TERRE HAUTE — Nikki Fuhrmeister, Program Director of Vigo County CASA has announced that the organization is establishing an “Extra-Mile Club” to raise emergency funds from individual donors and companies in the community.
Proceeds will be used to buy gas cards for local CASA volunteers, who often travel hundreds of miles a month to investigate and advocate on behalf of neglected and abused children.
Volunteers working with CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocate – programs are specially trained to speak in court for the best interests of abused and neglected children.
“Our volunteers do what no one else really can do,” Fuhrmeister said. “They’re officers of the court, but they stand outside the child protective services and foster care systems.
“They provide judges with a truly objective evaluation of what’s happening outside the courtroom.”
Their duties often involve extensive travel. CASA volunteers visit government and social service agencies, caregiver homes, homes of origin, and schools, among other destinations.
“They are the eyes and ears of the court, and sometimes its voice,” said Michael Piraino, CEO of the National CASA Association, based in Seattle, Wash.
“When your mission is to make sure that everyone involved is not only following the law, but doing what’s best for a child, the costs add up,” Piraino added. “I personally know of many people who are driving hundreds of miles a month for each case they handle, and there are thousands more like them.”
CASA volunteers in this community are currently traveling an estimated 365 miles per week. With ongoing hikes in gas prices, the organization is worried that they may have to cut back on their activity, which will have a direct impact on the children they serve.
“This work is just too important, and too effective, to let anything get in its way,” Fuhrmeister said. “So, since we know our volunteers would never ask, we are asking for them. They should never have to think twice about making a trip that will help a child.”
Studies show that children who are assigned a CASA volunteer have significantly better educational outcomes than those who aren’t. Piraino attributes this to the effectiveness of volunteers in helping to bring stability to the lives of foster children, who are commonly placed in multiple homes over the course of their time in care. The National CASA Association and its local offices have been recognized by, among others, the United States Congress and numerous state and local governments as playing an irreplaceable role in augmenting the quality of care these children receive.
Nationwide, CASA has approximately 60,000 volunteers affiliated with over 950 local program offices, which last year worked with 243,000 of the 800,000 children placed in foster care. In the same period, Vigo County CASA supplied 84 advocates to take on the cases of approximately 300 local children.
Donors or those interested in volunteering should contact Vigo County CASA at (812) 231-5658.
Valley Life
CASA launches ‘Extra-Mile Club’ to help neglected, abused children
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