CASA volunteer recruitment event features therapy dogs

Community members attending a recent event at the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library learned about how Court Appointed Special Advocates help children who have experienced abuse or neglect. But the evening felt lighter than one might expect, given the sad subject matter – because it also offered attendees a chance to pet some therapy dogs. Woofcraft, a Findlay-based nonprofit which trains therapy and service dogs, and CASA Hancock County teamed up for an event Tuesday to raise awareness of both organizations. When a case related to child abuse or neglect is making its way through the court system, CASA volunteers have the responsibility of speaking on behalf of the child, just as each parent may have their own attorney. CASA Hancock County is housed in the Hancock County Juvenile Court and receives some funding from the Hancock County Commissioners, but also has a nonprofit arm, Friends of CASA. Haley Lutz, volunteer coordinator and community liaison at CASA, said CASA doesn't work with Woofcraft on a regular basis yet but they have discussed doing so in the long term. Tuesday's event was informal, with slides appearing on a screen and attendees able to stop in and ask questions and, of course, pet the dogs. Lex Blanton is executive director of Woofcraft, which trains service and therapy dogs, and provides therapy dog visits to locations like schools, courthouses and hospitals. She was at Tuesday's event with Eddie, a 3-year-old Yakutian laika who has primarily been a therapy dog in nursing homes. She said even people who have memory issues tend to remember Eddie and will perk up when he comes to visit. Elaina Tolles was also present with her dog Moose, a mixed breed who is going through training to become a therapy dog. Tolles said he is good with children and she hopes he can work with them as a therapy dog. Lutz and Ashley Bell, executive director of CASA Hancock County, shared information on volunteering. On average, CASA volunteers spend eight to 10 hours per month on their case. Volunteers are asked to commit 12 to 24 months or until the child's case is resolved, to provide stability and consistency for the child. Bell said if a potential volunteer reaches out, the initial interview is informal. That's followed by more than 30 hours of training covering all kinds of issues they might encounter, before the volunteer is officially sworn in by a judge. "We don't let anybody go in without having all of the information they need," Bell said. Volunteers continue to do training on a smaller scale to stay active, and meet up with other CASA volunteers and learn from each other. Bell said people are drawn to this role because they have a heart for children, but also they are often nervous the first time. Bell and Lutz check in with volunteers and give them space to debrief, and mental health and self-care are discussed in their training. Each volunteer can take a maximum of two cases at a time, although Bell and Lutz themselves can take on more cases. Bell has had potential volunteers drop out halfway through training, realizing as they learn more about child abuse that they are too distressed to commit to this volunteer role. Those who complete training and go on to advocate for children in court have told her afterward, however, that knowing they are making a difference for children is so rewarding that it outweighs the stress. Lutz said another obstacle is that court can feel like an intimidating environment. She is working to help people feel more comfortable with it, and said Probate and Juvenile Court Judge Kristen Johnson has been gracious and willing to talk with potential volunteers to make it feel less scary. Johnson, who was also present Tuesday, said CASA is the only voice in a court case that speaks only for the child. She said CASA volunteers doing this work of serving as the child's voice help her, as a judge, to make better decisions. She said no specific skill set is required, just a desire to spend time with children and advocate for them in court. Volunteers must also pass a background check. Ideally, CASA Hancock County would have about 40 volunteers on its roster, Johnson said. Currently they have 17. Johnson said CASA volunteers can help children through a system which wasn't designed to provide "an individualized voice". Without a CASA in the room, the discussion becomes more about the parents and their rights, or the legal specifics of the case, "and really, what we're all there for are the kids," she said. Abbie Acord is president of the board of Friends of CASA, a nonprofit which raises funds for these efforts. She said they are recruiting for board members as well as volunteers. Acord said she finds it rewarding to feel like she's making a difference, and Friends of CASA is trying to support the volunteers and encourage their own self-care. CASA volunteers Sandra Stone and Michelle Lehman also attended Tuesday's event. Lehman said she has been volunteering for more than two years and feels like she makes a difference in the outcome of a case. Stone is retired from Marathon Petroleum Corp., which years ago had worked closely with CASA to get employees trained as volunteers. Stone wasn't able to commit the time at that point, but knew the organization was one she wanted to support when she could. She has been a volunteer for seven months. She said she always tells the children that the judge wants to hear what they have to say. "It just warms my heart when I go in and tell them, 'I am your voice,'" she said, tearing up. For more information on becoming a CASA volunteer, visit www.hancockcountycasa.org or email hrlutz@co.hancock.oh.us.