HANCOCK COUNTY — The county’s most vulnerable children are foremost in the minds of organizers and volunteers for the Court Appointed Special Advocate program.
The local CASA group is working hard to make sure volunteers stay in touch with children who were already considered at risk before the pandemic started.
The stay-at-home order, however, has presented new challenges for the organization, which, like many is utilizing technology to keep in touch. They’re reaching out via the internet, phone and even correspondence with the children to make sure their needs are being met.
“We’re trying to use all kinds of different platforms to reach out to our children,” said Marciann Miller, director of the Hancock County CASA program.
Many of the 70 children in the local program are in foster care or with relatives riding out the pandemic. Miller and the program’s 38 volunteers have found some of the children they’re helping are familiar with technology and are able to communicate with their advocates, while others are not.
When a foster parent or a relative isn’t up to speed with the latest communication programs like Zoom or House Party or similar platforms, CASA officials are making sure to at least talk with the child as often as they can.
“One of the main things we want to do for our kiddos is to make sure they know we are still there for them,” Miller said.
While it’s hard for Miller and the volunteers to know for certain if the children truly understand what is going on with the COVID-19 pandemic, CASA volunteers are are still working hard to be a positive presence in the children’s lives.
“So many of the children have had so many people come and go in their lives, and we just want to reassure them we are still here,” Miller said.
From connecting via technology to dropping off presents, their favorite snacks, and even waving hello from a distance, the volunteers are staying active keeping in touch with the children.
Linda Dunn is one of the volunteers who, during normal times, is required to meet with and have “eyes on” the child they’ve been assigned to. As an advocate for children in family court matters, the volunteers make sure the children are doing well and have what they need. The pandemic has complicated that, but it has not altered the primary directive of touching base and making sure each child is OK.
“All of us volunteers have had to find different ways to stay in touch,” Dunn said.
She had just met with her assigned children right before the shutdown and is continuing her contact via Zoom.
“Some of our other CASA volunteers are using things like Skype and Facetime,” Dunn said.
The use of technology is not as practical for volunteers working with infants and toddlers. That’s when the foster parent or relative comes into play and is asked to work with the CASA so they can at least stay in contact with the child.
Some of the volunteers are even going old school, sending cards and letters or dropping off a care package where the child is staying.
“We need to have some kind of visual communication so we can verify the child is safe,” Dunn said.
Miller is the only one who has been allowed to go to court to hear new cases, as many of the current cases have been continued until after the quarantine has been lifted.
“That’s been hard because in some of our cases we were making great strides,” Miller said.
But the slowdown in court activity also is giving attorneys, the Department of Child Services and county judges a chance to delve more into cases.
“We’re all trying to do the best thing in the interest of the child,” Miller said.
The local CASA program recently split off from its regional partner and has been independent since January. The program is always looking for volunteers to serve more children. Anyone interested in learning more or wanting to help out during the pandemic may call Miller at 317-902-3462.
