Ville Platte Rotary Club

May 30, 2017

    The Ville Platte Rotary Club today (Tuesday) heard from representatives of CASA of St. Landry and Evangeline Parishes. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. It is a nonprofit organization that works closely with the courts dealing with foster children.

    Madeline Rosette, director of the organization said the organization expanded its services to Evangeline Parish one year ago. She says her group is in need of additional volunteers to be an advocate with foster children.

   Jeremy Richard, lead advocate and supervisor, said in Evangeline Parish there are nine volunteers to work with 24 children. There are over 70 children in foster care in this parish so there is a great need for more volunteers to assist abused and neglected children. He said there is a need for more foster parents since these children are being moved to as far away as Lafayette and New Orleans because of a lack of foster parents.

   Craig LeBouef, chairman of the CASA board said the organization receives 80 percent of its federal funding directly from the state Supreme Court, The rest of its budget comes from groups like United Way and from fund raisers. Its current budget is $415,000. There are 15 members that serve on its board.

   Board Member Gloria Nye said the average age for a foster child is 5 years old. She said “a five year old child cannot speak for themselves in the courts . They need an adult to represent them and that is where CASA comes in” There are only 17 parishes that have similar programs in the state. She recommended to the Ville Platte Rotary club to consider an annual award to the Foster Parent of the Year to recognize foster parents who are doing a great job.

   In other business, the rotary club:

--recognized and welcomed one of its new club members: Scott Smith with Smith Air Conditioning;

--reminded club members that June 20 will be the annual installation banquet at La Veille Banque at 6:00pm;

--will be cooking a meal for the RYLLA youth at Lost Bayou Scout Camp near St. Landry Friday June 2 at 5:30pm. RYLLA is a rotary youth organization. The camp is hosting youth from Rotary District 6200 who will be attending camp all week.