Cape Girardeau, Bollinger & Perry County
Court Appointed
Special Advocates

Of Southeast Missouri, Inc.

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Welcome to Cape Girardeau area CASA Online!

CASA Volunteers are special people who represent the needs of children - and only the children - in court cases involving abuse and/or neglect in the 32nd Judicial Circuit.  As such, CASA volunteers serve as the eyes and ears of the judge, gathering relevant information about the child and the family, and then make recommendations to the judge regarding what is in the child's best interests.


Why does a child need a CASA volunteer?

When the court is making decisions that will affect a child's future, the child needs and deserves a spokesperson - an objective adult to provide independent information about the best interests of the child.  While other parties in the case are concerned about the child, they also have other interests.  The CASA volunteer is the only person in the case whose sole concern is the best interest of the child.  CASA volunteers are assigned one case at a time to provide a "voice in court".  A CASA volunteer gives individual attention to each case.

An abused or neglected child has come from  a world of chaos and instability.  For the child, there is fear; fear of being hurt; fear of being alone and fear about the future.  For children who are in and out of home placements, there can be many changes in schools and homes before a decision is made on where the child should live.  A CASA volunteer can be the source of stability and comfort to fill an enormous void in the child's life.  A CASA volunteer is a trusted, dependable adult who doesn't go away and who gives the child hope for a better future.

For more Questions and Answers click on Volunteer FAQ.


2009 Swearing In Ceremonies
CASA Monthly Newsletter
Wal-Mart Stores Make $5000 Donation
Joan Drury Creates Charitable Fund to Benefit CASA
Let Us Make a Presentation to Your Members

 

You can't control where abused children come from, but you can have something to do with where they end up.

Volunteers Needed!

Cape Girardeau County Area

Speak Up for a Child

573-335-1726


CASA Honors Their Volunteers
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southeast Missouri, Inc.) held an appreciation dinner at Southeast Missouri Hospital in honor of their volunteers and their dedication to the abused and neglected children of Southeast Missouri. The event included dinner provided by Southeast Missouri Hospital and an awards program. The guest speaker was the Honorable Scott E. Thomsen.
Judge Thomsen discussed the role of CASA in the Juvenile Court System and stressed the importance of the information provided by CASA volunteers. Year after year, dedicated citizens come forward to volunteer with CASA and for that, CASA is grateful. Being a CASA volunteer can be demanding and does requires commitment in time and effort. The rewards, though, are significant and often the results have a lifelong impact upon those children. We are truly blessed!

Pictured from left to right: Standing: Connie Houston, Sybil Walley, Eileen Schlichting, Chris Tourville, Pat Edwards, Linda Reutzel, Julie & Carl Boitnott, Shervana Small, Sue Crossen and Sue Rees. Seated are Sue Traw, Elizabeth “Boots” Jessup, Sheryl Dunavan, Carolyn Pendergrass, Connie Unterreiner, Elaine Jackson, and Jeanine Hager. Those not present: Mary Ambery, Larry Bill, Jan Copeland, Joan Drury, Aaron Horrell, Darlene Jennings, Clarice Jones, Heather Perreault, Natalie & James Ricks, Melissa Rose, Sara Ryan, Cathy Schroeder, Judy Seabaugh, Phyllis Severs, Pat Sweeney, Chris Tourville, Kerry Wallaert, and Amond Williams.


CASA held an appreciation dinner at Southeast Missouri Hospital in honor of their volunteers and their dedication to the abused and neglected children of Southeast Missouri. The event included dinner provided by Southeast Missouri Hospital and an awards program. Also in attendance were guest speakers utilized during CASA training which was held four times in 2008. We are very thankful for those instructors and for their commitment to our program. We are so honored to have so many individuals make CASA their choice for volunteering. It is a demanding volunteer “job”.  However, lifelong impact can take place and that is priceless. We are very blessed!

Pictured from left to right:
Standing: Aaron Horrell, Darlene Jennings, Robert Thornburgh, Connie Unterreiner, Pam Jenkins, CASA Case Supervisor, Larry Bill, Chris Tourville, Jeanine Hager, Heather Perreault, Pat Edwards, Shervana Small, Linda Reutzel, Pat Sweeney, Mary Lowry, Mary Ambery, Carl Boitnott, Julie Boitnott, Natalie Ricks, James Ricks.
Seated: Claire Campbell, Juvenile Officer, Sybil Walley, Sue Crossen, Jan Copeland, Sue Traw, and Carolyn Pendergrass.
CASA volunteers not pictured are Wilma Camp, Beth Brotherton, Joan Drury, Savannah Gibbar, Tonya Harrell, Candi Hill, Connie Houston, Elaine Jackson, Clarice Jones, Diane Klueppel, Sue Rees, Eileen Schlichting, Cathy Schroeder, Judy Seabaugh, and Steve Simmons.


