Special Recognition for CASA Volunteers

by Rachel Dahl -- Judge Tom Stockard for the Tenth Judicial District Court of Nevada and Shana Plount, Program Manager for the Churchill County CASA program (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children), held a small gathering last week to honor their community partners and volunteers who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to provide assistance to the abused and neglected children of Churchill County. Judge Stockard thanked the group of people who are involved in the CASA program, saying “there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes, a lot of heroes.” He continued, “What you are doing is making a huge difference. I don’t think there is any community in the State of Nevada that is doing what we’re doing with our foster kids.” The Churchill County CASA program is setting the standard throughout the state in the amount of time, of effort, the amount of resources to try to reunite parents with kids, and when that’s not possible to try to find them a permanent home through adoption. Many successes where families are reunited, and because of the CASA volunteers its faster than its ever been. Shana Plount said the program would not be possible without the volunteers who provide toys around the holidays, monetary donations, and donations of time. “There are so many different ways our community partners contribute to this organization, and we simply cannot thank you enough. Presentation were made to: Carry Thibaut who owns Function Fitness, along with several of her clients who collect donations for the and run new promotions every month to raise money for the program.  Thibaut hosts the foster family Christmas party, and the foster parent appreciation picnic every year. Shine Salon was honored, with Kennedy Howard accepting the award. Shine provides haircuts to all the of children who are in the care of the CASA program. The Elks lodge 2239, and Sue Catlin were honored for their work to secure grants that fund the Kid’s Kloset. According to Plount, the resource is completely funded and operated by CASA partners who make donations of brand new clothing, hygiene kids, grab and go bags, and back packs. Soroptimists International of Fallon, represented by Sue Chambers and Teresa Walden provide financial support for the program, as well as specialized hygiene items for teenage girls. Brenda’s Angels provide volunteer time to organize and put away all the community donations that are made to the Kid’s Kloset. Brenda Utterback and Shirley Wilkins make it easy for the community partners can access what they need for the kids quickly. Because of their organization kids are able to see what they need and can pick their own outfits. A special presentation was made to Dennis and Lisa Callahan who were honored as the CASA Special Advocates of the Year. Plount said that Dennis helps with the Santa photos at Christmas and many of the other unanticipated things that come up when dealing with children. “When the case is closed, the Callahan’s are not done,” she said. Dennis Callahan spoke briefly, saying, “One of the things you learn doing this is a lot about trauma. Kids go through things you can’t even imagine.” He said this program is greatly needed and he and Lisa are honored to be able to help. Others honored who were unable to attend were, Marco Digiacinto of MD Tree Surgery who provided a a $1,000 monetary donation to fund the Kid’s Kloset program, allowing CASA to purchase brand new jackets for all of the children who are in care; and the Sagebrush Sisters who hold an annual craft fair to sell items from lotions and soaps to handmade alpaca wool items and provide the proceeds to CASA so they can buy toys for every child in the foster program in Churchill County, even if they are not appointed to CASA. Stockard thanked the volunteers for their support, saying, “I do a lot of things in this job, but this program is where we get to really make a difference for these kids, and in many cases we can avoid the adult problems if we do this work.” There are currently 36 children being served by the CASA program in Churchill County.                                           Never miss the local news -- read more on The Fallon Post home page. Sign up to receive updates and the Friday File email notices.