When a child enters Jefferson County’s family court system because of abuse, neglect, addiction or other challenges at home, a Court Appointed Special Advocate can become one of the few consistent adults in that child’s life.
But CASA of Jefferson County says it needs more people willing to take on that role.
The organization currently has about 175 children with active cases and estimates it needs another 30 to 35 volunteers to help advocate for them, program director Jasmine Branch said.
CASA volunteers are trained and sworn in by the court before being assigned to a case. They visit the child at least once a month, communicate with parents, foster families, teachers and others involved in the child’s life and attend court hearings to make recommendations about what is in the child’s best interest.
For volunteers Michael Jackson and Tamara Boman, the work is about making sure children have someone in their corner.
Jackson, an attorney, said he grew up in a loving, two-parent home and recognizes that many of the children he encounters did not have the same advantages.
“My own children, they had advantages and a good, loving home,” he said. “And these children that are in the family court system — it’s not their fault that they’re there.”
Boman, a paralegal, has a more personal connection to the work because she knows firsthand how many kids in the family court system feel.
“I know how it is to grow up in a dysfunctional home. I know how it feels to be unheard as a child, to just be seen and not be able to voice an opinion,” Boman said.
She credits mentors who saw something in her and helped her move forward.
“That’s why I care so deeply about the children here in Jefferson County,” Boman said.
One of the biggest misconceptions about children in the family court system, Boman said, is that they deserve the circumstances they are facing.
She said children can be viewed as rebellious or difficult when their behavior may instead be rooted in trauma, neglect or other circumstances at home.
“We want to make sure we tackle those ideologies by bringing a lot of awareness,” Boman said.
What CASA volunteers do
Volunteers don’t have to come into the role with a legal or social services background.
They receive training to learn how to navigate the family court system, build relationships with families and identify resources that could help children and their parents. After completing the process, volunteers are sworn in by the court and assigned to a case.
Volunteers are required to visit the child or family at least once a month. Court hearings generally occur every 90 days, although some cases require more frequent involvement.
That can mean getting to know a child’s school, teachers, foster family, relatives and others involved in their life.
Boman said she tries to understand the full picture surrounding a child.
“I want to look at my child’s school grades. I want to see who their teachers are,” she said. “I want to see the whole parameter of who my child is interacting with.”
Volunteers may also visit a child’s home, something Jackson acknowledges can feel uncomfortable at first.
“You have to think about the reason why you’re doing it,” Jackson said. “It’s not to invade somebody’s privacy. It’s to make sure that this kid is safe.”
The cases can be difficult, including allegations of abuse, addiction, mental health challenges and other complicated family circumstances.
Jackson said CASA staff help volunteers navigate those situations.
“CASA staff is always there to help,” he said. “You’re not having to do it alone.”
Boman said that support has been one of the most surprising parts of volunteering.
“When they tell you, ‘If you need anything, call me or text me or email me,’ they mean it,” she said.
Helping families move forward
Branch said CASA’s goal is to help children remain safely with their families whenever possible.
Volunteers can identify unmet needs and connect families with resources that may help them reunify.
The relationships volunteers build with children can also provide stability while a case moves through court.
“Sometimes when they are in the court system and there’s no family member present, we become that person who helps them to navigate that,” Branch said.
Jackson was exposed to family court work while in law school and initially came away thinking he never wanted to deal with it again.
The cases, he said, were simply too messy.
But years later, he reconsidered.
“If people like us don’t get involved, then who?” Jackson said. “Who’s going to be there for those kids?”
Branch said becoming a CASA volunteer can have an impact that lasts well beyond a single court case.
“You have the potential to impact a child’s life not just in this moment but indefinitely,” she said.
Those interested in becoming advocates can learn more through CASA of Jefferson County.
The organization also plans several volunteer trainings in the coming weeks.
