CASA couple

Curtis, Cynthia Scroggins make mentoring their mission

Cynthia and Curtis Scroggins pose for a photograph outside of the News Tribune. The couple recently became mentors in the Capital City Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).
Cynthia and Curtis Scroggins pose for a photograph outside of the News Tribune. The couple recently became mentors in the Capital City Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

Making things better for children is a passion for Curtis and Cynthia Scroggins.

Mentors at their church, House of Refuge, the couple recently became mentors in the Capital City Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). The organization connects children in the legal system who have been abused, neglected or found in unstable homes with adult advocates to represent the child and the child only.

"I had experience with the program when I was in Junction City, Kansas, and was very impressed with the goals of the program," Cynthia said.

The couple were among 20 people in the second class of trainees who completed a 10-week training process, which covered topics such as the inner workings of the court system, understanding different cultures, how to make reports and family service teams.

"I always wanted to mentor to kids in the court system, but hadn't been able to find anything that would allow me to do so without a judicial degree," Curtis said. "This program allows me to do that."

He said two things surprised him about CASA.

"One is that the ultimate goal is to reunite the children with their families," he said. "The other is that only 50 percent of the children are reunited. I think also the number of kids in the system is a surprise because it's something that is not in your face."

CASA officials said the parent-child connection is strong, and children who have been harmed by their parents still want to return home. Because Missouri is a reunification state, parents in question can care for their children after completing requirements set by the court.

"I was impressed with the compassion of Judge (Jon) Beetem," who handles many of the child welfare cases in Cole County, Cynthia said. "He truly cares about the children and what's best for them."

Although the couple works full time, the potential to affect the lives of young people was worth the 40 hours of training they completed, they said.

"I volunteer at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, and I hope by getting in CASA I can affect the process on the other end," Curtis said. "I would say 36 of the 40 guys I work with said they had no father or there was no positive male person in their lives when they were young, and they feel that was one of the reasons they ended up in prison.

"Hopefully, getting to the children in CASA, I can keep from meeting them on the other end of the court system."