November 2015 - Richland County CASA

From The Director’s Desk:
Dear Friends ~ in the ‘spirit’ of thanksgiving, we
want you to know how humbly grateful we are
for all that you do for CASA and the children we
serve. I am sad to report that the number of
children needing your advocacy has already
exceeded the total number of children in 2014.
Without you, I shudder to think of what would
happen to these children. I know everyone is
super busy during the holiday season and with so
many things to do, taking on a new CASA case
might seem impossible ~ BUT, our children need
you. As I write this note, we have 8 cases
without a guardian. If it is at all possible to take
a new case, please please please let us know.
We hope you and your family have a wonderful
Thanksgiving.
Paige
Our Mission:
To advocate for the best
interests of abused and
neglected children in the
Richland County Family Court by
providing quality volunteer and
legal representation to ensure
every child a safe, permanent,
and nurturing home.
Children Served in October
New Children ~ 60
Total Children ~ 14
Children Dismissed ~ 25
Total Volunteers ~ 589
To Become A Volunteer
James Washington 576-1590
washingtonj@rcgov.us
To take a case (current GAL’s)
Pamela Nipper 576-1729
nipperp@rcgov.us
WELCOME TO THE
CASA STAFF
Elimuel Porterfield
Thanks to a VOCA Grant we would like to welcome
Elimuel Porterfield to the CASA Staff as a part-time Case
Supervisor.
~ November 2015 ~
Sun
1
Mon
2
Tue
3
Wed
4
Set clocks
back 1 hour
8
9
15
16
9:00 Staff
Meeting
Thu
5
Fri
Sat
6
7
A Christmas Story
Town Theatre
7:15 Silent Auction
8:00 Show Starts
10
11
12
13
14
17
18
19
20
21
24
25
26
27
28
USC
Chili Cook-Off
22
23
Thanksgiving
Day – Office
Closed
29
Thanksgiving
Holiday Office
Closed
30
GAL’s Mark your Calendar:
Holiday Drop-In, December 10th – gift pick-up starts at 1:00pm and
ends at 4:00pm.
CURRENT GUARDIANS:
We have cases that need to be assigned. If you can
take a case please call Pamela Nipper at 576-1729 or email her at nipperp@rcgov.us.
Please update your address, email address and phone number with us. Throughout the
year we send out information only to have it returned.
COURT ORDERS ~ READ AND REPORT ALL
DISCREPANICIES!!!
Always review each and every Court Order you receive ~ sometimes mistakes are
made. When you review the order, make sure that recommendations are not left out,
the name(s) of child(ren) are spelled correctly, the birth date(s) of the child(ren) are
correct, that all children are named, the names of all party members are listed and
spelled correctly, that the correct party is being ordered to complete something, and
that the docket number is correct.
Report concerns/changes to your CASA Supervisor within 3 days of receiving the
Order. Your CASA Supervisor will ensure that our Legal Team is aware of the
mistakes and ask for changes to be made on your behalf.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR CASA AND WE HOPE YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!!!
Pamela, Missy, Sharon & James ~ RCCASA Program Managers
Different Types of Cases
Angela Kohel, Esquire – Legal Services Manager
While the majority of cases to which you might be assigned are removal actions, there are other types of
actions. The type of court action that DSS files depends on the fact pattern that they are presented with. The
types of cases that you may see are removal actions, non-emergency removal actions, intervention actions, and
termination of parental rights actions.
Removal actions, again, are the ones that we see most frequently. Removal actions are actions where the
child is removed from the custody of a parent or other person and placed into emergency protective custody
because the child has been found to be in imminent and substantial danger. A child can be brought into
emergency protective custody two different ways, either by law enforcement or by the Court. An officer may
gain knowledge of an at risk child and place a child into emergency protective custody in several different ways,
including, being called to a scene as part of their general duties; accompanying a DSS caseworker on an
investigatory visit; or having contact with a child as an SRO at a school. The Court places a child in emergency
protective custody by issuing an ex parte order, meaning one where DSS is the only party providing
information to the Court. The ex parte order is sought by DSS by submitting a sworn affidavit to the Court
detailing the imminent and substantial danger to the child. CASA appoints a GAL on a removal action after a
hearing on probable cause, but prior to the hearing on the merits, where the Court determines whether or not
abuse and/or neglect actually exists.
A GAL is appointed prior to the first hearing in all other cases. A non-emergency removal action is filed
when imminent and substantial danger does not exist, but DSS believes that it would be in the child’s best
interest to be out of the home while the child’s parent completes treatment services. Oftentimes, pending the
first hearing, the child is placed in the home of a relative or family friend through the use of a safety plan. The
first hearing for this action would be the hearing on the merits.
