The CASA
A legally appointed buddy can help a kid move forward when life seems to have lurched to a stop
(April 23, 2009) This Saturday, CASA of Humboldt will throw open the doors of its newly remodeled and expanded headquarters on Myrtle Avenue and invite everyone in to examine what is essentially a haven of beauty, comfort, stimulation and light. “CASA” stands for “court-appointed special advocate” — a trained volunteer who is the friend, and voice, of a child caught up in the juvenile dependency court system. Often, these kids are victims of abuse or neglect and have been removed from their homes. And it can seem as if a million different people are coming and going, trying to sort out their young lives. A CASA volunteer is the constant in such a kid’s life.
Now, the support system for the CASA volunteers — there are about 60 of them in Humboldt — has become more stable, as well, with the establishment of a permanent home for the nonprofit organization. After five years of toil and fundraising, the nonprofit’s recently paid-off, 1928-vintage house and garage have been transformed into a single place of spacious walls and floor space, big windows, tidy offices, well-supplied kitchen, stuffed leather couches, abundant art supplies, toys and games and a freshly constructed playground in a side yard — and most of that great stuff was donated by various entities in the community or acquired through grants.
Now, CASA of Humboldt can begin to dream bigger, says executive director Steve Volow. Imagine art classes in the airy main room where the rocking horse sits. Yoga classes. Volunteer trainings in the conference room. Cooking lessons. Team meetings of parents, advocates and social workers. And advocates already are using the new space to meet with their kids: One guy helped his appointed child with some math the other day; another advocate did a yoga session with her child.
And maybe, now, CASA can recruit more volunteers, and perhaps hire another supervisor to help them.
But just what, exactly, does a CASA do? And why is that so important?
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Time for another bathroom break.
“Mom!” cried Micah, who will be 4 in June. “Mommy!”
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on the cover
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Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
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Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
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Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
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May 10
District Soup
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Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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ONE Comments
Comment / By somebody / Today, 8:37 a.m.
This woman claims that she did not have an agenda in regards to the children she adopted….Lmao…the money for one and attention for another. I have a story for the media…I personally know for a fact that she has allowed the father (abuser) of the children named Bradley and David to come to her home while he is on parole to see Bradley. After the he almost killed his child, she has the audacity to allow the child to be emotionally abused all over again? What kind of adopted parent does something like that? Just a concerned citizen that wonders just how safe the children are with some adopted parents.