After 17 years with Sunflower CASA Project, Jayme Morris-Hardeman has resigned her position as Executive Director effective November 30, 2015. Morris-Hardeman has accepted the position of Coach with Circles Manhattan, a nationwide initiative to eliminate poverty. Jayme states, “I have been blessed to work with this amazing organization and am proud of the growth we have experienced. I will always serve as a CASA volunteer, but it is time for me to seek new professional opportunities.”
Morris-Hardeman joined the Sunflower CASA Project in September 1998 as a half-time Advocate Supervisor, responsible for recruiting, training, and supervising Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers. At that time there were 10 volunteers serving an average of 25 victims of child abuse and neglect a year. Jayme became Executive Director in January 2003. Under her leadership, the agency has expanded to encompass three programs with the mission to advocate for victims of child abuse and neglect and to provide services to children and families in crisis. Agency highlights during the past seventeen years include:
- Growing the CASA volunteer base to over 100 certified volunteers serving an average of 140 victims of child abuse per year in Riley, Clay, and Pottawatomie Counties.
- Addition of Sunflower Bridge Child Exchange and Visitation Center, where children can visit their parents without fear of violence.
- Creation of Stepping Stones Child Advocacy Center, a multi-disciplinary collaboration to provide services to child victims of sexual and physical abuse and their families.
- Increase of funding through grants, events, and donations to grow the agency budget from $100,000 in 2003 to $400,000 in 2015, allowing a significant increase in the number of children and families served.
- Service of an average of 400 individuals per year through the three agency programs.
- Recognition of the following advocates as Kansas CASA Volunteers of the Year: Jane Pelletier, Gayle Bennett, Barbara Crooks, Jack Hoagland, Jack Flouer, and Dallas Bieker.
Jayme’s work extended beyond our local program, as she served multiple terms on the Kansas CASA Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of the State Chapter of Child Advocacy Centers, where she will continue to serve as Chair. Jayme provided statewide volunteer recruitment and retention training and board training to CASA programs in an effort to increase the number of children served across the state.
Board President, Ben Johnson, said, “On behalf of everyone involved with Sunflower CASA, I want to thank Jayme for her incredible accomplishments and service with the youth of our community. Over her tenure our organization has grown to be the model CASA program in the state. Whoever we find to take over as Executive Director will have huge shoes to fill. We wish Jayme all the best in her new endeavor and look forward to a bright future at Sunflower CASA.”
Jennifer Anguiano, LBSW, will be serving as the Interim Director. Ms. Anguiano has been an Advocate Supervisor with Sunflower CASA Project since February 2003 and was named Professional Staff of the Year by the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation in 2014.
