CASA needs volunteers to help abused, neglected children through court system
FROM STAFF REPORTS
KINGSLAND — With 40 dedicated volunteers putting in as much effort as they can, CASA for the Highland Lakes Area still faces a difficult challenge.
“Currently in Burnet County, we have 56 active (Child Protective Services) cases that involve 86 children,” said Galyn Woerner, the CASA for the Highland Lakes Area advocate coordinator. With 40 volunteers, that means many of them are covering more than one case. And CASA (which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate) for the Highland Lakes Area serves Burnet, Blanco, Lampasas, Llano and San Saba counties.
“We proudly serve 100 percent of the children that are in CPS care in Burnet County, in all the counties we serve,” Woerner said. “We fear that one day that may no longer be possible without new advocates. We might be forced to actually choose who to help and who not to help. That is a sad day that we do not ever want to experience.”
All this equates to a growing need for people interested in being the voice of a child in the court system. It doesn’t take any special skills because CASA is holding a training class starting in August. All you need is a desire to make a difference in a child’s life.
CASA gets involved after CPS removes a child or children from a home because of neglect or abuse. During the court process, the CASA volunteer serves as the eyes and the ears of the court on behalf of the child. The advocate informs the court what is going on in the child’s life. Though CPS caseworkers, foster families and even judges may change, the CASA volunteer tends to be the one constant in the child’s life during this process.
“The CASA’s roll is to advocate for the child’s best interests in the court at every stage of the case once appointed by the court,” Woerner said. “Additionally, the CASA’s role is to be an individual who respects a child’s inherent right to grow up with dignity in a safe environment that meets the child’s best interests.
“No other nonprofit organization in our area provides the kind of advocacy service to these children the way CASA does,” Woerner said. “We save the citizens tax dollars that would have been required if the state of Texas was left alone to do this work.”
Woerner is available to speak with organizations, churches, Sunday school classes or just about any other group that is interested in learning more about CASA and its work.
“To become a CASA is to give a child a voice in the courts and hope for a better outcome to their case,” she added.
Call Woerner at (325) 388-3440 for more information on CASA, volunteer opportunities or scheduling a speaker.
editor@thepicayune.com