IMPACT
in Sturgis
Your Generosity in Action
Thanks to your support, United Way of the Black Hills is proud to share real stories — told in the words of our partners — that show how your generosity is making a difference every day.
CASA of the Northern Hills
Northern Hills Area CASA hosts a Volunteer Appreciation Banquet every year in which all advocates, donors, sponsors, court personnel, and agency partners are highlighted. The Spirit of CASA Award is designated for an individual who demonstrates an exemplary commitment and dedication to the children they serve.
Just eleven days after being sworn in as a brand-new Court Appointed Special Advocate, this volunteer gladly accepted her first appointment, which involved a teenage girl who was placed in a foster home on the other side of the state. This youth, like many of the children who enter the foster care system, had been subjected to many adverse experiences throughout her life.
She didn’t have a safe or stable home, a consistent parental figure, or a reliable person whom she could trust. With her warm and inviting personality, this CASA was quick to develop a positive rapport with the adolescent. The volunteer maintained regular phone/text contact with her and also had at least once a month in-person visits at the foster home in Sioux Falls.
Because of her consistency, she quickly solidified herself as someone the teenager could rely on. Not only did the CASA work diligently to gain and preserve the youth’s trust, but she also developed an open and respectful relationship with the biological mother, who was working with DSS toward reunification. Although the mother made great strides on her case plan, the teenager voiced her desire to remain with her foster family permanently, as she had developed a trusting bond with them, and her strained relationship with her mother persisted.
The volunteer served as a role model and mentor for the adolescent, her mother, and the first-time foster parents who didn’t have any biological children of their own. The CASA advocated for the girl’s wishes, brought the team together, and insisted the girl’s desire for permanency be heard. This effort eventually led to the mother agreeing to allow the foster parents be granted a permanent guardianship. The case closed, with the child’s wishes and best interests as top priorities.
Months after permanency was achieved, contact between the adolescent and the CASA continues. They also have regular visits when the advocate is in the Sioux Falls area. This CASA volunteer certainly made a lasting impression on this young lady.
In addition to direct service casework, this volunteer has been an integral part of our organization. She assists with community events, promotes the CASA mission, and was featured as a guest speaker at our new volunteer training sessions. She and her husband were also a major sponsor for our 2024 “Dueling Pianos” fundraiser. Her calm demeanor and caring, gentle personality exudes in everything she does. She has set an example to the community about what a CASA volunteer can be and has earned the utmost respect from everyone involved in her case. Her passion for being a CASA is undeniable.
Advocating for abused and neglected children, by helping them achieve permanency in a safe, stable, loving environment, is the role of a Court Appointed Special Advocate. This volunteer has overwhelmingly surpassed the requirements of a CASA.
Thanks to generous donors like you, United Way of the Black Hills is able to make stories like this possible!