CASA Newsletter - June 2007
What Keeps Me Awake at Night?
by Linda A. Osmundson Executive Director
Today, I’m finding it hard to sleep at night for three reasons. I’m worried that the voice of Pinellas County citizens who voted to increase taxes to ensure the safety and welfare of our children through funding administered by the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas will not be heard. Unless there is strong opposition, it is possible that Florida State Legislature could sweep this important local initiative that focuses on the welfare of our children into their tax cutting. Second, I’m finding it harder to sleep because loss of funding not only affects CASA, cuts also affect the valuable partners with whom we collaborate. Not without some struggles, the social services network has become one seamless cloth. A cut to any part of our many collaborative efforts will dramatically and immediately affect women and children who will face homelessness, serious emotional and physical hardship – and yes, even death.
Third, I’m worried that in addition to JWB, CASA is funded by the City of St. Petersburg and the County, through their Social Action budgets, so I’m writing today to ask for your help to preserve this vital funding as well. As the legislature contemplates a decision, ask them to consider CASA and its partners as a part of the fabric of Pinellas County. When the City and County decides where they must reduce their budgets, please ask your elected officials to consider making CASA a cost effective priority for the health and safety of our most vulnerable citizens, children and their mothers. The safety of women and children depends on CASA and the CASA staff deserves a good night’s sleep knowing we are doing all we can.
Over the past 30 years, CASA has earned a reputation of excellence in increasing the safety of women and children who are forced to flee their homes due to domestic violence. Over the years we’ve made significant inroads in the areas of early intervention, prevention and community outreach. We are literally saving lives. While we have seen a reduction, we still do not see an immediate end to the terror that holds so many women and children hostage. With nearly 1,000 domestic violence related calls to south Pinellas County law enforcement each month, CASA’s work must continue.
Because survivors often need much more than a safe place to sleep for a few weeks, we’ve worked hard to form partnerships with organizations whose services compliment our programs. Organizations like PAR, R’Club, Community Law Project, Gulfcoast Legal Services, PEHMS, Suncoast Center for Mental Health and CASA have become a part of an intricate web of collaborative agreements. Through our collaboration we’ve made it easier for CASA families to access services and increase the speed in which participants can find safety and begin the healing process. By focusing on the advocacy work that we do best and referring participants to our partners for services outside our expertise, we’ve made the most of local tax dollars. Without CASA, the police will have no place to refer women and children. Without CASA the courts will have no one to assist survivors to receive emergency injunctions for protection and other legal advocacy.
Funding cuts are not new to CASA. In fact, we’ve been challenged over and over again and always found a way to make things work. (If necessity is the “mother of invention,” CASA has earned “grandmother of invention” status!) Over the last few years as the City and County have received increased revenues from increased property values, they have spent more, but not on their Social Action budgets. The local funding for non-profits has remained flat. In real dollars that means non-profits have sustained a loss every year because our basic costs go up and our employees need raises just like every one else. I’ve had more than one sleepless night thinking about the sacrifices our staff must make because we cannot make their salaries keep pace with rising costs. CASA receives over $1.2 million from JWB, City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County. Forcing CASA to make this up by raising more donated dollars every year is an unprecedented challenge. “Tightening our belts” may simply mean eliminating services like The Visitation Center, Peacemakers program, substance abuse and legal advocacy programs and possibly even closing the shelter.
Please talk to the people you know who can make a difference with our legislators. Help CASA make sure that our participants can continue to come to CASA for a good night’s sleep.
Cara Cohn, Volunteer Coordinator
A Deep Exchange
by Cara Cohn Volunteer Coordinator
Meaning is a hard thing to come by these days. It’s easy to get caught up in our busy lives. CASA provides an opportunity to dig deeper and to find your inner strengths. These strengths are the gifts you give and receive through compassionate exchange.
It’s Monday morning. Time to get over to CASA’s shelter where I’ve been helping staff and working with participants and their children pretty regularly for the past several months. On any given day I’ve found myself answering crisis calls on the hotline, feeding babies, or doing administrative tasks. I’ve had a unique opportunity to remind the women here that not all people are out for themselves. All people don’t want to take advantage of them, and not all people want to hurt them. An exchange occurs every time I choose to reach out. This exchange is felt deep within.
Volunteering for me started out as a desire to give back. I know that sounds like a predictable response, but the feeling goes much deeper. I have felt this tug for meaning in life that just could not be satisfied by external “stuff”. When I was a young person, my mother took me with her to help out at a nursing home during a nurses union strike. I was terrified, however there was so much to be done. My immediate impulse was to bypass the fear and do whatever I could. I have memories of how the residents reacted when they experienced care and compassion. This cured any fear I had. I thought I was there to help but, in fact, it was I who received the gift. I understood, even at an early age, that care, compassion and gratitude are exchanged.
Beginning now, in June, I have the opportunity to offer a chance for this deep exchange with others as CASA’s new Volunteer Coordinator. I know that riches are mined every time you reach out beyond yourself. Let me share these opportunities with you! Call me at (727) 895-4912 x 107 or e-mail
to learn how you can volunteer at CASA.
Reflections on 30 years of CASA
As CASA moves into its 30th year, we are featuring regular contributions on CASA’s past by Judy Lambdon who has worked at CASA for 22 years.
Shortly after CASA moved to the present shelter location, we received a call from Congressman Bill Young’s office asking if he could come for a tour. This was before any renovations had been done, and the house constantly had something that needed repair.
He arrived with a couple of his aides and I was asked to be his tour guide. After touring the first floor, we proceeded upstairs and paused in the hall as I explained the community living situation. Mr. Young said, “Excuse me, but I think I hear a toilet running”. He then proceeded to step into the day care bathroom and lift the lid on the toilet tank. After fiddling around with the inside for a while, he asked where the nearest hardware store was. After listening to the directions, he took some money out of his pocket and gave it to one of his aides, asking him to go buy the needed part.
His other assistant reminded him that they were on a tight schedule and didn’t want to be late for their next appointment. Mr. Young told him to call and explain that they might be late as he needed to complete the project he was working on. About that time his aide returned with the necessary part and Mr. Young proceeded to repair the toilet. He washed his hands, thanked us for our hospitality, and left for his next appointment.
Every year since that initial tour Mr. Young returns to shelter during the holiday season with presents for all of the residents and their children. He usually comes himself with his family. Over the years Congressman C. W. “Bill” Young has been a good friend to CASA. From small assists to large, he has always been there.
