CASA continues to develop mission of helping youth in troubled times
By FRED PETRUCELLI
Log Cabin Staff Writer
Thursday, August 30, 2001
Troubled kids in Faulkner County have a passionate and powerful voice in CASA, an advocacy group that grapples with some of the most acute woes that befall young people.
Laura Strope shudders to think about their welfare without the influence of Court Appointed Special Advocates volunteers to step up and shield abused children from the rigors of life.
CASA is a private, nonprofit organization whose volunteers represent children in the juvenile court system. These children have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. Locating a permanent homes for them is one of the aims of the group.
Arkansas law mandates that parents must resolve the issues that led to the abuse or neglect within a year of the child's removal from the home or forfeit parental rights. It follows that in these situations, the child would be placed for adoption.
Bringing volunteers to bear is Ms. Strope's mission as CASA director. Volunteers monitor the child and parents during this transition period to ensure the family is receiving services such as counseling or drug rehabilitation if needed and to assure that parents are following court orders.
CASA volunteers have been described as the "eyes and ears" of the juvenile court. A volunteer is assigned to a case at the beginning and stays with it until it is resolved, usually, but not always, by returning the child to his or her home.
Ms. Strope notes that Juvenile Court Judge Linda Collier will not abide damage to kids -- emotional or physical damage. And she turns to CASA volunteers to learn the specifics of each case of abuse brought before her.
The CASA experience asserts that miracles happen when CASA volunteers speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the court system.
This idea in Faulkner County is still developing, yet the group's presence is being noted daily in particular ways under the administration of Judge Collier and the zeal of Ms. Strope. The organization is energized by a board of directors of lay people who have an abiding interest in the welfare of these children. Bob Schmidt, a local executive, is chairman of the board.
This confederation of caring people hopes to make a serious dent in the number of abused youth who need safe, permanent, nurturing homes in Faulkner County.
Working in concert with CASA is the Division of Children and Family Services of the Department of Human Services, whose mission is to provide the child caught up in mistreatment a continuous, safe and stable living environment.
The genius of CASA is predicated on the certainty to make clear that the abused or neglected child who suffers at home does not continue as abused and neglected in the system.
Given this picture, Ms. Strope points to the need for volunteers to accept responsibility to help these kids. The need, she said, and Judge Collier concurs, is to obtain one volunteer for every kid who appears in her court. That a ratio is far from being met at this point.
CASA in Faulkner County has a spotty history of poor support. Four years ago, an attempt to organize a program here failed. Only within the last few months a board of directors has been moving with a course of action. In November 2000, the board named Ms. Strope as its director. And in her short tenure, the director has pushed the concept of CASA vigorously, speaking to civic clubs and others, explaining the merits of and the critical needs of CASA.
The idea of CASA originated in l977 and today its influence is being felt in local groups like the 20th Judicial District team that reports to the judge and serves as an advocate for abused and neglected kids.
Ms. Strope, who graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a degree in psychology and sociology in l996, was employed by DHS as a social worker for three and a half years before joining CASA.
In her new position, she has seen several cases of abuse and neglect, and one of the most bizarre, described as abuse of a fetus.
In this instance, the question of legality arose in consideration of the rights of a fetus. It was argued that abuse occurred when the mother used crystal methamphetamines during her pregnancy.
The mother took the position that because the baby had not be born, she did no abuse to the fetus.
"After the baby was born, medical people worked hard to save her during a 10-day period in the hospital. The child has since been placed in a foster home under the supervision of the state Children and Family Services.
"Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more of crystal meth babies," she said.
~~~Fund Raising W/Potatoes
Advent Lutheran Church sets Saturday Potato-Fest
Friday, March 9, 2001
Advent Lutheran Church will sponsor the Sixth Annual St. Patrick's Day Potato-Fest on Saturday. The public is invited.
This year's Potato-Fest will raise funds for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a program for abused children. Funds raised at the event will be matched by Aid Association for Lutherans.
There will be a potato bar dinner with all the trimmings from 6 to 7 p.m. followed by Celtic entertainment from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Entertainment will be provided by The Dean's List whose members include Tammy Solberg, Terry Love, and Gary Roberts; and The Boomers whose members include Conrad Shumaker, Michael Schaefer and Joe Lombardi. Joining The Boomers will be Jim Herden, a folk musician from Little Rock. Both groups will perform a variety of Irish, Scottish and other Celtic tunes, along with songs that address children's issues.
Laura Strope, CASA director of the Twentieth Judicial District, will share a few words about the CASA program. CASA is a private nonprofit organization whose volunteers represent children in the juvenile court system who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. CASA provides assistance in finding permanent safe homes for abused children. The Twentieth Judicial District includes Faulkner, Searcy and Van Buren counties.
There is no set admission price to attend Potato-Fest activities; however, donations will be accepted with all proceeds to benefit CASA. Aid Association for Lutherans will match up to $800 from funds raised at the event.
Advent Lutheran Church is located at 900 Farris Road.
For more information, contact Gary Roberts at 450-3416, or by e-mail at garyr@ecom.uca.edu.
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