Seward County CASA Board Retreat 5/14/2005

Each member listed 3 priority “HOPES” for CASA:

• Get each child a volunteer

• Stronger board – attend 75% of board meetings, be active on committees

• Promoting CASA using technology

• Increase coverage to 80% of court’s caseload of abused and neglected children

• Reach 85% level of sustainable funding

• Develop relationships with organizations that require community service

• Get 3 or more volunteers

• Enough Funding

• Collaborate with Bridges/schools for prevention efforts

• Attain more volunteers

• Maintain positive relationship between board and volunteers

• Increase donations by 50%

• More foster homes

• Hold informational meetings for prospective volunteers

Concerns:

Each member listed 3 priority “CONCERNS” for CASA:

• Growing pool - Not enough volunteers to meet number of abused/neglected children

• Some volunteers are inactive

• $$$ Sustainable funding

• More automated system for volunteers to make paperwork less time consuming

• Prevention efforts to ensure abuse does not occur

• Promoting CASA in Seward County

• Improve communication external/internal

• Board get to know volunteers

• Emphasize if board fails – Children fail.

Mission Statement

Each member gave their own Mission Statement for CASA:

• CASA exists to protect and keep children safe.  CASA provides volunteers to get to know the victim.  Once the volunteer fully understands the child a decision can be made to ensure he/she is placed in a safe and loving environment.

• Marshall people who have a commitment of community service as a volunteer to represent the neglected children of Seward County in the courts.

• CASA exists to represent the best interest of children involved in Seward County Court.  The goal of the Executive Director and Board of Directors volunteers shall be to work in unison to provide funding, education, community involvement, and support to provide for the best possible future for these children.

• To make meaningful difference in the levels of abused/neglected children through guidance respect, and protection.

Statement Purpose:

Each member gave their own Statement of Purpose for CASA:

• CASA is the voice that may never be heard in the courtroom.  CASA is the consistent component in the legal system for an abused/neglected child.

• Represent interest of neglected children specifically in the legal system to ensure fair and biased treatment for the child and provide guidance that child is lacking.

• To provide one on one caring and support for each child declared a ward of the state of Nebraska in Seward County with the goal of always representing the best interest of the child through history of the case.

• To provide our communities abused and neglected children an opportunity to have a voice in the legal system by providing them with qualified volunteers that work towards their best interest.

Each member gave 3 words to describe CASA’s purpose:

v     Advocate – Hero – Ensure safety – Voice – Represent needy children’s interest – Caring– support – Compassion – Dependability – Commitment – Fairness – Loyalty

Vision Statement

Each member gave their own Vision Statement for CASA:

• Volunteer becomes a hero in the life of abused children.

• Ensure that all CASA children are represented by a volunteer in the court system.

• CASA will continue to grow and expand until all children needing representation in Seward County Court are served.

• To become a program that is committed to serving 100% of abused and neglected children.

Value Statement

Each member gave their own Value Statement for CASA:

• There needs to be a caring individual to support, represent, and protect each child.

• Represent, supports, guide, and mentor the CASA child as if they were your own.

• Working with other involved agencies and CASA will represent those children assigned through the courts with dignity, confidentiality, compassion, and respect.

• To show compassion and commitment to our children by providing them with the best opportunity to become productive citizens in our community.

Issue – Need to keep the current volunteers active

Goal:  Maintain active status for current CASA volunteers

Objective:  Maintain 8 volunteers

Goal:  Recruit two volunteers

Objective: Recruit one female/one male

Issue:  Sustainability

Goal:  Maintain and seek funding

 Objective:  Maintain $24,342 funding and seek funding – additional $20,000

Issue:  Need for an Active Board

Title:  Board needs to be active in supporting program to make it a strong program

Goal:  Increase participation level on the board

Objective:  Ensure that the board members fulfill their by-law requirements