“Peter” has had a rougher start to life than most. At 3 years old, he sustained a thigh fracture, which became infected, and landed him in the hospital for two months. His mother said he injured his leg while playing.
But that wasn’t Peter’s only plight. Not too long later, he and sister “Naomi” were removed from their mother’s custody. She suffered from mental illness and drug abuse, officials said.
But then the children’s luck started to change. The brother and sister were placed in foster care with Erin and Rob, a loving couple in Jersey City. It was at this time that CASA (court appointed special advocate) volunteer Elaine Gunaydin was assigned to their case. As a CASA volunteer, it was Gunaydin’s job to check in on the siblings, determine how they were doing, and report her findings to the court.
She did this diligently, and found that the children were thriving in their new environment. So when it came time to make her recommendation it was relatively easy: She suggested that Peter, Naomi, Erin, and Bob become a “forever family.”
Such is the impact of the CASA volunteer, according to Beverly Savage, executive director of Hudson County CASA, 442 Hoboken Ave., Jersey City. It is part of the division of Child Protection and Permanency, formerly the Division of Youth and Family Services.
“We’re a national nonprofit that recruits and trains volunteers to advocate for children in the foster care system, with the goal of a safe and permanent home for each child,” Savage said.
Volunteers go to court on behalf of the children. They are appointed by family court judges in the most egregious cases of neglect and abuse. They report to the judge about the children and their needs to achieve permanence; a safe, stable home. They are the eyes and ears of the court.
“Our hallmark is that we are objective and honest representatives of the children’s point of view,” Savage said.
“Having a CASA volunteer is critical to the success of these children – if they are going to have success.” – Beverly Savage
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The only real requirements for volunteers are that they are passionate about helping children and they are people who know how to get things done.
Right now the organization is in the midst of a recruitment drive, and their focus this time is retirees, those who can give of their time without too many other responsibilities.
Many of the current volunteers are young, educated professional people, which are all positives, Savage said, but they are also usually those in the middle of life changes; getting married, beginning a new job, or starting a family of their own. It is for that reason CASA has zeroed in on retirees to replenish its ranks.
“We need people who are willing to work hard and get things accomplished in a professional manner,” Savage said.
And with a staff of only seven employees, CASA’s corps of volunteers is pivotal. They are the army of hope for the children in the program. Last year they were 80 strong, volunteering more than 5,000 hours of their time.
Volunteers are asked to donate between five and 10 hours a month. The only strict requirement is that they visit the child they are advocating for at least once a month.
The need
The main trait of any CASA professional is being able to work through problems. The children they are advocating for in Hudson County have had among the toughest lives of any kids their ages.
Nearly 20 percent have been sexually abused, 15 percent have been victims of domestic violence, and more than 10 percent have at least one incarcerated parent, according to CASA statistics.
More than one quarter of the children live below the poverty line, which is the highest number of any county in the state.
The county has nearly 700 children in foster care; most have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect.
“Having a CASA volunteer is critical to the success of these children – if they are going to have success,” Savage said. “Most of the parents are not capable of caring for the child or his sibling group, most of the time due to addiction. They are in and out of recovery.”
A relative might want to care for them, but the relative has not been screened yet. In the meantime, the child is having an emotional recovery. This is where the CASA volunteer comes in: looking in on the kids, seeking out new homes, and checking on therapy and schooling.
“It’s really trying to fill in all the gaps in this kid’s life, and at this time, trying to get him a new home,” Savage said. “Parents always want to fight for the kids and that’s understandable; but it’s not always in the child’s best interest.”
The program
The first CASA program was started in 1978 in Seattle, Wash. It launched the movement in that state, and before long it spread nationally. Now there are 550 programs across the United States, and the need has never been greater.
The Hudson County program is one of the most active in the state. It is also one of the most successful, changing lives nearly every week. Last year, Hudson County CASA served almost 200 children. That effort resulted in 45 children being found safe and permanent homes. There were 14 adoptions, 26 reunifications, and five placements with legal guardians.
November is National Adoption Month and the organization is a co-sponsor of a big adoption day celebration, scheduled for Nov. 21 and 22. Eight “CASA kids” are to be adopted Friday that weekend, Savage said.
Donations
CASA helps in other ways besides the training and providing of advocates. They send children to camp, they sometimes pay for their therapy, they buy holiday gifts and school backpacks filled with supplies, and do book drives.
The group has many funding sources; state and federal government grants, and corporate sponsors, such as UPS in Secaucus, its largest corporate sponsor. CASA also has a strong fundraising program, including an annual wine tasting at Harborside Financial Center in Jersey City which does well.
But there is always a need for more money. Those interested in donating should visit CASA’s website, www.hudsoncountycasa.org.
Seminar
Those interested in the program and the role of its volunteers can attend an informational session on Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 6 to 7 p.m. in Room 901 of the Hudson County Administration Building, 595 Newark Ave., Jersey City.
For more information, call (201) 795-9855, e-mail mgarcia@hudsoncountycasa.org, or visit www.hudsoncountycasa.org.
The future
What does the future look like for CASA? A continued need for the group’s services, according to Savage.
“Unfortunately, the need is still very strong,” she said. “The number of foster children is rising nationally and in Hudson County. Our work is cut out for us every day. We need more volunteers and more awareness of the needs of children in foster care.”
Joseph Passantino may be reached at JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.