Likewise, the first hearing in an intervention action would be the hearing on the merits. An intervention
action is filed when a child can be safely maintained in the home; however, the family needs treatment services.
A Court action is filed to allow the Court to enforce the treatment plan devised for the family. Custody of the
child cannot change, unless by an agreement, in an intervention action because DSS did not include a change of
custody in their pleadings. Like all other actions, parents are entitled to know what DSS is asking the Court to
do prior to asking the Court to do it. DSS’s request has to be in writing in the pleadings, or complaint for
removal.
If any of the above actions result in a child entering and remaining in DSS custody, it may come to a point
where it is appropriate to have a permanent plan of termination of parental rights. After a plan of termination
of parental rights is adopted by the Court, DSS has 60 days to file a new action to allow the termination of
parental rights to occur. The new action is called a termination of parental rights action. These actions
are filed under a new docket number and require a new appointment order for you should you decide to remain
the GAL for the termination of parental rights action. In this case, there is generally only one hearing and it is
where the Court is asked to make a determination, by clear and convincing evidence, that there is at least one
ground to terminate the parents’ legal rights to a child and that it is in the child’s best interests to do so.
As always, please let us know if you have any questions!
Thank you Kappa Alpha Theta!
RCCASA received a very generous donation from Alexa
and her ‘sisters’ from the Columbia Area Kappa Alpha
Theta Alumnae Chapter. The group prepared over 700
Halloween Treat Bags for our CASA Children! Needless
to say, our kids will be delighted!!
In The News
Committee on Children Schedules November Hearings
Children and Family Issues Will Be Discussed In Advance of 2016 Session
The Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children will hold its annual fall hearings in November. The
public gets the opportunity to communicate important issues regarding children and pass along
recommendations to state leaders.
Testimony at these hearings historically has offered significant contributions to the development of the
committee's legislative agenda. Comments also can be offered by email to comments@law.sc.edu or by mail
to the Committee on Children, 1600 Hampton Street, Suite 502, Columbia S.C. 29208.
If you plan to testify in person, you may sign up at the hearing. Comments will be heard on a first-come, firstserve basis. The time allotted for each speaker is five minutes.
Wednesday, November 4
5 to 7 p.m.
Charleston County Public Library
68 Calhoun St., Charleston
Tuesday, November 10
5 to 7:30 p.m.
Florence-Darlington Tech Main Campus
Fred C. Fore Auditorium
2715 West Lucas St., Florence
Tuesday, November 17th
4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
105 Gressette Building, State House Grounds
Columbia
GAL’s:
Abbey Doyle
Amanda Stearns
Amira Brazley
Andrew Lovett Jr.
Angela Gary
Annette Mashack
Burnett Joiner
Carolee Guilds
Cedric Roane
Centeria Hill
Chennae Andrews
Christopher Dearing
Danielle Gadow
Dena Franklin
Ellen Katuska
Gaylon Scoates
Gladies Agbaso
Goldie McBride
James Watson
John Sinkovich
Keisha Gatling
Kenny Hunter
Lauren Nichols
Leigh Sweeny
LeKwan Rabb
Linda Felkel
Lisa Flood
Marguerite Brown
Marilyn West
Mark Forbes
Miranda Elliott
Miranda Spivey
Miriam Robinson
Patrick Lowery
Phyllis Wood
Rowland Alston
Sandra Brooks
Senorita Sullivan
Shalom Jacks
Sharelle Story
Shawn Capers
Sherrod Gary
Sohan Patel
Stephen Gilchrist
Susan Tokarski
Sylinda Zanders
Taffney Hooks
Tivona Rice
Todd Lyle
Victor Oyinbo
If you do not see your name, please contact the office to update
your information.
2015 CASA STAFF
Left to right
Back row:
Michael Watts, CASA Supervisor; James Washington, Program Manager; Pamela Nipper, Program Manager;
Marilyn Washington, CASA Supervisor; Matthew Perkins, CASA Supervisor; Angela Kohel, Legal Manager;
Christine Isler, CASA Supervisor; Roger Hoefer, CASA Supervisor
Front Row:
Heyward Hall, CASA Supervisor; Betsy Burton, CASA Attorney; Susanne Lyell, Administrative Assistant; Paige
Greene, Director; Melissa Bowman, Program Manager; Dee Dee Johnson, CASA Case Coordinator; Sharon
Walker, Program Manager; Delvin Alston, CASA Supervisor; Thomas Clark, CASA Supervisor.
Not Pictured:
Heidi Aakjer, PT CASA Supervisor; LaQuista Peterson, PT CASA Supervisor; Elimuel Porterfield, PT CASA
Supervisor; Samantha Luck, CASA Attorney
RC CASA
1701 Main Street, Room 407
Columbia, SC 29201
803.576.1735