By Andrew Edwards
Elmore/Autauga News
Child Abuse, neglect and domestic violence are persistent crimes that have dug deep into the heart of America.
Luckily, we have special agencies that are designed to help children who have experienced these heinous acts, and then give them the opportunity to have a permanent home with a chance to thrive.
This is where the Court Appointed Special Advocated (CASA) comes into action.
CASA is a national organization that advocates for the safety of our children. Each individual branch recruits volunteers who, in turn, are assigned a child to watch over. The children selected are ones who have experienced some type of abuse or neglect.
And there’s a branch located right here in Prattville.
Pam Tindal, executive director for CASA of Autauga County, gave some insight into the inner workings of the organization.
“I recruit and train all of our volunteers, who of course have to go through background checks before the court swears them in,” Tindal said.
Once sworn in by the court, each volunteer is assigned a child to watch over. Visitations can include going to their homes to check on the family, being present for school functions, or accompanying them to doctors appointments.
“DHR agents are super busy because they could have up to 50 children to watch over. It’s difficult to keep track of them on a daily basis. And that’s where we come in. We want to ensure that every child is being properly treated. Since we have that 1:1 ratio, we’ll be able to effectively keep tabs on the child’s homelife,” Tindal said.
After a period of time, each volunteer will go before the Juvenile Court Judge of Autauga County and make recommendations to the court for services that the child may need, i.e. counseling or extracurricular activities.
“I ask the volunteers to stay committed to the child as long as they’re in the court system. We’re essentially the eyes and eyes for the judge,” Tindal said.
Tindal explained that CASA is extremely crucial to the area, as foster homes are hard to come by in Central Alabama. It has been especially difficult this year with COVID restrictions limiting visitations. However, she says the organization has been able to prevail.
“We are still able to visit the children at least once a month over zoom or some other type of virtual meeting platform. That’s not the case for all, though – we still see some in-person,” Tindal said.
Currently, Tindal says that she has 14 volunteers working part-time for the organization. Others who want to join can call their number at 334-610-5962. You must be 21 years or older to join.
“We have a very flexible schedule for all of our volunteers. Most of our members are already working full-time so we know how to get around certain situations,” Tindal said.
CASA of Autauga County helps to sponsor many fundraisers and events in the area. According to Tindal, they are “hoping to do more this year,” including the possibility of a Super Hero Run this summer.
“Ultimately, our goal is to help these children find permanency and ensure that they are in a loving home. Nothing brings us more join than to see a child thriving in a welcoming environment,” Tindal said.
