stuff the Bus. Paducah-McCracken County residents certainly know how to Live United!”

Meanwhile, schools have a greater need for donations than ever before. Family resource and youth service center coordinators outfitted students twice since last year’s Stuff the Bus campaign: once for the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year and again when students were forced into remote learning from home in the spring. As a result, several schools are now critically short on supplies for the upcoming academic year.

While much is unknown about the 2020-21 school season, it is a given students will need supplies whether they learn in-person or through non-traditional instruction at home. Reidland Elementary Family Resource Center Coordinator Marianna Romero adds, “This year, the need is even greater since many families are struggling and needing assistance who have not before. A donation to Stuff the Bus of any item from the wish list, or a cash donation in any amount, will go a long way to helping our students start the year on the right foot.”

The United Way and its donors have provided school supplies to all public and private schools in Paducah-McCracken County. Last year, schools helped more than 1,300 students receive supplies just in the fall semester. Stuff the Bus is made possible by event sponsor, Paducah Bank. *