SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) - Roger Hess spent his career in education working with children, many of whom would be considered at risk.
So after he retired as director of special education at Northwest Area Education Agency in June 2010, did he breathe a sigh of relief that he wouldn’t be faced with those challenges anymore?
Well, first he read the large stack of books growing next to his easy chair. Once that was done, he volunteered to help children facing tough circumstances.
“I like kids. I really do. I like working with kids at risk,” Hess told the Sioux City Journal (https://bit.ly/1gBjzTK ). “I knew that when I retired I needed to have some things to do, and this was probably at the top of the list.”
In April 2011, he volunteered for the local Court Appointed Special Advocate program. Known as CASA, the program serves the child welfare system. Appointed by judges, CASAs, as the volunteers are often called, represent children up to age 18 who often have been abused and neglected and make recommendations to the court to ensure the needs of the child - not the child’s parents, not a caseworker - are being met.
Hess had heard about CASA while working with children and families with problems many times during his career. Unlike his days as an educator, he now has a chance to get more involved in finding solutions for children who need someone to speak up for them.
“They have chaotic lives, and I thought that’s the kind of thing I think I can help with,” he said. “I thought I could help these kids and give them stability.”
A month after completing training, he was assigned to his first case. Not uncommon, considering the need. In 2013, 43 CASA volunteers in Woodbury, Plymouth and Monona counties served 115 children. There are 65 volunteers working in the three counties. As is the case with many organizations, more volunteers would be welcome.
Hess said his background in education has been beneficial, but he believes anyone can be a CASA. It requires a few hours a month to meet with the children, their parents, social workers and teachers and sometimes attend court hearings. The situations aren’t always pretty, but nothing most people would be shocked to see.
“If you live in the real world, you’re not blind to these things,” Hess said. “Nothing surprises me anymore. Things disappoint me, but not surprise me.”
What might surprise people, he said, are that stereotypes associated with children in troubled homes aren’t often true. He knows the perception that if a child has been removed from his or her home, the parents aren’t providing for their family. That’s not the case, Hess said.
“I have never been assigned to a family that hasn’t loved their kids,” he said.
In some cases, the parents might need as much help as their children. There are alcohol and substance abuse issues. Or the parents need advice on how to work with teachers or caseworkers in order to effectively get answers about their child.
It can lead to moments of frustration. Remember, these are families that aren’t functioning properly. Hess stays focused on reaching the point when the child and family are back on track, their case settled and dismissed by a satisfied judge.
“Every time there’s a bump in the road with a family or a kid, I tell myself I think I can help this family. Seeing cases that are successful and are dismissed by the court, that’s what keeps me going,” he said.
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