By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The number of volunteers at CASA of the High Plains - Court Appointed Special Advocates - has dwindled in the past few years to just five people.
The number of children being served has not dwindled.
Twelve children are being helped by CASA so far this year; 10 new cases were brought forward in 2023 and none of those have been closed.
Jan Johnson has been executive director of CASA of the High Plains, 107 W. 13th, Hays, since May 2023. She's also a CASA volunteer working directly with children.
The non-profit organization serves the 23rd Judicial District, consisting of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego and Gove counties.
It was established in Ellis County in 1989 by now Chief Judge Glenn Braun and has served approximately 444 children since then.
The national CASA organization formed in 1977 in Seattle, Washington where Judge David Soukup recognized a need for children's voices to be heard in court.
"In a child in need of care case, the judge was feeling he wasn't getting the whole picture," said Johnson.
All the adults involved would say something different regarding "a lifetime decision for the child and the judge is having to make it with small bits of conflicting information from the various parties.
"A CASA advocate is given access to pretty much anybody involved with that child - doctors, teachers, mental health providers, the foster parents, the parents, law enforcement, and the child himself, to get a broad picture of exactly what's going on," she said.
"They can give a more personal view of that child than the judge is going to get from many of the other parties that are there."
CASA gathers the information to write a court report for the judge.
"It outlines, as reported to us, the wants of the child, and any concerns we may see."
The report is taken into account by the judge just as others are from St. Francis Ministries, the Kansas Department of Children and Families, or the Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center.
Requests for a CASA volunteer for a child can come from various people. Johnson has also been approaching county attorneys in the local judicial district to ask if CASA can assist with any cases they have.
The local CASA program has been dormant for several years, Johnson said.
She's been busy trying to reinvigorate it, especially the program's volunteer capacity.
"We've got a pretty good group already and are reaching out to the courts and letting them know we're here."
Johnson also wants the communities in the four-county area to know CASA is available. "More volunteers would allow us to take on more cases."
There are currently no volunteers in Rooks County.
Volunteer training and continuing education is available through the CASA state and national networks.
Each potential CASA volunteer and board member goes through a seven-year background check. Training is at least 40 hours over six weeks.
"It is definitely a commitment. It is emotionally taxing but it's very gratifying to make a difference."
Johnson says many CASA volunteers her age had similar childhood experiences as those today involved in child in need of care cases.
"But ours just didn't make it to court. Maybe it didn't happen to us personally, but we grew up seeing it in our families, with our friends, in our community. You saw kids that needed help...
"This work makes a difference in kids' lives. CASA getting involved speeds things up to getting them into a permanent placement, "Johnson said.
"It gets kids to the place they need to be."
National CASA statistics show that judges report CASA volunteers have the most significant impact on promoting long-term well-being (92.2%), followed by ensuring appropriate services for children and families (83%) and promoting psychological well-being (79.9%).
It costs approximately $1,500 to train one advocate.
Funding for CASA of the High Plains comes from grants, donations and fundraisers, including the United Way of Ellis County, the city of Hays, and the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration's Kansas Permanent Families Fund.
For information about becoming a volunteer or board member for CASA of the High Plains, contact Johnson at 785-628-8641 or by email at [email protected].