NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDMISSOULA, MT 59801

Permit No. 569

Y E A R S

Celebrating

The first CASA program begins in Seattle, WA.

1978

Montana Court Appointed Special Advocate Program changes its name to Court Appointed Special Advocates of Missoula. A state CASA association begins under the name of Montana CASA/GAL.

1999

Judge John Larson starts to appoint CASAs in Missoula.

1995

Montana Court Appointed Special Advocate Program incorporates intending to cover Missoula and Montana.

1994

Who We Are We are a nonprofit organization serving abused

and neglected children in our community. CASA

staff train volunteers to work on behalf of

vulnerable children in the court system.

These volunteers interview parents, teachers,

foster families, counselors, and the child. With

this information, they submit reports to the court

advocating what is in the best interest of the

child. A CASA’s goal is to find each child a safe

and permanent home. Each year CASA of

Missoula volunteers help hundreds of children in

Missoula and Mineral counties.

2013

Number of volunteer advocates surpasses 100.

A record number of 24 advocates graduate fall training.

2012

LaNette Diaz, then Executive Director of CASA of Missoula, receives State CASA Director of the Year Award.

For the first time, cases exceed more than 100 in one year.

CASA of Missoula moves into the United Way of Missoula County building.

Y E A R S

PO Box 7433Missoula, MT59807

Our 20 year timeline . . .

2011

CASA of Missoulaorganizes first mud run fundraiser.

2010

Completion of National CASA’s Certificate of Compliance.

National CASA awards another expansion grant to serve Mineral County.

2008

Missoula CASA Joni Stormo receives State CASA of the Year Award.

20072005

National CASA grant provides expansion funding.

Completion of NationalCASA’s Certificate of Compliance.

Y E A R S

It was early 2011, and as soon as Leslie Watson read the case file, she thought she knew where her first CASA case was headed.

Kori had her four-month-old son removed after driving impaired with the little boy and his older brother in the car. Kori had alcohol abuse problems and difficult, antagonistic interactions with law enforcement.

When Leslie reviewed Kori’s case she thought it was cut-and-dried, and that the baby would not end up with his mother.

Leslie had experience as a foster parent and away from CASA, she worked in law enforcement in 9-1-1 emergency communications. She was herself also a single mother.

“I read the case and thought, ‘Who is this person?’” Leslie said.

Likewise, Kori knew how she might look to an outsider.

“It looked horrible on paper,” she said. “I was really scared she’d just look at the paperwork.”

But when the two women met, Leslie and Kori connected. Kori was vulnerable and open with Leslie.

“I could tell (Kori) was scared, that she didn’t trust anybody,” Leslie said. “She didn’t trust anybody to be looking out for her. It was her against the world.”

Kirsten Vorreyer, Program Manager for CASA of Missoula, remembers when Leslie saw Kori and her young son interact.

“(Kori) always had a deep connection to her son,” Vorreyer said. “Parenting came really easily to her. It was inspiring to Leslie to see that.”

“It was such an eye-opener,” Leslie said. “It taught me that people can come across so differently on paper. Police reports and all that … the person is different than the written version of them.”

Kori’s case progressed. She completed treatment, met her legal obligations, and stayed in contact with Leslie. At the same time, Leslie stayed in contact with people close to Kori, including her family, extended family and estranged husband.

“She was pretty perceptive. She cared enough to actually get in there and do the work,” Kori said, “and she didn’t have an agenda.” And Kori and Leslie developed a relationship. Kori doesn’t describe Leslie as a friend, necessarily, but rather as something of a mentor.

“I really respect her. She seemed like a really strong, independent woman,” Kori said, “and I respected that. I’m very grateful Leslie was available to me. She did an excellent job.”

Ultimately, Kori “did everything she was supposed to do,” Leslie said. With the support of her family, Kori completed, in her words “lots of treatment.” She got sober, got an apartment and went to cosmetology school. She was fully reunified with her little boy who is now three years old.

“To see her pull it out and keep her life together … she gets all the credit for that,” Leslie said. “It was a happy ending. This was such a success. Things turned out the way they were meant to.”

It has been an amazing year here at CASA of Missoula. We broke records, overcame challenges, and celebrated many successes. I am very proud of what we accomplished and excited as we look ahead together to what 2014 will bring.

