Oak Ridge Today

CASA, Community Mediation host juvenile judge candidate forum Tuesday

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Brian Hunt

Brian Hunt

Two nonprofit organizations are hosting a Tuesday evening forum for the two candidates for Anderson County Juvenile Court judge.

The two candidates are Republican Brian Hunt and Democrat Michael Clement.

The forum is hosted by Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of the Tennessee Heartland and Community Mediation Services (CMS). It will be held in the Clinton Public Library from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., a press release said.

Each candidate will have an opportunity to address the group, and several questions will be taken from the audience. The public is invited, and reservations are not necessary.

Michael Clement

Michael Clement

The Anderson County general election is Aug. 7

CASA of the Tennessee Heartland is a local nonprofit, volunteer-based organization that gives a voice in court to abused and neglected children. CASA volunteers give an independent recommendation of permanent placement to the judge based solely on the best interest of the child involved and advocate for necessary services the child may need. More information can be found at www.casatnh.org.

Community Mediation Services is a volunteer-driven nonprofit that assists and empowers individuals to engage, transform, and resolve conflicts through the use of collaborative, constructive processes, the press release said. CMS helps people get heard, get healed, and get back to their lives through four different no-cost mediation programs focusing on at-risk youth and families. Learn more at www.peacefulresolution.org.

Spotlight: Karry on 4 Kids has new logo

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Karry on 4 Kids

James Dodson, Jefferson Middle School art teacher, left; Sheila Marczak; Jessica Ammendolia; and Naomi Asher, CASA executive director. (Submitted photo)

 

The Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County, CASA, and private therapist Sheila Marczak have teamed together in an effort to address a special need: Each year, more than 400 children in Anderson County are removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect. Many of these children do not have luggage (a carry-on or duffle bag), and they must carry their belongings in a garbage bag. This is humiliating to a child at a time when they are already so vulnerable.

The goal of Karry on 4 Kids is to provide each child in shelter and foster care with a brand new carry-on (duffle bag, etc.), so that they will never have to move from one location to another with their personal items in trash bags. These bags will be collected and stored at the Child Advocacy Center in Clinton to be distributed as necessary.

Recently, art contributions were requested from students at Jefferson Middle School for a logo. The winning student was eighth-grader Jessica Ammendolia.

An effort has been made with Oak Ridge and Anderson County schools to create an initial supply of bags. However, bags will be collected as an ongoing effort. Through the summertime, bags can be brought to Girls Inc., one of the CASA offices, or the CAC office.

Please email questions and concerns to [email protected].

Guest column: CASA seeks volunteers in Anderson County

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Classes start June 2

By CASA of the Tennessee Heartland

Every day in America:

  • 8,200 children are reported as abused, neglected, or abandoned;
  • 500 children are placed in foster care; and
  • Three children die from physical abuse.

Last year in Anderson County:

  • 186 children were placed in foster care;
  • 592 child abuse cases were reported; and
  • 167 remained in foster care.

CASA volunteers serve as the voice of abused and neglected children who come under the protection of the juvenile court system. Outcomes include reaching safe permanency in less than half the time of children without a CASA volunteer, more services leading to higher success and continued safety after placement. Currently, the Anderson County CASA program maintains a waiting list of more than 100 children. [Read more…]

CASA, Child Advocacy Center collecting overnight bags for children

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CASA of the Tennessee Heartland

Submitted

The Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County has joined with CASA of the Tennessee Heartland and a private therapist (Sheila Marczak) to address a special need.

More than 400 children in Anderson County are removed from their homes each year due to abuse and neglect.  We have found many of them do not have luggage (a carry-on or duffle bag) and must carry their belongings in a garbage bag. This is very humiliating to a child, and is happening at a time when these children are already so vulnerable. We are hoping to provide each child in shelter and foster care with a brand new carry-on (duffle bag, etc.), so that they will never have to move from one location to another with their personal items in trash bags. [Read more…]

Letter: CASA volunteer outlines juvenile judge qualities

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To the Editor:

When I started as a volunteer CASA in 1994, I had not given much thought to what qualities I expected of the judge other than an impeccable character. When I was preparing a report for a complex case and I needed the judge to read the report and conclude the same as I had—that the child needed to be removed immediately from what was planned to be its adoptive home—I started mulling over the qualities needed for a judge to effectively carry out his or her responsibilities and assessing what qualities the judge I was addressing had. I started the following list and it grew with time: [Read more…]

Guest column: April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

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CASA of the Tennessee Heartland

Join CASA of the Tennessee Heartland’s commitment to helping victims of child abuse and neglect heal, and making sure all children feel safe and loved

Anytime a child is abused or neglected, it’s a tragedy—one that all too often scars victims for a lifetime. The latest statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are sobering:

  • Child Protective Services agencies across the United States received some 3.4 million referrals of abuse or neglect involving 6.3 million children in 2012.
  • An estimated 1,640 children died from child abuse or neglect in 2012, and nearly three-quarters of them were younger than age 3.
  • In Anderson County, 592 child abuse cases were reported in 2012, and 121 children were brought into custody, with an additional 167 remaining in custody from previous years.

