Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A FA L L 2 0 1 5 68 68 F O R T H E Love O F. . . ANOTHER OUTSTANDING MONTANA NONPROFIT COURT-APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA) ARE THE VOICE OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN MONTANA ARTICLE BY JOYCE FUNDA PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATIONAL CASA C OURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA) is a network of over 950 community-based programs that recruit, train, and support citizen- volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in courtrooms and com- munities. CASA advocates repre- sent the voice of the community in child abuse and neglect cases. CASA of Montana, Inc., together with local programs, supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that they can thrive in safe, permanent homes. In addition to the state office, there are 15 independent nonprofit local CASA programs in Montana, serving 41 of the 56 counties with over 600 volunteer advocates. Local CASA programs are based in the communities of Anaconda, Billings, Bozeman, Conrad, Dillon, Great Falls, Hamilton, Havre (serving the 12th and 17th Judicial Districts), Helena, Kalispell, Livingston, Miles City, Mis- soula and Polson. Many of these programs serve multiple counties. It is the only program of its kind, empowered directly by the courts to provide children with one-on-one advocacy. Volunteer advocates offer judges the critical information they need to assess the best interests of the child and assure each child's rights and needs are being attended to while in foster care. Each volunteer advocate stays with each case until the child is placed in a loving per- manent home. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer is the only constant adult presence in their lives. Over the past 12-18 months, CASA programs in Montana have been challenged in a way never seen before in Montana. e number of children being removed from their homes through no fault of their own and placed in foster care by Child Protection Services has reached an all-time high in Montana. Depending on the month, the numbers exceed 2,000 children in care. Typically, when the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Child & Family Division (Child Protection Unit) removes a child and files a petition in District Court, the local CASA program director will appoint a CASA advocate to the case. When that happens, the CASA advocate remains with CONTACT INFORMATION: Joyce Funda, Executive Director info@casagal.org 406.443.2448 or visit www.casagal.org. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A FA L L 2 0 1 5 For a video called "360 CASA" go to: DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL www.distinctlymontana.com/casa154

• Cover