12
University Daily Kansan / Friday, October 4, 1991
City program has 11 volunteers
seattle-based organization helps abused, neglected children
By Jennifer Bach Kansan staff writer
An organization aimed at helping children through traumatic court cases selected its first 11 volunteers to launch a program in Douglas County.
There are more than 400 neglected and abused children in the Douglas County court system, said Elaine Riordan, executive director of the office of the Seattle-based organization, *Court Appointed Special Attorney* (CASA).
The children CASA helps include involved in child custody or abuse.
Eleven volunteers may not be many, but it is Douglas County's first step in helping these children, Riordan said.
The branch has been in planning
raising money
and training volunteers.
The goal of the program is to let a child know that there are CASA volunteers for them to talk to and depend on throughout their court cases.
"We would like a CASA for every child in need," Riordan said. "The CASA would be the eyes and ears and voice of the child."
More importantly, the volunteer would be the child's friend.
A CASA volunteer is paired with a child after a judge has ruled that a CASA volunteer needs to be appointed.
"Kids come in all shapes and sizes, Riordan said. "We'd like to match sex up with sex and race up with race."
Volunteers for the CASA program are required to spend a year helping needy children.
Riordan said that it would be good to have a volunteer who could devote more than a year to his or her assigned child.
The CASA volunteer works with the child's attorney to gather all possible information about the child's relationships with family and friends.
"The judge needs to have a total picture of the child's life," Riordan said. "Because there are so many children in need, the court is unable to assign one person for each child. CASA is designed to focus on one child's life."
Before volunteers are allowed to work with a child, they are trained to work with the child and the court system.
Riordan said that she would like to have college students volunteer, but that it was difficult to ask a college student remain in residence during winter semester seasons.
"It's a responsible job," said Killogee, Hutchinson sophomore. "When their case comes up, they have to be there."
Andrew Killgore, member of the CASA board of directors and KU campus representative, said volunteering with a non-profit organization is a college student had the time.
CASA it is financed through grants from its national chapters. In Douglass County, the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority offers a relay or risk money for the program.
Last year the sorority raised about $3,000 for the program, said Michele Wilkerson. Leawood senior.
The sorority wants to raise more money this year to donate to the program, she said.
City plans to create nature center on latest Lawrence land purchase
By Heather Anderson
Kansan staff writer
Lawrence is the new owner of a six-acre lake that lies south of Prairie Park at 27th and Harper streets.
The city this week bought 24 acres of land in southeast Lawrence for $45,000. The portion includes Mary's Lake.
The land will complement 47 acres of land that the city previously purchased in that area.
Fred DeVictor, director of the Lawrence Parks and Recreation department, said the lake was unique to the city because it was the only body of water in a city park.
He also said the purchase of property was part of the city's master plan.
The city wants to build a nature center on the property and use it as an outdoor educational resource, he said.
Kelly Kindscher, Lawrence graduate student, said the city had been doing long-term planning when it purchased the lake.
He said the land would give the city a lake and a wooded area in addition to the native prairie, which was already in the area.
"It gives a diversity of habitats," Kindscher said.
This area would be the perfect place for a nature center, he said.
Kindscher said the center would
benefit the community because it would be a place for students and Lawrence residents to study the environment.
DeVictor said the city had been interested in the land since last winter.
In July, the Lawrence City Commission authorized the beginning of negotiation with local parents for the Capper Foundation, which helps disabled children and is based in Topeka.
DeVictor said the city did not have any other plans to develop the park because it would like to keep the land natural.
However, walking trails will be built around the area, he said.
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