CASA rep asks Wood County Commission for $50K in financial support
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PARKERSBURG -- The local Voices for Children program is seeking local funding to make up for a grant they will no longer receive.
Local Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) representative Margaret Burdette appeared before the Wood County Commission on Monday to see if any assistance would be available from the opioid settlement money the county is receiving since many of the cases they deal with have parents who are abusing drugs.
The group lost a $40,000 Title II Grant which covered part of staff salary and operational expenses which have increased over the past year due to implementing an efile system, Burdette said.
The program has received 60 new children since the beginning of the year.
From Jan.1, 2023, to Feb. 23, 2024, the program has served 781 children. Of those, 135 were physical abuse, 183 were negligence where basic needs were not being met, 101 due to domestic violence where a child tried to intervene between who was involved in the dispute, six dealt with sexual abuse and 286 were due to substance abuse.
"Around 67% of our cases are related to substance abuse and improper parenting skills," Burdette said.
During that same period, they were able to resolve and close 436 cases where the parents received an improvement plan to correct the problems which CASA monitors. Those include parenting classes, substance abuse classes, inpatient treatment, mental health treatment and more.
"We meet with all of these children monthly face-to-face," Burdette said.
Because of challenges to the foster care system, they may have children placed in Huntington, Logan, Martinsburg and all over the state.
"We have had to travel across the state to make sure the children's needs are being met in the foster placement," Burdette said, adding it could also be a non-parental relative they are placed with.
CASA makes recommendations with the proper authorities if they feel the child needs to be moved elsewhere.
"We are making sure the child's needs are being met while they are out of their home," Burdette said.
Of the 436 cases they closed, they had 74 adopted by non-relatives, 22 adopted by a relative, 36 were placed in a legal guardianship and others were where parents met the necessary requirements and got custody back of their children. Others did not regain their custody rights because they could not meet their requirements, including missing counseling sessions or drug screens and more.
There have been times families have gotten upset with their people, Burdette said adding it has never been life threatening.
"We explain to them that we are not the enemy here," she said. "We are trying to correct the problems.
"Our mission is for every child to be in their own home with their biological parents," Burdette said. "It is on them to do it. We do try to work with them."
Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure said they have worked with the CASA people.
"They do vital work in abuse and neglect cases," he said. "They work to make sure the children are safe and in a good environment."
Burdette said their Victims of Crime Act funding was also reduced.
"We are taking a hit," she said.
CASA operates a number of programs around the state. Burdette's section covers Wood, Wirt, Ritchie, and Pleasants counties.
"I am working to keep the program up and running," Burdette said. "I would like to ask you for $50,000."
Officials asked Burdette to submit her request in writing.
Wood County Commission President Blair Couch said the West Virginia First Foundation will have control over millions of dollars to eventually distribute around the state.
"CASA is all over the state," he said, adding that she and all the CASA leaders across the state need to send letters to their representatives on the West Virginia First Foundation's board.
Officials suggested contacting Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce who is the local representative as well as Jeff Sandy, Cabinet Secretary, West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, who is from the local area.
Local officials said they might be able to cover a year or so for the local group, but the Foundation's board might be able to provide more funding over a longer period of time for CASA operations across the state.
"We support the children," Couch said. "That is a home run all the way around."
Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com