Volunteers give children a voice

About 50 people attended the fourth annual balloon release held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday on the steps of the Eunice City Court, 300 South 2nd St., Eunice, for CASA of St. Landry Inc.
CASA — Court Appointed Special Advocates — is an organization of volunteers who are trained and then appointed by judges to serve as a child’s voice in court.
Priscilla Fisher, the lone volunteer from Eunice, said working with CASA is a good way to give back to the community.
“Children in the foster case program need a voice,” she said.
Retirement gave her the time to work with CASA, she said.
“Our first objective is to unite them with their families,” Fisher said. “If that doesn’t work then we go through the courts and do home visits.
“Once they open up to us it opens up a whole world. It is important to know how the kids feel. It is not that the parents lost custody or the system. How are these kids feeling? How are they doing? How are they coping? Whatever we can do to help, that’s what we go for.”
Fisher said, “We really need some people to step up and be a voice for these kids.”
Madelyn Rosette, executive director of CASA of St. Landry, said there are 48 children involved with CASA in St. Landry Parish.
Rosette also said 28 children died from abuse or neglect in Louisiana in 2014.
Eunice City Court Judge Terry Hoychick said, “CASA is there to oversee everything. We’ve got social services that do wonderful jobs and our attorneys that do a wonderful job. CASA is a volunteer group that comes in and provides oversight. And, it is just a little extra security blanket. I can go to them in confidence, I can go them in public, it doesn’t matter, and get their opinions. They are they when I need them.”
Kristi Ardoin, a volunteer who spoke at the balloon launch, said she lived in foster care beginning when she was 13 years old.
“A decade later I stand before you all sharing my story,” she said.
“My hope now is that we all inspire the children we come into contact with,” Ardoin said.
Rosette spoke to the Eunice Rotary Club on April 1.
An annual membership campaign began Jan. 29 in which pledges of at least $25 are asked.
CASA is 80 percent funded through the state Supreme Court and 20 percent through fundraising, she said.
The donated funds are to be used to recruit and train CASA volunteer advocates and to educate the public about child abuse and neglect.
“Our goal for this campaign is to provide a CASA advocate who cares deeply and works diligently for each and every abused and neglected child, who speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves, to help guide the children to find permanent loving homes, and to support and guide these children so they can have hope for their future,” a fundraising letter stated.
Anyone 21 or older can submit an application to volunteer. There is no special background required. Volunteers are screened for objectivity, competence and commitment.
Applicants are interviewed by program staff, consent to background clearances, complete a 32-hour training program, commit to serving at least a year and attend 12 hours of training after taking a case.
The amount of time a volunteer spends on cases depends on the volunteer, Rosette said.
“We don’t put a number to it, but do ask that you see them at least once a month,” she said.
CASA is to give special representation to abused children, work with all parties involved with a child to see that the child is placed in safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible and submit a recommendation to a judge advocating what they believe to be in the child’s best interest.
Advocates do no provide legal representation and do not replace a social worker.
The volunteers are to serve on one or two cases and provide more thoroughly researched information than other professionals could provide.
In addition to the balloon release Thursday, the second annual Child Abuse Prevention Walk and Rally is planned from 9 a.m. to noon April 25. The walk is form North City Park to South Park in Opelousas.
For more information, contact the CASA of St. Landry office at 337-948-3550.