"I am grateful for the opportunity to reflect on the last ten years since the Flathead County CASA for Kids program was just a twinkle in the eyes of a few very dedicated community volunteers. The initial gathering of about 20 people learned about the national CASA organization, the purposes and functions of a CASA program and the need in our area. Our efforts resulted in a successful grant application to the national CASA organization and we were on our way! The Flathead County CASA for Kids program hired its first director in 2000 and our first group of CASA volunteers completed training in early 2001.

The community volunteers who started the Flathead County CASA program knew, undoubtedly, of the abused and neglected children in our area and that the Court system needed all available information to make very important decisions about the futures of these children. What we didn’t know was that hundreds of similarly dedicated community volunteers would join the effort. Because of dozens of wonderful staff, administrative personnel, and dedicated board members; the financial support of the entire community; the embrace of CPS and the Court system, lawyers and judges; the incredible support of United Way; and, most of all, the almost 100 trained CASA volunteers who have given so selflessly of their time, effort and energy, CASA has exceeded and succeeded beyond anything we could have imagined in the beginning. Gratifyingly, several of the people in that small gathering ten years ago remain involved with CASA, and their continued efforts and historical perspective are of enormous benefit to the program’s continuity. We are so thankful for everyone who has made this journey possible.

The number of children who enter the Flathead County court system after removal from their homes due to abuse and neglect has risen from approximately 100 in the year 2000, to about 165 in 2006. For many reasons, these cases have become more complicated and time-consuming. However, because of the incredible success of the CASA program in Flathead County, the Court is better able than ever to make the best possible decisions for these children.

Unfortunately, the number of abused and neglected children in Flathead County will likely continue to grow, due to the increase in population and, of course, difficult economic times exacerbate the problem. The CASA program is well-positioned to meet this challenge, but it will require the continued support of the community. My heart sings with the knowledge that this support does indeed exist and that, ten years from now, the Flathead County CASA for Kids program will still be successfully helping the most vulnerable within our midst, the abused and neglected children."