Phelps/Harlan County CASA
308/9952102
n/a
715 5th Ave. #20
Holdrege
NE
68849
2,500
Our Mission is to advocate through the court system for the best interest of children identified as abused and neglected. We strive to insure a safe, secure and nurturing home for each child.
Health
The problem is that there are abused and neglected children in our communities and in our court system. These precious and vulnerable citizens need safety and permanency. CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, are volunteers who are appointed by the court to offer judges critical information needed to ensure that each child’s rights and needs are being attended to while under the jurisdiction of the court. CASA Volunteers make recommendations to the court for services the child(ren) needs because of the crimes committed against them and are assigned to the children until they are placed in loving permanent homes. For many abused children, a CASA volunteer is the only constant adult presence in their lives. In 2016, there were 45 abused and neglected children in the Phelps and Harlan Court systems. Our CASA program had 19 volunteer advocates serving/assigned to 45 children. There were no kids on the wait list. In 2016, there were 27 new abused and neglected children in the Phelps and Harlan County Counties.
CASA needs to improve their capacity to provide services to all the abused and neglected children in our County Court Systems. CASA volunteer advocates are empowered directly by the courts and Nebraska Court Appointed Special Advocate Act (Nebraska Revised Statutes § 43-3701 et seq.).
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- Harlan
- Phelps
28
12
37
29
45
During 2016, Phelps/Harlan County CASA had 19 CASA advocates who served 45 children. Phelps/Harlan County CASA is serving 100% of the children referred by the Court and identified as abused and neglected.
Children with a CASA volunteer are more likely to have a consistent, responsible adult presence per National CASA evidence of effectiveness data report (see attachment). Nebraska law requires that a Guardian ad Litem see the child once every 6 months. A CASA volunteer from Phelps/Harlan County CASA visits the child at least one time per month. In 2016 (January 1 to Dec. 31), CASA Volunteers drove 8,893 miles and gave 4,935 hours of time to their cases. This included visiting their CASA children at least one time a month.
A child with a CASA volunteer spends less time in foster care per National CASA evidence of effectiveness data report (see attachment). For cases that were closed between January 1 and December 31, 2016, 9 children served by a CASA volunteer spent an average of 18 months in Foster care, from the date referred to the date closed.
Phelps/ Harlan County CASA is currently serving 100% of the children referred by the court and identified as abused and neglected. For comparison data, we are providing data from Kearney/Buffalo County CASA’s waitlist. For cases that were closed between January 1 and December 31, 2016 on that waitlist, 40 children without a CASA volunteer spent an average of 20.4 months in foster care, from the date referred to the date the case closed.
Children with a CASA volunteer are more likely to have a consistent, responsible adult presence per National CASA evidence of effectiveness data report (see attachment). Nebraska law requires that a Guardian ad Litem see the child once every 6 months. A CASA volunteer from Phelps/Harlan County CASA visits the child at least one time per month. In 2016 (January 1 to Dec. 31), CASA Volunteers drove 8,893 miles and gave 4,935 hours of time to their cases. This included visiting their CASA children at least one time a month.
A child with a CASA volunteer spends less time in foster care per National CASA evidence of effectiveness data report (see attachment). For cases that were closed between January 1 and December 31, 2016, 9 children served by a CASA volunteer spent an average of 18 months in Foster care, from the date referred to the date closed.
Phelps/ Harlan County CASA is currently serving 100% of the children referred by the court and identified as abused and neglected. For comparison data, we are providing data from Kearney/Buffalo County CASA’s waitlist. For cases that were closed between January 1 and December 31, 2016 on that waitlist, 40 children without a CASA volunteer spent an average of 20.4 months in foster care, from the date referred to the date the case closed.
Please refer to data our outcomes above.
In the summer of 2016 a volunteer's case was closed. This case was well over a year old, and in the first 8 to 10 months of it, the case was going nowhere, and mom and dad weren't involved much if at all. We were looking at termination as the mother was not able to have stability and provide safety for her children. In a team meeting, A CASA mentioned to mom that she needed to start living in a glass house and act like it. That one statement made quite the impact on her, as she suddenly turned things around, got divorced from her abusive husband who was not willing to make changes, stayed sober and she was able to get her children back. The case was closed and the family is doing well, and thriving.
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United Way Area helps with partnerships in recruiting new CASA volunteers by raising awareness in the community via facebook, PSA's, United Way Presentations, etc.
1) At our new CASA volunteer training, we collaborated with the Safe Center to do cross training on domestic violence to educate the new volunteers of their service, referral process and learn about the impact of children and families on domestic violence.
2) We collaborate with Mid Nebraska Community Action in usage of their building for office space, training space, making referrals to families for needed services and supporting one another at each others fund-raising events.
2) We collaborate with Mid Nebraska Community Action in usage of their building for office space, training space, making referrals to families for needed services and supporting one another at each others fund-raising events.
To help with training materials for continued education for CASA Volunteers.
To help with raising awareness about Child Abuse.
To help print flyers for the community on child abuse awareness and the impact of CASA Volunteers.
Would provide a CASA Volunteer Advocate to one abused child in our community.
CASA participated in the following United Way Kearney Area Events: Kickoff, Dine Out, Jersey Auction and radio PSI.
- Our Board of Directors were solicited for the United Way Kearney Area campaign
- We held an United Way employee campaign in our agency
- Our employees contributed any amount to the United Way Kearney Area Campaign (more than $0)
- Our Agency clearly identifies itself as a United Way partner agency, using the United Way logo
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Copy of Latest Financial Audit, review or detailed financial statement or online link: