Honoring “Hometown Heroes” was the theme of the Eighteenth Annual Indiana State GAL/CASA Conference. Sponsored by the Indiana Supreme Court’s office of Guardian Ad Litem/Court Appointed Special Advocate (GAL/CASA) the event was held” on October 11 in Indianapolis.
Six hundred CASA volunteers, directors and program staff participated in the conference. The keynote speaker, Noah benShea, an author, poet and philosopher, provided an inspirational presentation called, “Of All the Things You Can Make in Life, Remember, You Make a Difference.” Every conference participant was given a copy of Mr. benShea’s book, The Journey to Greatness and How to Get There.
There were also conference workshops on a variety of topics including personal safety, the effects of domestic violence on children, advocating for youth with disabilities, human trafficking, compassion fatigue, the impact of substance abuse on families, helping youth achieve healthy racial and ethnic identities, and dangerous drugs. There was also a judge’s panel and former foster youth panel.
Each year at the conference a volunteer of the year is selected by a committee of directors from volunteers nominated by programs all over the state. This year, the 2014 Volunteer of the Year was Mary Kay Emmrich from Crossroads CASA, a multi-county CASA program serving Jasper, Newton and Benton Counties. Ms. Emmrich dedicated more than 200 hours in 2014 handling difficult cases. In one instance, she worked with a teen whose mother died. Emmrich helped to organize a service at the child’s residential facility and arranged for the teen to wear a dress to honor her mother’s last request. On another occasion, Emmrich stayed with a deaf child all night, writing notes back and forth, when she had been removed from her parents, to help her calm down. Emmrich was nominated by her program director, a fellow volunteer, and two Newton County Department of Child Services case managers. Her nomination was supported by Newton Circuit Court Judge Jeryl F. Leach.
During the awards luncheon at the conference, former foster youth Brian Kasper from Tippecanoe County addressed the attendees about his experience with his CASA volunteer. Brian is now serving in the U.S. Navy and is the epitome of a CASA Hometown Hero. Brian graduated from college, married, and has gone on to be very successful, which he attributes to the dedication of his CASA volunteer. He encouraged the CASA volunteers in the audience to never give up on their CASA kids, even when they are difficult, citing the incredible difference his CASA volunteers were able to make in his life.
This year, the State Office also had a poetry contest for foster youth. One of the poems entitled “Hero” was written by a foster youth in collaborative care, Crystal, about her CASA volunteer in Vanderburgh County. Crystal and her volunteer were at the luncheon and Crystal read her poem to the audience. A booklet of all the poems was given to the conference attendees at the luncheon.
The day before the conference, the State Office held a staff and directors’ meeting for 125 people. The Director of the Department of Child Services, Mary Beth Bonaventura, attorney Derelle Watson-Duvall from Kid’s Voice, and Cathy Graham, Executive Director of Indiana Association of Resources and Child Advocacy (IARCA), were among the speakers at the meeting. The directors also facilitated discussions regarding building capacity and funding for GAL/CASA programs. Each year at the meeting, the State Office gives the Elaine S. Fuller Memorial Award of Excellence to the selected GAL/CASA Program Director of the Year who has demonstrated leadership and innovation in promoting CASA on the local and state level. Leslie Hendricks of Grant County received the award this year. Hendricks has been the CASA Director of Grant County CASA for five years and has significantly expanded and strengthened the program during her tenure. She partnered with her community to create an annual sand sculpture building fundraiser that has become an annual community event. Hendricks also helped oversee the Wabash County CASA program for a period of time as it transitioned to a new structure. She was nominated for the award by several of her board members and by Grant County Juvenile Judge Dana Kenworthy.
The Indiana Supreme Court’s State Court Administration oversees the State Office of GAL/CASA and hosted the conference. In 2013, the State Office distributed $2.9 million in matching grants to 77 counties with certified GAL/CASA programs. There were 3,450 active volunteers in Indiana in 2013, who advocated for over 18,000 abused and neglected children. Volunteers donated an estimated $21.5 million dollars in services by giving of their time to advocate for our most vulnerable children. There are still 2,000 children across the state in need of volunteer advocates.
For additional information about GAL/CASA, please contact Leslie Dunn at (317) 232-2542 or [email protected], and for more information about Indiana CASA, visit casa.IN.gov.