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57 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 19, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 25, 2004 Gramley CASA director will step down She’ll leave the advocacy program for children to work on early intervention to prevent abuse By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune After two years, the director of the local program that supports abused children in court is resigning to pursue new ways to help kids. Mary-Curtis Gramley, 67, will leave Jackson County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates program — known as CASA — on Aug. 1. Gramley, who is credited with increasing volunteers, stabilizing funding and raising CASA’s profile in the community, said she wants to focus more on early intervention to stop child abuse and neglect. "One cannot work with this program or with any program that is focused on the victims of abuse and neglect without, I think, being deeply concerned and highly motivated to try and prevent these tragedies from happening," she said. CASA’s work in the community remains critical, said Gramley. About 120 high-need children require services of individual volunteers to guide them through the legal system. Even with recent increases, only about 98 volunteers are trained to help, she said. Advertisement "The need for CASA is growing and the importance is magnified," said Gramley, who also plans to spend time with six young grandchildren, including 16-month-old triplets. Gramley’s announcement this month surprised CASA’s board of directors, said Chairman Hadley Nesbitt. "We were floored," he said. "Disappointed is putting it mildly." Gramley stepped into the director’s position part-time two years ago, when CASA shifted from being a Jackson County-sponsored agency to an independent nonprofit. In that time, the number of local children eligible for CASA services has risen from about 200 to 240, with about half of those considered to be in immediate need of advocacy. The number of trained volunteers has risen from about 65 to nearly 100, a substantial increase. At the same time, the agency’s annual budget has grown slightly, to more than $153,000, according to online records. Nesbitt credits Gramley for many of those improvements. "She has brought us the world," he said. "We would not be where we are without her." CASA board members have just begun the search for a new director. Gramley’s post was part-time until this year, when it became full-time. The salary range for the post is $28,000 to $32,000 a year, she said. Nesbitt said he hopes to hire a new director by the time Gramley leaves. Gramley, a retired professor and former elementary school principal, said her next project likely will be a relief nursery for abused children and their families. "This would be a multi-faceted center that would weave a protective net around families but provide the different services they need given the challenges they face," she said. It’s too soon to talk about funding, location, collaboration and other issues, she said. "There are so many children now whose lives are so tragically disrupted by substance abuse," she said. "It’s a concept I believe has great potential." For information about CASA services or training, call 734-2272. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities