White County Commission discussed Monday bringing the CASA program to White County.
Judge John Meadows said the Court Appointed Special Advocates program assigns approved, trained volunteers to children in the foster system. Meadows said the program matches a volunteer with the foster child, meeting with the child at least once a month and keeping close contact with everyone in the life of the child.
“Placements may disrupt, children may be moved to different homes for various reasons,” Meadows said. “They may be reassigned case workers, you know, maybe several different case workers through their foster care stay. I think it’s important to have that one person they can always count on.”
Meadows said the advocates appear with their assigned foster children at court, advocating for their best interest. Meadows said the program extends across multiple counties across the state.
Meadows said volunteer advocates will stay with a case until the child is no longer in the foster system, assuring the child has a stable figure in their lives throughout the process.
Meadows said both White and Van Buren County have a need for the program. Meadows said a total of 83 foster children remain in state custody, 64 children from White County and 19 from Van Buren County.
“The goal is for them to be actively involved, to be a steady, continuing source of support for that foster child throughout the course of the case,” Meadows said. “From the time they enter foster care, until the time they are able to be returned home to their parents, or until they are placed in a safe and stable, permanent home.”
Meadows said the organization is trying to find like-minded individuals and businesses to gain local support for the program. Meadows said people with time and resources who would be interested in assisting with the program in both counties would be appreciated. Meadows said some state funding will be available to assist the program once the program begins operating.
“You know, we all the time hear of children falling through the cracks,” Meadows said. “And I think this is one thing, a resource, that if we have it, then that’s one thing we can do to stop these children from falling through the cracks.”
Meadows said program representatives will come and host an organizational meeting in the county next month.