HANCOCK COUNTY — For the first time since being active starting January 2020, Hancock County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates have zero children on their waitlist for services.
Hancock County Court Appointed Special Advocates, also known as Hancock County CASA, is a group of trained volunteers appointed by a judge who advocate on the behalf of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.
Hancock County CASA’s founding director, Marciann McClarnon Miller, told Hancock County Commissioners and Council in an update that their number of children on the waitlist is currently sitting at zero, something that has never happened before.
Hancock County CASA volunteers provide the judge with researched background information on a child to determine whether it is in the child’s best interest to stay home, be placed with different guardians, placed in foster care or be freed to permanent adoption. There are currently 39 volunteers.
Circuit court judge Scott Sirk helps review the cases of Hancock County CASA the volunteers prepare. He oversees Hancock County CASA, the budget, plans and communicates with the staff to make sure they are always child-focused and compliant with all rules and regulations.
“I’m always impressed how knowledgeable and caring the CASA volunteers are,” Sirk said.
From there, they will go into the homes of these children to make sure homes are safe and needs are being met. They are required to meet with the children at least once a month, and attend monthly meetings, as well as be involved in the court process.
Miller said that their first role is being the voice and advocate for children being removed from homes because of abuse or neglect, but with the number currently being zero, they are able to branch out. Those other forms of care include care to any children on probation, currently experiencing their parents going through a divorce, and adoptions. When the program first began, there were roughly 35 children on the waitlist.
Alongside Miller, staff includes a program coordinator, a part-time case manager, an administrative assistant, and social media outreach. Miller says they manage cases and help and advocate for the volunteers. Miller also tries to attend court, which is held on Wednesday and Thursday.
“The volunteers are the ones out in the field, visiting the kids, going to the meetings at Department of Child Services, DCS,” Miller said. “We always want to support them.”
Miller has been a member of CASA since 2017, when Hancock County was part of an umbrella program with Madison County. In January 2020, Hancock County was given its own program. Before joining CASA, Miller was a school teacher for 37 years, eventually retiring to take care of her sick father.
“I truly believe this is what I’m supposed to be doing right now at this part in my life,” Miller said.
Miller is also the founding executive director of Hancock County Friends of CASA, which is a nonprofit organization.
They currently have the Dream Big! program, and Miller says if a child has a wish or a dream of something the child really wants, this fund allows them to be able to purchase those items for the children. The program also will purchase birthday gifts for the children of $100 or less.
Emerging Leader is also another fund of $300 that provides a child the opportunity to experience a worship, program or class.
If someone is interested in volunteering, there are applications online at www.casahancockcountyin.org. From there if approved, they’ll be trained at no cost for 30 hours. Once trained, they’ll be sworn in by the judge as a court appointed special advocate.
“Our volunteers are heroes,” Miller said. “They step up for no money, no compensation at all. They show up for our kids over and over again.”
