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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 2017)
4B THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 Volunteers are needed as child advocates By SUSAN CODY Special to The Daily Astorian Sue Cody Kaden Gasser builds a tower out of hula hoops at the emergency preparedness event Sept. 16. Event focuses on emergency preparedness Against the national backdrop of fi res, hurricanes and fl oods, NW Natural held its annual event to highlight National Pre- paredness Month, Sept. 16, at the Astoria Armory. This year, it partnered with the kickoff campaign of United Way of Clat- sop County (UWCC) to focus on emer- gency preparedness. “Most people are not ready for an emergency” says Teresa Brownlie, Com- munity Affairs manager for NW Natural in Clatsop County. tle and emergency survival blanket, will come in handy, along with information on how to turn off gas and water. “There are certain things to think about, such as all the things in your base- ment that might fl ood,” says Brownlie. “It is a good idea to have some emergency supplies on every fl oor, because you don’t know where you might end up.” Clatsop County Emergency Manage- ment gives out earthquake and tsunami material that includes a sign for people to post in their window: red with “help” on one side and green “OK” on the other, to help out rescuers. Activities at the Armory Awareness and some history By SUSAN CODY Special to The Daily Astorian As kids climb on big foam blocks, slide on inclines, glide across a balance beam and get faces painted, parents were getting the low-down on how to keep those kids safe in emergencies. About 250 people turned out for the activities. Tables of social service agencies sup- ported by United Way and emergency service groups lined the gym, hand- ing out the information families need to know, along with some helpful swag. NW Natural’s “Get Ready” refl ective string backpacks with a light stick, whis- this community is,” says Jennifer Holen, executive director of UWCC. “Many of us have become complacent, and put the idea of preparedness on the back burner. We don’t think about it. “Then we see disaster in another part of the country and we see this is a very timely conversation,” Holen says. “We have amazing resources and we want people to have access to them.” United Way raises funds for 14 agen- cies, such as Clatsop Community Action, Lunch Buddy Mentoring Program, Help- ing Hands, Camp Kiwanilong, etc. The United Way campaign goal this year is $250,000. For information, see: http:// www.clatsopunitedway.org The Way to Wellville and its spon- sor, Columbia Pacifi c Coordinated Care Organization support healthy activities and emergency preparedness. “We are all in this together,” Brownlie says. Looking around the Astoria Armory, Holen says, “I like seeing the community come together — living united, bringing everyone to the table. We want a safe, healthy community for all.” Susan Cody is the communications lead for The Way to Wellville Clatsop County. Clatsop County has had its own brushes with disaster. The Great Coastal Gale of 2007 hit with hurricane-force winds that knocked out power, phone ser- vice and kept the area cutoff from the rest of the state because of downed trees and power lines. Many were without power for a week and cellphones were useless for a time. The Daily Astorian had to be published in Longview, Washington, because of the lack of power. “Just seeing what the 2007 storm did in Clatsop County, showed how resilient Children need a safe, nur- turing environment to achieve well-being and self-confi - dence, educators agree. When families can’t provide that, children rely on local volun- teers to be their voice in the process of fi nding a safe, per- manent home. Parents who struggle with drug abuse, domestic vio- lence or mental illness may fi nd themselves in court, where a judge decides if their home environment is safe. If not, some children are put in foster care, while the parents work on becoming healthy. Children are then assigned a volunteer advocate to look out for them. Most of the chil- dren served locally are 5 years old or younger. About 90 chil- dren need an advocate, but there are only 40 volunteers. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) become the voice of the child and advocate for the child’s best interest throughout a child welfare court case. “Our middle-class, white- picket- fence instinct is, ‘Well, let’s just take that child and put her into a happy home, and everyone feels good,’” says Julia Mabry, executive direc- tor of Clatsop CASA Program. “But that’s not how it works,” Mabry says. “That is not in the child’s best interest. The child’s best interest is to help the parents be safe and sober so they can continue their attachment and continue to be raised by their parent, if that is at all possible.” “This volunteer work is really rewarding” Mabry says. “It can really make a dif- ference in the life of a child. But it really does take a spe- cial person, who is willing to learn about what has hap- pened to that child that led them to being in foster care.” Unsafe homes Before CASAs are called in, Child Protective Services, through the Department of Human Services, determines if the child is safe at home. “Parents have to get their life together,” Mabry says. “They have to not use drugs, take care of their mental health or whatever they need to do. Some parents do really well, and get their kids back, and some don’t. It’s really important for us to match the children with volunteers who have shared interests, so they can bond easier.” While the child is in fos- ter care, the CASA visits the child at least once a month and learns what needs, hopes and wishes he has. A CASA s role is to make sure what- ever happens is in the child’s best interest, Mabry says. For example, she might advocate for more visits with an uncle or someone close to them. “They might want horse- back riding lessons or a bike,” Mabry says. “Sometimes it’s just little things that make a big difference. What CASAs really advocate for and work on is the child’s best perma- nent plan.” CASA training Because childhood trauma can affect health for life, Columbia Pacifi c Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) awarded a grant of $15,000 per year for two years for CASA Volunteer Training and Super- vision in Clatsop County. People interested in becom- ing a CASA volunteer can attend a six-week training pro- gram starting Oct. 18 at Clat- sop Community College. See http://www.clatsopcasa.org Your local janitorial and paper supply...and much more! Aura for Bath and Spa T a co Feed Shela’s Fam ous Tacos! Saturday, Septem ber 30 th 12 M onths Huge 10am - 4PM Sam e As Savings! Cash! O.A.C. 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