A Powerful Voice in a Child's Life
Make A Difference In Cowley County Today
Mission
CASA provides trained community volunteers to advocate for children in the court system. Court Appointed Special Advocates ensure:
-Children receive representation in court
-Children are placed in safe and permanent homes
-Services are obtained for the needs of the children
-Services are provided to parents to help them gain knowledge and skills for adequate parenting.
"All children in Cowley County, Kansas, will grow up in safe, permanent, nurturing home."
Board Members
MaKayla Shields
Executive Director
"As a previous childcare worker, public school educator, sibling of fostered and adopted children, and adoptive mother, you could easily say children, and their well being, is my passion. I am honored to have the privilege of serving the abused and neglected children of Cowley County."
Brianna Brooks
President
"I have attended many fundraising events in the past and wanted to become part of the process. After learning that this organization runs on donations, I decided to join the board to help make sure the funding will always be there to help keep this amazing resource available to the children of the community."
Victoria White
Vice President
Member since 2021
Krysta Wood
Secretary
"As someone who was a single mother for 8 years of my daughter's life, I understand the struggles of parenthood and the lack of voice for children. I have always had a heart for the children and feel it's very important to provide them with a chance to have a voice. I love what CASA stands for and am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it."
Tom Minton
Treasurer
Member since 2017
Kylee Brenn
Member
"As a teacher, I am an advocate for my students. I wanted to use my knowledge and love for children throughout the community, so I thought by becoming a CASA board member I could continue to contribute on behalf of children and my community."
Haylee Harris
Member
Member since 2021
Become a Member
The Board of Directors is the legal authority for CASA of Cowley County, Inc. As a member of the Board, a Director acts in a position of trust for the community and is responsible for the effective governance of the organization.
Requirements
- Commitment to the mission of the organization.
- Knowledge and skills in one or more areas of Board governance: policy, programs, personnel and advocacy.
- Willingness to serve on committees.
- Attendance at monthly board meetings.
- Attendance at meetings of assigned committees.
- Support of and participation in all fundraising events.
- Support of and attendance at yearly appreciation event.
- An annual financial gift.
Expectations
- General
- Become knowledgeable about the organization.
- Serve in leadership positions or undertake special assignments willingly and enthusiastically when asked.
- Keep the director informed about any concerns the community has.
- Follow trends in the child welfare and juvenile justice fields.
- Recruit possible nominees to the board who are clearly women and men of achievement and distinction and who can make contributions to the work of the board and the organization.
- Bring a sense of humor to the board’s deliberations.
- Meetings
- Prepare for and participate in board and committee meetings, including appropriate organizational activities.
- Ask timely and substantive questions at board and committee meetings consistent with their conscience and convictions, while supporting the majority decision on issues decided by the board.
- Maintain confidentiality of the board’s executive sessions, and to speak for the board only when authorized to do so.
- Suggest agenda items periodically for board and committee meetings to ensure that significant policy-related matters are addressed.
- Relationship with Staff
- Offer support and assistance to the director when appropriate.
- Avoid asking for special favors of the staff, including requests for extensive information, without at least prior consultation with the director.
- Avoiding Conflicts
- Serve the organization as a whole rather than any special interest group or constituency.
- Avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest that might embarrass the board of the organization, and disclose any possible conflicts to the board in a timely fashion.
- Maintain independence and objectivity and do what a sense of fairness, ethics and personal integrity dictate even though not necessarily obliged to do so by law, regulation or custom.
- Never accept, or offer, favors or gifts from, or to, anyone who does business with the organization.
- Fiduciary Responsibilities
- Exercise prudence with the board in the control and transfer of funds.
- Faithfully read and understand the organization’s financial statements and otherwise help the board fulfill its fiduciary responsibility
- Fundraising
- Give an annual gift to the organization.
- Assist in resource development by implementing fundraising strategies through personal influence with others.
Directors are elected by the membership at the Annual Meeting. Directors serve a three-year term and may be elected to two consecutive terms.
Apply to be a Board Member:
https://forms.gle/28sdc1norkoXfS9K6
CASA Volunteers
Linda Hessee
Volunteer since 1995
"Many times children have the smallest voice in the room but have the greatest need. Becoming a CASA volunteer gives me the ability to amplify a child's voice."
Carol Hearne
Volunteer since 2018
"I believe children need to know they are important and valuable. They need to be assured people care about them. Children are our future. WE need to give them all the help we can for them to succeed."