A record number of children in needBreaking records is wonderful, except when those records involve the number of abused children in need in our community. We are presently serving more than 300 children in Missoula and Mineral Counties, an unprecedented number of abused and neglected children. In 2012, we received 110 new cases - our all-time high. This year we are on track to exceed that number. As we continue to receive cases, we are working to recruit and train the advocates necessary to ensure that all children in need have a CASA. Unfortunately, even with all we are doing, we continue to have waiting list.

But things are looking up. Through the incredible generosity of our donors and commitment from the community, we broke another record this fall when we trained 24 CASAs in one class – our biggest ever! We now have more than 100 CASAs helping the children in our community - a 25% increase over last year. We are excited about this progress and hope to eliminate our waiting list for CASAs in 2014.

Next year we celebrate 20 years!This year is one to be proud of, but 2014 will be a year to celebrate as CASA of Missoula completes 20 years of dedicated service to abused and neglected children.

We want to thank you for your tireless support over the past 20 years, whether as a volunteer, a CASA, a member of our Board of Directors, or a financial contributor. By attending the Light of Hope, running the original Mad Mudder, or playing in our golf tournaments years ago, your time and donations supported the children and volunteers we serve.

Please join us as we celebrate 20 years of advocacy. Throughout the year we will present a variety of special events, from the Light of Hope Banquet to a First Friday Art Exhibit that you won’t want to miss. We will also unveil “20 Stories of CASA,” showcasing our amazing advocates, devoted staff, and hard-working board members. Each story will demonstrate the impact of their dedicated service on the lives of some of the over 1,000 children and families we have served during the past two decades. Be sure to check our website frequently for updates during this special year.

You are a part of the history of CASA of Missoula and we look forward to working with you as we begin the next 20 years. Together, we will continue to accomplish great things.

Hello! From our CASA Missoula Executive Director

Read more stories at:www.casamissoula.org/stories

A happy ending . . .

Judge John Larson receives National CASA Judge of the Year Award.

2003

Partnership begins with United Way of Missoula County.

2001

CASA of Missoula hosts first Light of Hope Banquet.

2000

Our Board

John Mudd, J.D. - PresidentKatie Hope, MBA – Vice PresidentSteve Mauer, C.P.A. – TreasurerJacky Norris – SecretaryJosh Kendrick

Caryn BoheneckLili Panarella, J.D.Megan Dishong, J.D.David Mallino, Ph.D.Ross Prosperi

Name

Address

City State Zip

Telephone Email

Cash or Check Donation

Enclosed is a check (payable to CASA of Missoula)

or cash in the amount of $

Credit Card Information

One time donation in the amount of $

Recurring donation in the amount of $

I would like the gift to be deducted from my credit or

debit account on the day of each month.

Credit Card Number

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Signature

Date

Please donate today!

Mail to:CASAPO Box 7433Missoula, MT 59807

Donate online:www.casamissoula.org

Your donation matters!

2008**2013

20122011201020092007

*20062005

20041998 2003

20022001

200019991997199619951994

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

Numbers only include new cases filed during the calendar year.* Individual children started being listed separately** Total number as of November 6, 2013

11 22 30 34 74 62 50 70 37 90 65 81 62 42 40 65 44 64 110 110

Child Abuse and Neglect CasesMissoula County

ALPSActive Physical Therapy & Sports Injury CenterPaul AdamAllegiance Bene�t Plan ManagementRichard and Karen AllenAmerican LandsRaymond and Cynthia AtenLar AutioBeth BakerJon BarlowMeagan BarnettMatthew BarrettTom and Sheila BarrettRenee BerglundBrad and Amanda BerryBiga PizzaBlackfoot Telecommunications GroupCaryn Cooney-BohenekCASA of MontanaC. Curtis BlakeBoone Karlberg PCThomas BoonePhil and Marcie BornsteinSuzane BowieBrad BrazierBeth BrennanBonnie BriggsBruce and Nancy BugbeeChristine BurkeyPaul CallahanBrent CampbellMike CampbellSeth and Hope CaponCaitlin CarawayAusten CarrPolly CavillCharles Engelhard FoundationCurtis and Susan ChisholmBarbara CoblerJohn and Karyn CollinsCommunity Medical Center FoundationRebecca CooneyDiane ConnerJohn and Vicki CorwinJessica CurtisRichard DaileyGrace DeckerDennis and Phyllis Washington FoundationTimothy DescampsJudge Dusty and Rebecca DeschampsMegan DishongKathleen DombrovskiBryan DouglassDraught Works, LLCJennifer and Matt EllisShawn EnglertExchange Club of MissoulaLinda FauhlRuby FinchRuth FinchFirst Security BankMary D FirthCheryl FisherFlanagan MotorsBrian and Monique FortmannAaron and Shannon FosterRoger and Heidi FurlongGallagher Western Montana Charitable FoundationGarlington, Lohn, & Robinson, PLLPJoan GarrettDiana GarrettAlexander GeorgeJoshua Gimpelson and Megan MorrisNikki GrossbergPayneWest InsuranceLila Jean GundersonLeila HaackMike and Leslie HalliganRobin HamiltonDan Harper

