Photo courtesy of Beth Chapman.
Judge Kramer and CASA Volunteer Director, Michelle Bond, looking over CASA case files.
With greater numbers of families moving into Shelby County, sadly, comes greater numbers of child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, and other situations that end in up Judge Jim Kramer’s court.
“There is no shortage of cases of children and families who need assistance in our county,” said Judge Jim Kramer.
With only one Juvenile Court Judge in Shelby County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, Judge Jim Kramer knows all too well the term “overworked.”
Fortunately, Judge Kramer has the help of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) to assist him in his crowded court room, but he says he needs more of them.
Kramer says that CASA Volunteers are his “eyes and ears” in his court cases. “CASA Volunteers can go where I cannot – into the home of the children in my court,” Kramer said. “They provide valuable information for me to make the best decision possible for the children in need.”
CASA Volunteers complete a 5-week training program which qualifies them to do the job required. It is a job that Judge Kramer credits with improving the quality of life for children and families and saving the county “hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.”
“Anyone can be a CASA Volunteer if they are caring, compassionate, and complete the required training,” CASA Volunteer Director Michelle Bond said. “College degrees are always welcomed, but not needed to be a good CASA Volunteer. We will provide thorough and appropriate training that is needed to help these abused and neglected children.”
Once they complete training, CASA Volunteers are sworn in by Judge Kramer and become official officers of the court. They advocate for the best interests of the children they serve, including monitoring their interaction at school and at home.
CASA Volunteers investigate all aspects of the cases to which they are assigned by Judge Kramer. They write court reports and are accountable to him in presenting the facts of the case.
Kramer worked with CASA prior to being a judge and realized the importance of the program. He says now, as a judge, he sees that importance in an even greater way.
“CASA Volunteers provide me with valuable information about the daily lives of children and their home lives that I would not know otherwise. That is vital.”
Judge Kramer says he needs more CASA Volunteers and encourages people who have ever been interested in helping abused and neglected children to sign up for the upcoming CASA training class in April.
Training classes will begin April 5th and be held every Tuesday for five weeks from 5:30-8:30 at the AMSTI Building in Pelham.
For more information, complete the online application at www.casaofshelbycounty.org or call Michelle at 451-7753.
CASA is funded in part by the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and a Shelby County Community Grant.
Submitted by Beth Chapman.
