Senate Journal: Page 56: Wednesday, January 14, 1998

  increasing demands on our juvenile court system-a system already in real
  need of
  repair.

  This is not to say our hard-working juvenile court system is devoid of
  innovative
  tools to help rescue troubled children.  One of our brightest examples is
  the CASA
  program.

  A CASA is a trained volunteer who advocates in court for abused and
  neglected
  children.  Each CASA volunteer works closely with a child and the child's
  family to
  gather information about their personal life.  This information, which is
  furnished to
  the court in written reports and courtroom testimony, provides the court
  with extra
  insight about the child's circumstances.

  CASA makes a difference for youngsters who might otherwise become lost in
  the
  juvenile court system-often a very dramatic difference.  Thanks to your
  support,
  CASA is reaching more children than ever before.

  Last year we added nine counties to our CASA program.  With these additions,
  CASA is now operating in a total of twenty-two counties, covering all eight
  judicial
  districts.  Next fiscal year, we hope to take CASA into more counties so
  that we can
  reach more children in need.

  Anthropologist Margaret Meade, once said, "Never doubt that a small group of
  thoughtfully committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it's the only
  thing that
  ever has."

  Iowa is blessed with many generous people-volunteers and professionals-who
  dedicate their lives to helping abused and neglected children.  Recently,
  the Supreme
  Court, together with the Friends of Iowa CASA foundation, established the
  Child
  Advocate of the Year Award to recognize the special people who work
  tirelessly on
  behalf of Iowa's children.  It's my privilege to announce the first award
  winner-Patty
  McKee, a shelter caseworker at Jasper County Youth Services.  I will present
  the
  award at the courtroom reception immediately following this address.  I look
  forward to
  seeing all of you there.

  "It's time to light a fire under Iowa's child welfare system."  These are
  the words of
  Dr. Jim McCullaugh, one of the members of a special Supreme Court committee
  that is
  examining Iowa's child welfare system.  After extensive study, the committee
  found
  serious inadequacies in the state's procedures for termination of parental
  rights and
  adoption.

  What are some of the problems?
  ? Unacceptable delays,
  ? Children left in temporary placement too long,
  ? Judges do not have fast access to key information,
  ? Parents do not know the serious consequences of removal and placement, and
  ? Parties and their attorneys rarely confer before court hearings.

  With the help of juvenile justice professionals from around the state, the
  committee
  developed solutions to these problems.  Several proposals involve statutory
  changes
  that will speed up the adoption process and provide better information to
  parents.  I
  ask your approval of these proposals, which we will be furnishing to you.

© 1998 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

Comments about this site or page? sjourn@legis.iowa.gov.
Please remember that the person listed above does not vote on bills. Direct all comments concerning legislation to State Legislators.

Last update: Thu Jan 15 13:40:17 CST 1998
URL: /DOCS/GA/77GA/Session.2/SJournal/00000/00056.html
jhf