CASA directors discuss 2017 goals
Court Appointed Special Advocates’ local and state directors recently shared their desire for the organization’s local branch to expand its efforts as an advocate for children in Garland, Hot Spring and Grant counties.
During an interview earlier this week, Mary Beth Luibel, director of Arkansas CASA, and Desternie Sullivan, the newly appointed executive director of Garland County
CASA, articulated Garland County CASA’s goals for 2017 and how they fit into the long-term mission of the organization on a state level.
Garland County CASA, one of 22 CASA networks in the state of Arkansas, is a nonprofit that seeks to provide advocacy for each child in the foster care system in Garland, Hot Spring and Grant counties. The organization has a simple goal for the year 2017: to increase the number of children represented.
“We know it’s just a very traumatic time for children, when they’re removed from the home that they know and placed in foster care,” Luibel said. “We’re doing our best to provide a volunteer advocate for each and every child that’s placed in foster care statewide.”
Garland County CASA served 303 children who were eligible for such services in 2016, Sullivan said, noting, “Each year, the number increases, so the need increases.”
The organization creates awareness and support around its cause in part by informing local groups about its mission. The awareness aspect is emphasized during April, which is Child Abuse Awareness Month.
Sullivan specifically highlighted churches as a group that her organization is looking to involve in its cause. She said Garland County CASA has been invited to speak about its mission at several churches over the course of the month.
“We’re speaking to our civic groups, our local churches,” Sullivan said. “Our staff has been working really hard to target our local faith-based community.”
Sullivan said one CASA staff member can serve about 30 volunteers, which translates into advocating for about 72 children.
“We are increasing our staff soon so that our staff is at max capacity so that we can serve volunteers, which can then serve more children,” Sullivan said.
Luibel said the push for more staff, which will open up the possibility of more volunteers, is part of a statewide goal to have every eligible child represented by the year 2020.
Sullivan said Garland County CASA will seek to recruit individuals who have a desire to work as foster parents, but don’t meet all of the necessary requirements, as volunteers. She said the process works both ways and, sometimes, volunteers are able to move into foster care.
“There are a lot of people that can’t foster at this time. They are sending them over to us to be volunteers, and vice versa,” Sullivan said. “When we go to speak, we also let people know that we also have a need for foster parents.”
Luibel said the process of increasing advocacy is a costly one, involving the lives of others and sums of money, so she is grateful for the volunteers already working for CASA.
“We’re so appreciative of our volunteers and our supporters statewide,” she said. “We’re moving that goal every year.”