Court Appointed Special Advocates program looking for volunteers to help kids in the Sixth Judicial District through the court process

An informational meeting about the Court Appointed Special Advocates– or CASA– program is being held this afternoon in Pierre (Jan. 7, 2025).

Laurie Gill is the Executive Director of the statewide CASA program. She says they’re hoping to get the program active again in the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

The Sixth Circuit is made up of 14 counties: Bennett, Gregory, Haakon, Hughes, Hyde, Jackson, Jones, Lyman, Mellette, Potter, Stanley, Sully, Tripp and Todd.

Gill says volunteers who pass a background check receive quite a bit of training prior to taking on their first court case.

As far as a minimum time commitment volunteers must give to the program, Gill says that can be different for each person.

Court Services Victims Advocates and state Department of Social Services staff provide support for children involved in abuse or neglect cases, but Gill says CASA volunteers can take an even broader approach to helping each child.

The informal, come-and-go gathering about the CASA program will held from 4:30-6:30pm CT at the St. Charles Lounge meeting room in Pierre. A brief program will be presented at 5:30pm CT.