Studies have shown that children who have suffered abuse or neglect are more likely to struggle in school, have run-ins with law enforcement, experience homelessness, or abuse drugs or alcohol. Research also shows that abused children are more apt to grow up to abuse their own kids. [Read more…]

Without Republicans, little opposition, few questions at League forum

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David Dunkirk and J. Michael Clement

David R. Dunkirk, left, and J. Michael Clement, Democratic candidates for Juvenile Court judge in the May 6 Anderson County primary election, answer questions during a candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge on Tuesday. (Photo by Sara Wise)

Note: This story was last updated at 9:10 a.m.

There was little opposition and only a few questions at a Tuesday night candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge.

All of the Democratic candidates were at the League forum, which was held in the Pollard Auditorium at Oak Ridge Associated Universities.

But most of the Republican candidates were a few blocks away at their own forum, and none of them attended the League forum. Still, many sent representatives to speak on their behalf.

The dueling forums were held with less than a month remaining before the May 6 primary election. Most of the competition is on the Republican side, with more than one GOP candidate for mayor, sheriff, chancellor, and Juvenile Court judge. The only contested Democratic race is for juvenile judge. [Read more…]

Guest column: We all have a role to play in ending child abuse

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CASA Child Abuse Prevention Month

By Naomi Asher 

By the time you finish reading this article, more than 30 cases of child abuse will have been reported to authorities nationwide. By the end of today, that number will swell past 9,000. And four of those children will die at the hands of their abuser. All in a single day.

When we take stock of these sobering statistics during April—National Child Abuse Prevention Month—it’s easy to be overwhelmed and to ask yourself, “What can I possibly do to make a difference?”

The answer is, you can do a lot. Everybody can play a role in preventing child abuse and neglect by becoming advocates for children.

For some of us, that advocacy comes in a formal role. Teachers, child care workers, health care providers and others who come into daily contact with children can be vigilant for signs of abuse and neglect. Their actions to report suspected abuse or to offer extra time and attention to fragile children can do more than make a difference. It can save lives. [Read more…]

Annual Sportsman’s Showcase to feature call-maker Preston Pittman

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May 3 event in Oneida to serve as fundraiser for CASA of the Tennessee Heartland

ONEIDA—Hunters and anglers are invited to the Boys and Girls Club of Scott County for good food, good fellowship, and support of a great cause as CASA of the Tennessee Heartland hosts its second annual Scott Sportsman Showcase on May 3.

The event, slated to begin at 5 p.m., will be highlighted by Preston Pittman as the featured speaker.

The 60-year-old Pittman is called by many the world’s best turkey caller, and he has the trophies to back it up. Winning his first turkey calling championship at the age of 16, Pittman has gone on to become a seven-time national champion turkey caller, a nine-time National Champ of Champs, and has been crowned the U.S. Gobbling Champion, Grand National Gobbling Champion, and Grand National Champ of Champs. He is the only person to hold five different world titles. [Read more…]

CASA receives national certification for work quality

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CASA of the Tennessee Heartland—which serves Anderson, Blount, and Scott counties—has been awarded certification by the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association. This certification recognizes that CASA of the Tennessee Heartland is in compliance with National CASA’s high standards for quality child advocacy.

“The National CASA quality assurance process is very rigorous and reflects our commitment to ensure every child we serve has the most powerful volunteer advocate working on their behalf,” said Michael Piraino, chief executive officer of the National CASA Association. “This certification says CASA of the Tennessee Heartland has demonstrated to us a strong capacity to provide excellent services to the abused and neglected children within their community.”

CASA of the Tennessee Heartland was started in Anderson County in 1988, has been serving Scott County for 13 years, and is entering the second year of service in Blount County. [Read more…]

CASA fundraiser to feature Miss Tennessee International, Ridge City Ramblers

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Kassie Marie Perkins

Kassie Marie Perkins

A February fundraiser for a nonprofit that helps abused and neglected children will feature local band Ridge City Ramblers and Kassie Marie Perkins, Miss Tennessee International 2014.

It’s the 11th Annual Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash for CASA of the Tennessee Heartland.

“Not only will this year’s Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash uphold the tradition of great food, but the entertainment is once again off the charts,” a press release said. “The evening will be kept on track by emcee Cindi Alpert of 106.1 The River. Judge James Cotton will be talking about his new book, ‘The Greatest Speech Ever,’ which is based on Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. This book ‘reminds us that this very brief but well-crafted speech defines our ideals and national purpose.'”

Signed copies of the book will be available at the event with proceeds going to CASA. [Read more…]

CASA’s Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash will feature music, food, entertainment

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CASA of the Tennessee Heartland’s 11th Annual Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash is scheduled for February, and organizers said this year’s fundraiser will “uphold the tradition of amazing musicians, great food, and lots of entertainment.”

Cindy Alpert of 106.1 The River will serve as master of ceremonies again this year, a press release said.

Judge James L. Cotton will be at the bash to talk about his newly released book “The Greatest Speech Ever,” and autographed books will be available at the event for $25, with 50 percent of the proceeds donated back to CASA. A full barbecue buffet dinner will be provided by Texas Roadhouse, and decadent desserts will be available from Emma Lou Bakery, the press release said. Silent and live auctions include vacation packages, Raku Pottery from Bill Capshaw, fine jewelry, and many baskets and packages of interest. [Read more…]