Thirty years after a National Council of Jewish Women program advocating for abused and neglected children launched Jackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), a long-time Jewish volunteer is being honored for her tireless commitment to the program and the children it serves.
Ann Stern will receive the Light of Hope Award on April 18 at the city’s largest fundraising breakfast, which benefits Jackson County CASA. The Light of Hope breakfast will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., with networking beginning at 7 a.m., at the Sheraton Crown Center, 2345 McGee. There is no cost to attend, although it is hoped that guests will be so moved by the stories they hear about the profound impact of CASA volunteers on children’s lives, they will be motivated to donate.
Stern, who was a graduate of the third training class of CASA volunteers, will accept the award on behalf of all the CASA volunteers who have served as the voice of abused/neglected children under court protection in Jackson County for the past 30 years. CASA volunteers have also advocated for children in Johnson County since 1985 and Wyandotte County since 2005.
In 2012, some 459 CASA volunteers advocated for the best interests of 1,341 abused and neglected children in the three counties. Through contact with the child, family members and other interested parties, a CASA volunteer provides critical information to the judge, so the best possible decisions can be made regarding where that child should live and what medical, educational and therapeutic services they need.
Studies show that children assigned a CASA volunteer have better outcomes, says Jackson County CASA Executive Director Martha Gershun. They are 50 percent less likely to be re-abused, 50 percent less likely to re-enter the court system, more likely to receive timely and appropriate health and behavioral services, and more likely to be placed in a permanent and safe home.
For 2012, 95 percent of children with a CASA had not re-entered the local courts. In addition, every dollar spent on CASA yields $23 in savings in the foster care and family court systems.
Currently, CASA has enough volunteers and funding to serve about one-third of the children who are in the system. The goal is for every child under the protection of the courts to have a CASA.
But that’s not easy, given that the number of abused and neglected children under court protection keeps climbing. In 2012 alone, the number grew by 11 percent in Jackson County. In Johnson County, the number grew by 15 percent last year. For the same time period, Wyandotte County Court experienced a 42 percent increase. Some 4,091 abused and neglected children were under the protection of the three court systems last year.
“I know I made a difference in the lives of children I represented — absolutely,” says Betty Barnett, who was in the first class trained to become CASA volunteers and serves on the advisory board for CASA of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties. “I think some would not have been able to survive. In one of my cases, parental rights were severed and it was a lifesaving thing that they might not have done if there had not been a CASA involved.”
“It’s very powerful to know that you can help a child, even if it’s one child. It’s an experience that you carry with you your entire life.”
Barnett encourages others to become CASA volunteers.
“It doesn’t take all that much time,” she says.
While each case is different, a CASA volunteer usually spends about 10 hours a month meeting with the child, speaking with others involved, and attending meetings or court hearings. Hours are flexible and can be completed within the limits of even the most hectic schedule.
Stern, who through the years advocated for children independently, and alongside her late husband Dan and friend Janice Lowenstein, says “We cast too many children aside. They’re hidden in that dark room and nobody finds them. We cast a light in the darkness.
“We do it one child at a time or a sibling group at a time. It all adds up. If everybody would come forward and do a little bit, we might reach our vision of all children having a safe house and growing up and having a successful life.”
Stern’s impact on a child will be evident at the Light of Hope breakfast where Brittany Stillwell will share the story of how Stern and her husband completely altered the trajectory of her life. Before Stillwell was even born, Stern had been assigned as her CASA. Stillwell says the Sterns “were God-sent” and ensured that “I would have a fair shot in life, despite the life I was born into.”
Today, Stillwell has graduated from college, became a registered nurse and just graduated from law school.
“I currently volunteer as a CASA in St. Louis,” she says. “I find the experience fulfilling, and I revere the opportunity to give back to an organization that’s given so much to me. My life is a testament to the program’s success. I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today without CASA.”
Another woman Stern influenced, 26-year-old Whitney Dantzler, became close with both Ann and Dan. Removed from her home at age 3 after being burnt twice by scalding water through negligence, she grew up in her grandparents’ home.
“I’m thankful for CASA and Ann and my grandparents because, without all three of them, I don’t know where I’d be,” she says. “I can never repay them. I thank them. I love them.”
As a result of seeing the difference the Sterns made through CASA, Dantzler chose a career helping others. Today, she works for the Raytown Emergency Assistance Corp. and is considering becoming a CASA herself.
To learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer, visit www.casakc.org.
To reserve a free space for the Light of Hope breakfast, call 816-984-8217 or email .