CASA volunteers and foster parents needed

Anyone interested in speaking for the child in the courtroom, focusing exclusively on the child’s best interest can learn how to become a  Court Applied Special Advocate.

An open house information night for CASA volunteers and foster parenting  will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., on Monday, Feb. 7, in the Bonners Ferry Visitor’s Center.

The CASA mission Is to recruit, train, and support a diverse network of dedicated Guardian ad Litem CASA volunteers to represent abused and neglected children for the communities we serve.

The CASA vision to ensure that every child in Idaho’s First Judicial District lives in a safe, healthy, nurturing family environment.

The CASA Program is a non-profit organization funded solely by donations and grants.  The program follows the national standard 30 hour training curriculum and provide the additional 12 hours of in service throughout the year. The in-service training includes information on drugs, domestic violence, family dynamics, gangs, case planning, and legislative changes affecting our program.

First Judicial District CASA Program serves  Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, and Shoshone Counties. The program serves over 750 children that have been abused or neglected annually.

The CASA Program supports court appointed advocates who have three main objectives:

To serve as fact finders for the judge by researching the circumstances surrounding the family of their appointed children. An advocate’s research includes reviewing records, interviewing the child, their parents, family members, physicians, school officials and others.

CASA volunteers provide the added information to help a judge answer the questions related the child’s future.

To continue to monitor the child’s circumstances during the life of the case, helping to ensure that the child makes it to a safe, permanent home as soon as possible.

CASA also assures that the child receives the services they require to heal from the trauma of their past.

Foster care side

The open house will also include information on how to become a foster parent.

Foster care is temporary care for children ages birth to 18 years Goal is to reunify children with their parents.

Children can be in care for 30 days, a couple months or several months. Foster parents are a part of the team, working toward what is best for the child.

Current needs for Boundary County are general care foster homes for sibling groups and older children.