Local CASA requests county salary contribution, outlines caseload and volunteer needs

Caitlin, a CASA program staff member, told Vermillion County commissioners that the local CASA office is serving 10 children, has 48 active files (rising to 49 the next day) and a wait list of about 38–39 children. She asked the county to cover a $25,000 salary while grant funding would cover other program costs. "I just ask that the county pay the 25,000, which is my salary," Caitlin said.

Why it matters: CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) volunteers provide court‑appointed advocacy for children in the child‑welfare system; county support for staffing affects the program's capacity to serve children and reduce a waiting list that the presenter said leaves many children without assigned advocates.

Caitlin described current capacity and recruitment needs: Vermillion has about 48 children in its CASA tally and serves roughly 10; the program is actively recruiting volunteers and said initial training is about 30 hours followed by roughly four hours of volunteer work per month (about one hour per week on average) to maintain contact with the child and participate in child‑and‑family team meetings. She said a staff advocate recently hired through Park County will absorb some cases. The local CASA office is located on Clinton near Main Street and has a shower and meeting spaces that are used to support families.

On funding, Caitlin said grant awards and matching funds make up most program expenses and that the packet shows an appropriation identified as a grant amount; she asked commissioners to confirm county inclusion of the $25,000 salary line in the 2025 budget. Commissioners and staff clarified that the county had the $25,000 in its budget and discussed grant appropriation figures listed in the packet.

Outreach and operations: Caitlin said CASA currently advertises primarily on Facebook and would like a county website listing or an e‑mail/application link to improve outreach to people who do not use social media. She said interested volunteers can begin the process by filling out the application on the Vermillion CASA Facebook page or by calling the office; the program's office address was given as Clinton and Main Street in Clinton.

Taper: Commissioners thanked Caitlin for the update and asked staff to confirm budget and outreach options; no formal vote on funding was recorded during the segment.