"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - CN Contributes to CASA of Cherokee Country

Representatives from CASA of Cherokee Country receive a check for $22,000 from Cherokee Nation officials to help fund day-to-day operations. From left to right: Tina Glory Jordan and Bill John Baker, Tribal Council members representing Cherokee county, Deputy Chief Joe Grayson, Principal Chief Chad Smith, Jo Prout, director of CASA of Cherokee Country, Marilynn Carter, CASA treasurer, Renee Hill, CASA board of directors president, and Jody Fishinghawk and Joe Crittenden, Tribal Council members representing Adair county.

TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma - Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Cherokee Country received a contribution of $22,000 from the Cherokee Nation to support daily operations of the Tahlequah-based non-profit.

“CASA volunteers works tirelessly to provide a voice for abused and neglected children in our communities,” said Principal Chief Chad Smith. “We are proud to be a continual partner with CASA and contribute funds to help them provide this much needed service.”

CASA of Cherokee Country is one of 26 CASA organizations in Oklahoma, and 900 nationally, that trains ordinary citizens to become voices for children in court. The organization’s volunteers serve as an independent voice for neglected or abused children in court proceedings in Cherokee Nation court, Cherokee County court and Adair County court.

According to Jo Prout, director of CASA of Cherokee Country, their mission is to enable children to have a voice and help judges make better decisions on what is best for that child using independent information provided by CASA volunteers. She said the ultimate goal of the organization is to ensure that each child finds a safe-permanent home and credits local contributions for helping them achieve their goals.

“We pay light bills, we buy office equipment, we buy office supplies and essentially we make sure all our bills are paid with the funds the Cherokee Nation gives to us.” said Prout.

“We feel very honored that there is a level of confidence [in CASA] at the Cherokee Nation, in the Tribal Council and the administration, that makes it possible for us to receive this money.” she said. That’s important because statistically, Prout said, more than 85 percent of all children served by CASA of Cherokee Country are Native American.