LONGVIEW (KYTX) -- More than 400 children are in state foster care in Gregg, Rusk and Upshur Counties. Those with the non-profit group, East Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates, are working to help find the best permanent homes for those children. CBS 19's Abby Broyles joins us now from the Gregg County Courthouse. Abby, the organization needs dozens more volunteer advocates?
Right now, there are about 75 CASA volunteers, but here in Gregg County alone, there are more than 280 children in state foster care, victims of child abuse or neglect.. CASA volunteers speak for the children here in court, that's why the organization says it's vital to add more volunteers to make sure every child's voice is heard"
Deena Shelton became a Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA volunteer, in 2010.
"I pushed hard, and I made sure that everyone kept their promises to these kids because they already had enough promises broken in their lives," Shelton said.
The first children she spoke for in court were removed from an abusive home, and have been adopted.
"It's a very rewarding experience, its really just the stigma of court that's scary, once you get there and realize, 'I'm prepared with all the information the judge need, the stigma falls off and all of the anxiety goes away because you're there with the purpose to speak for the child," Shelton said.
But there aren't enough advocates to speak for other children. East Texas CASA needs volunteers who can undergo training to meet with a child once a month, evaluate their physical, emotional, and educational needs, and tell a judge their opinion to determine where the child's future home should be.
"You're one consistent person for them throughout the case and the case can be a year or a little longer," Board President Kristen Ishihara says, "so you meet with them every month, they really get to know you, they trust you're going to be there when they show up in court."
And to make sure no child gets left behind in the legal shuffle.
"You don't realize... the impact a CASA, a volunteer stepping in, has made, it makes the biggest difference," Shelton said.
East Texas CASA's Longview office hopes to add about 100 volunteers in the next few months. We spoke with the CASA office in Tyler today, which serves Smith, Wood, and Van Zandt counties, and it needs about 100 more volunteers too. The video we showed you in Abby's story is from East Texas CASA's "Voice For Every Child Campaign." They hope to raise about $30,000 this summer through community support.
For more information on how to volunteer or make a donation, go to www.EastTexasCASA.org
