GREENFIELD — The newly independent Hancock County Court-Appointed Special Advocates has sworn in its first volunteers as an independent organization. The program recently split off from the Madison County-based East Central Indiana CASA to better serve the needs of local children.
“This is the first class of volunteers that are true Hancock County-only volunteers,” said Marciann McClarnon Miller, director of Hancock County CASA.
Four new volunteers were present at the ceremony: Allison Hoskins, Barbara Hockman, Ashley Grimes and Amy Marr. A fifth, Brian Mason, was sworn in via Skype.
The swearing-in was also the first such ceremony for Marie Castetter, the new Hancock County Superior Court 1 judge.
“You guys are kind of our ears and eyes and can tell us what’s really going on out there, so it’s really important to the process and we appreciate you volunteering your time to help us with that process,” Castetter told the new volunteers.
Children who are represented by a CASA have generally been removed from their homes due to reports of child abuse or neglect and have been placed with a relative, in foster care, or, infrequently, in a residential group home.
“Our goal is to reunify the families and make sure the children are well taken care of,” Miller said. “If they need glasses, if they need a doctor’s appointment, if they’re struggling in school, we’re there to advocate to make things better for them. We’re also there just to listen.”
Volunteer Allison Hoskins worked with a CASA program in Texas over 10 years ago, which led her to become a foster parent who ended up adopting a daughter.
“I also am a clinic assistant at New Palestine Junior High, and I see kids come in there who have a hard time with their families, and there’s only so much I can do for them, so I wanted to get back into giving to kids and doing something in the community to help,” Hoskins said.
Observing children’s circumstances as a CASA volunteer can be painful, Hoskins said.
“It’s hard, because a lot of times you want to take them all home and take care of them and give them their best life, and I think the hardest part is being their voice but also remembering that these are their parents, looking at all aspects and not being judgmental,” she said.
Training for the volunteers included familiarizing themselves with legal procedure and observing court proceedings. The total training period includes 30 hours of instruction.
While CASA volunteers should meet with the children they represent at least once every month, Miller said almost all of them make a greater time commitment, visiting school events and other activities.
“Our volunteers show up in the life of this child, because these kids really have not had anybody show up for them,” Miller said.
Ashley Grimes, who teaches elementary school in Indianapolis, said she sees many children with significant needs at school and wanted to do more to help out in her own community. After seeing news stories about CASA, she decided to get involved.
“I’m just excited to help kids through making relationships with them and also helping with the investigations side and making sure children’s voices are heard in what they need or want,” she said.
Miller said the CASA program currently has a waiting list of about 70 children, and that having five new volunteers will help alleviate that burden.
“Even though we are so fortunate to have new volunteers step up, the situation for children in Hancock County, and really all over the United States, is not going to get better. They’re just going to continue to need an advocate.”