Abused Child Help Group Looks To Expand Here

PlainsWest CASA is planning a fundraising event in Kimball at the Sagebrush on April 27 from 5-7:30 p.m. The event is called “Wine Down with PlainsWest CASA.” More than 50 bottles of wine will be included in the Silent Auction and Wine Pull. One of the bottles of wine donated to the CASA fundraiser is priced at $300.

CASA is Court Appointed Special Advocates for Cheyenne, Kimball and Deuel counties. CASA volunteers advocate for abused and neglected children’s best interests. The CASA volunteers are specifically trained for the advocacy interests of the child.

At the present time, Kimball has no CASA volunteers, but PlainsWest CASA director Krista Bums would like to change the zero volunteers to at least five volunteers from Kimball. The Silent Auction and Wine Pull are a way to get the word out that volunteers are needed and raise money.

After training, the job of a CASA volunteer involves committing 7-10 hours a month to get to know one specific child, find out their needs, wants, and wishes. Every situation is different, but generally the child has been abused or neglected and removed from the home. The volunteer also meets with legal parties and professionals to make recommendations and advocate for the child in the court system.

Currently, there are 21 children with a CASA volunteer in the area, but there are 17 children in the court system without a CASA volunteer.

So if you want more information, attend the April 27 Silent Auction and Wine Pull, call 308-203-1120 or email [email protected].

PlainsWest CASA is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the best interests of the abused.