Dear CASA Friends,
The CASA network has been an important part of my life for over 12 years. While recovering from pneumonia in 1995, I checked a book out of our public library: I Speak for this Child by Gay Courter. Ms. Courter is a best-selling novelist who became a volunteer advocate and writes very movingly about her experiences. As an elementary school teacher, I had seen the evidence of child abuse and neglect in my students, but had never seen what happened after my hot line calls. I was intrigued by Ms. Courter’s description of the role of the CASA volunteer and what a difference that advocate could make in a child’s life. I wrote a letter to National CASA asking how I could be involved that same week.
Fast forward to today! I’ve now been a CASA volunteer, program director, and now state director. I believe strongly that CASA volunteers play a vital role across our state, working directly with children who are involved in the courts and the child welfare system. I’ve seen the dedicated work of our volunteers, staff and boards. I love being in court and seeing the impact of a volunteer’s report and their voice in court, bringing the child’s needs to life for the judge. Our volunteers, all 1279 of them, are remarkable people and it’s a privilege to be a small part of the efforts our wonderful programs make to support them. Our volunteers are currently serving over 2200 children---but there are over 9,000 children in foster care in Missouri. We have lots of work to do in order to serve these children.
Please consider joining me in statewide advocacy for Missouri CASA. Share your story with friends, family, and your legislator! CASA at the Capitol Day in April is a great way for you to tell your elected officials about the children you know so well and your work to ensure they have a chance at their best possible life. Join us at the Fall Volunteer Conference where there will be many opportunities for training and networking. The Volunteer of the Year for each program will be honored; the description of these heroic individuals’ amazing work always moves me to tears. The National CASA Conference, held annually each spring, is also wonderfully enriching and I hope that you will be able to attend.
Please let me know if there are ways our state association can support your efforts. Your work matters profoundly and all of us in the state office thank you. I hope to see you soon!
About our Executive Director
Beth Dessem serves as Executive Director of the Missouri CASA Association. A graduate of Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, Ms. Dessem taught elementary school before becoming the Director of the Central Georgia CASA Program in Macon, Georia in 1997. After moving to Missouri in 2002, she accepted the position with Missouri CASA and established the state office in Columbia. She serves on the Children's Justice Act Task Force, the Juvenile Court Improvement Project, the Children's Division Program Improvement Plan, and the Supreme Court Rules Committee for Juvenile Court.