Court Appointed Special Advocates program helps abused, neglected kids in Stark, Carroll

CANTON ? Children have no control over the circumstances under which they enter the world.

When a child is abused, neglected or becomes destitute, homeless or otherwise lacks adequate care, the local department of job and family services may intervene. Courts then become involved in overseeing the children in their home or removing them from that home.

Sometimes, parents are not able to care for their children properly through no fault of their own.

"We see that oftentimes in homelessness, where they have lost their home for a certain period of time," said Tiffany Brown, the director of the Court Appointed Special Advocate program serving Stark and Carroll counties. "We see it a lot also with mental health, where they are just not able to control their mental health and they need someone to step in with the children at that time."

The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, now in its 41st year, has 35 volunteers who serve as the voice for children when their cases go to court.

What is the Court Appointed Special Advocates program?

The agency trains volunteers to do their own investigations, independent from the department of job and family services. They go through an initial 30 hours of training to be a volunteer. They must take an additional 12 hours of training every year. They are asked to take at least one case at a time.

"They compile a report for the court so that the judges and the magistrates can know what's going on with a child and make recommendations as to what's best for that child," Brown said.

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Plain Township resident Charla Ostergren is now serving as the voice for five children in two cases. The 69-year-old — wife to Mark, mother to adult children Kyle, Stefan and Anna, and grandmother to seven — is in her 11th year as a CASA volunteer.

"I could say I'm retired, but I'll never really retire," she said. "I've worn many hats over the years, spending 15 years as a home educator when our children were young. I have always been involved with children and youth ministries at our church (New Beginning Church of the Nazarene in Jackson Township). I worked part time at the Kumon Math and Reading Center for over 20 years and still fill in occasionally."

Ostergren answered questions about her work as a child advocate.

What have you seen in this volunteer position?

In my experience, by the time I am appointed to a case, there is a good chance that the children involved have felt the impact of substance abuse/addiction and or domestic violence. If they are school age, it is likely that there has been a disruption in their education. Some may have been born to teen mothers who have yet to establish employment and housing and are unable to care for their child.

These scenarios create trauma for a child. If the child is a teen, they are often acutely aware of the problems and may become protective of their parents. They are often in denial and are beginning to normalize risky behaviors.

Since I will most likely spend one-and-a-half to two years working with them, I want to establish upfront with each child that I will be with them during their entire case and that I am their voice in court. I want their input. If I'm working with a teen, the case could last for several years. Every case is different because every child is unique.

What do you do as a volunteer?

I'm always listening and observing. Meet and interview the child. Observe the child with each parent/guardian. Observe the child with the foster placement/parent. Visit the child monthly. Ascertain the child's wishes.

Review court documents and any records pertaining to the case, including medical, educational, etc. Interview school personnel, medical, mental health providers. Maintain communication with children's services workers. Request records as needed.

Recommend services for the child and parties (trauma assessments, mental health evaluations, counseling and substance abuse assessments). Attend all court hearings and meetings related to the case, speaking to the best interest. Complete required annual training hours. Provide written reports for the judge assigned to the case.

As the case progresses, I continue to assess where the case is headed. Is the road to reunification through the parties' case plan still viable? Is a parent's progress internalized or just surface, permanent or temporary? Is the parent visiting and bonded with the child? Does the child need additional services?

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Why do you do it?

There's a great need. I've always been passionate about helping children/teens succeed in life. If I can be one who brings hope into their life — some assurance, even just a smile — I want to do that.

Children impacted by domestic violence, addiction and neglect deserve an advocate who will go to the mat for them. I can be that person. My go-to verse is Micah 6:8: “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

I pray for these children/teens long after their cases are closed.

Tell us about some successes

Reunification is always the hope and I have experienced some of those. However, even when children can't go home, I've watched adoptive families embrace the biological family in the life of the child. I talked with a biological grandmother at an adoption not long ago who was tearfully happy for her grandchild and for her opportunity to remain involved as Grandma.

Many teens remain in care until they are 18. There are programs to help them transition into adulthood. I had a case close for a teen about a year ago. I'm happy that she keeps in touch, and we meet occasionally. I want to be there for her as she navigates a whole new life.

Tell us something that made you sad

I was sitting on the front porch steps with a little 6-year-old chatting and his mood turned pensive. He said, "Miss Charla, I got really angry last night, and I tore up my room. I don't know why."

In those moments, you get a glimpse into confusion and loss. We sat for a while and talked it through a bit. Soon he was saying, "Miss Charla, watch me ride my bike!"

The other very difficult scenario is sitting with teens who are expecting a visit with a parent but the parent never shows up, and the teen says, "It's no big deal ..." But you know, it's a really big deal.

Watching them absorb one more rejection, seeing the defiance build to cover the pain makes my heart hurt. It's not uncommon to find me in my car afterward with a tissue in hand.

It's sad to sit beside the bed of a teen in the emergency room who is suffering a mental health crisis. It's hard revisiting the Juvenile Attention Center repeatedly, with the same teen wondering once again, "How can I help?"

What would you tell a prospective volunteer?

If you have a heart for children and teens and want to make a difference, there is a place for you as a court-appointed special advocate. There is an amazing team at the CASA office to assist and support you every step of the way.

For information about becoming a court-appointed special advocate, call the agency at 330-451-7786.

Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or [email protected]. On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Court Appointed Special Advocates helps kids in Stark & Carroll