Many people may not know what CASA is, despite the organization’s active involvement in the lives of Powell children.

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates and it focuses on providing a voice for children who come from situations of abuse or neglect. Powell is covered by CASA of the Fifth Judicial District, which includes Park, Big Horn, Washakie and Hot Springs counties. Currently, there are approximately 37 volunteers and 50 children in the Big Horn Basin program.

CASA volunteers are members of the community who are appointed by a judge to represent the interests of a child. Advocates must receive a significant amount of training followed by monthly training.

Once active and assigned to a child, CASA volunteers perform a variety of duties, which includes writing reports directly to a judge, helping connect the child with resources they may need and, most of all, providing consistent support. Director Brandie Gann says the “number one goal”  is to help the children succeed, not just to close cases. With this comes helping entire families.

“We want the whole family to succeed. We are not the deciding factors on if they reunify with their parents or, you know, it goes to adoption, or maybe it’s guardianship with grandma,” Gann said, adding, “we’re all members of the same community, and we want them to succeed.”

CASA has been active in Powell and about half of the organization’s volunteers are Powell community members. Leslie Kobbe, a Powell volunteer and former Parkside Elementary secretary, stepped up to take a role in her community when the chance arose.

While at Parkside, Kobbe watched a CASA volunteer work with two boys, and “I saw the good she did for them,” she said. “I made a vow when I retired to volunteer.”

April is child abuse prevention month and CASA recently commissioned a sculpture of a blue pinwheel — the symbol of child abuse prevention.

After approaching Northwest College’s welding program, its Rod Burners welding club agreed to take on the project. NWC Welding Instructor Lee Elton said the club often builds projects for local businesses and was happy to take on the task.

“It’s fun to make those kinds of projects, to do things for the community and show students that we do things for the community,” Elton said.

It was about a two-week process, including planning the design and even starting over to get the build just right. Students Andy Beavers and Phil Tromble put in quite a bit of work creating the windmill.

CASA of the Fifth Judicial District is also hosting a raffle. Like all of CASA’s activities, the goal is to help children in its program succeed. Proceeds will go to a variety of needs, such as getting college supplies for children who’ve aged out of the program, paying for clothing and sports equipment for children, counseling fees and helping volunteers — some of whom drive as far as Colorado — pay for gas. Raffle tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Powell Chamber of Commerce. Prizes include two large rocking chairs donated by Builders FirstSource and donations from Wyoming Legacy Meats, Cody Ace Hardware and Bomgaars.