IMPACT
in the Northern Hills
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
This CASA volunteer recently celebrated a milestone 5-years of incredible advocacy work. She has advocated for eight children, ranging in age from toddlers to teenagers. As soon as one case closes, she is eager to be appointed to another, sometimes, within only a few weeks.
In all five of her cases, she has played an instrumental role in identifying services for children. Due to her calming nature, honest personality, and personal experiences, she has become role models for mothers, fathers, and kinship providers.
After becoming a CASA in March 2019, she accepted her first case in Butte County involving two young boys. She provided transportation for the father, helped him locate resources, delivered meals to the family, and was a strong proponent of the reunification of the family.
Her second and third cases involved children who were eligible for enrollment in Native American Tribes. She learned everything she could about the Indian Child Welfare Act and advocated for family placements, as a way to maintain cultural values.
Her fourth case took her to a Lawrence County courtroom. Her extensive communication with everyone involved in the case was incredible. Her meticulous contact logs and detailed reports earned her the 2020 Excellence in Court Reporting award. Three different judges expressed the value of the information noted in her CASA Reports and were particularly impressed by her recommendations.
Her job as a bus driver led to her fifth case, as she knew the youth involved. They were eager to have her as their CASA. This was her first time advocating for teenagers, but she did an incredible job working with this age group. She took them horseback riding, attended their sporting events, and with DSS and the mother’s approval, had an overnight trip planned to take them to the ranch where she grew up.
The adolescents openly communicated with her about their needs and wishes. She developed a close and trusting relationship with the teenagers, which is not always an easy feat, and the relationship she developed with the mother is harmonious.
In fact, the mother shared how important the CASA is to her family at a recent Drug Court hearing. She explained how the CASA has been a mentor to her, and that she is openly appreciative of the volunteer’s efforts. With the case closing in a successful reunification with the mother, it was evident this volunteer would remain an active part of these children’s lives for many years to come. In fact, she was asked and gladly accepted the invitation to celebrate the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with the family.
Thanks to generous donors like you, United Way of the Black Hills is able to make stories like this possible!