CASA of South Central and Fillmore County CASA held a CASA Day April 9th, 2021 in order to help recognize CASA Volunteers and Child Abuse Prevention Month.
CASA volunteers are well trained court appointed special advocates for youth who are victims of abuse and neglect. CASA volunteers communicate with the courts, legal staff, teachers, guardians, and foster parents and visit their child regularly. CASA volunteers make recommendations to the court on behalf of the child’s needs and is the voice for the child.
Currently, Fillmore county CASA serves twelve children and two are on the waiting list for a CASA. In addition, CASA serves eleven youth in Nuckolls and Clay counties. Five of the eleven youth have a CASA assigned and the others are on the waiting list.
Fillmore County CASA would like to train more volunteers to help compensate for children that still need a CASA. To begin the application process, call up to the CASA office to request an application to be sent to you. The telephone number for Fillmore County CASA is 402-759-4975.
The volunteer is required to complete 30 hours of pre-service training in addition to having criminal background checks done and submit three references. There is also 12 hours of ongoing training to complete each year. A CASA volunteer needs to be reliable and ready to commit to their case an average of 4-6 hours a month.
Fillmore County CASA has an Advisory Board that oversees the CASA program, along with CASA of South Central. The following Board members include; Frank Heinisch as Chairman, Patty Roper, Lynn Mussman, and RuAnn Root. Board members meet quarterly with the CASA Coordinator.
On April 9th, 2021, Fillmore County CASA staff and board members, County court officials including Fillmore, Clay, and Nuckolls counties, office staff, and Child Protection Workers with Health and Human Services, participated in CASA Day, along with CASA of South Central, by wearing blue CASA t-shirts to help raise awareness and to show their support for CASA volunteers.
Fillmore County CASA staff appreciate CASA volunteers and all they do to advocate for the children assigned to them.
CASA day on April 9th, showed an abundant amount of support for volunteers who work with children who are victims of abuse and neglect. CASA is fortunate to be a part of a vary caring and supportive community.
Some pictures of volunteers and court offices that celebrated CASA day to show their support include:
In order from left to right: Cindy Carrigan with CASA Volunteer Supervisor Deb Mohlman, Loren Eichelberger CASA Volunteer, Julie Bergen Clay County Court, Lisa Hendrickson CASA Volunteer, Frank Heinisch CASA Board Chairman, Jill Cunningham and Ginny Conway Fillmore County Attorneys Office, Lynn Mussman CASA Board Member and Valuable CASA Volunteer, Brad Kawlkarf Guardian in Litem for CASA youth, Nuckolls County Court Staff, Pat Sudrla CASA Volunteer, Kathy Peppard