Page 16
The INDEPENDENT, September 21, 2011
CASA volunteers sought to help foster children in court cases
From page 10
its efforts to sustain and ex-
pand the program in Columbia
County. “The grant is a key
part, but we also need people
to come forward and advocate
for the best interests of our fos-
ter children,” Bourn said.
“For people who cannot
commit the volunteer hours
necessary to be CASA advo-
cate, we also need volunteers
to help out the organization in
many other ways,” Bourn said.
CASA for Kids also needs non-
advocate volunteers to serve
on its board, help with fundrais-
ing, and assist in the office.
The local nonprofit organiza-
tion is part of a national move-
ment to protect the rights of
foster children. In 1977, a fam-
ily court judge in Seattle creat-
ed CASA to train and support
volunteers from all walks of life
to speak out and act as advo-
cates for the best interests of
abused and neglected children.
Judges, attorneys, child wel-
fare workers and parents over-
whelmingly report that volun-
teers make a difference with
the children they serve. CASA
volunteers are highly effective
in getting their recommenda-
tions accepted in court, and
their reports lead to a higher
number of services being or-
dered for children and families.
A child with a CASA advo-
cate is:
• More likely to be adopted
and find a safe, permanent
home;
• Half as likely to re-enter
foster care;
• Substantially less likely to
spend time in long-term foster
care;
• Less likely to have poor
conduct in school;
• More likely to pass all
school courses; and
• More likely to receive
court-ordered services be-
cause of the volunteer’s de-
tailed knowledge of the child’s
circumstances, and these serv-
ices can be more carefully tar-
geted so that service dollars
are used more effectively.
For more information con-
tact CASA for Kids executive
director Kathryn Bourn at 503-
366-4133 or email the program
at info@casaforkidsinc.org.
4-H results from fairs in 2011
From page 10
Poultry
Showmanship:
Champion – Crystal-Ann
Carreon.
Presentations:
Joint
Champion at State Fair –
Crystal-Ann Carreon.
Pygmy Goat Showman-
ship: Champion – Levi
Carreon.
Rabbit Breeds: Champion
– Kaitlyn Eyrrick and Katherine
Goodman. Reserve Grand
Champion – Katherine Good-
man.
Rabbit
Showmanship:
Champion – Kaitlyn Eyrrick.
Reserve Champion – Harral
Morgan.
Swine Breeds: Champion
– Harral Morgan.
Swine
Showmanship:
Champion – Harral Morgan.
Trail:
Reserve
Grand
Champion
–
McKenzie
Tarkalson.
Just for Fun
Casey and Kyle by Will Robertson
When you
have elimi-
nated the
impossible,
whatever
remains,
however im-
probable,
must
be
the truth.
Solve this Sudoku
Color
this
s c a re c r o w.
Answer to September 7
Sudoku is on page 23
A. CONAN
DOYLE
British
physician
and writer
(1859-1930)