I recently had the opportunity to review the Program Evaluation Survey results that many of you completed last month, and I would like to address some of the issues relating to CASAs for Children (CFC) and the services we offer.

CFC currently supports CASA volunteers in as many ways as possible. We do provide phone cards; scholarships to attend the National CASA Conference, State CASA Conference, or other appropriate training; up to $25 per child per year reimbursement for activities you do with your CASA child clients; a used book account at Title Wave in Anchorage; and we solicit/purchase activity passes or coupons you may use with the children. We do not currently offer parking or travel reimbursement, but we do hear your requests for these, and we will consider ways to meet this need. Please, if you want more information about or to access any of these services, contact your local CASA Program Staff or Board member. And if you have any ideas for additional services, you may either tell your local CASA Staff or email me directly.

In another area, CFC offers support directly for children in several ways: camp scholarships (not just summer) when OCS will not pay; Mini Grants of up to $100 for children’s needs that are not met by OCS; and the $1,000 Dickison Scholarship for a student to participate in an educational trip outside Alaska. As with the CASA support items, your local CASA Program Staff can help you access these items.

To the survey question of how you could help CFC, several of you mentioned specific skills you have that you would be willing to share (newsletter, marketing, public speaking) or a willingness to serve on the Board, a committee, or assist at an event; thank you. I will be contacting you soon. If you are able to support CFC in any way – whether you responded to the survey or not – will you please email me directly and I will gratefully help put you to work.

Thank you so much for the important work you do for Alaska’s most vulnerable children. I hope you know that you make a positive difference in their lives by the work you do as a CASA volunteer.

Have a great summer!