Advocates for kids get help from sponsors

Businesses and individuals are making a difference in the lives of some of the community’s most vulnerable citizens, by giving to North Idaho CASA’s COEUR d’CASA child sponsorship program.

The agency recently received a total of $40,700 in grants from three local foundations for the sponsorship program, enough to sponsor 48 children.

North Idaho CASA provides Court Appointed Special Advocates for children removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or violence. In 2015, 410 children were served by CASA advocates. Currently, the caseload is up 15 percent from last year.

CASA received $25,500 from Inland Northwest Community Foundation, $10,200 from Equinox Foundation, and $5,000 from Idaho Community Foundation.

Kristin Gorringe, CASA board member and Bryan Elementary principal, said grants like this are important because they make an impact on children’s lives.

“In my position, I see children every day who come from families who are struggling. I also see the difference a CASA advocate makes. Our goal is to provide a CASA advocate to for every child who is removed from their home,” Gorringe said.

The COEUR d’CASA child sponsorship program raises funds to enable CASA advocates to investigate, monitor and report on the circumstances surrounding child protection cases. Advocates ensure the children are in safe homes throughout their cases and personally visit the children. They help the children understand their situations and court proceedings. Advocates document findings and provide written reports to the judge, keeping them informed on developments within the families. They also advocate for medical, dental, mental health and educational services.

“Oftentimes these children are removed from their homes by the police or Idaho Department of Health and Welfare with just the clothes on their backs. The advocates step right in providing the child or foster family items they urgently need from diapers to backpacks loaded with school supplies,” said Lisa Aitken, Community Relations Coordinator with Kootenai Health.

The COEUR d’CASA child sponsorships also enable advocates to provide much-needed supplies and comforts through the CASA Kidz Closet, such as clothing, coats, shoes, diapers, educational supplies, blankets, books, toys, birthday and holiday gifts.

Not only can individuals sponsor a child, but so can businesses. Currently, several local companies sponsor children.

Kootenai Title staff use their “Pay to Dress Down Fridays” proceeds to sponsor a child.

“We loved the idea of the COEUR d’CASA program because it gave us an opportunity to make a difference in the life of a local child. It also helps raise awareness of the need, while the updates personalize the experience for all of us,” said Dustin Ainsworth, Kootenai Title’s business development representative.

Parkwood Business Properties elected to sponsor a child instead of doing a holiday gift exchange last year.

“Our company felt this was an important way of giving back in our community,” said Chris Meyer, a partner at Parkwood. “Our team wanted to sponsor a pre-teen male as we all know from experience how challenging that stage of life can be. We always look forward to the updates to see how this kiddo is progressing.”

Both companies encourage other local businesses to join the COEUR d’CASA program, as well.

With the funds from the three foundation grants, the COEUR d’CASA program has sponsored 105 kids.

“We close cases as fast as we open them. The only thing we can predict with certainty is that we will keep getting more, so there is always a need,” said KJ Torgerson, CASA CEO. “This is a way for our community to get involved and really make a difference.”

Sponsors receive updates every 3 to 4 months, enabling them to track the progress of a child’s case. No confidential information is shared. Sponsorships are $850 and last the duration of a child’s case. Any community member, business or organization can sponsor a child. The goal of the program is to have 150 children sponsored.

For more details about child sponsorship program or to become a volunteer CASA advocate, visit the North Idaho CASA website at NorthIdahoCASA.org or call the office at 667-9165.