Grandparents Raising Children Support Group
This community is dedicated to grandparents who are the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. In cases where the parents are not willing or able to provide adequate care for their children, grandparents may take on the role of primary caregivers. Join the support group to find support, share your experience, and get advice from other members.
I want to take a few minutes to explain what CASA is and to give you web site and a 800 #.
www.nationalcasa.org
800-628-3233
I first heard of CASA while on vacation in Hot Springs AR. sitting in the condo watching the community channel to see what was going on in the area.A CASA ad came on,it was small and quick so I didn't, catch much of it but enough that I knew I would like to check it out more.
As you all know at that point we had Ri for a little over a year then, so any time I heard helping children it caught my ear. But I put it off feeling I had my hands full as it was with raising a child, having a business etc....Plus I wanted to get our own court battle over with, and I didn't want anyone in our court battle to think I would get brownie points for being an offcier of the court.
Month after month went by, I kept seeing ads on TV, billboards,magizines etc. One day in Wal-Mart before i got out of there, I seen 10 to 15 people with T-shirts that said, CASA!
I kept thinking ,"I think a higher power is trying to tell me something"
BUT I still ignored, the signs he was giving me, I was to busy after all with dealig with everything and worring about it all.
Even after court for me, it went on and on all these signs.
Until one day.......... I received an email....from the CASA office in N. Carilina...till this day nobody can explain how I got it and I did not know the person that sent it.
This email went into a story of two small children that were removed from there mom's home and spent a long time in a foster home. The court decided one day she was ready for them back, the foster mother pleaded with them not to do this, but nobody would listen to her, they felt she was to involved with this 3 year old and his sibling. These children did not have a CASA Avocate because there is not enough of them to go around. Three months after the children went back to mom the 3 year old was killed by one of the mom's boyfriends.
This was it, I went home and finshed my cry because I had ignored all of his signs. I had printed this email out and called the person that had sent it out. Name and number of the CASA was on the email.
I called and ask for this women, she could not figure out how I got this email all the way here , it was never meant to leave her office. She then in returned listen to my story and took my number and a few days later the CASA in my area called me.
I had to go through a test and interview and a complete back ground check, finger prints, classes and court and then be sworn in as an offcier of the court and given a bage.
Okay.... now what we are is a voice for children in court. I make home visits,I carry a court order that gives me access to any info I need to investigate. I do not get paid for this, I give my time out of my love for children.
You normal only have to spend about 4 hours a months, I normal spend more then this...that is me....... Also you will have a court date around ever 3 months.
You can take a couple cases at once or just one. I only do one at a time, I want to give a 100% to each case, these children deserve my full attention.
Looking back I wish I would have done it long before I did.
Oh and the classes are if I remember right 30 hours. That was one I my reasons for putting it off to, time to do the classes. But after that email that God had a hand in getting to me, that was the last and only sign I needed.
If anyone has any other questions you can message me or put it on here.
The only thing I can not tell you about is my case that I am workig on, but everytihng else I can answer for you.
Sorry I did n't mean to make this so long.
www.nationalcasa.org
800-628-3233
I first heard of CASA while on vacation in Hot Springs AR. sitting in the condo watching the community channel to see what was going on in the area.A CASA ad came on,it was small and quick so I didn't, catch much of it but enough that I knew I would like to check it out more.
As you all know at that point we had Ri for a little over a year then, so any time I heard helping children it caught my ear. But I put it off feeling I had my hands full as it was with raising a child, having a business etc....Plus I wanted to get our own court battle over with, and I didn't want anyone in our court battle to think I would get brownie points for being an offcier of the court.
Month after month went by, I kept seeing ads on TV, billboards,magizines etc. One day in Wal-Mart before i got out of there, I seen 10 to 15 people with T-shirts that said, CASA!
I kept thinking ,"I think a higher power is trying to tell me something"
BUT I still ignored, the signs he was giving me, I was to busy after all with dealig with everything and worring about it all.
Even after court for me, it went on and on all these signs.
Until one day.......... I received an email....from the CASA office in N. Carilina...till this day nobody can explain how I got it and I did not know the person that sent it.
This email went into a story of two small children that were removed from there mom's home and spent a long time in a foster home. The court decided one day she was ready for them back, the foster mother pleaded with them not to do this, but nobody would listen to her, they felt she was to involved with this 3 year old and his sibling. These children did not have a CASA Avocate because there is not enough of them to go around. Three months after the children went back to mom the 3 year old was killed by one of the mom's boyfriends.
This was it, I went home and finshed my cry because I had ignored all of his signs. I had printed this email out and called the person that had sent it out. Name and number of the CASA was on the email.
I called and ask for this women, she could not figure out how I got this email all the way here , it was never meant to leave her office. She then in returned listen to my story and took my number and a few days later the CASA in my area called me.
I had to go through a test and interview and a complete back ground check, finger prints, classes and court and then be sworn in as an offcier of the court and given a bage.
Okay.... now what we are is a voice for children in court. I make home visits,I carry a court order that gives me access to any info I need to investigate. I do not get paid for this, I give my time out of my love for children.
You normal only have to spend about 4 hours a months, I normal spend more then this...that is me....... Also you will have a court date around ever 3 months.
You can take a couple cases at once or just one. I only do one at a time, I want to give a 100% to each case, these children deserve my full attention.
Looking back I wish I would have done it long before I did.
Oh and the classes are if I remember right 30 hours. That was one I my reasons for putting it off to, time to do the classes. But after that email that God had a hand in getting to me, that was the last and only sign I needed.
If anyone has any other questions you can message me or put it on here.
The only thing I can not tell you about is my case that I am workig on, but everytihng else I can answer for you.
Sorry I did n't mean to make this so long.
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
You may have enough classes to become a proof reader for CASA and be sworn in.
I spoke to CASA yesterday about getting a private web site/chat room for those of us that are an Avocate to be able to use each other as a sounding board. Some times I know I do just ned a person to discuse my case with,but you can't with just anyone because you take that oath. Anyway that might be something to think about.