Feature
August
04
CASA Expanding in Lafourche
by Terry Trahan, Jr.
Abuse and neglect should not be recalled as childhood memories, but for 118 children in Lafourche Parish, these nightmares are a reality.
The Court Appointed Special Advocates Association of Lafourche understands what these children who have been placed under the state’s custody are going through, and takes the necessary steps to ensure that each child is properly represented in court.
“We report the facts and recommend what we feel is in their best interest,” said Tammy Gibson, executive director of CASA of Lafourche.
The association began operating under CASA of Terrebonne in 2007 and became an independent program in October 2009.
CASA of Lafourche is now one of 955 programs that make up the National CASA Association, which trains volunteers to work with abused and neglected children. Judges appoint volunteers to support the children and voice their concerns and wishes about custody and life after age 18. The volunteers stay with the cases until they are closed or the children are placed in a safe, permanent home, usually with their biological or adoptive parents.
In the photo above:
Judge John LeBlanc of the 17th Judicial District Court
swears in the latest class of CASA of Lafourche volunteers.
Pictured (l. to r.) are: Gwendolyn Streams, Emily Lafont,
Heather Duplantis, Michaela Gaudin, Ashley Kraemer, Paula Binion
and Jennifer Oncale. These new volunteers will advocate for the
rights of abused and neglected children from Lafourche Parish who
are in the state’s custody.
“You’re there as a support for the child,” said Eugene Gregory, a volunteer for CASA of Lafourche. Gregory began volunteering for the association after he retired from the construction engineering field. “You have to build a trusting relationship. You have to let the child see you in a helping mode.”
Gregory and 31 other volunteers have helped CASA of Lafourche reach out to children in need of someone to listen to their stories and understand the mental and physical hardships they have endured. In July, the association welcomed seven new volunteers to the program after finishing a 32-hour training course. The course is designed to educate the volunteers on topics ranging from child development to report writing. In addition, the required course includes information about a variety of abuse cases.
CASA of Lafourche offers the course about three times each year. To become a volunteer, an individual must complete the class, be at least age 21, display a genuine interest in children, be able to communicate proactively, be objective and pass a local, FBI and Child Abuse Registry background check.
While each case brings different challenges, Gibson said the one-on-one attention each child receives builds a bond between the child and his or her assigned volunteer. To learn more about what a child has suffered through, the volunteers speak to family and friends who have had both positive and negative influences on the child’s life. As the volunteers piece together the details of a child’s past, trust levels tend to go up. But not always. Some children respond by opening up instantly about their feelings—others never do. Even when there is no response, the volunteers remain patient and remind the children that they are there for them.
“There’s a lot of info you have to find out,” Gregory said. “You find out who’s been associated with that child. You’re developing a feel for the people around that child.”
CASA of Lafourche has already helped over 100 kids in the area, and they are working to increase their presence in the southern half of Lafourche Parish. Fundraisers are also being planned to cover costs associated with the program.
“It takes all kinds because there are all kinds of people,” Gregory said. “It’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever been engaged in.”
CASA of Lafourche is organizing a Home Sweet Home playhouse raffle. All proceeds will benefit the CASA program. The prize is a playhouse that measures 8 feet by 10 feet, complete with electricity. Tickets are $5, and the winner will be pulled after Thibodauxville at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 12. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact CASA of Lafourche at 985-446-6600.
Want to get involved with CASA? The next training course is scheduled to begin in October. For more information about volunteering opportunities, contact CASA of Lafourche at 985-446-6600. You can also visit their website at www.casaoflafourche.org to learn more about upcoming events and how you can donate.