CASA held an appreciation dinner in honor of their volunteers and their dedication to the abused and neglected children of Southeast Missouri. The event was held at Southeast Hospital with dinner followed by a few rounds of the CASA Jeopardy game. Two CASAs, Opal Aden and Eileen Schlichting, were celebrating their 13th year as a CASA Volunteer. Opal received a heartfelt good-bye, as this was her last night with us as a volunteer. It was a great night for everyone and we are so honored to have such wonderful people doing wonderful work for the children of Southeast Missouri.

Pictured from left to right:
Back row: Cathy Schroeder, Judy Seabaugh, Shirley Seabaugh, Larry Bill, Jan Copeland, Darlene Jennings, Aaron Horrell, Pat Edwards and Joan Drury.
Front row: Sue Haff, Jeanine Hager, Mary Ambery, Opal Aden, Chris Tourville, Ann Watson, Connie Unterreiner, Sue Rees, and Sue Crossen. Not pictured are Robby Bailey, Wilma Camp, Barb Campbell, Savannah Gibbar, Tonya Harrell, Diane Heuring, Candi Hill, Elaine Jackson, Teresa Johnson, Mary Lowry, Eileen Schlichting, Rita Shaffer, Steve Simmons, Duncan T. Smith, Robert Thornburgh, and Donna Wheeler.

Meet Our New Director

 

CASA is pleased to announce Linda Nash has joined our organization as Executive Director.

Linda Clark Nash is a native of Southeast Missouri.  She graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a B.S. degree in Secondary Education and a M.A. in History, and taught history at Jackson High School for 31 years.  For the past five years, she has served as the executive director of two U.S. Department of Education professional development grants which she wrote.  The grant serves history teachers from a thirteen district consortium in Southeast Missouri which is headed by the Jackson RII district in partnership with Southeast Missouri State University.

Linda serves as acquisitions and exhibits coordinator for the Red House Interpretive Center where she also serves on the Board of Directors.  She is married to Phillip Nash and has two children and five step children.  The Nash's live in Jackson, Missouri.

2009 Swearing In Ceremonies
Judge Peter Statler swore in six new volunteers for CASA.  They took an oath to do their best to protect and defend the rights of the children they will represent.  They join the CASA program's current 31 volunteers, bring the total to 37 volunteers for the Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Perry counties.

Pictured left to right: Amond Williams, Phyllis Severs, Sara Ryan, Melissa Rose, Sheila Crass, Kerry Wallaert and Judge Peter Statler.

Sheryl Dunavan was sworn in by the Honorable Judge Statler.
Elizabeth "Boots" Jessup was sworn in by the Honorable Judge Statler.

CASA Monthly Newsletter

CASA's October/November Newsletter is available as a PDF document for you to download.  To download the document, click here.

Past issues of the CASA Newsletter are also available to download.  For a complete listing, click here.


Wal-Mart Stores Make $5000 Donation
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southeast Missouri were honored to accept a $5000 donation from Wal-Mart Stores at the 8th Annual CASA BBQ benefit. Those pictured are State Senator Jason Crowell, who procured the donation; Wal-Mart representative, Ray Crum, and CASA staff: Pam Jenkins, Lori Schutte, and Sue Haff. Also pictured is Frank Kinder, CASA supporter and emcee for the BBQ event.

Joan Drury Creates Charitable Fund to Benefit CASA

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southeast Missouri (CASA) is honored with the act of generosity by Joan Drury who has created a charitable fund to further CASA's mission of representing the needs of children in court cases involving abuse and/or neglect. As a CASA volunteer, Joan is an 8-year advocate for these children, ensuring they have a safe, permanent home. It is this kind of long-term commitment and support, both personally and financially, of CASA that will change the lives of children and our community today and for years to come.  Pictured are Lori Schutte, Joan Drury, and Pam Jenkins.

Let Us Make a Presentation to Your Members

We would like to come and speak to your civic, fraternal, or community organization about our mission and goals.  Please contact us to have one of our staff or board members make a presentation to your membership.


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Copyright © 2007 Court Appointed Special Advocates  Last Revised:  12/18/2009