St. Joseph County CASA program needs adult volunteers

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — The Probate family law division of St. Joseph County Courts is looking both men and women with time and big hearts to step up in 2023 and make a difference for foster care children as court-appointed special advocates.

New CASA training will begin in January.

CASA of Southwest Michigan serves Berrien and St. Joseph counties. It started up just before the COVID-19 lockdowns in March 2020. Since then, 15 have volunteered and trained in St Joseph County, said Jamie Brooks, executive director.

David C. Tomlinson, the St. Joseph County Probate Court judge with jurisdiction over foster care cases, praised the CASA program.

“They've been really good for us in our county for our children,” Tomlinson said.

“There are probably 175 kids in St. Joseph County who are in foster care," Brooks said. "We advocated for about 30 of them last year.”

“You can do the math. There are about 150 kids that are in foster care that could use an advocate. We'd like to serve every single one that does,” Brooks said.

CASA helps the children placed by Tomlinson’s court with foster families.

“We use them quite a lot, particularly in our more difficult cases, especially when we have children that have special needs.”

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services workers and private agency workers are required to see the child or children once a month. Most have large caseloads.

“Sometimes that's just not enough,” Judge Tomlinson said.

This is where CASA volunteers help the children and the system.

CASA volunteers “create a relationship with a child, continue to see that child or children. They’ll help the foster parents or maybe relative placement, to get the things that they need for that child.” The CASA volunteers are individual advocates who make a commitment to see the children more than once a month.

Amanda Frye, a CASA volunteer since March, advocates and mentors two children.

“I have one case that I do visits every other week," she said. "It is just an arrangement that worked out for both of us with busy schedules.”

In her other case, she calls sometimes daily and at least weekly, contacting foster parents and the child.

“I go to visit there, maybe 45 minutes to an hour. I just go see how things are going and spend some time with the kids. ... I've taken coloring books or art supplies and just things that I know they enjoy,” she said.

Sometimes the CASA volunteer will see the need for special services, vision checks, hearing checks, or placement in special programs. The CASA representative can advocate making sure these services, such as therapy and special assessments for the child are provided.

“They act as another person to make good contact with the child, to be there for them, to answer questions for them, help them understand if they're older, understand how this system works,” Judge Tomlinson said .

Lyndsey Anderson heads the St. Joseph County CASA program.

“It does truly take a one-of-a-kind person that's available, that's got the time, the heart that's dedicated,” the former Coldwater school teacher said.

The CASA program supports volunteers. Gas money is reimbursed, and some costs are paid through its grants.

CASA volunteers are critical, said Anderson.

“Our reports have specifically made a huge difference in the outcomes of the cases. And I think the judge respects the program and our recommendations," she said.

Tomlinson and Brooks said volunteering is a big commitment. The process involves background checks, interviews, references and training. Initial training is 40 hours, half conducted online.

“We hope that they'll visit them weekly," Brooks said. "We ask they visit them monthly, face to face, to develop a relationship with these really wonderful, amazing kids that need a person.”

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Fry said she is happy she volunteered. “But I absolutely love it. And I wouldn't change it for anything. It's like you make a difference in the kids’ lives.”

To become a CASA volunteer, contact the St. Joseph coordinator Lyndsey Anderson at sj_coordinator@casaswmi.org or call CASA of Southwest Michigan at 269-934-3707.

— Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DReidTDR.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: The nonprofit citizens CASA needs volunteers to help foster children in court