Elks Make Donation to CASA

Staff report -- The Fallon Elks recently made a $500 contribution to CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Churchill County to assist with the Kid's Kloset and other necessary programs. CASA works to find dedicated volunteers who stand up for abused and neglected children as they travel through the Court system; the volunteers serve as the voice of the child. In an overburdened system where children are at risk for slipping through the cracks, the goal of the CASA is to see that the child's best interests are served. There is always a need for CASA volunteers, who must submit to a thorough interview and are screened closely for objectivity, competence and commitment.  The program requires a two year commitment for all CASAs, which is the normal time frame for a case.  Once a volunteer has passed the screening process they must attend and successfully complete a training program before they are sworn in. Each case is different however, normally, a CASA will initially spend about ten to fifteen hours doing research and conducting interviews prior to the first court appearance. Once the initial case is heard, the CASA will work about 10 hours a month monitoring the case, meeting with DCFS, the school, the parents and most importantly the child. For more information about the CASA program, contact Shana Plount at 775-423-6088.   Never miss the local news -- read more on The Fallon Post home page. Sign up to receive updates and the Friday File email notices.