Photos Courtesy of CASA
Fortunately for April, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children was able to help. Susanna, a volunteer advocate, dedicated herself to April’s welfare. “We make sure that, while they are in the care of the state, they get what they need,” says Ann McAlpin, executive director of CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County. “Things tend to slip through the cracks. The state is not the ideal parent.”
Finding a suitable home for April was at the top of Susanna’s to-do list. While some biological parents are willing to take steps to remedy a harmful home environment, April’s mother was not. So, Susanna interviewed family members who lived nearby to see if any were willing to take custody of April. Just when Susanna was about to give up hope, Sarah, a relative in her early 20s who lived out of state, presented herself as a candidate for guardianship.
Although statistics show abused or neglected children fare better with relatives than with strangers, Susanna had reservations. Sarah, a high school dropout, did not have a good job or a suitable home for April. Susanna, however, realized Sarah genuinely cared about April’s welfare. She challenged Sarah to earn her GED so she could get a better-paying job and provide adequate housing.
“I don’t care,” Sarah told Susanna when she heard the news. “I still want April.” Delighted, Susanna paid her own way to accompany April and her CPS caseworker to her new home, just in time for the holidays.
Seven years later, April is a happy 12-year-old who has an enjoyable day-to-day routine with Sarah. Susanna, although her contribution was significant, does not want any praise for her part in helping April find happiness in a safe and nurturing home. Seeing April’s smile, she says, is all the thanks she needs.
The mission
The mission of CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County is to provide and promote court-appointed volunteer advocates “so that every abused and neglected child can have the opportunity to thrive in a safe, nurturing, and permanent home.” National statistics indicate a child who has a CASA volunteer is half as likely to languish in foster care, and twice as likely to find a safe, permanent home.
In 2014, 215 CASA volunteers advocated for 606 abused or neglected children in Montgomery County. CASA volunteers come from all professions, Ann says, including many retired schoolteachers and nurses. Some are stay-at-home mothers; others are grandparents. Many advocates are retired, but some have full-time jobs. Volunteers can do much of their work when it suits their schedules, but court dates and some appointments must be handled during normal business hours. While some volunteers are in their 20s or 30s, 67 percent are over the age of 50. What volunteers have in common is the desire to make a difference in the lives of children who desperately need their help.
Most cases are resolved in one year. During that time, an advocate may speak with a child’s therapist, attorney, schoolteachers, and physicians. “They are the champion for that child. You can’t have too many pairs of eyes on a child who has been through the trauma some of our children have been through,” Pat says. “Every child deserves an advocate.” A surprising 60 percent of abused and neglected children in Texas are under the age of 6.
CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County is always in need of more advocates. While there are roughly the same number of boys and girls in foster care, about 80 percent of advocates are women. Both men and women make good advocates, Ann says, but sometimes boys respond better to male advocates. In addition, there is a particular need for advocates who speak both Spanish and English. Becoming an advocate is a one-year commitment, as it takes a year to resolve most cases. New advocates represent one child or one set of siblings at a time, although more experienced advocates may handle two or three cases at a time.
A perfect example is Jane Funke, a six-year veteran of CASA, who received the 2013 Jane Quentan Piper Volunteer Advocate of the Year Award for Texas CASA. “I find it difficult to stand up in court sometimes, but I have also found a depth to myself I didn’t realize I had,” Jane says. “It’s not about me. It’s about the child.”
CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County’s primary fundraisers are its Boots and Ball Gowns Gala in January of each year, a golf tournament each spring, and the annual CASA Superhero Run, a 5K/10K trail run that will be held on October 3. Participants dress in superhero costumes in keeping with the race’s motto: “Every child needs a hero. Abused and neglected children need superheroes.” CASA also appreciates the efforts of volunteers who organize fundraising events.
For more information about CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County, visit casaspeaks4kids.com.