CASA For Kids is striking out on its own next year.

As of Jan. 1, CASA For Kids Inc. will become its own 501(c)(3) tax-exempt agency under the direction of a newly elected board of trustees.

The organization that provides advocates for youths in court previously has been under the auspices of United Way, which served as CASA’s fiscal agent and provided administrative support. CASA now will become a member agency of United Way.

The new nonprofit will combine efforts with the Voices For CASA Program that was developed as a fundraising foundation.

CASA For Kids is a volunteer organization that empowers citizens as appointed advocates of the court. In Flathead County, 51 volunteers serve as children’s advocates.

Advocates typically handle one to two cases at a time and are committed to staying with a case until a resolution is reached. CASA volunteers provide a constant, stable advocate for the child to connect to in a situation where frequent change is often the norm.

During 2012, the CASA For Kids Program served 182 children in Northwest Montana.

CASA For Kids is a nationally recognized organization serving children who, through no fault of their own, find themselves involved with the court system.

CASA For Kids in the Flathead Valley was founded in 2000 at the encouragement of District Judge Katherine Curtis, Bonnie Olson, Mary Lerner, Connie Leistiko and a number of community agencies, representatives and volunteers concerned about child abuse and neglect.   

The change for CASA has been endorsed by the governing boards of both the United Way and CASA For Kids.

“Over the last 13 years, the program has grown and flourished, touching the lives of hundreds of abused and neglected children and their families in our community,” said Flathead District Judge David Ortley, a member of the CASA For Kids Advisory Council. “The CASA organization and staff are strong and at a development stage where the program can successfully transition to its own nonprofit entity.”   

One of United Way’s program service areas is to incubate programs that meet a documented unmet need within a community. 

“It has been our pleasure to work alongside the excellent caliber of volunteers and the outstanding community members who have served CASA over the years,” said Sherry Stevens, executive director for United Way.  ”We believe that this transition will be positive for both organizations and will allow the CASA For Kids Program to develop and grow in new directions.”  

“We are grateful to the United Way for hosting CASA for the past 13 years. It is has given CASA a chance to focus on the program aspect of the program and develop a strong base of support in the community,” said Jamie Campbell, the CASA For Kids Program director who will become the new executive director.  

For more information about CASA, call 755-7208.