Williamson Herald Article

By Mindy Tate • Williamson Herald • June 17, 2010

It is often said there are three sides to every story — yours, the other person’s and the truth. Often times, when it comes to Williamson County’s abused and neglected children, there are more sides to the story, but for many, the truth comes from the reports of Williamson County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates.

Known as CASA, the role of these volunteers is to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in Williamson County, said Chris Barnhill, executive director of the local organization which was started in 1977 by former Judge Jane C. Franks.

She recruited the first leaders to serve on the board of directors and worked with the national CASA organization to train advocates. Those volunteering as CASA advocates receive 30 hours of training, plus 12 hours annually of continuing education, as part of their effort to make sure that every CASA child is in a safe and permanent home.

Once CASA volunteers receive their training, they are actually appointed by a judge to be an advocate for the best interest of the child, sometimes pitting them against the parents or other court officials, but Barnhill said their mission is clear.

“The court depends on the advocates on what should I do with this child,” Barnhill said. “In the last year, the court took these recommendations 98 percent of the time. They are good at what they do and the court gives their recommendations an incredible amount of weight and I am proud of that.”

With more than 300 cases in the last year — representing a 500 percent increase in five years — the local CASA organization is stretched thin, not so much in terms of advocates, but in terms of staffing and funding for the organization, which has only three full-time employees.

“Money,” Barnhill said when asked the greatest need of the organization. “I don’t say that tritely. With this big push of recruiting advocates, we are now meeting our national mandate to take care of specific abuse and neglect cases, plus we are able to take care of other needs of the court’s wishes, including some custody cases.”

But as the caseload grows, so do the requirements for professional staff to supervise the advocates’ caseload and Williamson County CASA finds itself at the point where something may have to give.

“We were mandated by national CASA that we are going to have to have another staff person because we can only have such a caseload and we need another supervisor,” Barnhill said.

“We now have a structure in place where people can give monthly, go online and donate or volunteer,” Barnhill said. “We receive no money from the cities or the court system. We are grateful for every penny we receive and we do receive some funding from the county, but without an expanded revenue source, this service is in jeopardy of failing.”

With an overhead of less than 10 percent of the organization’s overall budget, “We have not fat to trim,” Barnhill said.

While sounding urgent about the need for funding, Barnhill also points to the dedication and determination of advocates to make sure children are protected.

CASA volunteers are people from all walks of life, Barnhill said, and undergo screening to make sure they are eligible to interact with CASA’s clients, the majority of whom are in elementary school or younger, Barnhill said.

To prepare a recommendation, the CASA volunteer talks with the child, parents, family members, social workers, school officials, health care providers and others who are knowledgeable about the child. The volunteer also reviews school, health and case worker reports before preparing their report.

Advocates normally carry one or two cases at a time and usually work 10 to 15 hours per month, but the advocate always follows the case until the issue is permanently resolved, Barnhill said.

For Carol Lewis, a CASA volunteer for two years in September, she found CASA after relocating from Maryland to be near her grandchildren.

“I am a retired elementary school principal,” Lewis said. “I needed something to do that was rewarding and fulfilling. My daughter-in-law, Josephine Lewis, is an attorney and she told me about CASA. It is a perfect fit for me and it is very worthwhile and very needed.”

Just as Barnhill said there is no typical CASA volunteer, there is also no typical case, Lewis said, adding that she loves working for the children, no matter what it takes in terms of her time or her personal expenses to be able to make the best recommendation for the child’s future. Just last month, she drove more than 500 miles pursuing the best interests of the children assigned to her.

“In Maryland, we didn’t have a CASA and I am so impressed we have it here,” she said. “I get much more involved, sometimes lose sleep over some of cases and the children, but it is an amazing feeling to know you are there for that child. No matter what anybody else says, I focus on what is best for the child.

“What surprises me the most is that in Williamson County that you would have a need for CASA, but there are so many children that need us to have a voice because otherwise they wouldn’t,” Lewis said.

To learn more about Williamson County CASA, visit their Web site at www.williamsoncountycasa.org or send an email to info@williamsoncountycasa.org. The office number is 591-2699.