You Oughta Know About... CASA

Chris Kuhn

Editor, skirt! Tampa Bay

I'm an outspoken thirtysomething who has lived in the Tampa Bay area since 1992, full of useless facts on just about every facet of pop culture. I'm passionate about vegetarianism without passing judgment. I love to laugh. If we can't talk politics, music, movies, sports, TV or current events, you'...

Chris, Editor for skirt! Tampa Bay

Wednesday, September, 10, 2008

It’s simplistic to refer to CASA in St. Pete as a shelter. They are so much more, and yesterday my manager Trisha and I had the opportunity to get an up-close view of everything CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse) does.

It’s time for another installment of my unofficial series “Places You Oughta Know About in Tampa Bay (But Might Not).” Last month, I shared stories about our field trip to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and University Community Hospital’s new Breast Care Center, an absolutely eye-opening experience. After receiving a really supportive note from CASA executive director Linda Osmundson early on in our launch here in the Bay area, we felt it was time to take that trip over the bridge to learn more about CASA and what it really means for Bay area victims of domestic violence.

Special thanks to Tuesdi Dyer who took us on a tour of all of the various facilities that make up CASA and to the rest of her colleagues who greeted us and explained how the programs work and their roles. If you’re a business woman, particularly in a leadership role in your organization, I especially urge you to contact CASA to request a tour. It’s an enlightening visit and your realize just how many lives can be impacted by domestic violence, programs in place to reach out to these families and ways the rest of us in the community can help support the organization.

CASA offers victims of domestic violence a number of available resources including:

Support groups for victims and their friends and families
Shelter and transitional housing
Supervised visitation and monitored exchange program
Residential children’s programs and in-school peacemaker programs
Crisis intervention help line
Domestic violence and sexual violence education
Substance abuse assessment and intervention
Legal and residential advocates
Trained emergency response professionals

We had an opportunity yesterday to tour the shelter and step inside an example of the transitional housing available to those women hoping to make a positive start for themselves. The women in the program commit to an employment or educational track and receive that extra bit of emotional and financial support they need to feel empowered, become more independent and take those first necessary steps to begin a new peaceful life. I was impressed with the great care and attention each staff member takes to help these individuals (mostly women though the program is extended to men, as well) and families.

For those of us who have been in abusive relationships, whether physical, emotional or sexual, it’s far too easy to accept circumstances as simply the hand that life has dealt you. Organizations like CASA are showing famlies that they can move forward but they must be willing to be honest with themselves about their situation and learn how to take those steps to rebuild their families and remove the abusive elements tearing them apart.

I could spend days telling you about the various programs we learned about that each separate facet of CASA has in place but to truly get the real picture, you need to see it for yourself. It’s also a stark reminder of how much we take for granted in our daily lives – being able to buy our kids school supplies with just a simply drive up to the drugstore or picking up a new pair of work shoes when we need them.

CASA is definitely a place that you should know about. Find out how you can donate to their downtown St. Pete community thrift store at 1011 First Ave. S. or simply stop in as a customer...become a sponsor or private donor...or inquire about volunteering in some way.

Go to casa-stpete.org to learn more.