APRIL 14, 2017, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A13
CASA: ‘We have people
from all walks of life’
(Continued from Page A1)
CASA volunteers are not
attorneys, but they provide
crucial services that can help
foster children reach the best
possible outcomes.
“CASA volunteers are fo-
cused on determining what
is in the best interest of a
child who is
in
custody
of the state,”
Starr said.
Vo l u n -
teers receive
training on
the child welfare system, the
court system, cultural dif-
ferences and self-awareness,
interviewing techniques and
how to prepare a good, qual-
ity court report. They are
then asked to interview chil-
dren, parents, social work-
ers, school offi cials and oth-
ers knowledgeable about a
child’s history to help de-
termine what might help a
child thrive and succeed.
“The volunteer is the eyes
and ears of the judge outside
of the courtroom,” Starr said.
In one recent example, a
CASA volunteer learned that
mandated visitation was not
occurring and found a way
to help the process along, but
solutions might be as simple
as fi nding ex-
tracurricular
activities to
suit a child’s
interests and
foster family
bonding.
“Most (children) will go
back to their families, but it
has to be a situation that is
safe for them. The kids will
want to go back sooner, but
what is in their best interest
isn’t always what the child
wants,” Starr said.
Starr said a grant-funded
public relations push helped
reinvigorate interest in the
CASA mission, but other
changes have also borne fruit.
Starr herself was interested in
becoming a CASA volunteer,
but the training alone would
have meant two nights a
week for six weeks.
One of the changes she’s
instituted is a new training
program that is completed
partially online in addition to
classwork at the CASA site.
“One of the reasons we
needed a new space was that
we couldn’t offer trainings in
our old building and we end-
ed up all over the place and
never the same place twice,”
Starr said.
Starr said if those who are
interested in volunteering
should call 503-967-6420
or stop by the offi ce, 3530
River Road N., even if they
aren’t sure how they can fi t
into the program.
“We have people from all
walks of life and that’s what
we want, a variety of back-
grounds that brings diver-
sity to the program,” she said.
“I’m also very appreciative
of local employers willing
to give employees time off
to take part in programs like
ours.”
New opportunities at city for students
The Keizer Volunteer Coordinating
Committee recently looked at the youth
councilor and liaison program and is
hoping to restructure the way it works
with additional opportunities for Keizer
students.
The city is now soliciting applications
for volunteers to be considered to serve
as youth councilor, youth committee li-
aison and/or youth page in the upcom-
ing school year.
For the youth councilor, each school
year one youth councilor may be ap-
pointed as a non-voting member of the
council. The candidate must be a Keizer
resident who is either attending high
BUDGET,
continued from Page A1
committee, said he took time
out of his schedule to ride
along with members of the
police department last year
and what he saw was eye-
opening.
“More than half the time
was spent dealing with some-
body in a mental health cri-
sis,” Thompson said. “We’ve
got to fi gure out some way to
ease the burden on the offi cers
we have and add bodies. Are
there other things we can do
to make those resources more
effective?”
Chief John Teague said
KPD is already trying in-
novative ways to reduce the
workload of the department’s
37 current offi cers, including
having a parole and proba-
tion offi cer and DHS workers
work alongside offi cers in the
police station.
“The smoothness of servic-
es is spellbinding. It’s beyond
what we expected to see,”
Teague said.
Despite those efforts, some
members of the budget com-
mittee questioned the purpose
of the meeting given the out-
come was already pre-deter-
mined.
“When we look at the bud-
get next month, we already
know none of the priorities
we’ve set will come about,”
said Ron Bersin, a budget
committee member.
Bersin also suggested that
school or a registered home schooled
student. The youth councilor will be
selected during the 10th or 11th grade
year and serve during the 11th and 12th
grade year. He or she will be required to
attend Monday night council meetings
and at least one additional meeting per
month with a councilor (i.e. job shadow).
For the youth committee liaison, each
school year one youth liaison may be ap-
pointed as a non-voting member to any
city board, committee, or commission.
The youth liaison position is open to all
age groups. The youth liaison is expected
to attend committee meetings of the
group for which they liaison.
the revenues promised with
the creation of Keizer Station
have not had the impact the
idea was sold upon.
In an effort to assuage con-
tinued frustration with the
process, the committee de-
cided to move the long range
planning meetings to January
with the hope of having more
of an impact on future bud-
gets.
Adding police offi cers gen-
erated the most buzz in the
room, but the task force and
city staff also took up more
generalized problems with
city fi nances.
Tim Wood, Keizer’s fi -
nance director, said city staff
traditionally start the year
knowing they are given a
budget greater than expected
revenues.
“Then we ask the directors
of each department to look
for savings that will amount to
$300,000 to $500,000 over-
all,” Wood said.
City Manager Chris Ep-
pley said he and Wood are
planning to start bringing the
expected costs more in-line
with expected revenues in-
stead of placing the burden on
staff.
While revenues are ex-
pected to climb by about
$197,000 in the next fi scal
year – primarily as a result
of new construction and a 3
percent rise in property taxes
– the city will have to pay
out an additional $166,000
to help cover the costs of the
Public Employees Retirement
For the council page, each year coun-
cil pages may be appointed to shadow
councilors on a rotational basis at inter-
vals set by the youth councilor. The posi-
tions are open to all high school students
(ages 14 through 18). They will be ex-
pected to shadow a council member, at-
tend meetings, learn, and assist as needed.
Applications may be fi lled out elec-
tronically at www.keizer.org. Applica-
tions are also available at Keizer Civic
Center – City Hall located at 930 Che-
mawa Road N.E., or you can request an
application be mailed to you by calling
City Hall at 503-390-3700.
System (PERS).
Eppley said there are some
possible ways that revenue
might increase. He said rev-
enues from marijuana sales
might pay off better than ex-
pected, and leasing some city-
owned land could add a bit
more, but cautioned against
over-exuberance in either
case.
“They are out there, but
they will be slow and incre-
mental and you will be frus-
trated by the (timeline),” Ep-
pley said.
A full roster
KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald
Offi cer Kevin Renfro, Keizer Police Department’s newest offi -
cer, recites his oath of offi ce at the Keizer City Council meeting
April 3. Renfro was most recently a detective with Monmouth
Police Department.
With the addition of Renfro, KPD now has a fi lled all the 37
offi cer positions available under the city’s budget, but the de-
partment remains understaffed by most measures. Talks are
underway to fi nd additional funding.
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