Kara Larimore
Volunteer since 2019
"I became a CASA volunteer to give an unbiased voice to the children in the system. Children who are not able to speak for themselves at court. "
Amy Shipman
Volunteer since 2021
"I became a CASA volunteer because I am passionate about all children having the opportunity to grow and develop in a positive, loving, and safe environment."
Carol Galliart
Volunteer since 2021
Jennifer Shockey
Volunteer since 2022
Sheryl Erickson
Volunteer since 2022
Become a Volunteer
The mission of the CASA volunteer is to monitor and follow a child’s case through the juvenile court system; to provide an independent voice from the community who speaks up for the best interests of their assigned child; to help ensure that the child is in a secure, secure, supportive, permanent home.
Requirements
- Be at least 21 years of age.
- Have a high school diploma or GED equivalency.
- Have a current Kansas driver’s license and be properly insured.
- Complete a written application, sign consents for a KBI security clearance and a DCF Central Registry clearance. Provide three references other than relatives.
- Pass screening eligibility according to Supreme Court Rule #110:
- reference check
- national security clearance, including fingerprinting
- DCF Central Child Abuse Registry clearance
- screening interview
- Participate in at least 30 hours of a 35-hour training. Must review information from missed training sessions with trainer prior to case assignment.
- Observe court sessions for a minimum of 2 hours.
- Indicate ability to be objective, to function professionally, and to act out of concern for the welfare of the child as the primary motivation.
- Will not discriminate or display attitudes of a discriminatory nature.
- Respect the right to privacy by keeping confidential any information that would identify parties involved in CASA cases. Must abide by the program’s policy of confidentiality.
- Must be a citizen of the United States.
- Will be able to commit to serving as a CASA volunteer for at least 1 year.
- Agree to follow the policies and procedures of CASA of Cowley County relating to volunteers.
Duties
- Advocate at all times for the best interests of the child.
- Take Oath of Confidentiality.
- Sign Statement of Commitment and take Oath of Appointment as soon as possible after accepting a case.
- Read court social and legal files pertaining to case. Read other available records and files pertaining to case.
- Interview DCF and/or their contracting foster care agency workers, parents, foster parents, court services officer, child, and other interested parties.
- Explain the CASA role to all parties unfamiliar with the CASA program.
- Maintain regular contact with the child a minimum of 2 times per month.
- When appropriate, encourage family to work toward the goals of the Case Plan, and/or orders set forth by the court.
- Contact the DCF social worker and/or social workers of contracting agencies and the court services officer, if applicable, at least once a month.
- Attend all court hearings and scheduled case planning conferences pertaining to the child.
- Encourage permanency planning.
- Monitor whether court’s orders are being followed.
- Keep accurate and complete documentation of all contacts and interviews.
- Consult with the CASA Director at least once per month; submit monthly Volunteer Activities Form to CASA office by the 10th day of the following month.
- Attend a minimum of 12 hours of continuing education in-service per year.
- After consulting with the CASA Director, write a Report to the Court at least 5 days in advance of the hearing. The CASA Director will submit the report to the court and the other interested parties.
- Consult with the CASA Director regarding problems, concerns, or questions that arise during the case.
- Immediately report to DCF and the CASA Director any suspected child abuse or neglect.
- Remain actively involved in the case until a permanent solution has been reached or the court dismisses the case.
Apply to be a Volunteer:
https://forms.gle/sHYxcS3tgz2p7Z3j8
Events
Come and Go Information Night! Come and learn about CASA, it's role in the community, and how you can get involved!
Join us in celebrating Cheers for CASA - holiday style! Dinner will be provided as part of the ticket cost, as will drinks from local breweries. A cash bar will also be available. As always, we will have door prizes, silent auction, and live auction as. Hope to see you there!
Join us in celebrating Cheers for CASA - holiday style! We've moved our annual Cheers to CASA to December this year and hope you will plan to join us. Dinner will be provided as part of the ticket cost, as will drinks from local breweries. A cash bar will also be available. As always, we will have door prizes and a silent auction as well. Hope to see you there!
Come enjoy some Blacklight Bingo and support CASA of Cowley County! Local businesses have donated many wonderful prizes for this event. $10 to play at the door!
CASA of Cowley County presents BLACKLIGHT BINGO! Join us at Baden Square in Winfield for a night of fun under the blacklight! $10 to play! Great prizes! Fun for all!
Choose Pizza Ranch for dinner on Monday, January 25th from 4pm-9pm by Dining In, Carrying Out, or ordering Delivery! CASA of Cowley County will make a percentage of all sales!
Come wish Linda Groth goodbye and welcome MaKayla Shields!
Come out and support CASA of Cowley County at Pizza Ranch!
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