2013 Financial Supporters - Thank you!Susan Hay PatrickVirginia HeaneyHelena Meditation CircleRobert and Susan HelpertGlenn Hladek and Jeanne TwohigNancy HnizdilCarol HocevarSandra Ho�andJoy HollowayRobert HomerJill HowardAnnie HullInternational Heart InstituteJ. Scott LairdGreg and Joan JensenTara JensenGerrie and BJ JeskeTim and Delane JohnstonDr. Brian and Katie HopeJess KehoePaul and Kim KeiperGail KerscherKiwanis Club of MissoulaDouglass and Caryl KleinBill and Vondene KopetskiNeil and Deborah LabbeBonnie LambertAmerican LandsCraig LangelJudge John LarsonTracy LedyardLinda LeeMackenzie LeeJan LombardiLawson LoweMatthew LowyFred LuetyChristine and Joe LustikDave McAlpinDarlene MallinCarrie MallinoDavid MallinoDavid Mallino, Jr.Helena MaclayNicole MarshallDave MartinSteve and Natalie MauerRobert McKelveyJudge Ed McLeanHeather McMilinJohn and Ruth MelcherTia MetzgerStacy MillerMilodragovich, Dale, Steinbrenner & Nygren P.CMaxwell Milton and Joan BirdMineral County Community FoundationJay and Sandi MintyalaMonkey Bar GymMissoula CountyMissoula Federal Credit UnionMissoula Nissan-HyundaiMissoula Pediatric Dentistry, PLLCMissoula RotaryMontana Justice FoundationMarianne MoonMary MooreRachael MorawskiJohn and Michelle MuddMick and Francie MulhollandSimone and Emily MuscoBrandon NaaszChris and Robin Nielson-CerquoneJacqueline and Abbott NorrisNorthWestern EnergyDennis OdonnellRobert and Toni OggNeva and Greg OliverKathleen OrtOula FitnessP. Mars Scott P.C.

P.E.O. Chapter BESam and Lili PanarellaLana PartainMora PayneNatalie PeeterseDavid and Suzanne PetersonRyan PhelanProvidence Health & ServicesQuality Maintenance Enterprises, Inc.Rick and Kimberly RavitzMichelle RiceBarbara RileyIra and Carolyn RobisonTynille RufenachtJacque RundleKelli SatherStephen SchombelDallas SeaberJim SeelEdmund SheehySigma Chi FraternitySigma Phi EpsilonAnnaBryn Simkowitz-RogersElizabeth SkinnerKelly SlatterySteve and Sarah SnellDon and Michelle SokoloskiSheri SpriggTom and Christian Gold StaggJamie StantonEric and Cori SternCharity StubbRebecca SummervilleMax and Betty Swanson FoundationWilliam and Mary SurberMichelle TafoyaSusan TalbotWilliam TankeTamarack Brewing CompnayJennifer and Tom TanerJane TappRichard ThomasEloise ThompsonPaul and Susan TiedeJudge Karen and Burke TownsendTravel MattersConnie TuttleNancy and David TyrellUBS Financial Services Inc.United Way of Missoula CountyUnity Church of MissoulaPhyllis ViningDirk VisserSandy and Pam VolkmannStan and Treva VoreyerWGM Group, Inc.Debbie WagnerGayle WaltonWashington CorporationsDan WeinbergWells & McKittick, P.C.Chris WheelandThomas and Betty WilkinsWilliams Law FirmPat and Carol WilliamsMichael WilliamsonHerbert WinsorDon and Bente WinstonMichael YerkeyJulia YobstEmily ZachariasenZip BeverageZootown Thrift

We receive generous in-kind donations of items and services for our Light of Hope Banquet, Volunteer Appreciation Night,

and other events. We are grateful for this support. For a list of in-kind donors, please see our website.