Working to Serve Every Child…One Program at a Time

Wyoming's Big Horn Basin comprises four counties and 14,000 square miles. That's a lot of ground for one paid guardian ad litem attorney to cover. So when a county judge returned from a conference suggesting that a new CASA program be developed to serve abused and neglected children in the region, community members quickly jumped on board.

"We are a very rural community. Our family services staff and courts are spread really thin," says CASA of the 5th Judicial District executive director Ellen Klym. "When the judge introduced the idea of CASA coming to the community, everyone thought: If we could have one more person looking out for the child, I'm all for it."

An enthusiastic planning committee got underway and took all of the necessary steps—working with National CASA, forming a board, filing for 501c(3) status, developing policies and procedures. And, of course, fundraising. But as Ellen points out, selling an unknown, unproven product is no easy task.

"People in our community simply did not know about CASA. We tried, but were not successful asking for money without stories to talk about. We needed time to show people that their money would be going to a good cause."

To finance their establishment, the CASA program received two consecutive New Program Development Grants from National CASA in 2010–2012. These funds allowed them to secure office space, cover operating expenses, participate in state and national trainings, and travel to other CASA programs to learn best practices.

Ellen has also leaned heavily on the resources provided by their National CASA regional program officer, Paige Beard. One of five National CASA staff positioned throughout the country, Paige serves as a consultant, trainer and sounding board to programs throughout her region.

"I am the only one in the office, I'm a one-person shop. I have no one to bounce problems off of. Paige gives me the guidance that I need to do the best job I can for our kids," says Ellen.

Big Horn Basin's CASA of the 5th Judicial District recruited its first volunteers in 2011. Today, the CASA program is serving every child who is appointed a volunteer by the judges. Independent from National CASA funding, they receive support from their city, state, churches, community foundations, individuals and corporations.

"National CASA enabled us to go from being a judge's vision to a program that is respected and supported in the region," says Ellen.