ADVOCATE GROUP HIRES PART-TIME COORDINATOR

Michael Heston has always enjoyed volunteer and community work. In fact, that is part of the reason he has maintained a weekend ministry in Illinois for the past several years.

On Monday, Heston was introduced to the nine-member board of directors of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) as the organization's new part-time coordinator.

"I'm currently trying to dig my way to the top of a mountain of information," Heston told the group. "I've read voluminous amounts of material and I think I'm starting to get a handle the nature of this organization."

The CASA organization of Cape Girardeau provides trained community volunteers to act in the best interest of children who come into the court system, primarily as a result of abuse or neglect.

The program recruits, screens, trains and supervises the volunteers to assist attorney Guardians Ad Litem -- court appointed attorneys for the children -- in the court process, or serve as an independent third party "friend of the court."

Bettie Knoll, a special officer with the Cape Girardeau Police Department and president of the CASA board of directors, has been stretching herself thin trying to organize the group, train new volunteers and oversee the ongoing quest for state and federal grant funds.

"We really needed someone to take the program and oversee it," said Knoll. "We are all working board members and don't have the time that should be devoted to CASA.

"We wanted to hire someone to take on the responsibility to coordinate the program, to work on fund raising and public relations and to assist with the recruiting and training of new volunteers."

Heston will also be responsible for assigning a CASA volunteer to a child's case, after a judge has called for one.

The new coordinator will work out of his home, although he will have access to both the juvenile office and Knoll's files at the police department.

"Hopefully next year we will be able to increase our grant and pay him to work full time," said Knoll. "There's plenty for him to do."

Heston said he's ready to roll up his sleeves and get to work.

"I have come to understand the parameters of accountability involved with this organization and this position," Heston said. "Now I'm anxious to get really involved."

Heston wants to meet with the eight CASA volunteers shortly after the first of the year, to discuss new avenues the organization will be steering toward in the future.

At Monday's meeting, Heston told board members he has three goals he plans to fulfill as CASA coordinator.

"I want you to be able to count on me to maintain and impose time limits imposed upon us by the courts," he said. "I also understand the absolute need to maintain confidentiality when dealing with records and client information -- we must constantly be aware of that."

Heston also wants to further the existing relationship between CASA and the many state and local offices with which it interacts almost daily.

"These things are very important to me and I will work to achieve these goals to the best of my ability," Heston said. "It's good to be aboard."

Heston, who has lived in Cape Girardeau for 20 years, had previously worked as an intensive probation officer for the juvenile office in Cape Girardeau, and had also served as the director of the Cape Girardeau Civic Center. He also engineered a program to train and place high school dropouts in jobs within the community.

"I was interested in this job because I really enjoy working with volunteers and kids, and I believe in what they are doing here," Heston said. "I also had previous experience working with the Division of Family Services, the juvenile court and other entities with which CASA interacts daily."