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New CASA volunteers rise to advocate for children
McCOOK, Neb. —Standing up for some of the region’s most vulnerable children, three area residents have completed training to become Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Ginamaria McCarty and Erica Ruzicka of McCook, along with Craig Mead of Beaver City, Neb., will now represent children in the court system who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.
Prairie Plains CASA was established in Red Willow County in 1995 through the efforts of Judge Cloyd Clark. Unlike therapists, mentors, or parental advocates, CASA volunteers are specially trained community members who assess each case and advocate for the best interests of the child.
The three new volunteers bring with them not only their professional experience—McCarty as a substitute teacher, Ruzicka as a paraprofessional and Mead as a pastor at Beaver City First Presbyterian Church — but also a personal commitment to make a difference in the lives of children who through no fault of their own, are enmeshed in the court system.
“A lot of times in those situations, the kids just don’t get enough attention and it’s important that somebody stands up for them,” Mead said. For him, being a CASA volunteer is almost a family tradition, as both his parents were volunteers and his wife, Theresa, has been a volunteer with Red Willow County the past three years.
For McCarty, it gets even more personal. She moved to McCook from Florida in 2012, and knows firsthand the impact the foster care system can have on a child. “I was a foster child myself. My siblings and I were split up and that stayed with me,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to foster, but life just didn’t work out that way. CASA seemed like the right fit.”
Her path to becoming a volunteer was influenced by a CASA volunteer coordinator she had gotten to know. “We kept talking and the more I learned, the more I felt like this was what I was supposed to do.’”
Ruzicka, a lifelong McCook resident, was introduced to CASA through the program’s director, Caitlin Whitehead. “I had never heard of CASA before,” she said. “But I really liked the concept of advocating for children in the system who don’t have a voice. It’s got to be scary for them to go through the courts and I saw the need of having somebody in their corner, just for them.”
While the work can be emotionally taxing, they are prepared to meet the challenges head-on. “In a perfect world, everything would work out, but it doesn’t always,” Ruzicka said. “Still, if we can help in any way, it makes it worth it.”
During their training, volunteers learn how to not get too emotionally involved, Mead said. “But you’re only human, so you do care about these children,” he added.
McCarty agreed. “It’s not easy. We have to manage our own emotions. But we’re trained and supported to do that. We get to choose the cases we take on so we can be sure we’re in a place to give our best.”
Volunteers advocate for the child’s best interests in court by talking with the child, caregivers, biological parents, teachers, social workers, and others involved. Their goal is to build a full picture of the child’s situation and provide recommendations to the judge. Each volunteer typically spends about ten hours a month on their case.
“Dependability and patience are important,” Ruzicka said. “You need to be consistent. These kids have had so many people come and go from their lives, so you have to be someone they can count on.”
McCarty added that the focus is always on what’s best for the child. “It’s not always about what the child wants but understanding their needs through conversations and observations,” she said. “Sometimes we’re the only stable adult they interact with during this time.”
CASA volunteers are required to be at least 21 years old, pass a background check, and complete a thorough training program. Prairie Plains CASA, which includes Red Willow Hitchcock, Furnas, Dundy, Hayes, Frontier and Chase counties, matches volunteers with cases, taking into consideration the volunteer’s strengths and the emotional demands of each situation.
McCarty, who also mentors with the McCook Teammates program, encourages others to consider volunteering. “If someone wants to make a difference and has the time, it’s definitely worth looking into.”
“I didn’t even realize there was such a big need for CASA in small communities like McCook,” she added. “I thought these kinds of things were taken care of in Lincoln or Omaha. But there is a need here and basically, everywhere.”
Mead mentioned that when he speaks with people, many express their support for the program but say they simply don’t have the time to get involved. He acknowledged that while it is a time commitment, there are other ways people can contribute. Financial donations are always appreciated and volunteers are always needed for fundraising events throughout the year.
For more information on how to become a CASA volunteer, visit www.prairieplainscasa.org.