Dear Community Supporters:

In 2006, 176 total cases were served by the LaPorte County CASA Program. 

According to the US Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, children with a CASA volunteer are substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care.  When a CASA volunteer was involved, both children and their parents were ordered by the courts to receive more services.  Cases involving a CASA volunteer are more likely to be "permanently closed" that cases where a CASA volunteer is not involved.  Finally, a child with a CASA volunteer is less likely to reenter the child welfare system. 

In 1991, LaPorte County established the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program to recruit, train and supervise community volunteers to repreasent the best interest of children who are victims of abuse and neglect. Their rile provides a voice for the child both in court and outside of the courtroom. Volunteers advocate fore the child in areas of education, health care, mental health and placement for the child. Since 1991, over 1000 children have been represented by LaPorte County CASA volunteers. 

Harmony House / CASA of LaPorte County is a non-profit 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to providing an environment of integrity and respect. We are committed to objective advocacy focused on the best interest of family relationships. Harmony House / CASA provides a safe haven for supervised visitation. Both programs are funded through grants, individual donations and fundraisers.

Community support is the key to insuring that Harmony House / CASA continues to provide services for children. We hope that you will partner with us to provide every abused and neglected child an advocate and safe haven for supervised visitation.

Sincerely,
Karen Biernacki
Executive Director
Harmony House / CASA of LaPoret County, Inc.

Executive Director Karen Biernacki:
While taking a Social Work class at Purdue University North Central in 1989, my research led me to National CASA and the concept of utilizing volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children. In January of 1991, I became the first Director of the agency. I received a degree from Indiana University in 1999 and a Mediation License in 2002 from Valparaiso University. Currently, I am a member of the Child Abuse Advisory Team, Family Court Advisory Board, Juvenile Court Advisory Board, the Domestic Violence Task Force, Women in Management, Kiwanis, and the League of Women Voters. I also serve as an appointed member to the Indiana Commission on Abused and Neglected Children and Their Families and the Advisory Commission for GAL/CASA to the Indiana Supreme Court. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it