Scottsburg Nonprofits and Charities

RALLY FOR THE CHILDREN!<br>Ever since CASA of Scott County, INC. came to be in 2007, there has been a wait list of children who desperately needed a CASA to speak for them in court about what is in their best interest. Through the hard work recruiting volunteers to serve as advocates for the abused and neglected children of Scott County we were only able to scratch the surface by serving the most difficult of these cases. At times the cases numbered over 300 by way of new cases and carry over cases from year to year. Over the years, we have been able to serve about 1/4 to 1/3 of the cases at any given time. This left us with 200 or more children waiting for their voice to be heard. In the last year, with the addition of 2 Staff Advocates, an additional Volunteer Coordinator, and continued recruitment of volunteers, we were able to decrease that wait list to 46 children. This massive decrease is thanks to the Victims of Crime Act Grant, Community Foundation Grant, United Way Grant, the State and County Matching Grant, State Capacity Building Grant, and the State Pilot funds, and a big thanks to our local donors from our Annual Campaign! We had to find a way to be the voice for the children and you RALLIED FOR THE CHILDREN! <br>Unfortunately in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, we had some set backs as did many in our community, state, and across the nation. Starting out the year with the 46 children on the wait list and serving 182 children was one of the best service rates we have had. Then COVID-19 hit and we began to see a noticeable increase in the rate of the children coming into the system from the previous year. So far in 2020 we have served 254 children and have 79 on our wait list. We have also helped 82 children in 2020 find their permanency either through reunification with their parents, adoption, guardianship, or collaborative care program. By November 11, 2020 there has been 142 new children come into the foster care system in Scott County alone. This is an increase of 32 children from the same time in 2019 of having 110 new cases come into the system. Not only has there been this increase, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, some of our volunteers have been more cautious of being out in homes and have decided to take a break from being a volunteer until there is more known about COVID-19. This has also hindered our ability to recruit new volunteers and made us have to cancel one of our big fundraisers for the year the TASTE of Scott County.<br>In order to continue to RALLY FOR THE CHILDREN, we have set our goal for the 2020 Annual Campaign at $30,000. This will help us maintain our current service to the children through volunteer recruitment and possible increase of staff until COVID-19 is more under control. A portion of this year’s Campaign will go to our Scott County Community Foundation Endowment Fund as a way to build a source to help maintain CASA of Scott County financially in the future. Please help us reach our goal by supporting the 2020 ANNUAL CASA CAMPAIGN, which officially kicks off on September 1, 2020. Call CASA director, Kelly Shelhamer at 812-752-4748 to volunteer or donate. Tax deductible donations can be mailed to CASA of Scott County, Inc. at 36 Forrest Ave., Scottsburg, IN 47170. <br>