Evening Under the Stars raises $6,500 for county advocates

Thursday, July 24, 2008
Local residents (from left) Kansas State Representative Shirley Palmer, Crystal Mason, Milton Ackerman and Ann Ackerman take a moment to visit with each other at the Bourbon County CASA benefit, "An Evening Under the Stars." The fund-raiser was conducted on July 11 at the residence of Matt and Gayla Mason. Submitted Photo

During a recent fundraising event, area residents helped raise money to benefit the Court Appointed Special Advocates organization.

On July 11, supporters of the Bourbon County CASA program assembled at the residence of Matt and Gayla Mason for "An Evening Under the Stars." The annual fund-raising event generated more than $6,500 for CASA, a program which provides trained community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the courts of Bourbon County.

According to Bourbon County CASA Program Director Christa Horn, during the annual fundraiser, event attendees learned about some of the organization's recent accomplishments. During the past year, 22 volunteers have donated their time to help 56 children in Bourbon County who have been victims of neglect and abuse.

CASA advocates are the only people included in "need of care" hearings who are involved in the case solely for the benefit of the children in these cases, Horn said.

"They (advocates) become the voice of the child," Horn said, "and the eyes and ears for the judge."

Volunteers typically spend about an hour each week with the child and his or her family, and take on one case at a time. Advocates also make recommendations to the court concerning the child's best interests.

According to Horn, a favorable conclusion to a court case is one that benefits the child.

"A case is successful when the outcome is what is best for the child," Horn said. "The goal is to have a safe, permanent home-like environment for the child."

The National CASA Web site, www.nationalcasa.org, reiterates Horn's philosophy.

"The mission of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association, together with its state and local members, is to support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that they can thrive in safe, permanent homes," the CASA Web site said.

Horn said the Bourbon County CASA chapter began in May 1990. Since that time, court appointed advocates have assisted more than 500 abused and neglected children.

The advocate program was conceived by a judge in Seattle, Wash., in 1977. Due to the program's success, the US Congress passed the Victims of Child Abuse Act in 1990, which encouraged the expansion of CASA programs across the nation.

According to the CASA Web site, the program has helped a large number of neglected and abused children.

"Today, we have grown to a network of more than 59,000 volunteers that serve 243,000 abused and neglected children through 900 plus local program offices nationwide," the Web site said. "Our advocates, also known as volunteer guardians ad litem in some jurisdictions, are appointed by judges and act as officers of the court. Judges rely on the information these trusted advocates present."