Quilting for a stronger community
A group of 30 quilters from various quilting guilds recently gathered over a three-day weekend at the Bernasconi Sierra Adventure Center to participate in a fundraising effort on behalf of the Eastern Sierra CASA. Program. The Inyo County Superintendent of Schools made the facility available to the group in support of its efforts.
What is CASA? It is the acronym for Court Appointed Special Advocates for children. And it is a special and very vital role that, as one volunteer for the program offered, is to “Be the glue. Be the glue that connects the pieces in a complicated child welfare system.” The idea being to seek cooperative solutions among those involved in the children’s lives.
What does a CASA volunteer do? The volunteers are sworn officers of the Court. Each CASA volunteer is appointed by the Juvenile Court to investigate and report back to the Court about the needs of an individual child. The whole idea is to give a report to the Judge and the Court what they feel is in the best interests of the child caught up in the legal system. They speak on behalf of the child to make sure that he or she gets what they need.
Why is fundraising needed to support the CASA program? Because it depends on donations for providing the training required to be a Court Appointed Special Advocate.
The fundraising effort was to bring awareness of CASA, says Jaque Hickman, a board member of CASA appointed by Superior Court Judge Dean Stout. Hickman is also a member of the Mt. Whitney Quilt Guild. She noted that “There are networks of quilting guilds around the state as well as in the country. Several quilters came from Bishop, Mammoth Lakes, Ridgecrest, Lone Pine, Independence, and even from as far away as Los Angeles.”
Over the weekend, some quilters worked on individual projects while others worked on making small quilts and pillowcases that are given to children who find themselves in the system and are clients of CASA. Quilting guilds often take on community projects in support of children
Eastern Sierra CASA program and Wild Iris work together to create a healthier community for children and young adults in the Juvenile Justice Court system.
What are the requirements to be a CASA? Volunteers must be at least 21 years of age and willing to commit at least one year to the program. Potential volunteers attend an orientation meeting, are interviewed, undergo a criminal background check, and complete up to 36 hours of free, in-depth training before being sworn as a CASA volunteer.
The next training is scheduled for October 1 in Bishop.
Lisa Reel, Executive Director of Wild Iris and CASA of the Eastern Sierra, says “CASA volunteers are ordinary people who achieve extraordinary things. People of all backgrounds, careers, ethnicity, cultural experiences, and life experiences are encouraged to apply. You’d be astounded by what a difference a single person can make in the life of a child within our court system.”
If you are interested oin learning or perhaps becoming a volunteer, contact Volunteer Coordinator Virginia Bird at Wild Iris at 760.873.6601. You can also email her at gbird@wild-iris.org.
