Boustany speaks to Rotarians about CASA work

Often times, when police and/or child services are called to remove a child, or children, from the home, they are left nearly voiceless in the matter.

So, for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for children, the task becomes one of the most important things in his or her life. What makes that more amazing is the fact that the vast majority of CASA are volunteers — volunteers like Bridget Edwards Boustany, who has been with CASA for two years and had the opportunity to speak to the Rotary Club of Crowley about the experience Tuesday.

“It is a very rewarding thing to do,” she said.

CASA is a volunteer-powered network of committed people from various walks of life who believe society has a fundamental obligation to these children and that every child has the right to be treated with dignity, to be safe and to thrive in the embrace of a loving family.

In some case, that work isn’t overly difficult and nearly formulaic. A family, perhaps a young single mother, who just doesn’t have all the tools in place to be what a child needs, can have CASA help see the reunification of a child taken from the home with its parents.

But, if the home is not safe, CASA doesn’t look toward reunification and it is some of those cases that are the hardest to witness, as Boustany pointed out.

Talking about one of her current cases, children were taken from the home as the mother was incarcerated. What made things even more heartbreaking, is that the three children – all under the age of 5 – had to be separated when placed in foster homes.

Thus, it is only through the CASA visits that the three can spend time together. She has been doing her visits with these kids — instead of the minimum once-per-month — once a week.

Boustany knows she’s fortunate to be able to do this as she has the time to devote to CASA and that it is really helping these three children cope with the situation.

“Those are the most heartbreaking cases,” said Boustany.

But, it is moments like that that have led to Boustany taking up another CASA-related project – redoing the visitation rooms for the children in Acadia and Lafayette parishes.

Vermilion Parish is in the process or redoing the entire child services building that houses the visitation rooms.

Boustany has already seen that toys for the children were added and the next step is couches and tables and chairs, and, hopefully, a bit of paint to spruce the rooms up a bit.

But, finally, her main message was clear about the great experience volunteering with CASA can provide.

Those interested in doing “something that will make a difference” can visit www.casaofsola.org to learn more.

Earlier in the meeting, the Rotary Club of Crowley also welcomed another new member to its mix, Jill Habetz.