CASA for Kids serves valley children
CASA For Kids is a volunteer organization that empowers everyday citizens as a appointed advocates of the court.
In Flathead County 51 volunteers serve as a child’s guardian ad litem. Advocates typically handle one to two cases at a time and are committed to staying with their case until a resolution is reached. CASA volunteers provide a constant, stable advocate for the child to connect to in a situation where frequent change is often the norm.
The Flathead Valley CASA For Kids was founded locally in 2000 at the encouragement of Judge Katherine Curtis, Bonnie Olson, Mary Lerner, Connie Leistiko and a number of community agencies representatives and volunteers concerned about child abuse and neglect.
Since that time the United Way has served as the organization’s fiscal agent and provided administrative support under its 501 c 3 tax exempt status.
As of Jan. 1, 2014, CASA For Kids, Inc. will begin the year as its own 501 c 3 tax-exempt agency under the direction of a newly elected Board of Trustees. This change has been endorsed by the governing boards of both the United Way and CASAFor Kids.
This new non profit will combine efforts with the Voices For CASA Program which was developed as a fund raising foundation for the local CASA Program. The board for the CASA For Kids Program will be comprised of members from the CASA Advisory Council and the Voices For CASA Board.
“Over the last 13 years, the program has grown and flourished, touching the lives of hundreds of abused and neglected children and their families in our community,” said Flathead County District Judge David Ortley, a member of the CASA For Kids Advisor Council. “The CASA organization and staff are strong and at a development stage where the program can successfully transition to its own non-profit entity.”
The United Way and CASA For Kids are working to ensure a smooth transition for both agencies. “United Way remains committed to CASA and CASA For Kids program will change its status as a service of the United Way moving to the Member Agency category.” Ortley said.
One of United Way’s program service areas is to serve as an incubator of programs that meet a documented unmet need within a community. “It has been our pleasure ,to work alongside the excellent caliber of volunteers and the outstanding community members who have served CASA over the years. We believe that this transition will be positive for both organizations and will allow the CASA For Kids Program to develop and grow in new directions” said Sherry Stevens, Executive Director for United Way.
CASA For Kids is a nationally recognized organization serving children who find themselves involved with the court system through no fault of their own. Currently, there are more than 900 CASA programs in operation nationwide and 15 programs in the State of Montana.
During 2012, the CASA For Kids Program served 182 children in Northwest Montana.
“We are grateful to the United Way for hosting CASA for the past 13 years. It is has
given CASA a chance to focus on the program aspect of the program and develop a strong base of support in the community,” said Jamie Campbell who serves as the CASA For Kids Program Director and will step forward as the new Executive Director.
For more information about the CASA Program, call 755-7208.