When CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Kids Director, Anne Gordon, isn’t out covering the three-county area that CASA encompasses, of Monroe, La Crosse and Vernon, she sits just feet away from Program Coordinator for CASA, Brittney Waraxa, in their office headquarters, located at 704 Sand Lake Road, in Onalaska. On Saturday, November 2nd, the duo was still side-by-side, but this time they were standing in the Banquet Room, at The Waterfront Restaurant and Tavern, in La Crosse, with a grandiose view of the Cass Street bridge, along the Mississippi River.
Gordon and Waraxa were greeting volunteers, board members, and friends of CASA, as they arrived for the “Thank You” brunch CASA had organized. As attendees arrived, they signed in and received an appreciation gift from CASA. The gifts came in a CASA tote, and included a framed certificate of appreciation, a mini journal, a window decal, and a bouquet of flowers. The room consisted of CASA board members, judges, surgeons, advocates, family members, and friends.
Gordon stepped in front of those gathered and read from a prepared speech that was readily available on all decorated tables for everyone to follow along, should they choose to do so. “Time is fleeting and cannot be earned back; it is precious and priceless,” Gordon stated. “That is why we understand the value of your time and the time you give to CASA for Kids. It [Time] is the most valuable asset a person can give of themselves. It is not just the investment of our time, but in how we use that time that results in our character. To give to something which cannot be returned to you in a tangible way shows the strength in character of a person.”
In this opening paragraph, Gordon was iterating the fact that all the time and effort that they all put into the program serve as their own reward, and that such actions speak volumes to the good nature of each person who does not seek nor require accolades to fill the chalice of one’s ego, but rather gives of themselves for the betterment of the world, as a whole because it is the honorable path.
Gordon continued on, putting a tangible time on all of the volunteer efforts. “When each of our 30 volunteers gives of their time, let's say it is 2 hours a week for a year, this means you have all given a total of 3,120 hours. For those who have given years of service, 5 years throughout 30 advocates equals 15,600 hours of time.”
As she went on in her opening remarks, Gordon pointed out that the amount of time she stated did not include attendance at court hearings, school visits, or team meetings. As well, it did not include adding in the volunteer’s time writing case notes or the volunteers who give even more than 2 hours a week, for visits with their CASA children. “That is an Incredible amount of time,” Gordon remarked. “You give so much of your energy and your understanding.”
Gordon also expressed her appreciation for the families and friends of the volunteers, who support them in their volunteering efforts. “Whether that is being a listening ear, giving an empathetic hug, taking care of your children and home, or offering encouragement, you are all extremely valuable to CASA.”
On behalf of CASA, Gordon expressed a final thank you, in her closing remarks, for the volunteers. “It is about continuing this journey with us, to do big things in small ways, and accepting that we may never truly know the full impact we have — and knowing that we will never stop our courageous efforts for the children.”
She then thanked everyone for their commitment and dedication to the CASA vision. "We believe that all children have a right to be safe and have their voices heard." A thunderous round of applause rang out, and then the mingling began, as well as brunch.
From the Board
The Herald had a chance to interview Mark Saxton, a CASA Board member. Saxton spoke to the future of CASA being very exciting because of what Director Anne Gordon has already accomplished. He said that before Anne, CASA was a functioning organization that was contributing to the community, with wonderful volunteers and leaders, but that it was under the umbrella of the YWCA. “When Anne got involved with CASA, at the YWCA, she intuitively recognized that CASA could be set up as an independent 501(c) (3) organization; we would have more control over our destiny, and a stronger ability to grow the organization, as well as more flexibility,” Saxton explained. “It is extraordinary that she [Anne Gordon] had that vision, and then made it happen.”
Saxton went on to explain that Gordon reached out to him and several others, about forming a Board. “Anne was looking for strong board members and after she approached me I was able to help recruit Doctor Mark Nigogosyan and Doctor Judy Klevan, a retired husband and wife physician team from Gunderson, along with Doctor Richard Strauss. We were there to help guide Anne through this process.”
Saxton spoke to how impressed the CASA Board has been with Gordon. “We [CASA Board members] continually discuss amongst ourselves how impressive Anne has been. Her energy has been unbelievable, I don’t know when she sleeps. She is also a wife and a mother. She has so much passion for the kids and so much passion for the mission. It is obvious that this is a labor of love for her.”
Saxton further stated that CASA sells itself, once people become aware of who they are and what their mission is. “CASA generates passion because everyone can see the direct benefit that it brings to the children. The child sees an adult that is primarily interested in them. With all of the extraneous things that happened that led to the child being in the unfortunate situation of needing court involvement, being taken out of their home … that disruption that results from that life-stress event, the chaos that surrounds it all … to see a stable adult come in that is interested in them and is looking out for their wellbeing, it is extraordinarily reassuring to the kids — to have that voice, to have that advocate.”
Saxton explained that in such cases, there are many competing interests, such as the parents, what the law states, the Guardian Ad Litem, and the list goes on. “What does the child want? What will best benefit the child? Which school system will they do best in?” Saxton pondered. “Without CASA, those immediate questions will often not be addressed or prioritized. It is not intentional, but they [these questions] get lost amongst the many other competing concerns.”
An example Saxton offered the Herald was the extreme workload of social workers. “It can be extremely difficult for them [social workers] to deal with so many cases,” Saxton stated. “They are not afforded the chance, in many cases, to develop any type of relationship with the child. CASA volunteers have a one-on-one relationship with the child, providing exclusivity, which helps ensure that the child’s voice is being heard, and that their interests are being brought forward. CASA sees that the child is being taken care of, as an individual, versus part of a case load.”
From the Herald article on July 11, 2024: The Advocate Volunteer
The following excerpt is from the Monroe County Herald’s article, “CASA’s Gordon issues Community Call to Action: Children in need of representation — story of stored kindness fueling a stand against evil,” which was published on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
Court Appointed Special Advocates are committed community members wanting to do whatever they can to promote and lift up the good in this world. They are interviewed, screened, trained, and swear an oath in court, to “Faithfully protect and promote the best interest of each child they represent.”
Their interactions are monitored, tracked, and supported by CASA staff and they assist in the court reports submitted to the judges. They also attend court hearings and advocate for additional systems of support for these children. They express the children’s needs, wants, deficits, achievements, and their own recommendations, based on their interactions and observations, in a CASA report.
Volunteer advocates see their assigned child on a weekly basis, building a positive presence in the child’s life and gathering information for the court to make the best decision possible. “This is why CASA for Kids is important,” Anne Gordon stated. “This is CASA’s call to action, to the communities in the counties of Monroe, La Crosse, and Vernon.”
If you or anyone you know would like to learn more on becoming a child advocate or show support in other ways, visit their website at www.casaforkids.org or reach out directly to Anne Gordon, at Agordon@casaforkids.org
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here