July 2007
Emergency Services Impact Area

The Sioux Empire American Red Cross responded to 101 local disaster cases during the past fiscal year. This is the second largest number of disaster cases in recent history.  226 local disaster victims received financial assistance from the Red Cross due to the damage they sustained from a disaster such as a fire. 

During June 2007 the Sioux Falls Area CASA Program had 196 children appointed to the program with 142 of these children being served by a CASA Volunteer, leaving 54 children on our waiting list. Of the 196 children, 20 children in 12 families were newly opened cases in June 2007.  These children are provided with a volunteer who serves as an advocate for the child's needs. 

The HELP!Line Center is available for individuals in the community who are looking for referrals, would like to volunteer, or need other assistance.  Last month, the HELP!Line Center handled 295 listening and support calls.  These calls are made by individuals who just need a good listener, many of the individuals have no family or friends nearby, and the HELP!Line Center serves in that capacity.  They also handled 6 suicide intervention calls in June.  HELP!Line employees are trained in how to handle suicide situations, and the organization also offers training, support groups, and reading material on suicide to the community.

During the month of June the Rape and Domestic Abuse Center provided assistance to 35 sexual assault survivors and 32 domestic violence survivors.  Survivors are provided assistance through counseling and counseling groups, as well as other services. 

146 individuals were provided shelter from violence, abuse or neglect situations at the Children's Inn during the month of June.  The Children's Inn also handled 1,499 crisis calls, providing a listening ear and supportive advice to individuals in need.

What Matters

A letter from a child provided with a CASA volunteer:

My CASA worker is the best CASA worker ever.  I can always count on her to be there for me when I need her.  I can count on her to support me at my basketball games.  I think that Terri is doing a nice thing for volunteering for CASA with no pay.  I also think that Terri is very kind to call us all the time, even when she was on vacation.  I also appreciate that she would take time out of her life to do half of the things that she does with me and my little sister.  I speak for my little sister so we just want Terri to know that we highly appreciate what she does for us.  Terri has done a lot for my little sister and I, she is like a third mother to my sister and I.  I know I may not show Terri that she is appreciated here but I know that some where in her heart she knows that we love her.  My little sister and I have not known Terri that long, but we feel as if we have known her forever.  We also want her to know that she has grown in our hearts.  Terri we just want you to know that we care for you and that we love you.

                                                                        Love, Jenny and Jackie       

A letter from the CASA volunteer:

Being a Court Appointed Special Advocate has, at times, been exhausting, depressing, and heart wrenching.  I have often felt weary, angry, and even hopeless while working on a case.  However, I have seen how difficult life is for some children.  I have also seen how having one person in a child's life-- especially during crucial times--can make a huge difference.  I know that I cannot change all the negative circumstances in a child's life, but if my presence--one person who really cares--can make a positive difference in that child's life, then that is all the reward I need.  Jenny's letter justifies all the pain and magnifies all the satisfaction of the work I do.  My dream is that my support will not only make an impact in a child's life, but that it will influence the lives that follow.

Terri, CASA Volunteer since March 2002

What matters is that children like Jenny and Jackie are provided with an advocate, a friend who watches out for their needs.