SIOUX CITY -- Cindy Ebner, of Dakota Dunes, decided to become a voice for abused and neglected children in 1999 after she stumbled upon the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Web site while surfing the Internet.

Ebner read about the overburdened child welfare system, and instantly knew that she wanted to become a CASA volunteer.

Every year, more than three million children nationally are reportedly abused or neglected. Many of these children spend their childhood moving from one temporary shelter to another.

"Knowing that these children are out there torn away from their families, and from what I read, they didn't have anybody constant in their lives. I tried to put myself in that situation," Ebner said. "I thought, 'Oh my goodness, they need a CASA -- someone who is there for them from beginning to end.'"

CASA is a citizen volunteer program that serves the child welfare system in Woodbury, Monona, Lyon, Sioux and Plymouth counties. CASA volunteers are appointed by a judge to a specific abuse and neglect case to gather information and make recommendations to the court that help assure that the child's needs are being met. Volunteers typically stay with each case until it is closed by the court and the child is in a safe, permanent home.

Thousands of children in the state of Iowa alone need a CASA volunteer. In Woodbury County, CASA coordinator Marla Treiber said 300 children are in need of a CASA volunteer. She said she only expects that number to increase as families are continually stressed by the economy and budget cuts force social workers to take on more cases.

During her 10 years of volunteering, Ebner has had just two cases, which involved extreme neglect and drug and alcohol abuse on the part of the child's parents. Her first case lasted a lengthy 7 years. Ebner continues to have a relationship with the first child she helped, who is now an adult. Her second case is expected to close soon.

"I know that I can go to sleep at night knowing that that child is safe. That is huge for me," said Ebner, who underwent a background check and successfully completed 30 hours of training in order to become a volunteer.

On average, CASA volunteers spend about one to two years on an assigned case, according to Treiber. Their goal is to safely reunite the child with their parents or relatives or to connect them with an adoptive family.

"We never want the children to linger in the system or in foster case," Treiber said.

The juvenile court system is overburdened, according to Treiber. While a social worker can have 40 some cases assigned to them, she said a CASA volunteer focuses their attention on a single case.

Volunteers generally average about 10 hours a month on their cases attending court appearances and maintaining contact with the child, the child's parents, case workers, foster parents, therapists, teachers, doctors, relatives and anyone else with knowledge of the child's situation. Volunteers work with their local program coordinator on a day-to-day basis. They present their recommendation to the court as to what they feel is best for the child. The judge relies on this testimony to make a decision on the child's future.

Treiber said good volunteers are committed to following through and are self-motivated people.

"They really are an independent party," she said. "No governing body says they must do it. It comes from their heart."

BREAKOUT

How to volunteer

Contact CASA Coordinator Marla Treiber at 712-279-6602. You will need to fill out an application and complete a personal interview. Basic requirements for becoming a CASA volunteer include being a committed, caring adult who can think independently, use good judgement, have good communication skills and time to spend on their assigned case.